If Predestination, Why Evangelism? Why Calvinists Share the Gospel
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- Опубликовано: 18 апр 2023
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When I was an Arminian, I believed my efforts were instrumental in changing people eternal destiny. It gripped me so much, I would sometimes skip needed sleep so that I could save more souls. It felt like people were going to hell because I did not reach them in time. It was extreme and awful, but I think I was just being consistent with my bad theology. God was a helpless redeemer who needed my cooperation.
It's funny, I just read Isaiah 10:15 this morning.
Isaiah 10:15 ESV
Shall the axe boast over him who hews with it, or the saw magnify itself against him who wields it? As if a rod should wield him who lifts it, or as if a staff should lift him who is not wood!
So, now can you sleep in? If they are elect, God is going to save them anyway. And if you sleep in, is that because God predetermined before creation that you would sleep in?
@@ronnieleonard8444 just because he now refuses to be extreme in one direction does not mean he now swings in the other extreme.
@@ronnieleonard8444My sleep schedule is not that great, actually 😅. My desire to preach gospel is no longer about me saving others from eternal hell with Jesus' help. Rathr, it's about exalting and proclaiming who God is and how Jesus actually saves His people from their sins.
@@trappedcat3615 When you evangelize, are you ever tempted to say the quiet part out loud: "This is the gospel, but if you are not one of the elect chosen before the creation of the world you do not have even the slightest hope of receiving eternal life. Instead, God created you for the purpose of punishing you forever in Hell."
I love Chuck Missler's preaching on this. Yes, God pedestined us and yes, we have a choice. How is this possible?
God is outside of spacetime. I know that may sound strange. It all makes so much sense though.
Yep. Exactly💯 The answer to the argument is there is no argument.
I'm not a Calvinist, but I have a lot of friends who attend CRC churches and consider them my brothers in the Lord. Very interesting topic.👍
Great discussion, I get this question all the time as a Reformed believer. I always say "The same Bible that teaches reformed doctrine in Romans chapter 8-10 and elsewhere teachers evangelism in Matthew chapter 28:19-20 and elsewhere."
I like your reply!
Currently follow Aminianism, but this video is definitely getting me thinking about what I believe. Thank you for the very informational video.
Read your bible,don't get caught up in this
Even though I find Calvinism a bit confusing, I really love the way reformed people care about obedience to God and his commandments. So many Christians are really quick to get offended when I bring up obedience or commandments. They seem to jump right to “ Don’t add works to the gospel!” “all we have to do is believe!” I’m not trying to add works for salvation. I just think if you believe in God it seems like trying your best to do like he says is probably a really good idea. Of course we won’t ever get it perfect. That’s why we thank God for Jesus Christ and the forgiveness and grace he gave to us!
Jesus said. John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
You will obey the person you love. We need to examine our actions as well as our heart.
@Harold Zwingley i agree. Easy believism seems to believe that the Spirit should have no affect on a person. I believe the Spirit makes us ashamed of our sin and gives the power to fight it. Over time becoming more sanctified and less sinful.
Yes sir. Agreed
@Harold Zwingley Works don't produce salvation; they are an effect of it. If we are saved we will want to follow our Lord. "Faith without works is dead," so good works are important and are done in obedience. We can NEVER "earn" our way to Heaven, though. We are totally saved by GRACE through FAITH. Eph 2:8-10
Find out about and the read story of Corrie Ten Boom and her family. They were Dutch Reformed Calvinists and preaching the salvation message of the Gospel was central to everything they believed. Two books about them "In My Father's House" and "The Hiding Place".
Good Stuff - Keep up the good work!
Matthew, I am no expert of your channel, because I haven't watched every single video of yours, but as a subscriber and someone who has watched many of your videos, I would say this is your best video that I have seen!
Awww! thanks so much!
And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed.
(Acts 13:48)
Great video…thank you Brother!!!
1 Corinthians 3:6 he says, “I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the growth”
You are awesome! Love that shirt! Your lectures are so clear and concise! Very refreshing!
Matt, you rock! You are doing great work! Love you lots!
God did all the work in making Salvation available to the whole of mankind. Whether or not a person believes in what Christ did on the Cross is their responsibility. And God will judge them for it. That is what the Bible teaches.
Love the shirt, by the way. I was raised in an Wesleyan - Arminist denomination and finally saw the Light!
Great video thanks!
I just grabbed your " Holy Living" book at a Christian bookstore in Perth Australia, looks amazing.
Beautiful job!
