Now We Are Free: What the early Church believed about Free Will on the Arminian Minute

[Mkvine]

I appreciate this video, but I have to disagree with you on St. Augustine. Yes, he did have a high view of God's role in predestination, but not once, did he ever deny or oppose predestination to free will. He just never does that. Calvinist unfortunately misuse him.

[JackMWolfe]

@Mkvine "Calvinist unfortunately misuse him"

Calvinists misuse & misquote many church fathers & reformers such as Martin Luther, who actually repudiated Calvin's teachings in his Genesis lectures written at the end of his life calling them "devilish & poisoned darts" "delusions of the devil" & the result: "eventually either despair must follow or contempt for God, & for the Holy Bible" Since Calvinists misquote & manipulate even God's word, it's no surprise they do the same to anyone else.

[JackMWolfe]

Calvinists are like the family dog who's dug up some dead remains in the backyard & wonders why no one will let him back in the house. But no matter how they try to dress up their detestable abominations - they promote a false, limited gospel & blaspheme God's nature by claiming He creates helpless people only to cast them into hell. Nobody really cares if they want to wallow in such filthy beliefs, the issue is putting God's name on them & trying to make them look biblical - a con game.

[LCT12345]

The idea that man has no free will is in direct contradiction to the teachings of the First Christians. They all teach the message of salvation, this is true, but not all of their teachings are in line with the teachings of the First Christians. For example, once saved always saved is in direct conflict with the teaching that man must repent and follow the commandments. Predestination is perhaps not a teaching that would land someone in hell, but isn´t truth paramount.

[hairykc12]

love the passion that you have though. isn't it awesome that both sides (arminians and calvinists) both strive to love God and the bible and theology as much as possible? that's one thing we have in common. take care, brother.

[hairykc12]

no doubt one of us is wrong and one of us is right about this, but why make so many videos to bash fellow christians? why not use your time to preach Christ and the gospel?

[ThePristineFaith]

@hairykc12 because I believe Calvinism is a serious misunderstanding of the character of God as revealed in the Scripture. I am not "bashing" any other Christians, I've carefully maintained that Calvinists can do good things for Christ and the church. Theology matters deeply, my fellow brother. The truth about God's character should be promoted even if it offends some.

[xhemexx]

@hairykc12 I think with all due respect that both of these are wrong. I feel we all will be saved and in Heaven by h0ok or crook.

[JackMWolfe]

@xhemexx Sure, everybody will be there except those in Rev21:8 "But as for the cowards & the ignoble & the contemptible & the cravenly lacking in courage & the cowardly submissive, & as for the unbelieving & faithless, & as for the depraved & defiled with abominations, & as for murderers & the lewd & adulterous & the practicers of magic arts & the idolaters & all liars - shall all have their part in the lake that blazes with fire & brimstone. This is the second death"

[hairykc12]

most of your videos are just about attacking calvinists who are fellow christians and brothers and sisters of yours. you're a proud (prideful rather) arminian. we get it. i left a church that was arminian in their beliefs. i spoke to a few leaders about my calvinistic convictions, and in the end we parted ways. God works despite our differences. and i dont bash my brothers in Christ because we hold different theology.

[patriotsfan137]

FREEWILL and walking on water have nothing to do with each other walking on water has to do with physical ability BUT the BIBLE says WE (EXCEPT arminians ofcourse) are slaves to sin I challenge any man to let me know at what time of the day or night or week do they punch out and become free to make a choice ? cause as far as I know a SLAVE IT'S A SLAVE 24/7

[patriotsfan137]

even after calvin n luther brought on the reformation the next generation was allready giving way to arminianisim why? because man always want to exalt man it's the sinfull nature that says i can do it without Gods help APART FROM ME YOU CAN DO NOTHING I wonder who said that?so after the apostles died GUESS WHAT? man elevated man cause thats what sin does this VIDEO PROVES NOTHING

[ScottDaMoose]

I challange any man that thinks he has freewill to display his freewill by freewilling himself to walk on water

After he cannot do this I will show you a man who's will is limited by what God allows him to do and choose.

[tickmann]

Both are false alternatives.. Luther was correct on the matter. It starts niether with supposed free will nor with the sovereignty of God..It starts with Jesus Christ. God incarnate given for us. When the message that Christ has chosen to forgive sinners is preached, then those who are meant to 'hear' and believe, by the work of the Holy Spirit, will come to Him.

[hoosfan77]

@tickmann Go Luther!

[AsTheDeer]

Hi. Thanks for this video. Can you please point me to a book and chapter where Augustine says that man has no free will? I have read several books and treatises and have not yet found such statements. Blessings from Bulgaria.

[AsTheDeer]

Yes! Yes! God bless you. Thank you for this video. Churchgoers really need to read some history.

[ArmorOfGodMinistries]

Both Calvinist's and Arminian's Preach the Gospel.

[ThePristineFaith]

@ArmorOfGodMinistries Agree, but how the God of that gospel is presented is important. Is He a God of love and justice to all or only some?

[ArmorOfGodMinistries]

@ThePristineFaith To all, and both groups preach that. If you go back to Calvin himself, he preached that. If you teach only to some your are a Hyper-Calvinist, not a Christian. I can go to a Presbyterian Church, the go to a Methodist Church and hear the SAME Gospel. John Wesley and George Whitefield both founded Methodism, but George was a Calvinist and John was an Arminian. Both preached the SAME!

