Part 1 of 3 - Greg Koukl of Stand to Reason discusses free will and Calvinism. Recorded at STR's weekly radio broadcast. For more information visit http://www.str.org.
@ElasticGiraffe - Non Calvinists ARE man-centerd in their soteriology. I can prove it in less than five minutes with you or any non-Calvinist. There is only one kind of Calvinist, BTW, just as Greg said. Anything less than five points is logically impossible. If you agree with the BIBLICAL doctrine of the permeating depravity of fallen mankind, then you MUST, agree with the rest of the doctrine. This is also easily proven from Scripture.
No to both of your wonderings. There is no way in this life to dicern who is among the elect or reprobate and Calvinists DO NOT claim to know who in in either camp. The Gospel is to be preached to all, and it is the Lord Who will call whom He will call and overlook whom he will overlook.
It disappoints me to hear Koukl is a five-point Calvinist, but I'm really glad he isn't a garden variety Calvinist -- the kind that considers only Reformed views worthy of consideration and habitually lambastes non-Calvinists as "man-centered" in their theology.
I wonder if 5 pointers look down at their 2 yr old daughter and wonder, "Wow, she might be in the reprobate from start so salvation is not available to her. But that's God's sovereignty so I'm okay with that." Or if they comfort the family who just lost a child to cancer telling them they are at peace in heaven, when the child very easily could not have been in the elect.
I praise the Lord for the people he brings into my life. While attending a vey anti-calvinist baptist school, had a friend at work challange me to not read books for or against Calvinism but study the bible and ask God to teach. I took the challange and praise the Lord for how he instructed. Back then and today never got to the ideal of Limited Atonement except man is who limits the atonement of God. Do we think the angels flying around the throne of God are bummed out for not being free?
A fallen Human can choose not to sin on a case by case basis. The Bible tells us Gentiles do the right thing without the Law.
The fact that EVERY human CHOOSES to Sin ATLEAST once in their lives doesnt mean they HAVE TO. If they HAVE TO, then it is NOT A CHOICE. The problem is not that humans HAVE to sin, it's that all humans CHOOSE TO SIN
If the problem was we have to Sin, God could simply make sin impossible. If the problem is we choose to, then He can either remove Choice or give Grace.
@ElasticGiraffe - Non Calvinists ARE man-centerd in their soteriology. I can prove it in less than five minutes with you or any non-Calvinist. There is only one kind of Calvinist, BTW, just as Greg said. Anything less than five points is logically impossible. If you agree with the BIBLICAL doctrine of the permeating depravity of fallen mankind, then you MUST, agree with the rest of the doctrine. This is also easily proven from Scripture.
stegokitty 1 month ago
@texasAUtiger
No to both of your wonderings. There is no way in this life to dicern who is among the elect or reprobate and Calvinists DO NOT claim to know who in in either camp. The Gospel is to be preached to all, and it is the Lord Who will call whom He will call and overlook whom he will overlook.
jdglobal77 4 months ago
It disappoints me to hear Koukl is a five-point Calvinist, but I'm really glad he isn't a garden variety Calvinist -- the kind that considers only Reformed views worthy of consideration and habitually lambastes non-Calvinists as "man-centered" in their theology.
ElasticGiraffe 4 months ago
I wonder if 5 pointers look down at their 2 yr old daughter and wonder, "Wow, she might be in the reprobate from start so salvation is not available to her. But that's God's sovereignty so I'm okay with that." Or if they comfort the family who just lost a child to cancer telling them they are at peace in heaven, when the child very easily could not have been in the elect.
texasAUtiger 6 months ago
... raver ... !
3NUNS 1 year ago
3:52 Lookit
philochristos 1 year ago
I praise the Lord for the people he brings into my life. While attending a vey anti-calvinist baptist school, had a friend at work challange me to not read books for or against Calvinism but study the bible and ask God to teach. I took the challange and praise the Lord for how he instructed. Back then and today never got to the ideal of Limited Atonement except man is who limits the atonement of God. Do we think the angels flying around the throne of God are bummed out for not being free?
daveme7 1 year ago
Luke 7:5
*Jesus said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."
MODERATECALVINISM 1 year ago
A fallen Human can choose not to sin on a case by case basis. The Bible tells us Gentiles do the right thing without the Law.
The fact that EVERY human CHOOSES to Sin ATLEAST once in their lives doesnt mean they HAVE TO. If they HAVE TO, then it is NOT A CHOICE. The problem is not that humans HAVE to sin, it's that all humans CHOOSE TO SIN
If the problem was we have to Sin, God could simply make sin impossible. If the problem is we choose to, then He can either remove Choice or give Grace.
SERVANTofYHVH 2 years ago
i believe in the 5 pionts of calvinism and im a biblicist.
takexupxyourxcross 2 years ago