Just starting this video now, but I find it interesting that you said you have received a few questions about this lately. I am just dipping my toes into Christianity now, and I read all of Matthew and then went to Paul's letters to Romans, and chapter 9 was quite confronting, even causing some angst (the fatalistic implications which completely changed my initial understanding of the relationship between God and man). Quite strange that others are asking about it too. Maybe current world events are making people question the nature of free will? Anyway, keen to see this vid now to hear your perspective because I still struggle to reconcile with predestination.
Having attended a calvinist church in the past and currently attending a non-calvinist church now, I noticed immediately how much my current church puts an emphasis on evangelism. They started a pretty big ministry that also works with other local churches. They even offer a 12 week class on evangelism. At my prior church, evangelism was barely focused on. And they also support a few international evangelical ministries.
My personal opinion is that calvinism (which I no longer adhere to) can slowly lead people to hyper-calvinism where the urgency of the the "go" part of the Great Commission is lessened.
But I feel this comes down to how we read predestination in Scripture. Once I removed the calvin lenses, I felt I began to truly understand God's Word. And in turn, the Great Commission is a big part of my daily walk.
Praise the Lord.
I have had the exact opposite experience... the non-reformed church I attended had little focus on true evangelism while my church now (reformed) has much more emphasis on evangelism
Opposite experience here too. Reformed theology isn’t built around predestination (we hold to it but it’s not the foundation). The foundation is the Christ redeeming his covenant people and fulfilling His kingdom here on Earth as it is in Heaven.
I took off the calvin lenses also after about 15 years of believing that way. I don't think people realize how easy it is to start reading the bible through calvin, Arminian, nostic, edwardian or any other lense than just letting the word speak for its self.
@@critical_mass6453 amen. There is freedom in letting Scripture interpret Scripture.
Nice, Matthew Everhard…I just spent $39.00 on T-Shirts. Love ya lots too bro! Thanks for the video!
Well done!
Dear Pastor Matthew - many thanks for your excellent videos which I am finding extremely useful in my path to faith. I am finding myself very drawn to the Presbyterian/ Covenant theology ( I was brought up in the Church of Scotland ). I wanted to reach out to you with a couple of questions: firstly, I now live in north Spain where, at least to my knowledge, there is no Presbyterian fellowship - can I be a Presbyterian without a nearby church? Secondly, I received baptism ( in a Scottish Episcopalian Church as an adult ) by the pouring of water on my forehead and I have come across teachers who say that full immersion is required for proper baptism. Where does Presbyterianism stand on this issue? Thanks, again for your great work!
Just after I wrote this, I discovered your video on baptism, so you can disregard my second question! 😊
The problematic question is "why predestination when man is shown with free will in the bible?" Isn't it about choices
As Reformed, the idea is that the means are predestined as well as the ends. If my friend does not share the Gospel, that doesn't mean the hearer will never hear the Gospel. It only means he will not hear it from my friend.
Hello Matthew are you familiar with the Canons of Dort? I would appreciate your thoughts about it, especially if you think if the Canons think about the teachings of the Remonstrants as heresy (heresy used in the narrow sense, to refer to a doctrinal error that contradicts the holy ecumenical faith and puts one in jeopardy of damnation). I'm thinking here especially about the Council of Ephesus (431).
Regardless of anyone's doctrine regarding evangelism, Christianity always logically lead to evangelism. Paul lays it out simply in Romans 10. The Bible commands evangelism, and preaching is the method by which God has chosen to spread the gospel.
Does any one have an answer for the “all men” passage Romans 5:18? Thank you.
I know I'm called/elect because I desire to know, serve, glorify, praise Him and have a true hunger for His Word.
I also look to the fact that we know that no one is good no not even one and none will seek Him on their own unless they're first called.
I also know that "Original Sin" is a real and factual thing and anything that contradicts that clearly taught Biblical doctrine is false and not of God.
I also know I have no way of knowing for sure who is elect and who is not, so I will preach the Gospel to all out of my love for them and because my Savior tells me to.
In short I believe because of Sola Scriptura and that it is the only instruction from God we need when understood rightly.
That is why I listen to brothers in Christ such as yourself who preach His Word faithfully.
Thank you, God Bless...
When you (Matt Everhart) use the term Arminian, does that mean both the classical view and the Wesleyan view or just one of those?
The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob knock on our hearts and it is up to us to accept His pulling of the heart strings or reject him. "I come and knock those that answer I come in and sup with him"
Since God is sovereign, not only does He determine the end, He also determines the means. Since we don't have omniscience, we don't know who's going to be saved or not, or how, therefore our mandate to share the gospel where there is opportunity, since that may be the means by which someone is saved. We're told to do this; that's enough of a reason, actually.
