Is Calvinism the truth?
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In general, there is a thing called free will. God wants you as he does everyone but he does not make you. At the end of the day, it is your choice. This is a big topic and needs a lot of thinking through but if that is what you do, then you get to a conclusion.
I'm reformed and I believe I freely makes choices.
. All humans make their choices freely. So that's not the issue.. Is it 
for you it clearly is not, but you are one example compared to those who claim otherwise.I'm reformed and I believe I freely makes choices.
No, all reformed will say every man has a will and with his will he makes his own choices, its not automous (that's Pelagians territory) but none the less actions are done a ideas thought freely from man's will. So what really is the issue..?
(apart from hyper Calvinist.. Like hyper dispensationalism and hyper grace they are in real serious error)
you therefore believe when God came to you and knocked on your heart that you could have rejected Him but you rather submitted to Him by your own free will?
I believe Universal Atonement is the Gospel Truth, not Limited Atonement. "He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world." (1 Jn 2:2)
Christ died for all and thus all will receive Sufficient Grace to be saved. The Saints are Predestined to Salvation, yet nobody is "Predestined to Damnation". The idea of Double Predestination is Non-Biblical. There is only Predestination to Heaven.
Even a Non-Christian like Cornelius received Sufficient Grace to be saved, though he did not believe explicitly in Christ yet. How? He prayed to Almighty God, and did Good Works, such as Alms-giving. Because God accepted these, in His Mercy, first an Angel, and then Apostle Peter, was sent to teach him faith in Christ. He then believed in Christ and was baptized and thus saved by God.
Also Acts 10:34: "Then Peter opened his mouth and said: “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. 35 But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him." is a far cry from the "Total Depravity" Doctrine.
God Bless.
[Edit. Cornelius had said: "30 So Cornelius said, [i]“Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing, 31 and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your [j]alms are remembered in the sight of God. 32 Send therefore to Joppa and call Simon here, whose surname is Peter. He is lodging in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea. [k]When he comes, he will speak to you.’ 33 So I sent to you immediately, and you have done well to come. Now therefore, we are all present before God, to hear all the things commanded you by God.”
Christ died for all and thus all will receive Sufficient Grace to be saved. The Saints are Predestined to Salvation, yet nobody is "Predestined to Damnation". The idea of Double Predestination is Non-Biblical. There is only Predestination to Heaven.
Even a Non-Christian like Cornelius received Sufficient Grace to be saved, though he did not believe explicitly in Christ yet. How? He prayed to Almighty God, and did Good Works, such as Alms-giving. Because God accepted these, in His Mercy, first an Angel, and then Apostle Peter, was sent to teach him faith in Christ. He then believed in Christ and was baptized and thus saved by God.
Also Acts 10:34: "Then Peter opened his mouth and said: “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. 35 But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him." is a far cry from the "Total Depravity" Doctrine.
God Bless.
[Edit. Cornelius had said: "30 So Cornelius said, [i]“Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing, 31 and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your [j]alms are remembered in the sight of God. 32 Send therefore to Joppa and call Simon here, whose surname is Peter. He is lodging in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea. [k]When he comes, he will speak to you.’ 33 So I sent to you immediately, and you have done well to come. Now therefore, we are all present before God, to hear all the things commanded you by God.”
Yes yes submit that "freewill" give it up ... do God's will instead.
Present your very selves [including your will] to Him a living sacrifice .... that you might know that good and perfect will of God.
Do you know why God can do this and not be a tyrant as people say?
Because He created everything and He owns everything AND ...
and because He IS love, His will for us is perfect and only good.
It was our will that got us into trouble in the first place only we discovered it wasn't free after all because we died and dead men do not have freewill.
Two things you must do. You must sin and you must die, all the supposed freewill in the world can't stop you. And death controls our life because our lives are spent trying to stay alive. If we don't eat we die, if we don't have shelter we die. So we work until the sweat forms on our brow.
's no such THING as freewill.
Thank God He sent Jesus to rescue us.
excellent Verse: 2 He is the atonement for our sins, and not only for our sins but also ((for the whole world)).
my specific point here was we did assert Free Will when we either Rejected or Submitted to His Calling.
but agreed that after that it is no longer by our Will but by His Will.
yes that’s what I was hoping you would sort of explain what you mean by Calvinism. I’ve never heard of James white but often three people can study the same views in Christianity from one writer d the three people are going to have differing ideas about what he said
It happens often in this forum on many subjects.
