How would you share a reformed understanding of the Gospel?

[BDUBYAUSA]

One of the reasons why I am a Reformed believer(besides the fact that it is taught over and over again in Scripture), is that it is not easily accepted by the masses, and it is hated by many. People in sin and darkness hate the light and do not come to it lest their evil deeds be exposed.

If people just read their Bibles they would easily see that God's sovereignty is on display everywhere in His Word!

[Strefanasha]

i would not share a "reformed" understanding of the gospel. The reformation was such a violent hate fest (just read some hisory) that they did not belivee the gospel any more than the catholics that they hated so much.

this protestant hankering after the reformation is pure idolatry

[209jaedoe]

If you say you had a part in your salvation, thats boasting'' a man cannot spiritually make himself reborn!!! so therefore he cant choose god in the flesh!!!

[Tomsedated]

"a reformed" understanding of the gospel...with all respect, u understand both sides, calvinism and armianism but to put a word (in that case, reformed) before GOSPEl, doesnt sound good, why just not let it go as the gospel itself, pure and merely

[TomOwenM]

This is nothing more than a Biblical View of Salvation. This view has been the Biblical standpoint of Christ, Paul and his church. History has recorded that this is the only explanation of the Doctrine of Salvation.

[HallofTyrannus]

There is no need to introduce "unconditional election" to bring full glory to God. This is totally unnecessary and has caused only division in the church , which does not bring "Glory to God". It also goes against scripture which says, "God is not partial".

We should stop shooting dummies and focus fully on Unity , Purity and Charity ,all of which will be hampered by calvinism down the line.So throw away these labels and focus on Christ alone.

[EverydayRevival]

@HallofTyrannus The Bible says that God is no respecter of persons regarding rich or poor.

[HallofTyrannus]

@EverydayRevival : He is not partial regarding Jew and Gentile either. So the character of God is that he is not Partial. Take the story of Jonah and ninevah. The Israelites never expected it. But that 's God. He has compassion on everyone he has made and does not want anyone to perish.

[EverydayRevival]

@HallofTyrannus So wouldn't the fact that people are perishing and being cast into Hell mean that God has failed to save some people and wouldn't that make Him unhappy for all of eternity???

[HallofTyrannus]

@EverydayRevival : God has not failed . People do not accept the solution he has given to the sin problem and so they perish. In Ezekiel , it says ,"Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares the Sovereign LORD. Rather, am I not pleased when they turn from their ways and live?" .God has not failed because it his design that everyone who accepts the sacrifice of Christ be saved and he has provided the way out for everyone though only some take it.

[EverydayRevival]

@HallofTyrannus Basically what you're saying is that Christ did not die on the cross and was raised on the third day to SAVE ANYONE... but that He made people SAVEABLE, and if only sinful fallen man would make a "choice" or a "decision" than he'd essentially be saving himself, by taking advantage of the work of Christ.

Christ died to save all those that would believe on Him, as many as the Father has given Him.

Christ didn't die to make a way for sinners to save themselves from Hell.

[HallofTyrannus]

@EverydayRevival : Without the sacrificial death of Christ ,no salvation is possible. The most important thing is God's part without which no amount of anything can save man from any of his sins. Man has a part in salvation ,which is receiving the gift fo God by the arms of faith. If man has a responsibility in sinning , man has a responsibility in salvation too, which is to respond to the conviction of the Holysprit , repent and receive Christ by faith, failing which he is judged.

[HallofTyrannus]

@EverydayRevival : I don't think we have revelation regarding whether that would make him unhappy for eternity or not. I don't want to speculate.

[camy011]

I find it abundantly clear in scripture that God is in control, he is never surprised and never unable to do anything. Holding onto our free-will, denies the Fathers free-will.

Proverbs 16:4 -

The LORD works out everything for his own ends--even the wicked for a day of disaster.

[WarrantedFaith]

What does that have to do with the gospel or any essential element of the Christian faith? Nothing. What you've told us is only that anyone without perfect theology is a heretic. Therefore, we're all heretics in our own ways. I don't think that's what HisFatherlyHand was referring to.

[benjaminburgess07]

Piper empashized the importance that there is nothing good within us and that we in ourselves cannot be saved but it is He who calls us (Before we were born and all that) and I agree!  Where I get lost is "Who all God choose". I have Calvinist friends who reference Roman 9 "God will choose whom he chooses" and that's THAT. I have a hard time swallowing that those who God choose will be saved and the rest are just fodder for the emminent flames of hell...

[got2liv4him]

one of the greatest signs of regeneration is love for the things about God that go against our nature...

Romans 9 is not the only place where God's unconditional election is clear... John 1:11-13, John 6, John 17, Ephesians 1...