Blind leading the blind
Feel better?
Matthew, since reformed churches don’t have “altar calls” at the ends of worship services or ask people to “pray the sinners prayer” as is done in non-reformed dispensational type churches; how do they go about offering unbelievers an opportunity to be converted?
@Harold Zwingley Of course, "they are dead set on undermining christianity at every opportunity" because God predetermined that they would do so. It is what God wants and decreed that they would do.
Hi Matthew, I really like your channel. I was just wondering if it would be possible for you to turn up the volume on your mic?
If not, I understand. Just thought I"d ask. I can hardly hear you with my volume up to the max.
Thanks again for your teaching.
Do you have a video that discusses Hal 2:16 from a Calvinistic mindset? It appears to teach that faith is not a work. I’m so confused and could use some help. Roman’s 4:3 also seems to state this. Can you help straighten it out for me?
Just a quick question: Did you mean Galations 2:16?
@@LindaC613 yes. Sorry. It almost looks like I was trying to quote from 2001: A Space Odyssey. lol.
@@geef0813 He he, I didn't even think of that! I appreciate the actual question. This came up in my women's study of James. I was directed to an RC Sproul video on the subject you referred to that is helpful.
@@LindaC613 I’ll see if I can find it. I like Sproul.
Ok i am really wrestling with this. . Someone please explain why i could be wrong in my thinking. I go back and forth all the time heres why
In the "for category" i say how could this be otherwise? Do we not serve an all powerful all knowing God? How then could we not be predestined by his hand? Essentially ushered into the fold by our father God.
However in the "against category" when i think about saved by grace through faith, how then does this doctrine work? If salvation is essentially foisted upon us without any choice how would faith (and grace for that matter )actually work? Is it truly faith if i am destined to believe? If so would that not also mean the non believers were destined for hell? They were in essence created to get to my salvation but their ultimate and eternal punishment?
Im not saying the doctrine is wrong, in fact i typically find myself arguing for it. I am just not sure our understanding here is complete.
Very helpful. Thank you! I am still very green in my understanding of Calvinism. Are there any resource’s regarding understanding Calvinism that you could recommend?
I recommend going through his playlist of "The Reformed View" on this channel. It's very helpful. Also try going through Pilgrim Theology by Michael Horton. It has a free download study pdf.
@@singanewsong4279 thank you!
You've got to start with RC Sproul's series. Start with the holiness of God, then move on to more reformation specific series.
@@jessethomas3979 yes. also "chosen by God" R.C. was such a blessing to me. His ministry continues to bless.
Godfrey's Saving the Reformation is another great resource! It's a modern translation and commentary on the Canons of Dordt (where we get 5 point Calvinism)
I honestly feel the predestination conversation is a secondary issue to the gospel. I dont necessarily adhere to the Calvinist theology. I would have an issue with some one saying that the Bible is not the inspired word of God for example. Thanks for your explanation.
Are you saying that Calvinists do not believe that scripture is divine word breathed by God? Because that’s not accurate at all…
@@josephbruce5177 you misunderstood him. He's saying predestination is a secondary issue not worth taking too much time to debate, while on the other hand if someone were to say the Gospel is not from God then he would jump all over that issue.
I'm still confused. I got saved in Arminian type church but I'm becoming more Reformed in my beliefs. I'm confused about John 3:16 ...whosoever believes will be saved. ...does that mean " whosoever" would just be the elect?
Don't label yourself, just read your bible, God will speak through it.
I love this quote-
'The bible is so simple it takes someone else to help you misunderstand it.'
There is only one way to escape confusion, you know. Scrap Arminianism, scrap Calvinism, and try to understand the bible for yourself. You might not reach all the "right" conclusions, but you will definitely end up nearer to the truth.
I like the verse (not going to look it up) that says His foreknowledge is related to predestination. God knows what we are going to do. That doesn't mean He forces us to do it, but of course He could if He wanted. I believe in free will but I also believe in the foreknowledge of God.
If no one truly has a choice about anything, the whole thing is pointless and hopeless. I don't believe it is.
@kellidominguez that is the Calvinists reading, yes
But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows. Luke 12:7
I believed predestination long before I ever heard of Calvinism. I believed it from reading the Bible.
Faith from God
I've always said that faith is most like intuition or instinct. And faith is the gift of God. It is a knowing that is given to you by God, a knowing that you cannot otherwise explain. You just know, because God caused you to know. When people don't come to God, I understand it is because God is not calling them.