My opinion is that calvin like o thy res had a lot of good thoughts that are biblical thoughts , but Leo his conclusions aren’t where those thy lights actually lead so in my opinion his writings are of good value , but also not at all perfect in where the thinking lead him to conclude
at least the conclusions I’m perceive he came to some are just not biblically accurate or sound
yes the idea is we’re supposed to let go of our sinful Will and embrace his Will expressed perfectly in the gospel
we have To let go of our own lordship and embrace his. Our Will leads to sin and death it’s corrupt , our role is to let it go stop following it and instead embrace his Will expressed in the gospel
“Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.”
John 7:16-17 KJV
Jesus often speaks like this it’s an invite to have faith in him to trust what he’s taught us knowing it’s Gods true and everlasting will
when our thinking clashes with the gospels doctrine it’s we who needs to repent and change how we think over to what he’s said
our Will is meant to be converted over from sin to righteousness and we’re meant to follow the new born spirit who’s Will is good and right and pure
once we submit.
but i was born and raised in the Church and came to a point where i easily resisted Him because i chose to do other things. His influence weakened as my interests for a different lifestyle grew.
i will confess that i am thankful He did not allow me to perish during those years. but i had my fill of that life and just drudged through it day by day until i grew so tired of it i wanted no more.
He was there still waiting for me.
since then, i desire to do His Will even when at times i allow myself to get in the way.
amen that’s the incredible hurdle in front of us getting out of Gods way and not hindering what he’s doing in us letting go of thinking we’re big when we’re little
“once we submit.”
That’s the key to life and also the snare that has many trapped
“But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. ( we also have a role )
Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.”
James 4:6-10
eternal Life is in that principle and joys forever more it’s echoe
That describes a will in bondage, theologically you were in Egypt ... a slave
What if God had left you there? what if He did not call you out? you woulda died in bondage.
God wants willing Followers. until i wanted to be with Him, i was of no use to further His Kingdom.
"Calvinism", "Arminianism", Catholicism", "Mormonism", "Montanism", "Modal Monarchianism", etc. all have one thing in common. They're all "Theological 'ISMS". All theological opinions containing some TRUTH and some ERROR in varying proportions.
That's why I became an"Eclectic", years ago, and really don't bother with ANY of the "Isms.
'Isms" didn't even have a part in getting me "Born Again" of the Holy Spirit, and my Christian walk doesn't depend on any of 'em.
I believe that Jesus gave me eyes to see and ears to hear. We respond to the outward call of the Gospel (word) and the inward working of the Holy Spirit.
I once was blind but now I see.. I didn't will my blindness away, for I could not. Christ layed his healing hand on my ear and a healing balm to my eyes - his word (gospel) and the inward work of the Spirit on my wretched and wicked heart.
Acts 2:38 - 39; romans 8:28-30.
When I was blind I freely made choices from my will, when I could see I still make choices freely from my will.
The issue is not that we can or cannot make free choices.. We all do whether saved or unsaved.
It is whether or not the wicked evil sinner..( And let's not be woke here, all persons not saved are evil, and wicked.. as scripture tells.. Only continually evil in their hearts) can make a moral choice pleasing to God. And I would agree with the reformed view that man is morally unable.
So we don't stop making choices freely from our nature but that our nature is changed and therefore able to make choices that are morally pleasing to God.
We need to be carefull here because we hear all the time 'but people. Make good moral choice daily', yes they may be morally good, but it's not from a heart wanting to please God. It usually stems from a guilty conscience, pride or a self esteem builder.
So that's the real difference when it comes to 'free will'. It's not automous. As it is enslaved to sin, a major theme in scripture. Anyhow.. Coffee time here
An extremely important point and if we are honest with ourselves we will see it -
We come to Christ after hearing the gospel and or the Holy Spirit bringing the good news to life in us.. That the word and spirit working in tandem renewing that heart.... We respond by Faith.
And it may not be instant, God could be working on you for a long time or a short time.. But at some point.. We will believe and repent.
Paul say you were a slave to sin, in bondage to the elementary spirits of the universe ... this is no way to describe freewill.
Without God we's like fishes on the river bank flapping around.
Once we get back into the river we are FREE ...free to be what God created us to be.