Was just reading freedom of the will. I’m trying to articulate how it’s like reading Jonathan Edwards it’s like he packs so much in a sentence and as your reading it I feel like I can understand and follow with him but just trying to recite back what I just read to someone is the hardest part for me about Edwards. Great video thanks!
I was raised a Jehovah's Witness and by the grace of God found my way out. I've been reading the bible and looking into different faith's. Listening to some defend Calvinism warning bells started going off. It almost sounded, to me, cultish. I believe the bible when it say's ALL who believe in Christ will be saved. It's been really hard for me as I suffer from commitment issues. Any thoughts on what I can read that will give me a better understanding?
As calvinists, we absolutely agree with you that ALL who believe will be saved. That’s not the issue. The issue really comes down to the view of man. Many branches of Christianity have a very humanistic idea of humanity, where as calvinists affirm the biblical view of humanity and the human heart, namely that it is inclined to evil and deceitful above all things, and without cure (Jeremiah 17) that the natural man is dead In his trespasses and sins (Ephesians 2), and that he does not understand the things of the spirit of God (1 Corinthians 2) and that every inclination of his heart is only evil continually (Genesis 9). To put it another way, to expect the natural man to believe in Christ is like expecting a vulture to eat carrots. We need a new nature and a new heart, and need to be made into a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17, Ezekiel 36, Jeremiah 30-33, Deuteronomy 30). God must do this through his spirit and change us miraculously. In fact, you have already described this process in your original comment. You left being a Jehovah’s Witness-how? By the grace of God.
@nai I guess this would be another thing to point out specifically since the OP said he can from the background of being a Jehovah’s Witness. As calvinists we do not believe you need to be a Calvinist. That is not to say you don’t need to be a christian - we would assuredly affirm that - no one comes to the father except through Christ (John 14). We would also never say that we are “higher level christians” or anything of that nature. We are simply Christians who happen to have come to the conclusion that this particular set of teachings that many associate with John Calvin, though really go back to Augustine, and we would argue to Paul and Jesus, and we believe that this understanding is the best way to understand what the Bible teaches. But my faith is not in Calvin, nor is it in Calvinism. My faith is in Christ alone.
It definitely doesn't seem like Edwards was commenting on arminianism in the colonial congregations. Maybe more context would reveal that. But to me it looks like he's saying "nowadays people are embarrassed or ashamed of being called a calvanist; or at least more are ashamed of being called a calvinist than they are of being called an arminian." I think he accepts the title calvinist as a method of distinctive identification: not so much as a positive endorsement of the tulip, more so as in the negative of arminianism. Just my perspective. Love your content Pastor Matt!
Yes little Johnny! Let me tell you about the Calvinists god.... We love you, little Johnny, but we accept the fact that God might not love you, and that He may have plans to send you to hell for your future sins. If you do find yourself one day burning in hell because He hasn’t elected to save you, just remember that we will always love you, even if God hates you. Take comfort knowing that we are not like God. We will be in heaven forever only because we were unconditionally chosen for salvation before we were born. That would be the only reason that we won’t be in hell with you if you find yourself there. It won’t be because of anything we did. So also take comfort in knowing that. It may not seem fair, but who are we to judge God? So again, if you find yourself in hell, remember that we will always love you as we forever worship the God who loved us but who hated you, the God who sent His Son to die for us but not for you. Please, we ask, don’t let it bother you-if you find yourself in hell-that we love the God who hated you and showed you no mercy. We must accept the fact that God is sovereign, and He does what He pleases. I know as Calvinists parents we should be more grateful for our own salvation! It’s like, ‘as long as our eternal destiny is secure, as long as our life is all planned out and taken care of by God, we shouldn’t give a damn about family, friends or anyone else!’ After all, the lost hate God because God first hated them. We as Calvinist parents should hate what god hates, but it is so hard, because we can’t help but love you little Johnny and our families and neighbours! John Calvin Institutes proof texts: “ God arranges all things by his sovereign counsel, in such a way that individuals are born, who are doomed from the womb to certain death and are to glorify him by their destruction.( John Calvin Institutes of Christian Religion, Book 3, Chapter 23, Paragraph 6 “…salvation is freely offered to some while others are barred from access to it.” (John Calvin, Institutes of Christian Religion, Book 3, Chapter 21, Paragraph 5) “We call predestination God’s eternal decree, by which he compacted with himself what he willed to become of each man. For all are not created in equal condition; rather, eternal life is fore-ordained for some, eternal damnation for others.” (John Calvin, Institutes of Christian Religion, Book 3, Chapter 21, Paragraph 5) “…we say that God once established by his eternal and unchangeable plan those whom he long before determined once for all to receive into salvation, and those whom, on the other hand, he would devote to destruction…he has barred the door of life to those whom he has given over to damnation.” (John Calvin, Institutes of Christian Religion, Book 3, Chapter 21, Paragraph 7) “The devil, and the whole train of the ungodly, are in all directions, held in by the hand of God as with a bridle, so that they can neither conceive any mischief, nor plan what they have conceived, nor how muchsoever they may have planned, move a single finger to perpetrate, unless in so far as he permits, nay unless in so far as HE COMMANDS, that they are not only bound by his fetters but are even FORCED to do him service” (John Calvin, Institutes of Christian Religion, Book 1, Chapter 17, Paragraph 11) John Piper states it plainly: Quote from John Piper: "God . . . brings about all things in accordance with his will. In other words, it isn’t just that God manages to turn the evil aspects of our world to good for those who love him; it is rather that he himself brings about these evil aspects for his glory (see Ex. 9:13-16; John 9:3) and his people’s good (see Heb. 12:3-11; James 1:2-4). This includes-as incredible and as unacceptable as it may currently seem-God’s having even brought about the Nazis’ brutality at Birkenau and Auschwitz as well as the terrible killings of Dennis Rader and even the sexual abuse of a young child . . . Truth in Love Warning to those who promote the CANCER of Reformed 5-point Calvinism Galatians 1:8-9 8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! 9 As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed!