John 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
John 6:65 And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.
Matthew 16:17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
It really is ALL ABOUT GOD!
Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Predestination
Have you ever experienced Deja vu? I have experienced it many times in my life since I was a boy and still do at 64. It always happens when I go to a place I've never been to before. I concluded a long time ago that God is showing me glimpses of my future life long before it happens. Now I don't make anything of that, except that God knows the future before it happens.
Predestination has to be true, otherwise God isn't omniscient. The thing about predestination is that God is the only one who knows how it turns out. We are not privy to it. Therefore, we have to live our lives one moment at a time, constantly making choices that we have no idea we will be faced with until we are faced with them. And we have no idea what choices we will make until we make them. But God already knows.
God knew exactly what would happen in the garden of Eden. That is why He put the tree of the knowledge of good and evil there. And He didn't have to let the serpent in Eden. It was in the plan of salvation from the beginning. Adam's sin wasn't a failure of God. It was His plan. And that is why Revelation says that the Lamb was slain from the foundation of the world. It was already in the plan. It is all about us coming back to God in repentance and falling on His mercy; and who will and who won't.
The Foreknowledge of God
Think of this world as a movie, that has an "in the beginning" and a "the end." God is the producer and director of this movie. He has plugged it in and now it is playing. He already knows the whole epic story. God is not confined to time the way we are. He see's it all at once. The word "freewill" is nowhere in the Bible. But the terms "will of God" or "His will" are found 35 times. God chose us before we chose Him.
Acts 13:48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.
2 Thessalonians 2:13 But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:
John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Ephesians 1:5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
Ephesians 1:11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:
Romans 8:29-30 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
John 17:24 Father, I will that they also, whom thou has given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.
1 Peter 1:2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.
Ephesians 1:4 According as he has chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
1 Peter 1:20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundaiton of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,
Matthew 13:35 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.
Matthew 25:34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, come, ye blessed of my father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
Luke 11:50 That the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of this generation;
Hebrews 4:3 For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.
Revelation 13:8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
Revelation 17:8 The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.
Matthew 24:22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.
Matthew 24:24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
Matthew 24:31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
Luke 18:7 And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?
Romans 8:33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.
Colossians 3:12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
Matthew 20:16 So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.
Matthew 22:14 For many are called, but few are chosen.
Mark 13:20 And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect's sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days.
1 Corinthians 1:26-31 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: that no flesh should glory in his presence. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
James 2:5 Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?
1 Peter 2:9 But ye are chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
Revelation 17:14 These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.
Revelation 3:19-22 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
John 14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
Isaiah 46:9-10 Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure.
Romans 9:14-24 What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid. For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy. For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth. therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth. Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will? Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour? What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory, Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?
John 15:16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
Why are we a religious denomination at all? Should we not just be Bible Believers and Evangelists of the Bible. Jesus just wanted us all to know Him and to be a temple for the Holy Spirit. I would be interested in hearing your thoughts on this Pastor Matt. Thank you for all you do.
When you spoke of primary cause, you prefaced it by saying it is applied to redemption. Is God not the primary cause in all events, even those that are not directly connected to redemption? (like the decisions we make and the sins committed by everyone...)?
Brother Matthew, I have two questions that I was hoping you would address. Perhaps you can fill me in.
One, you believe you are saved. But how do you know that you are one of the elect? How do you have assurance of your salvation? Could you be wrong?
Two, why would God create people that He willed to not be saved?
Thanks.
Jack Hibbs is really good at this assurance part if Salvation . . . but if you want to listen to him, go directly REAL LIFE with Jack Hibbs, not just what pops up on utube, His video are being scammed & sermons twisting what he says!
Anyway, in John gives the most detailed account of all that Jesus shares with His Apostles after He dismissed Judas . . . pay special attention to the parts when what the Father has given to Me, I have not lost any except the one bound for desolation, all that the Father has given to Me I have given to you . . . & Jesus specifically prays for all those whom will hear the Word through His Apostles - a prayer crossing through time that is for us, now, in these last days . . . Jesus prayed for you, my friend!!!
Jack likes to describe it as the "secret handshake" when your dad passes you gas money so the girlfriend doesn't see him do it . . . in that moment, God has reached out His hand with you in His Palm & Jesus reaches to take His hand with you there & Jesus' hand covers over you with God's hand holding you . . . who can snatch you from the hand of God?
