The dreaded doctrine of election and perseverance.

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.

throughfaith

Well-known member
Aug 4, 2020
10,467
1,593
113
#22
I think we have established in one of your many anti calvinist threads that your view of election is flawed.
I think we realised that the standardised, seminary approved position shared by Calvinism and Arminsim is based off a Augustine flawed understanding of Election which mistakenly places it before people actually exist.
 

throughfaith

Well-known member
Aug 4, 2020
10,467
1,593
113
#25
Maybe it would help you understand if you had the correct meaning of Perseverance.
It does not mean I persevere it means God perseveres......it is He who keeps that which entrusted to Him (eternal security)
....for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that He is able to protect what I have entrusted to Him until that day
2Tim 1:12


I know the TULIP is misinterpreted by many, I see these new definitions in the forums. I think maybe the acronym TULIP causes more misunderstanding than it helps others to know our doctrines.

I suggest if you want the correct definitions you can go to the Reformed websights for correct definitions. You may not agree but at least you will have the right information. I doubt if anyone would disagree with the 5 Solas.

I'm not even sure how these doctrines of grace became known as 'calvinism' except that it is widely accepted. I'm not sure what Wycliffe, Tyndale and Zwingli called themselves........Reformers I guess, since they were of that group.

Calvinists and Baptists are not so very far apart on our basic beliefs that Reformed theology should brings out such hatred for fellow heirs. "Calvinism" is not the reason for lack of growth, the real reason is lack of interest of pew sitters. They walk an aisle, join a church, "listen" to a sermon and know at least 3 verses of scripture.....John 3:16 for sure.

If you want to know our statement of faith read the Westminster Confession.
It is insulting to have people outside of calvinism telling me what I believe......and usually at least 75% wrong. sometimes 100%

Like wise no calvinist should label someone an arminian. Not all non-cals are of that theology which says you can lose your salvation. Methodists and other laws keeping groups have that sad theology.

The more correct word for folks with a more baptist background would be Amyraldian, a term from Moses Amyrald who defined a statement of faith for groups in that view.

You cannot vanquish a Calvinist
You may think you can, but you cannot. The stones of the great doctrines so fit into each other that the more pressure there is applied to remove them, the more strenuously do they adhere.
(Spurgeon)
I totally agree with Spurgeon . The doctrines of Calvinism are completely supported by each. As a system its unfalsafiable thats its brilliance. The bible however .
 

GraceAndTruth

Well-known member
Sep 28, 2015
2,031
637
113
#26
I totally agree with Spurgeon . The doctrines of Calvinism are completely supported by each. As a system its unfalsafiable thats its brilliance. The bible however .
Then I totally do not understand the purpose of your original post.
I don't ever post pictures....ever...until now......just too cute to resist.
for smiles
 

throughfaith

Well-known member
Aug 4, 2020
10,467
1,593
113
#28
both are new births...... birth one/physical, birth two/spiritual So cute.
Then I totally do not understand the purpose of your original post.
I don't ever post pictures....ever...until now......just too cute to resist.
for smiles
You must have missed the point i made . Spurgeon is right about Calvinism. But I'm maintaining Calvinism is not biblical . Therefore Although Spurgeon is right about the system being completely cohesive and brilliantly unfasifiable ,doesn't change the fact that its not biblical.
 

GraceAndTruth

Well-known member
Sep 28, 2015
2,031
637
113
#29
You must have missed the point i made . Spurgeon is right about Calvinism. But I'm maintaining Calvinism is not biblical . Therefore Although Spurgeon is right about the system being completely cohesive and brilliantly unfasifiable ,doesn't change the fact that its not biblical.
of couse its biblical, but it cannot be dissedted in one big bite.....it has to be understood (by scripture) one bite at a time.
 

throughfaith

Well-known member
Aug 4, 2020
10,467
1,593
113
#30
both are new births...... birth one/physical, birth two/spiritual So cute.
This only works if you think
both are new births...... birth one/physical, birth two/spiritual So cute.
I didn't have a say in my being born into this world , but I sure had a decision to listen to my parents or not , to learn at school , to look both sides before crossing the road, to go to college or not , to get a job or not , to get married or not , to have children or not . Not to mention to keep resisting the Holy Spirit or not ,to believe the Gospel or not .
Also what would be the point in telling Nicodemus the he MUST be born again if he had no say in the matter ? In Fact what is the point in God commanding all men EVERYWHERE to repent if they have no say ? Why is God getting upset at folks for not believing if they have no say ?
So no its not a good analogy .
 

throughfaith

Well-known member
Aug 4, 2020
10,467
1,593
113
#31
of couse its biblical, but it cannot be dissedted in one big bite.....it has to be understood (by scripture) one bite at a time.
I agree it takes time and study . Usually Christians pick it up in seminary unwittingly at the start but by the end of the course they are sold . You have to learn it first then you go looking in the bible to confirm its validity.
 

GraceAndTruth

Well-known member
Sep 28, 2015
2,031
637
113
#32
I agree it takes time and study . Usually Christians pick it up in seminary unwittingly at the start but by the end of the course they are sold . You have to learn it first then you go looking in the bible to confirm its validity.
so how did you learn what you believe?
Did you learn this in seminary? Did you pick up your doctrine unwittingly? as in were you brainwashed so that you didn't realize what you were being taught until you had it all wrong??? how sad.

