I've never been a particularly religious man. I believe in God and Jesus. But have only read portions of the Bibel. But your content is very informative and easy to understand, and I'm considering attending a church.
I pray you find the right church where you move beyond a belief of God/Jesus to establishing an intimate relationship with our Heavenly Father! May you seek and follow Him and become a new person as the Holy Spirit will live in you and change your life through the fruits of the spirit! 🙏🏽✝️
Let this be a warning from a former atheist. Do not associate with Sunday keepers, as in time and study, you will discover that the vast majority of professing Christianity contradicts the Bible, or the Bible contradicts. That majority, is the subject of 1John 2:3-4 According to scripture, God is a family. These heretics will tell you, the Bible Teaches God is 3 people. You will discover the gospel about Christ is everywhere, and overwhelming, while the gospel according to Christ is almost non existent. That's just the tip of the liar iceberg. Scripture, of the correct version, is the firewall to fraud. Ask thyself why so many denominations and doctrine. You'll find with experience, the ten commandments is a key factor in every issue, every solid doctrine, every truth, biblically from beginning to end of the Bible. Revelation 22:14 My conversion was a long drawn out ordeal, beginning with emotion, joy, then years ended the honeymoon by genuine seeking of God, who's existence is a serious enormity, and not bogus, as religion, for the most part, is.
God bless you. I recommend you read and study the Bible with an open mind. Don’t expect Christianity to be all gentle, tender, meek, mild or clean. Christianity is weird and hard to understand because reality is weird and hard to understand and Christianity is real. Find good, honest, non-fringe teachers and a church that doesn’t try to explain away the scripture to help you learn. Don’t overestimate the importance of your own feelings, it’s a mistake many Christians make today. Pray that God leads you to the truth, he can. That’s my practical advice to you, anyway.
For this guy to not have a degree in theology it’s pretty impressive the way he delivers the message, It really validates what I’ve been thinking about the last days: “the unqualified will become wiser than the qualified”. God bless your ministry brother!
@@BC-sn8imand really all Bible college does is teach you other people's conclusions and such from the Bible that can be found yourself by just reading the Bible and saving like 40k lol
Profound! You are one incredibly cool theological nerd. I’m thankful to God for His providence as to allowing me find you. Great grace abounds toward you.
The idea of predestination is interesting. I believe that God's will is to save all people and for all people to love him, but since he's a relational God and love can't be forced, he gives us the free will to choose to be with him or not. Great explanation of Reformed theology. Thank you, and keep it up!
Not gonna lie, was anticipating a mockery and caricature and this was probably the most to the point presentation I've heard someone give. Excellent job!
As a non-calvinist, the two versions of calvinist theology are interpreted to me as "God does not care about non-elected people or God hates non-elected people" which feels really contradictory to scripture and Christ's sacrifice... Could any reformed people please clear my mind about this?
God cares about everyone but only gives grace to an elect. God cares about the non-elect, but is giving them what they deserve. While God also equally cares about the elect but gives them grace. Similar to a teacher and giving students detentions for disrupting class if that makes sense.
@@thehighlander6770 John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that He gave his one and only begotten son, that whoever believes in him will not perish but have eternal life." God so loved the world, not only the elect. The later books in the new testament talk about how only the elect will go to heaven. "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God- not by works, so that no one can boast." Grace is an undeserved favor. Therefore, God only gives grace to some not others. If you need further info read Ephesians 1, Romans 6 and Romans 9.
@@cormundum_o So what you're saying is that God loves everyone equally, but he only gives some grace? That really just sounds like, "God technically loves everyone equally, but you don't get to go to heaven and that guy does because reasons." Of course, this is only a dilemma if you believe grace is irresistible, but verses like Revelation 22:17 and Acts 7:51 show that our own cooperation, while not the cause of our salvation, is still an important element.
I used to be catholic until I read the Bible. I dont even know what denonination I am now. All I know is I love God and His Words. This love that I have, that I know is from God, helps me love everyone and follow His commands. Lets love God and the Word of God, Jesus. And lets all live in love and peace, in Him. This world will eventually end, but in Christ we will be forever. This is the true, forever LOVE.❤❤❤
@@bitfrankie Hi, how are you? Like I have posted, I have read the Bible. I have learned who truly God is. So, I have learned what He really wants for us and what He really wants from us. Just being in any religion and doing the traditions of religion, is not what the Father wants for us. What He really want, is for us to learn from Him through His Word by the help of the Holy Spirit. Which all sums up to, the love of God for us. So that we may have life within ourselves by accepting Word of God in our lives. That is why I left catholism, because this church does not FULLY accept the Word of God.
@@RonA0607 I am doing great! Thanks for the clarification. But why do you think Catholicism doesn´t fully accept the Word of God? Do you think that some aspects of the Tradition contradict it? If that is the case, what aspects? Have a great night and God bless you, my brother in Christ.