GOD & Jesus want you to know that you are saved, that you are secure - There is an entire library of books called the Bible to tell you so, advertising all the lengths He went to for you to know it, Paul tells us to encourage one another!!!
That's just one other reason, I could never be Armenian !!!
Please, read a few other replys I have left here to others along this same line!!!
God loves you!!! You are in my prayers!!!
Great teaching, I would also recommend Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God by J. I. Packer for further study and The Reformed Doctrine of Predestination by Loraine Boettner for even further study.
Hooked in the cult Michael. Your choice.
...in short, because Christ commanded us to.
To simplify the overall picture…
God knows his own - Man does not.
Hence Evangelism… and… Prayer.
Soooo. How do you know YOU are chosen?
You don't. simply live your life with Jesus and don't expect to bargain or negotiate with him about everything.
If you start going down the rabbit hole of predestination you will go absolutely crazy
So let me premise this by saying I am a Calvinist/ affirm reformed theology but I think that the reformed tradition has made a serious misstep in the philosophical understanding of predestination and free will that it has adopted. Namely exhaustive divine determinism and compatibilist free will. I believe that accepting a middle knowledge account of predestination and libertarian free will is the way forward. And to be clear this isn't a new idea, as pointed out in the book "Beyond Dordt and De Auxiliis: The Dynamics of Protestant and Catholic Soteriology in the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries", the majority of people in the reformed tradition in the 16-17th century agreed with the Dominicans but there was actually a sizeable minority that sided with the Jesuits against the Dominican doctrine of the physical premotion of the will (divine determinism). Richard Baxter, Robert Baron, and Johanius Strangius are 3 examples mentioned in the book. The Dominicans affirmed exhaustive divine determinism and compatibilist free will, the Jesuits affirmed middle knowledge and libertarian free will. Both allow for meticulous predestination, but only the latter allows for genuine free will.
So let's take Pastor Everhard's first answer to the question of "why should we evangelize if predestination is true?" as a test case. The first response is that we should evangelize because scripture tells us to. I agree wholeheartedly, but let's look at this answer on the presuppositions of exhaustive divine determinism and compatibilist free will. On this model it is true that if God has already determined who will and will not be saved then whatever you do, whether you evangelize or not, God's elect will be saved. If they are saved without your evangelizing then that was what God determined to occur.
Just giving the pragmatic response that scripture tells us to evangelize doesn't actually solve the problem, in fact it makes it worse as God also determines whether or not we obey the commands in his word. If exhaustive divine determinism and compatibilist free will are true then there's nothing you can do one way or the other that will prevent the elect from being saved, undercutting the need for evangelizing, but there's also nothing you could do about whether or not you obey the commands to evangelize, God has either determined you to do so or to not do so, you have no choice in the matter.
At this point the question of compatibilist free will comes up. It is argued we do have a choice in the matter but we only choose the course of action in line with our greatest desire. But who determines our desires? Well it's God. Compatibilist free will is only free will in name, it's really only twice removed determinism.
So what about the middle knowledge and libertarian free will account? Well here God has actualized a world in which he knew everything that could possibly happen (scientia naturalis), would feasibly happen (scientia media), and will actually happen (scientia liberalis). That being said because he knows everything that would feasibly happen (middle knowledge), he knows what libertarian free creatures would do in any set of freedom permitting circumstances that he could place them in. Thus he can actualize a world where libertarian free creatures through their free choices accomplish his sovereign will. He predestines everything that comes to pass without causally determining it to happen. And it's also important to point out that the circumstances are not determining the actions of the creatures, it's not a twice removed determinism. God could create world 1 where person x, in circumstance y, freely does a, but he could just as easily create world 2 where person x, in circumstance z, freely does a, as well. God in his omniscience could see every variation of the person, the circumstances, and the action done, and actualize any of them.
That being said we can ask the question again, "why should we evangelize if predestination is true?". And we can say "because the scriptures command us to." The same answer presupposing middle knowledge and libertarian free will actually makes sense because God has actualized a world where your freely choosing to evangelize helps accomplish his sovereign will. On the middle knowledge account God still has predestined all who are elect unto salvation (not based on anything they did, but "by the most wise and holy counsel of His own will") but our free choices, specifically freely choosing to obey the commands of scripture actually play a role in the salvation of the elect. On the middle knowledge account we could legitimately say "if person x would not have evangelized people group a then person y would not have been saved". Now some may say this makes salvation dependent on humans and is affirming synergism instead of monergism. But that's not true because even if it is true that "if person x would not have evangelized people group a then person y would not have been saved" God doesn't have to use person x. It is God who determines whether or not the world is predestined it's up to us whether we are predestined in the world God has made. The elect will be saved regardless, but whether we freely choose to obey scriptures command and play our role in their salvation is up to us, and our response of whether or not we obey I think shows whether we ourselves are truly saved.
