Predestination is misunderstood...

  • 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.
Dec 18, 2023
6,402
406
83
O
Romans 1:18 tells us the truth can be restrained and that God's wrath is revealed from heaven against those who restrain:

Romans 1:

18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;

19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.

20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

Rom 1:18-19 tells us that the truth is suppressed when God makes it plain to them. The words "who hold" in vs 18 are translated from the Greek word katechō and it means to suppress; hold back; restrain. When the Word of God is spoken, the person restrains the truth from reaching his/her heart. The person rejects the truth. The person rejects God.

Rom 1:20-21 tells us that because they suppress the truth, they do not glorify God, their thinking becomes empty and foolish and, as a result, their foolish hearts become darkened ... and it's a downward spiral from there to the point where God finally lets them go to reprobate.

People are not born reprobate. According to Romans 1:18-32, as people continue to restrain/suppress the truth, God gives them over as they move further and further from Him and from truth.
In order to reject truth, ye have to have the truth in you to be able to reject the reject it.

The trouble is ye never knocked first.



 
Dec 18, 2023
6,402
406
83
Scripture teaches us to turn from idols to serve the living and true God:

1
.
16 Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants[d] of God. 17 Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.

Honor your brother jean Calvin

 

Genez

Junior Member
Oct 12, 2017
2,838
418
83
There will be no excuse

Draw near to God and he will draw near to you
o_O Wow! Had a dream just last night!


I took out my sketch pad.
Next thing I knew?

I sat down near Jesus on his throne and began drawing whatever came to mind.

And, then, the next think I saw?

Jesus was sitting a little closer and drawing pictures too!

"Draw near to God and he will draw near to you."

Always wondered what that means till I had that dream!

Thanks!
 
Dec 18, 2023
6,402
406
83
o_O Wow! Had a dream just last night!


I took out my sketch pad.
Next thing I knew?

I sat down near Jesus on his throne and began drawing whatever came to mind.

And, then, the next think I saw?

Jesus was sitting a little closer and drawing pictures too!

"Draw near to God and he will draw near to you."

Always wondered what that means till I had that dream!

Thanks!
how you respect Jean Calvin ?

Do respect him as a brother who do good

Or you respect him as a person who does harsh

1 Peter 2
17 Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor.

18 Slaves, in reverent fear of God submit yourselves to your masters, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh.


everything-johncalvin.png



Are you willing to honour your brother Jean Calvin

I want answer

 

Genez

Junior Member
Oct 12, 2017
2,838
418
83
yup!!! :cool:

those who restrain the truth in unrighteousness (Rom 1:18) are the ones who will suffer the consequence ... :(
.

Do not forget. That speaks of the reprobate who push out the truth God implanted...

There are also Christians who cling to their human viewpoint, with teachings that produce wood, hay, and straw...
They will be saved, but will suffer shame at the evaluation of the saints.

They will wish they could say.... "But, Lord!" Those false teachings sat so well with my way of thinking!"


1 Corinthians 3:12-13


If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, precious stones,
wood, hay or straw, their work will be shown for what it is, because the
Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will
test the quality of each person’s work.


Believers restrain the truth that God wants them to accept (and become transformed in their minds with).
They resist taking up their cross by taking in false teachings that make their natural inclinations set up camp
and falsely claim victory, as they guarantee loss when they stand before Jesus

Its happening right now.
Some retain their bully tactics using false teaching they impose upon others.
Bully tactics that enabled them to get their way as a child with other children...

Such is what freedom allows for during the time to choose what we wish to believe!


grace and peace .................
 
Dec 18, 2023
6,402
406
83
o_O Wow! Had a dream just last night!


I took out my sketch pad.
Next thing I knew?

I sat down near Jesus on his throne and began drawing whatever came to mind.

And, then, the next think I saw?

Jesus was sitting a little closer and drawing pictures too!

"Draw near to God and he will draw near to you."

