A Biblical Refutation of Calvinism:
I. God’s Will Is That All Men Be Saved:
Calvinism denies God wills the salvation of all, yet Scripture says:
1 Timothy 2:3-4
“This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour who will have all men to be saved and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.”
2 Peter 3:9
“The Lord is… not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.”
If God eternally decreed most men to damnation, these verses would not be true. Scripture says God desires all to come, not only the elect.
II. God Commands All Men To Repent:
Acts 17:30
“And the times of this ignorance God winked at but now commandeth all men every where to repent.”
A command from God proves the possibility of obeying. If repentance was impossible for the non elect, this command would be a mockery.
III. Christ Died For All:
Calvinism denies universal atonement, but Scripture plainly teaches Christ’s death extends to the whole world.
Hebrews 2:9
“That he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.”
1 John 2:2
“He is… the propitiation for our sins and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.”
John 3:16
“For God so loved the world…”
Christ did not give Himself only for the elect. He gave Himself for all. The Calvinist must redefine world, but Scripture already defines it.
IV. Salvation Is Offered To Whosoever:
Calvinism limits the ability to respond, but the Bible uses universal language.
Romans 10:13
“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
Revelation 22:17
“And whosoever will let him take the water of life freely.”
The Bible does not say only those predetermined will can come. It says whosoever will.
V. Faith Precedes New Birth:
Calvinism teaches regeneration must happen before believing. Scripture teaches the opposite.
John 1:12-13
“But as many as received him to them gave he power to become the sons of God even to them that believe on his name which were born…”
Receiving and believing happen before becoming sons of God.
Galatians 3:26
“For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.”
The new birth is the result of faith, not the cause of it.
Acts 3:19
“Repent ye therefore and be converted.”
VI. Man Is Able To Respond In This Life (Under God's Drawing):
Calvinism claims Total Inability. Scripture teaches conviction and drawing extend to all men.
John 1:9
“That was the true Light which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.”
Titus 2:11
“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men.”
John 16:8
“And when he is come he will reprove the world of sin and of righteousness and of judgment.”
The Spirit convicts the world. A universal call implies real ability to respond or reject.
VII. Men Resist God And His Grace:
Calvinism says grace is irresistible. Scripture says it is resisted.
Acts 7:51
“Ye do always resist the Holy Ghost.”
Proverbs 1:24 and 25
“Because I have called and ye refused… ye have set at nought all my counsel.”
Luke 7:30
“The Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves.”
Irresistible grace is impossible when Scripture repeatedly teaches God is resisted.
VIII. God Is Not The Author Of Sin:
Calvinism says everything that happens is decreed by God. Scripture denies this.
James 1:13
“God cannot be tempted with evil neither tempteth he any man.”
Habakkuk 1:13
“Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil and canst not look on iniquity.”
1 John 2:16
“All that is in the world… is not of the Father.”
If God decreed all things, He decreed sin, which contradicts these passages.
IX. Judgment Is Based On What Men Do By Choice:
Calvinism teaches man has no genuine choice. Scripture bases judgment on human choices.
Romans 2:6
“Who will render to every man according to his deeds.”
John 3:19
“And this is the condemnation that light is come into the world and men loved darkness rather than light.”
Matthew 23:37
“I would… ye would not.”
This language has no meaning under determinism.
X. God’s Repeated Pleas Show Real Opportunity:
Calvinism claims God only sincerely calls the elect. Scripture says God stretches out His hands to a disobedient people.
Isaiah 65:2
“I have spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious people.”
Proverbs 1:23
“Turn you at my reproof.”
Jeremiah 29:13
“And ye shall seek me and find me when ye shall search for me with all your heart.”
A genuine call implies a genuine possibility.
XI. Scripture Warns That Believers Can Depart From God:
Calvinism denies that the elect can ever fall away. Scripture warns the opposite.
Hebrews 3:12
“Take heed lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God.”
2 Peter 2:1
They deny “the Lord that bought them” yet perish.
1 Corinthians 9:27
Paul kept his body under subjection “lest… I myself should be a castaway.”
These warnings make sense only if departing is possible.
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