Awesome, thank you!! Limited atonement is a fine term, but I think I like “definite atonement” is more specific. I wonder if it would be as debated if it was TUDIP instead? (But then your thumbnail picture wouldn’t make sense ha!)
It's sort of like debating over calling it "communist country" or "The People's Republic" - it sounds nicer, especially to people who agree with it, but it isn't actually different. People who don't agree see it as the same kind of deceptive name... then again people who agree may dislike the name non-Calvinists give it. Basically, you can't win no matter what words you choose.
Speaking of Edwards's Calvinism, I'm also curious if you might have any thoughts about Edwards's occasionalism, idealism, and mental phenomenalism? See philosopher William Wainwright's online article on Jonathan Edwards in the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Thanks in advance!
wow! truth indeed! Thank you. You nailed it!
Very well put together. Thank you again brother Matt.
Was just reading freedom of the will. I’m trying to articulate how it’s like reading Jonathan Edwards it’s like he packs so much in a sentence and as your reading it I feel like I can understand and follow with him but just trying to recite back what I just read to someone is the hardest part for me about Edwards. Great video thanks!
I was raised a Jehovah's Witness and by the grace of God found my way out. I've been reading the bible and looking into different faith's. Listening to some defend Calvinism warning bells started going off. It almost sounded, to me, cultish. I believe the bible when it say's ALL who believe in Christ will be saved. It's been really hard for me as I suffer from commitment issues. Any thoughts on what I can read that will give me a better understanding?
Looking forward to Matthew’s response. I would like to say that Calvinists do believe that ALL who believe in Jesus will be saved.
As calvinists, we absolutely agree with you that ALL who believe will be saved. That’s not the issue. The issue really comes down to the view of man. Many branches of Christianity have a very humanistic idea of humanity, where as calvinists affirm the biblical view of humanity and the human heart, namely that it is inclined to evil and deceitful above all things, and without cure (Jeremiah 17) that the natural man is dead In his trespasses and sins (Ephesians 2), and that he does not understand the things of the spirit of God (1 Corinthians 2) and that every inclination of his heart is only evil continually (Genesis 9). To put it another way, to expect the natural man to believe in Christ is like expecting a vulture to eat carrots. We need a new nature and a new heart, and need to be made into a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17, Ezekiel 36, Jeremiah 30-33, Deuteronomy 30). God must do this through his spirit and change us miraculously. In fact, you have already described this process in your original comment. You left being a Jehovah’s Witness-how? By the grace of God.
@nai I guess this would be another thing to point out specifically since the OP said he can from the background of being a Jehovah’s Witness. As calvinists we do not believe you need to be a Calvinist. That is not to say you don’t need to be a christian - we would assuredly affirm that - no one comes to the father except through Christ (John 14). We would also never say that we are “higher level christians” or anything of that nature. We are simply Christians who happen to have come to the conclusion that this particular set of teachings that many associate with John Calvin, though really go back to Augustine, and we would argue to Paul and Jesus, and we believe that this understanding is the best way to understand what the Bible teaches. But my faith is not in Calvin, nor is it in Calvinism. My faith is in Christ alone.
@@jacobsowles5500 Why doesn't he transform everyone's nature? Doesn't he command everyone everywhere to repent?
It definitely doesn't seem like Edwards was commenting on arminianism in the colonial congregations. Maybe more context would reveal that. But to me it looks like he's saying "nowadays people are embarrassed or ashamed of being called a calvanist; or at least more are ashamed of being called a calvinist than they are of being called an arminian."