All that to say I am a middle knowledge affirming Calvinist, I affirm reformed theology and more narrowly 4 points of Tulip (I deny the I) but I believe the reformed tradition made a serious mistake in affirming exhaustive divine determinism and compatibilist free will. In the spirit of reformation I truly believe we should affirm Middle knowledge and libertarian free will. It allows us to affirm the whole breadth of scripture; not only passages affirming the predestination and providence of God, but passages concerning the free will of man and God's universal salvific will. It also allows us to make the best sense out of our confessions. For example the WC 3.1 "God from all eternity did by the most wise and holy counsel of His own will, freely and unchangeably ordain whatsoever comes to pass; yet so as thereby neither is God the author of sin; nor is violence offered to the will of the creatures, nor is the liberty or contingency of second causes taken away, but rather established.". And lastly it helps us on the practical pastoral level in providing better answers to questions such as "why evangelize if everything has been predestined?" God bless.
Edit: I just want to say that while my statement above deals with the first answer Pastor Everhard gave I would say that replacing the presuppositions of exhaustive divine determinism and compatibilist free will with Middle knowledge and libertarian free will actually makes each of his answers to this question stronger and more coherent.
Honest question. Where are the secondary causes for infants who die in the womb? This is discussed among primitive baptists and the conclusion God can reveal his saving gospel to souls after the grave. Age is no limiter to this power.
Westminster Confession Chapter 10 section 3.
"Elect infants, dying in infancy, are regenerated, and saved by Christ, through the Spirit, who worketh when, and where, and how He pleaseth: so also are all other elect persons who are incapable of being outwardly called by the ministry of the Word."
Note that this is not saying that all infants who die in infancy are elect, but that God can sovereignly elect and save infants who die in infancy if He so chooses. As Dr. Everhard stated in the video, God doesn't always work through secondary causes but ordinarily He does.
@@cjheideldudewell said. I think I agree with that. I lean toward all dying infants being saved based of God's choosing the weak things of this world to confound the wise and ordaining praise in the mouth of babes and Rachel weeping for her children given a promise of hope to see those children in Jeremiah.
A Calvinist's ego would never allow them to not preach their brand and let everyone know that their Gods favorite from the very start.
I think people are missing what it means to be Predestined or ordained. From the beginning God had ordained these things, not Predestined individuals, God has ordained the means of salvation and the way to God. It is to whomsoever will let him come. God is not saying...uh not you, but you.
Maybe it's because John MacArthur criticized Tim Keller recently during Shepherd Conference. He made it sound like evangelism is not required.
I listen to John MacArthur many times, and he believes that evangelism is needed
@Harold Zwingley I know. I am from a place where 99% of the pastors don't even have pastoral education. I am blessed to have access to so many trustworthy Christian leaders
All Reformed are Calvinist, but not all Calvinists are Reformed.
Arminians and Calvinists are both wrong. There is a things such as a plain old bible believing follower of Jesus.
@Harold Zwingley Calvinists are ideologues. They are in the firm grip of ideas. As such, they can read the bible only like Calvinist and come to conclusions that fit Calvinism. It's truly scary. That means someone could give you the most biblical arguments against Calvinism ever, but you will simply not be able to change your mind about anything.
How can a Calvinist believe what they do & have children? What if the children they have are not predestined or elected by God. Us IFB Baptist are NOT Armenian or Calvinist. All Armenian’s I know believe one can lose their salvation. I’m so glad I believe in a whosoever will gospel.
Ok, at 4:00, you just got through saying to NOT take "opponents" view & set them up to look as flimsy as possible - then immediately attacked Thomas Jefferson for cutting up the scriptures of the Bible - TJ read & believed the entire Bible, he took only the quotes of Jesus & put them into a supporting reference book for quick concentrated access . . . How is that any different from Red Letter editions of Bibles to have Jesus's words stand out OR to print up pocket Bibles with only the NT & Psalms & Proverbs? TJ did not do that to take away from the Bible, it was his own personal pocket Bible & it caught on - possibly even after his death.
Also, your use of the word "opponents" is defensive, an attack - anyone who believes in God, as the Father who sent His Son Jesus, born human to die for our sins, raised from death & reigns as our High Priest & King - is NOT an opponent!!!