Always wondered what that means till I had that dream!

Thanks!
You are not funny you are funny
 
Dec 18, 2023
6,402
406
83
I look at who and what he attracts....

For its by his fruit I will know him.


grace and peace of mind....
This is not showing respect, you know nothing of Jean Calvin, you haven't researched him. And you are leading many into hatred,

Or your going of is opinion of other nullified people like yourself
 

Genez

Junior Member
Oct 12, 2017
2,838
418
83
You are not funny you are funny
Funny way to express yourself.....

Reminds me of a book I read years ago...

"The Art of Avoiding what is Needed, and how to Amuse Self in the Process.."

Only sold three copies out of the 3000 that were printed. The other 2997?






Were all stolen....
 

Genez

Junior Member
Oct 12, 2017
2,838
418
83
This is not showing respect, you know nothing Jean Calvin, you haven't researched him. And you are leading many into hatred,

Or your going of is opinion of other nullified people like yourself
If there were no Calvin?

Your way of surrendering your right before God, would have blindly followed the pope.

Religion does that.
Does to those who refuse to learn to fight the good fight who wish to make themselves believe that they are capable of taking a stand.

TULIP has major flaws.

ONELIP is better.
 
Dec 18, 2023
6,402
406
83
Funny way to express yourself.....

Reminds me of a book I read years ago...

"The Art of Avoiding what is Needed, and how to Amuse Self in the Process.."

Only sold three copies out of the 3000 that were printed. The other 2997?






Were all stolen....
Stolen by whom.

Is that the devil in your head again

The one you keep casting onto others


Your imagination is not everyone's.

And the life of heavenly life still lives in everyone. The power of life and death belongs to the lord.

You paint this brush in defense of yout utter ignorance,.

And this is not knocking on door.

This you spouting gob.
 
Dec 18, 2023
6,402
406
83
If there were no Calvin?

Your way of surrendering your right before God, would have blindly followed the pope.

Religion does that.
Does to those who refuse to learn to fight the good fight who wish to make themselves believe that they are capable of taking a stand.

TULIP has major flaws.

ONELIP is better.
Tulip not wrote by Calvin

Tulip wrote by reformers why would not listen to Calvin


Tulip

Total depravity when God decides

Unconditional election when God decides

Limited atonement when God decides

Irresistible grace when God decides

Perseverance of the saints when God decides


get the nonsense out of your head
 

Genez

Junior Member
Oct 12, 2017
2,838
418
83
Stolen by whom.

Is that the devil in your head again

The one you keep casting onto others


Your imagination is not everyone's.

And the life of heavenly life still lives in everyone. The power of life and death belongs to the lord.

You paint this brush in defense of yout utter ignorance,.

And this is not knocking on door.

This you spouting gob.


You've been told...

And, what you keep doing -
Is growing old.




In Christ.................
 

Genez

Junior Member
Oct 12, 2017
2,838
418
83
Tulip not wrote by Calvin

Tulip wrote by reformers why would not listen to Calvin
Tulip
Total depravity when God decides
Unconditional election when God decides
Limited atonement when God decides
Irresistible grace when God decides
Perseverance of the saints when God decides
get the nonsense out of your head
Then show what Calvin actually did teach....
So, the uniformed "Calvinists" here can learn something....
That is who you should be telling that to.
 
Dec 18, 2023
6,402
406
83
Then show what Calvin actually did teach....
So, the uniformed "Calvinists" here can learn something....
That is who you should be telling that to.
I did yesterday but as usual no one took a blind bit of notice,

And no doubt you'll be back here only arguing with false Calvinists again, giving true Calvinists a bad name,.instead of putting false Calvinists in there place

learn all about Calvin, on how there all miss representing Jean Calvin.

You where told this last week.