I think he accepts the title calvinist as a method of distinctive identification: not so much as a positive endorsement of the tulip, more so as in the negative of arminianism. Just my perspective. Love your content Pastor Matt!
Yes little Johnny! Let me tell you about the Calvinists god....
We love you, little Johnny, but we accept the fact that God might not love you, and that He may have plans to send you to hell for your future sins. If you do find yourself one day burning in hell because He hasn’t elected to save you, just remember that we will always love you, even if God hates you.
Take comfort knowing that we are not like God.
We will be in heaven forever only because we were unconditionally chosen for salvation before we were born. That would be the only reason that we won’t be in hell with you if you find yourself there. It won’t be because of anything we did.
So also take comfort in knowing that. It may not seem fair, but who are we to judge God?
So again, if you find yourself in hell, remember that we will always love you as we forever worship the God who loved us but who hated you, the God who sent His Son to die for us but not for you.
Please, we ask, don’t let it bother you-if you find yourself in hell-that we love the God who hated you and showed you no mercy. We must accept the fact that God is sovereign, and He does what He pleases.
I know as Calvinists parents we should be more grateful for our own salvation! It’s like, ‘as long as our eternal destiny is secure, as long as our life is all planned out and taken care of by God, we shouldn’t give a damn about family, friends or anyone else!’
After all, the lost hate God because God first hated them. We as Calvinist parents should hate what god hates, but it is so hard, because we can’t help but love you little Johnny and our families and neighbours!
John Calvin Institutes proof texts:
“ God arranges all things by his sovereign counsel, in such a way that individuals are born, who are doomed from the womb to certain death and are to glorify him by their destruction.( John Calvin Institutes of Christian Religion, Book 3, Chapter 23, Paragraph 6
“…salvation is freely offered to some while others are barred from access to it.” (John Calvin, Institutes of Christian Religion, Book 3, Chapter 21, Paragraph 5)
“We call predestination God’s eternal decree, by which he compacted with himself what he willed to become of each man. For all are not created in equal condition; rather, eternal life is fore-ordained for some, eternal damnation for others.” (John Calvin, Institutes of Christian Religion, Book 3, Chapter 21, Paragraph 5)
“…we say that God once established by his eternal and unchangeable plan those whom he long before determined once for all to receive into salvation, and those whom, on the other hand, he would devote to destruction…he has barred the door of life to those whom he has given over to damnation.”
(John Calvin, Institutes of Christian Religion, Book 3, Chapter 21, Paragraph 7)
“The devil, and the whole train of the ungodly, are in all directions, held in by the hand of God as with a bridle, so that they can neither conceive any mischief, nor plan what they have conceived, nor how muchsoever they may have planned, move a single finger to perpetrate, unless in so far as he permits, nay unless in so far as HE COMMANDS, that they are not only bound by his fetters but are even FORCED to do him service” (John Calvin, Institutes of Christian Religion, Book 1, Chapter 17, Paragraph 11)
John Piper states it plainly: Quote from John Piper:
"God . . . brings about all things in accordance with his will. In other words, it isn’t just that God manages to turn the evil aspects of our world to good for those who love him; it is rather that he himself brings about these evil aspects for his glory (see Ex. 9:13-16; John 9:3) and his people’s good (see Heb. 12:3-11; James 1:2-4). This includes-as incredible and as unacceptable as it may currently seem-God’s having even brought about the Nazis’ brutality at Birkenau and Auschwitz as well as the terrible killings of Dennis Rader and even the sexual abuse of a young child . . .
Truth in Love
Warning to those who promote the CANCER of Reformed 5-point Calvinism
Galatians 1:8-9 8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! 9 As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed!
I used to be 5 point Arminian as a Mormon of course.
Great video!
Have you ever had an Arminian who says "oh, that's what that meant" when 5-Point Calvinism was explained?
Yes, quite a few times actually.
Awesome, thank you!! Limited atonement is a fine term, but I think I like “definite atonement” is more specific. I wonder if it would be as debated if it was TUDIP instead? (But then your thumbnail picture wouldn’t make sense ha!)
It's sort of like debating over calling it "communist country" or "The People's Republic" - it sounds nicer, especially to people who agree with it, but it isn't actually different. People who don't agree see it as the same kind of deceptive name... then again people who agree may dislike the name non-Calvinists give it.
Basically, you can't win no matter what words you choose.
Speaking of Edwards's Calvinism, I'm also curious if you might have any thoughts about Edwards's occasionalism, idealism, and mental phenomenalism? See philosopher William Wainwright's online article on Jonathan Edwards in the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Thanks in advance!
Would love to hear your response to R. Scott Clark's article you mentioned.
Would like to read The Institutes in book format. Anyone have an Amazon link for a good copy?
no Arminian says that Choices are made without any influences or arbitrarily.. This is just a huge strawman of Arminianism if I've ever saw one.
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