[NB3K]

@got2liv4him God's unconditional election is written on every page of the Bible!

[lukedee12]

@benjaminburgess07: that is hard to swallow at first... but think about it a second. We do not deserve the breath that God gives us.. we are sinners and our flesh produces nothing that is good. We deserve hell, each and every one of us, but God, through his mercy and grace, saves the ones in which He chooses. That is love to me, and the most beautiful love. Also remember that this is an "in-house debate" and not essential knowledge for salvation.

[benjaminburgess07]

Indeed. Calvinism vs Arminianism is not "level 2" of Christianity. Our purpose I believe is essentially sharing the gospel. I'm coming better @ understanding Calvinists and here is my stance. As long as the "Predestination" views do NOT hinder one from sharing the gospel then I have no problem with it. It never has or will be out position to determine who makes it to heaven, for we only have our finite human perspective. The work of calling Belongs to God and God alone and I trust in his wisdom.

[benjaminburgess07]

oops...meant "will be OUR position"

[OneFaithMinistries]

@benjaminburgess07 I am reminded of the great theologians George Whitefield (Calvinist) and John Wesley (Arminian) working together and bringing revival.

[Tomsedated]

@OneFaithMinistries exactly and the funny thing is that Whitefield's disciple would sometimes complain about Wesley's point of view, and some of Wesley's disciples would do the same, but they were really good friends, no wonder Whitefield had made it publid that he'd like Wesley to preach at his funeral...see today the same thing happens, people arguing about calvinism and armianism, meanwhile there r some men who are more worried about preachin the gospel to the lost instead of having a debate

[OneFaithMinistries]

@Tomsedated Yeah. It is important to debate, but if you line up on the essentials of the faith, it should not divide you. You can disagree.

[EverydayRevival]

@Tomsedated Kind of like Paul Washer (Calvinist Southern Baptist) goes on about how much Leonard Ravenhill's (Wesleyan/Holiness I think) preaching influenced and blessed him.

I think there is definitely a time and a place for intramural debate, but is the purpose to glorify God or to win.  Debate can very easily turn into pride and a stumbling block for all parties. I've been guilty myself of beating people over the head with the doctrines of Grace, and been chastised for it.

Grace & Peace.

[Tomsedated]

@EverydayRevival yeh definately, i have to agree with you. its just that i'm not a theologian, i study engineery, and since i'm not surrounded by people who are more likely to have debates...since i'm more involved with evangelism (we have a multi denominational ministery) and discipleship at church, ya know more practical stuff..i think thats why usually i can't be bothered to these kind of debates, i do have friends who have gone seminary, i guess they have to deal with it more than i do

[HisFatherlyHand]

Who in the world considers Augustine a heretic?!

[Reformchick]

What is with all these haters spamming Piper? Are we sharing the Gospel or engaging in petty bickering?

[HeardLearned]

Someone marked your comment as 'spam.' I agree with them doing so, John Calvin's words are all spam and should be ignored. Glory to God!

[HeardLearned]

The gospel which I have received, believed, wherein I stand, by which I am saved keeping firm in my memory; I have not believed in vain. The Lord's apostles delivered unto us first of all that which they also received, how that Christ died for our sins, and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day all according to the Scriptures [1Corinthians 15:1-4].

And Jesus Christ "is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world" 1John 2:2.

[juanfirebird]

1 John 2:2 In context in 1 John1:7 Paul tells us that if we walk in the light, the blood of Jesus cleans US of all of OUR sins (atonement for the elect). Then in 2:2 he says, for our sins and for the whole world. "for our sins" That is for the immediate community that which John is writing to. "whole world" are all of God's people of all nations, all tongues, at all times, everywhere, in the whole world. That is the context! If not, we are saying that all go to heaven. Hitler and all. Blasphamy!

[got2liv4him]

I can see where these verse are a problem for the non-universalist semi-pelagians...

[croftperkins]

Yeah, Reformed back to the Original from Roman Catholic Heresy.

[bobcaldwellrocks]

It's this kind of teaching that exalts God and makes me warm and happy!

[therealdrag0]

Reformed theology is synonymous to Calvinism and theology that came out of the reformation.

[insaner169]

not "came out of" but rather, was put into concrete terms.. this was the same theology of the primitive church, its what the bible teaches, no less.. its only "reformed" in that it was an attempt at reforming the catholic church's terribly heretical doctrine

[therealdrag0]

Right.

[KarensFaith]

Amen and AMEN!!!

[SalvationEternity777]

He didn't mean new gospel, but the gospel proclaiming the doctrines of Grace and sovereignty of God.

God bless!!!!

[gondorking86]

AMEN!!!

[S1nApS3]

Perfect :)