[jorgemacsparrow]

@ThePristineFaith

It really doesn't matter, we should preach the gospel to every man, even if they reject it or they are not elected. When we are in heaven we will know the things that weren't clear on earth. I think there will be Arminians and Calvinists.

[JackMWolfe]

@ArmorOfGodMinistries "Both Calvinist's and Arminian's Preach the Gospel."

No, Calvinists have a completely different gospel - "Repent, for Christ MIGHT have died for you" & is condemned by Gal1:7-9. They merely hide their own "gospel", which is nothing but bad news for most of mankind, & preach the Arminian gospel so potential victims won't be alerted. Calvinism puts a thin veil of orthodoxy on all its blasphemous, cultish doctrines - it's long overdue for the scrapheap of vile heresies.

[EverydayRevival]

@JackMWolfe It's been a while Jack... The Gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is the same IF YOU BELIEVE you WILL BE SAVED. Christ died to save sinners, and all sinners that truly repent and believe on the Son of God as the only way to be saved from the destruction that we all deserve shall be saved. When God begins a work in someone they WILL (...of their own "free-will") turn to do His will. What does The Bible say about free-will? And Who's will should you be focusing on?

[JackMWolfe]

@EverydayRevival Typical Calvinist rhetoric, it's NOT the same gospel. Calvinists promote a different, limited gospel than the bible's which is condemned by Gal1:7-9 & blasphemes God's character by claiming He creates helpless people for the sole purpose of casting them into hell in order to glorify himself. Calvinism is based on deception & so its adherents naturally become practiced deceivers -.as you just demonstrated by putting a thin veil of orthodoxy on a false gospel & a filthy heresy.

[EverydayRevival]

@JackMWolfe The Gospel isn't limited at all. You guys are the ones limiting the sacrifice and sufficiency of the cross. If Christ died for all the sins of all mankind and some people still go to Hell, than what???

Everyone is created helpless. That's the part you people don't seem to understand. The only difference is If you believe in Christ now it's because God conquered your rebellion, God changed your heart (which was evil continuously) and granted unto you faith and repentance.

[JackMWolfe]

@EverydayRevival "The Gospel isn't limited at all"

MORE deceptive double-talk exposed as a lie by the "Limited" pillar of your own system! The rest of your gibberish is refuted by verses such as Rom5:18, Jn3:15-16, & Rom11:32. Salvation is a GIFT - God draws, convicts, justifies, grants repentance, elects, etc but man can CHOOSE to reject it all & die in his sins. Come back when you can be honest - stop trying to put lipstick on the filthy pig you embrace. Calvinism is unbiblical hogwash.

[EverydayRevival]

@JackMWolfe You're right, because if you believe that Christ died to make people save-able, than it is a different Gospel. Christ died to save sinners, not to give vile sinners, that decide on their own that they don't want what they deserve, a way out. Paul said that the natural mind was enmity with God... before believing on Christ you were God's enemy...

Did you change your own heart, or simply make a decision to save yourself by "accepting" Christ. You're not the center of the Gospel.

[ishlael]

Are you a Protestant?

[ThePristineFaith]

@ishlael I'd probably be classified as such, since I'm neither Catholic nor Eastern Orthodox. But, Protestants, generally, have "historical amnesia." Check out pfrs.org for a summary of my doctrinal beliefs. May I ask your denominational affiliation?

[ThePristineFaith]

@ronathanedwards: That the early church taught free will in regards to salvation is such an established fact that it's surprising you'd make such a statement. Your attempt to cloud the issue with such assertions will by no means alter the historicity of the claims in the video.

[drwayman]

Another excellent video  What's the score now, 40 to ?

[ThePristineFaith]

@Hello1689 Origen (AD 225) wrote, "A soul is always in possession of free will -- both when it is in the body and when it is outside of it." Context is always important my friend.

[ronathanedwards]

@ThePristineFaith Unfortunately, you are getting free will and ability confused. The early church fathers did not make this mistake. You however are anachronistically adding your meanings into their arguments and coming up with incorrect understandings. Any well informed Calvinist would say the same thing as those church fathers. We do have a free will. The fathers were battling against Fatalism, not against ability. Historical context is everything. Origen and the like agree, NOT sufficient.

[ThePristineFaith]

@ronathanedwards Sure, a well informed Calvinist may say the same thing as the church fathers.  I agree. But, if they were Calvinists (anachronistically speaking), they would also say more. They would also teach determinism and unconditional election. But they don't. So, my argument stands.

[S7VIIN]

@Hello1689 The quotes you provided are in no way against the Arminian view, Origen is exactly correct, I think most Arminians would agree to that (Prevenient Grace needed). Justin is also correct, our choice to rebel against God in ancient times through our father Adam, did indeed destroy us, we can't seek God, Classical Arminians for the most part affirm Total Depravity. -7

[droptozro]

where's Polycarp? : ) The Bishop of Smyrna! the only church to receive praise from Christ in Revelations! read his martyrdom story if you have not... inspirational stuff to those who were not worthy for this world.. God Bless