5 minute video with this link and a link to his 4 books on his institutes of religion.

https://www.ligonier.org/podcasts/5-minutes-in-church-history-with-stephen-nichols/calvin-on-prayer

Jean Calvin


Words fail to explain how necessary prayer is, and in how many ways the exercise of prayer is profitable. It is therefore by the benefit of prayer that we reach those riches which are laid up for us with the heavenly Father."
These are the words of John Calvin on the necessity of prayer, and they come to us from his Institutes of the Christian Religion. In this work, Calvin gets at theology through the structure of four books. The first book is on the knowledge of God the Creator; the second book is on the knowledge of God the Redeemer in Christ. In the third book, Calvin turns his attention to the Holy Spirit and the way in which we receive the grace of Christ and what benefits come to us from it. Book four is about the church and life in the Spirit.
In book three, chapter twenty, Calvin writes on prayer. He begins by talking about the necessity of prayer: "We need prayer because this is how God's benefits reach us." Of course, Calvin raises the question of why we should pray if God is sovereign over all things. Doesn't that make prayer superfluous? Calvin responds by saying that prayer first of all has to do with us—prayer changes us, and prayer is a crucial discipline of the Christian life. It's also our duty. God commands us to pray; that's enough for Calvin.
Calvin then turns to what he calls the rules for right prayer. He lists five rules; the first is to come before God with reverence. This is how we frame prayer—we recognize who God is; we revere Him; and in light of who He is, we recognize who we are.
The second rule of prayer is to pray out of insufficiency. It's very simple: we ask because we need. Prayer is a constant reminder of our utter dependence on God and of God's all-sufficiency for us.
The third rule is to come pleading mercy. We don't deserve anything—this is the posture that Calvin wants us to take. We don't deserve anything before God; it is His sheer good pleasure and mercy to extend to us these blessings and benefits and to answer our prayers.
Calvin's fourth rule is to pray with confident hope. We should be encouraged that God answers prayer. If we are living in tune with the Spirit, reading God's Word, and praying in accordance with Scripture, then we can be assured that God hears our prayers and that He will answer our prayers.
The fifth rule is to pray in Jesus' name. Jesus is our intercessor, our mediator. He's not only our High Priest who sat down after completing the work of redemption; He's our High Priest who stands up and ever intercedes for us before the Father's throne. This is what Calvin says about praying in the name of Jesus and recognizing Jesus as our intercessor: "For as soon as God's dread majesty comes to mind, we cannot but tremble and be driven far away by the recognition of our own unworthiness, until Christ comes forward as intermediary to change the throne of dreadful glory into the throne of grace." So, as the biblical author tells us, "Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace" (Heb. 4:16
 
Mar 23, 2016
7,021
1,673
113
In order to reject truth, ye have to have the truth in you to be able to reject the reject it.
did you read Rom 1:18-32 Thunderrr-mental?

Read the verses just before Romans 1:18:

Romans 1:

15 So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

vs 15 - the gospel is preached.

vs 16 - the gospel is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth

vs 17 - in the gospel is the righteousness of God revealed

so the gospel of Christ is preached and for those who believe the gospel is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth ... the gospel reveals the righteousness of God and vs 17 further tells us the just shall live by faith.

now read the verse which states that the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against those who restrain/suppress the truth in unrighteousness and see that from vs 15, the gospel is preached and from vs 16, the gospel is the power of God unto salvation ... but in vs 18, the person restrains/suppresses the truth and therefore does not believe.

The gospel of Christ is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth ... if someone hears the gospel and suppresses the truth in unrighteousness and therefore does not believe the gospel, he or she does not reap the benefit of the power of God (salvation). Instead, he or she reaps the consequence of his or her suppressing the truth (wrath of God).

It is not the believing of the one hearing which saves a person. Scripture clearly states in Rom 1:16 that it is the gospel of Christ which is the power of God unto salvation to those who believe.
.
 
Mar 23, 2016
7,021
1,673
113
16 Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants[d] of God. 17 Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.

