Calvinism and Context?
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To get the idea, we have to look to the reference which is Jeremiah 18. There we read that this is directed at a collective body and speaks of their failure to uphold His covenant by doing evil, meaning He is not constrained to honor one-sided agreements but may judge whomever He wishes evil according to His justice. This is a far different thing than arbitrary mercy that the verse is often thrust forward to try to support. It's not even speaking of an individual, but to God's reworking the nation of Israel into the body of Christ.
I'm speaking to Romans 9 as it is the verse that uses that quote in context of God's sovereign choice in election. Exodus 33 the quote is a positive one in demonstrating that God is extending His mercy rather than one that includes the opposite implication of God electing to damnation.
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what's arbitrary is if God only chose a means of means of salvation and no one in particular to save. that's what i meant. but i will follow your tangent with you..
in my experience it's only those who find His sovereignty repugnant that accuse God of being arbitrary or capricious. but God does His will, Isaiah 46:10, and He shows mercy to whom He will, and His will is good and perfect, and no one gives Him counsel, Isaiah 40:13. He has set His Salvation so that it is not by human effort, desire or strength, but on God who has mercy, Romans 9:16. He gives the Son His sheep, and He knows every one by name, and loses none - He separates them from the goats.
the Father doesn't give the Son arbitrary sheep. He knows who are His. the Good Shepherd doesn't go stand at the corner and take whichever sheep randomly come near Him; that's what a thief does. the Good Shepherd seeks and saves His own, and they follow Him because they are His own - He is no robber: what is not His, will not be with Him.
God had already told Abraham that his descendants would be in bondage in Egypt and that He would free them. Genesis 15. that's not arbitrary, it's prophesy, and it's said beforehand so that they would know that He & He alone is the LORD and He does all His good pleasure according to His purpose, Isaiah 42:8-9.
in my experience it's only those who find His sovereignty repugnant that accuse God of being arbitrary or capricious. but God does His will, Isaiah 46:10, and He shows mercy to whom He will, and His will is good and perfect, and no one gives Him counsel, Isaiah 40:13. He has set His Salvation so that it is not by human effort, desire or strength, but on God who has mercy, Romans 9:16. He gives the Son His sheep, and He knows every one by name, and loses none - He separates them from the goats.
the Father doesn't give the Son arbitrary sheep. He knows who are His. the Good Shepherd doesn't go stand at the corner and take whichever sheep randomly come near Him; that's what a thief does. the Good Shepherd seeks and saves His own, and they follow Him because they are His own - He is no robber: what is not His, will not be with Him.
God had already told Abraham that his descendants would be in bondage in Egypt and that He would free them. Genesis 15. that's not arbitrary, it's prophesy, and it's said beforehand so that they would know that He & He alone is the LORD and He does all His good pleasure according to His purpose, Isaiah 42:8-9.
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Do they discriminate or pre-judge people when evangelizing or do they preach to all? These details in beliefs don't make a practical difference in sharing the Gospel. Ultimately God has the first and the last word and there are plenty of Scriptures who urge people to choose to follow and obey Jesus for anyone who cares to read. Is three topics on Calvinism on the first page not enough yet. Sorry I think this thing is being blown way out of proportion.
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good idea 
For you are a holy people to the LORD your God; the LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth. The LORD did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any other people, for you were the least of all peoples; but because the LORD loves you, and because He would keep the oath which He swore to your fathers, the LORD has brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you from the house of bondage, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.
Therefore know that the LORD your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments; and He repays those who hate Him to their face, to destroy them. He will not be slack with him who hates Him; He will repay him to his face. Therefore you shall keep the commandment, the statutes, and the judgments which I command you today, to observe them.
(Deuteronomy 7:6-11)
Therefore know that the LORD your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments; and He repays those who hate Him to their face, to destroy them. He will not be slack with him who hates Him; He will repay him to his face. Therefore you shall keep the commandment, the statutes, and the judgments which I command you today, to observe them.
(Deuteronomy 7:6-11)
- did God choose Israel or did Israel choose God?
- *hopefully* that's rhetorical question and we all know it's God who chose them
- was it because of any merit on Israel's part?
- nope
- was Israel believing when He chose them?
- nope, and adulterous, rebellious & wicked from day one
- will God ever utterly forsake them even in their unbelief & hatred towards Him?
- nope, never - for the sake of His name, and because of His great faithfulness
- nope, never - for the sake of His name, and because of His great faithfulness
- why is this in the Bible, are we supposed to learn something from it?
- obviously, yes, this is testimony of the person and work of Christ
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And He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. He spoke this word openly.
Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him.
(Mark 8:31-32)
all this, the LORD had said beforehand, long before His Incarnation; it is all according to the scripture. these things must take place. “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?” And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.
(Luke 24:25-27)
why does God say they "must" be this way? ok I'm curious. I do recognise there is a difference in what certain 'reformed 'teachers taught. Perhaps a different term would help ? is the T.U.L.I.P better than 'Calvinism '. I suppose its like Arminianism. Not all Arminains believe exactly what he taught and he is often misrepresented. Like I dont think he taught much on 'loss of salvation ' .
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