Opponents to the body of Christ are those Religions that do not believe in the Gospel Basics & WE, the Body of Christ, should not be allowing satan a foothold to divide the church with debates & arguments over Baptist & Revelation, prophetic events & whether or not Jesus will reign on earth for 1000 years or not! God knows who will win in the end, we just need to be prepared, alert & ready . . . in the meantime, spread the Gospel & allow the Holy Spirit to do His job!
I would think, in Evangelizing, to seek out Mormons & Muslims, think of the potential outcome that could be possible . . . both groups believe in God & that Jesus existed: Mormons do not consider Jesus equal to God, the status of First Born to inherit all & able to defeat Satan in the end, but just won't accept that Jesus is God & that God is Jesus . . . so close & yet so far! But if Mormons could be corrected in their belief, they're dedication to Bible study & evangelizing would out do all the rest of us & millions would be saved!!!
Muslims also only consider Jesus as a prophet & basically, 1 that failed, they just can't grasp how Jesus' dying possibly works for the Christian faith to be so strong in us, it makes no sense to them for Jesus to have died, why would God do this, they are also baffled by us not dedicating ourselves to prayer, set times & humbling ourselves - they also do not understand the difference between all these separate religions & consider all of us to be Christian . . . Catholic = to Baptist = to Protestant = to Methodist = to Mormon = to Armenian = to Lutheran, etc. from their perspective, Muslim is all one Religion where ever they would travel. Again, imagine the millions that could be saved by reaching them!!!
But by human efforts, it will never happen with us disagreeing on details beyond the Gospel basics!!!
No matter what you believe, Salvation is ultimately the work of god. He graciously allows us to be involved in the process. But ultimately I cannot accept the calvinist view on predestination, Because if you follow through logically, it also means the god has predestined the vast majority of people to hell. It also means that god predestined adam and eve to fall. This does not seem to agree with the whole of scripture. I do accept my Calvinist. Brothers has true believers but think that they are misguided on this point.
Oh haha such a cute shirt. Haha. Oh, calvinists.
You can do noting else. To discuss a topic that says you people are chosen before the foundation of the earth for heaven or hell does not make much logical sense. You all have freewill and are responsible for you choices. God force's no one to do what they don't want to.
Errant augustinian predestination isn’t true, only Biblical predestination is true, which isn’t sinners chosen for salvation but an inheritance of existing saints for a for future glorification and “the redemption of the body,” Eph. 1:4,5,14; 4:30; Rom. 8:23,29,30; 1Cor. 15:52-55; 1Thess. 4:13-15.
“The adoption” in Eph. 1:5 is something we are “waiting” for, Rom. 8:23.
The errant man-made philosophy of calvinism is an attack on “the gospel” (1Cor. 15:1-4), there is no gospel in calvinism. The gospel means good news, and it isn’t good news to non-elect and is really a periphery to the saved who were already elected before the foundation of the world, “the gospel” is a non-factor in calvinism.
LoL
I'm anticipating the comment section to be full of straw man representations of Calvinism. I suspect most will have never even read anything from the institutes.
most who object Matt deletes the comment so he is not open to discussion.
@@JBM101 I've seen zero comments that I can recall from yesterday deleted.
Why read the institutes when we have the Word of God.
@@critical_mass6453 this is fallacious argument. You can do both.
Heresy. :)
It took 1500 years for the Christian Church to figure out the right interpretation of Rom 9.
Thank you for this video though. I at least understand why Calvinists have such a strong emphasis on evangelism.
Calvinists believe in predestination.. only those chose before the foundations are going to heaven, so some are born to go to hell.. this means if a child who is not predestined dies as a child, this child is going to hell.. yet bible says ALL children are going to heaven. For me this shows calvinism to be totally false.
Chapter and verse?
@@theDrewzy1 on what?
@@servant2Christ that all children are going to heaven.
@@theDrewzy1 Matthew 18:3 NKJV - and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.
@@theDrewzy1 Matthew 19:14 NKJV - But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.”
Calvinist are wrong
When a Calvinist evangelizes, are they ever tempted to say the quiet part out loud: "This is the gospel, but if you are not one of the elect chosen before the creation of the world you do not have even the slightest chance of receiving eternal life. Instead, God created you for the purpose of punishing you forever in Hell."
Why do you seemingly hate your brothers in Christ? You are intentionally being hateful towards those who believe this theology. Does God's word not say that He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world?