I, on the other hand, was grounded in my basics in a conservative Baptist church.
The first time I heard someone mention TULIP I asked what that was about.......they told me, from T to P.
I already believed those things because my bible said so. I didn't even know it was called "calvinism".
After that my bible studies were with eyes wide open........looking at the scritpure with God's sovereignty being foremost.
That took away what confusion I had on some verses because now it all harmonized.

So much for being brainwashed as you so nastily put it.
 
S

Scribe

Guest
#33
This may sound like an unusual topic . But its my contention that the Doctrines of Election and Perseverence are the most damaging to the believer.
The reason for this is ultimately you cannot know the certainty of your election unless your perseverance is in keeping with your election and where it ought to be . This leads to the most crippling and paralysing thoughts that a believer can engage in . This for me is why Calvinsm has to be seriously questioned . This system is responsible for lack of growth within the body and lack of assurance and security leading to legalism and in all intentions and purposes a ' practical ' works based religion that has managed to claim itself as ' Christian ' . The Natural consequences of the System leads to ' Lordship salvation ' ,sold as a good thing and backed by virtue signalling and piety . Now I never argue against Calvinsm based on the philosophical arguments like ' fairness ' , freewill ect . But on this topic of Election and Perseverance this is where we get to the consequences of believing such doctrines.
I do hold to Eternal security, but nothing in the way of Lordship salvation.
This is a tough topic to wade through as there is a great deal of baggage and presuppositions abound in this area .
But what say you ?
Have you read Calvin's "Institutes of the Christian Religion?"

You can get it on Audible.com and listen to it while on the tread mill or raking leaves this fall. 67 hours of pure joy :)
Narrated by Bob Souer
 

throughfaith

Well-known member
Aug 4, 2020
10,467
1,593
113
#34
Have you read Calvin's "Institutes of the Christian Religion?"

You can get it on Audible.com and listen to it while on the tread mill or raking leaves this fall. 67 hours of pure joy :)
Narrated by Bob Souer
Just think how much bible you could read instead.
 

throughfaith

Well-known member
Aug 4, 2020
10,467
1,593
113
#35
so how did you learn what you believe?
Did you learn this in seminary? Did you pick up your doctrine unwittingly? as in were you brainwashed so that you didn't realize what you were being taught until you had it all wrong??? how sad.

I, on the other hand, was grounded in my basics in a conservative Baptist church.
The first time I heard someone mention TULIP I asked what that was about.......they told me, from T to P.
I already believed those things because my bible said so. I didn't even know it was called "calvinism".
After that my bible studies were with eyes wide open........looking at the scritpure with God's sovereignty being foremost.
That took away what confusion I had on some verses because now it all harmonized.

So much for being brainwashed as you so nastily put it.
What i learned that is not from the bible I've had to unlearn . We all have unwittingly picked up unbiblical teaching to one degree or another . Unless we live in a cave just with a bible, chances are we've been affected by false teachers . My goal is to recognise my bias and presups and Just read and understand what the bible says .
 

GraceAndTruth

Well-known member
Sep 28, 2015
2,031
637
113
#36
What i learned that is not from the bible I've had to unlearn . We all have unwittingly picked up unbiblical teaching to one degree or another . Unless we live in a cave just with a bible, chances are we've been affected by false teachers . My goal is to recognise my bias and presups and Just read and understand what the bible says .
What a bunch of sanctimonious babble.
 

John146

Senior Member
Jan 13, 2016
17,097
3,683
113
#37
Have you read Calvin's "Institutes of the Christian Religion?"

You can get it on Audible.com and listen to it while on the tread mill or raking leaves this fall. 67 hours of pure joy :)
Narrated by Bob Souer
It takes approximately 60 hours to read through the Bible...now that’s time we’ll spent.
 

Grandpa

Senior Member
Jun 24, 2011
11,551
3,190
113
#39
You say ///
If you are saved then you were elected to be Saved.

If you were elected to be Saved then you will be given perseverence.


The mere fact of knowing that you are Saved by the Lord Jesus is enough to know that you will persevere. Because Salvation is of Christ and not ourselves.//
Which proves my point . its a vicious circle of insecurity . How do you know your one of those elected to be converted? You are saved , you say . How do you know your saved ? because your given to persevere . How do you know you will persevere ? you don't ultimately. In all practical purposes its no different to Arminianism .
Everyone who is Saved by Christ knows they are Saved.

This Knowledge of Salvation is first and foremost. Everything else comes after. You can call it OSAS or Perseverence of the Saints. They are interchangeable in my opinion.

There is no insecurity in Eternal Security. You are completely wrong in your initial premise, again.
 

throughfaith

Well-known member
Aug 4, 2020
10,467
1,593
113
#40
Everyone who is Saved by Christ knows they are Saved.

This Knowledge of Salvation is first and foremost. Everything else comes after. You can call it OSAS or Perseverence of the Saints. They are interchangeable in my opinion.

There is no insecurity in Eternal Security. You are completely wrong in your initial premise, again.
Do you base that on you believing you were elected to be converted ?