Honor your brother jean Calvin
I do not believe I have dishonored him. Telling you that I prefer Scripture is not dishonoring ... in fact, I believe he would agree.


.
 
Mar 23, 2016
7,021
1,673
113
That speaks of the reprobate who push out the truth God implanted...
yep ... but the reprobate don't start out as reprobate. That's where they end up as they continuously suppress the truth in unrighteousness and step further and further away from God.

Rom 1:21 – foolish heart becomes darkened and continue in behaviors shown in vss 22-23

Rom 1:24 – given up to uncleanness and continue in behaviors shown in vss 24-25

Rom 1:26 – given up to vile affections and continue in behaviors shown in vss 26-27

Rom 1:28 – reprobate mind and continue in behaviors shown in vss 28-32

they step further and further from God and God releases them to their own devices.

Since men chose to give up God (cp Jn 3:20, Pr 1:29, 5:12) and worship the creature, God could do nothing but give men into the control of the sinful things they preferred to God.
(Wuest, K. S. Wuest's Word Studies from the Greek New Testament: Eerdmans)




Genez said:
There are also Christians who cling to their human viewpoint, with teachings that produce wood, hay, and straw...
They will be saved, but will suffer shame at the evaluation of the saints.
yep ...




Genez said:
They will wish they could say.... "But, Lord!" Those false teachings sat so well with my way of thinking!"
not sure where this is written, and I know all will give an account ...




Genez said:
Believers restrain the truth that God wants them to accept (and become transformed in their minds with).
They resist taking up their cross by taking in false teachings that make their natural inclinations set up camp
and falsely claim victory, as they guarantee loss when they stand before Jesus
I believe we're all in various stages of maturity in this age. it's not easy for us to die to self ... only One has done it perfectly.

Our responsibility is to plant / water ... leave it to God to bring the increase.




Genez said:
Its happening right now.
Some retain their bully tactics using false teaching they impose upon others.
Bully tactics that enabled them to get their way as a child with other children...

Such is what freedom allows for during the time to choose what we wish to believe!
right ... just gotta consider what is said and how it's said.


1 Thessalonians 5:21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
.
 
Dec 18, 2023
6,402
406
83
Then show what Calvin actually did teach....
So, the uniformed "Calvinists" here can learn something....
That is who you should be telling that to.
Heres a link to downloading a Jean Calvins book free in pdf that would normally cost 20.00.

Christian Classics Ethereal Library
https://www.ccel.org › cachePDF
The Institutes of the Christian Religion

Just download his book in pdf and you can read his full book, the institutes of Christian religion.
 
Dec 18, 2023
6,402
406
83
did you read Rom 1:18-32 Thunderrr-mental?

Read the verses just before Romans 1:18:

Romans 1:

15 So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

vs 15 - the gospel is preached.

vs 16 - the gospel is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth

vs 17 - in the gospel is the righteousness of God revealed

so the gospel of Christ is preached and for those who believe the gospel is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth ... the gospel reveals the righteousness of God and vs 17 further tells us the just shall live by faith.

now read the verse which states that the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against those who restrain/suppress the truth in unrighteousness and see that from vs 15, the gospel is preached and from vs 16, the gospel is the power of God unto salvation ... but in vs 18, the person restrains/suppresses the truth and therefore does not believe.

The gospel of Christ is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth ... if someone hears the gospel and suppresses the truth in unrighteousness and therefore does not believe the gospel, he or she does not reap the benefit of the power of God (salvation). Instead, he or she reaps the consequence of his or her suppressing the truth (wrath of God).

It is not the believing of the one hearing which saves a person. Scripture clearly states in Rom 1:16 that it is the gospel of Christ which is the power of God unto salvation to those who believe.
.
You cant Judge others people standards by a righteous persons standards. Believing in full is not an instantaneous thing

People have to be transformed by drawing nearer to God.

Faith is grown through and individual experience unique to a person and God.