@@theDrewzy1 There was no hate in that; only honesty about the Calvinist believes. Calvinists are my brothers & sisters in Christ, as are Arminians and Provisionists/Traditionalists. I read and love Steven J Lawson's book, "It Will Cost You Everything", but as I finished it I thought that unless you already knew otherwise you would think Dr. Lawson was not a Calvinist. I am glad that Calvinists hide their theology from potential converts instead of openly and honestly explaining that unless they are already one of the elect, they were damned to hell before they were even born. I am thankful that Calvinists are inconsistent and preach/evangelize like they are not Calvinists, presenting Law and the Gospel as if people have a genuine choice to respond positively to the light of the Gospel or negatively by suppressing the truth in unrighteousness. I think that the Great Commission is more than scavenger hunt.
@Harold Zwingley The quiet part is, "Jesus might have died for your sins, but possibly not. If you are not already one of the elect, you were damned to hell before you were even born." You don't hear that mentioned when Calvinists proclaim the Good News.
No Ronnie, too much honestly is probably not predestined by the Lord for these brothers in Christ as far as evangelism is concerned.
You see, I was predestined to write this reply. I wonder if you are predestined to read it. :-) Lord Bless
The first part of my reply is because I don't hear Calvinism talking about predestination in their gospel pitch. It would be interesting how those being evangelised knew what they were getting into right at the start.
We don't need any "secondary causes". Why would we need that? Why will you not understand that God is doing it ALL? No, you did not throw the ball, God did! In Isaiah chapter 45 there are a lot of choice verses. One of my favorite ones in the whole Bible is Isaiah 45:7. Who needs a "free will"? I am so glad to know that I can leave it all in His hands. All this verbiage is so unnecessary! He does it all, and that's it!
Are you insinuating that Christ's Blood was not sufficient to save all? We were created with free will. All we must do to be saved is to believe in Jesus Christ and His atonement for our sins.As the Lord is not willing that any should perish, why would He then doom so many to the flames. This belief causes doubt of salvation for so many and is not doubt the chief weapon of satan? One of your other videos also showed me that you are a works based ministry. As if we could add anything to Christ's work. You complicate what the Lord saw fit to keep simple. Believe on the Lord and be saved! Period! Amen! By Grace we are saved, growth and sanctification comes later hopefully but does not alter our sealed state.
Matthew Everhard only Biblically ignorant people believe in predestination, they way that Calvinist's and the reformed church teach it.
God predestined people to be conformed to the image of Jesus, but most Christians won't let the Holy Spirit conform them into the image of Jesus.
Such a straw man, nobody is denying “predestination”, the issue is that whenever the Bible says “predestined” Calvinist immediately think “Before the foundations of the world unilaterally unconditionally irresistible for salvation”
Calvinism is a 5th century heresy twisting the interpretation of scripture that was revived in the 16th century. There is no calvinistic interpretation of scripture prior to the 4th century... even calvinist theologans acknowledge this. I think provisionism is the best interpretatoin of the scripture and is in complete alignment with the ante nicean fathers. I don't need to be commanded to preach the Gospel. I'm moved to compassion for those that are lost as God doesn't want anyone to perish and God has had such mercy on me I want to share with all. Apart from a commandment to preach I dont get why you would... hasn't God earmarked majority as predestined for Hell and there is nothing they or you can do about it. A provisionist perspective is Biblical and puts the accountability on the person rather than the sinner having the perfect excuse... "You made me this way and it was Your will for me to go to hell!" Such a lame systematic that it jumps the tracks in its logic and makes God the monster that ordains child rape and murder. The Gospel and the cross is offensive enough without calvinists making it an abomination!
if predestination is part of God's will then it logically follows that there is no free will. christians are evangelizing in vain. it is pointless
It's not about "in vain" it's about obeying and God does the work
It's pointless and vain if you believe your will, works, worth, or faithfulness to believe what demons believe (history of the gospel) made you differ from those who end up in eternal hell. All of that is a vain interpretation of scripture.
Calvinists are often accused of putting human logic above Scripture, but I think this comment demonstrates that it's actually Arminians that have a tendency to do that.
@@jasonscroger5065 what for? There’s no point. If you’re going to hell anyway no amount of good you do will change that outcome
@@jasonscroger5065 But if you are one of the elect and you don't obey, it's because God predetermined that you would not obey, so it's okay.
Calvinist: You only evangelize if God predetermined that you would evangelize. If you do not, it is because God predetermined that you would not. Either way you are obeying God's decree.
The sad part is that you think one is either Armenian or Calvinist and in your arrogance you can’t imagine another option. (like confessional Lutheran.)
Drop the labels and read the bible.