@@bitfrankie Yes, traditions of catholism contradicts the Word of God. More aspects on idolatry and hypocrism. I can post scriptures from Catholic Public Domain Version of the Bible and you can have a read and see. You shall not make for yourself a graven image, nor a likeness of anything that is in heaven above or on earth below, nor of those things which are in the waters under the earth. You shall not adore them, nor shall you worship them. I am the Lord your God: strong, zealous, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the sons to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, Exodus 20:4-5 CPDV "Pay attention, lest you perform your justice before men, in order to be seen by them; otherwise you shall not have a reward with your Father, who is in heaven. Therefore, when you give alms, do not choose to sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the towns, so that they may be honored by men. Amen I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your almsgiving may be in secret, and your Father, who sees in secret, will repay you. And when you pray, you should not be like the hypocrites, who love standing in the synagogues and at the corners of the streets to pray, so that they may be seen by men. Amen I say to you, they have received their reward. But you, when you pray, enter into your room, and having shut the door, pray to your Father in secret, and your Father, who sees in secret, will repay you. And when praying, do not choose many words, as the pagans do. For they think that by their excess of words they might be heeded. Therefore, do not choose to imitate them. For your Father knows what your needs may be, even before you ask him. Matthew 6:1-8 CPDV All of those who create idols are nothing, and their most beloved things will not benefit them. These are their witnesses, for they do not see, and they do not understand, so that they might be confounded. Who has formed a god or cast a molten image, which is useful for nothing? Behold, all those who partake in this will be confounded. For these makers are men. They will all assemble together. They will stand and be terrified. And they will be confounded together. Isaiah 44:9-11 CPDV For the laws of the people are empty. For the work of the hand of the craftsman has cut a tree from the forest with an axe. He has adorned it with silver and gold. He has put it together with nail and hammer, so that it will not fall apart. They have been fabricated in the likeness of a palm tree, and they will not speak. They must be carried to be moved, because they do not have the ability to walk. Therefore, do not be willing to fear them, for they can do neither evil nor good." Jeremiah 10:3-5 CPDV Do you not know that the iniquitous will not possess the kingdom of God? Do not choose to wander astray. For neither fornicators, nor servants of idolatry, nor adulterers, nor the effeminate, nor males who sleep with males, nor thieves, nor the avaricious, nor the inebriated, nor slanderers, nor the rapacious shall possess the kingdom of God. 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 CPDV Blessed are those who wash their robes in the blood of the Lamb. So may they have a right to the tree of life; so may they enter through the gates into the City. Outside are dogs, and drug users, and homosexuals, and murderers, and those who serve idols, and all who love and do what is false. "I, Jesus, have sent my Angel, to testify to these things for you among the Churches. I am the Root and the Origin of David, the bright morning Star." Revelation 22:14-16 CPDV But if anyone considers himself to be religious, but he does not restrain his tongue, but instead seduces his own heart: such a one's religion is vanity. This is religion, clean and undefiled before God the Father: to visit orphans and widows in their tribulations, and to keep yourself immaculate, apart from this age. James 1:26-27 CPDV Hypocrites! How well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying: 'This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. For in vain do they worship me, teaching the doctrines and commandments of men.' " Matthew 15:7-9 CPDV Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. So then, every good tree produces good fruit, and the evil tree produces evil fruit. A good tree is not able to produce evil fruit, and an evil tree is not able to produce good fruit. Every tree which does not produce good fruit shall be cut down and cast into the fire. Therefore, by their fruits you will know them. Matthew 7:15, 17-20 CPDV What is next? Should I say that what is immolated to idols is anything? Or that the idol is anything? But the things that the Gentiles immolate, they immolate to demons, and not to God. And I do not want you to become partakers with demons. You cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of demons. You cannot be partakers of the table of the Lord, and partakers of the table of demons. Or should we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he is? All is lawful to me, but not all is expedient. 1 Corinthians 10:19-22 CPDV Do not choose to love the world, nor the things that are in the world. If anyone loves the world, the charity of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world is the desire of the flesh, and the desire of the eyes, and the arrogance of a life which is not of the Father, but is of the world. 1 John 2:15-16 CPDV Jesus responded and said to him, "Amen, amen, I say to you, unless one has been reborn anew, he is not able to see the kingdom of God." Jesus responded: "Amen, amen, I say to you, unless one has been reborn by water and the Holy Spirit, he is not able to enter into the kingdom of God. What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. John 3:3, 5-6 CPDV There are many more teachings in the Bible about this stuff, I encourage you to read the whole Bible. God bless you brother.
@@RonA0607 hello … I can totally understand where ur coming from .. the catholic dictionary is actually rather honest about the teachings they believe.. I suggest it will help u understand specifically why it doesn’t agree … simply put … there is 2 standards they believe .. 1. The Bible 2. Tradition . All Christian’s are supposed to have 1 standard only . The Bible . And as soon as u add another standard in addition… money / tradition / human standards / you get something other than the truth .. unfortunately.
My main issue with Calvanism is that I believe we have free will. That we must choose Christ. God knows who will and won't choose, but He still gives us a choice.
did you resolve that issue? if not, you can always rely on yt search "why i am not a calvinist" you may change "calvinist" to "prebysterian" or " methodist" or else 😁😁
@@maximustheconfessor72 Staying that you have free will is not an argument either. I’m not arguing. The Bible doesn’t say a mans will is free. That’s a fact. It’s just a total figment of your imagination.
@@aletheia8054 Acts 7:51, Romans 2:4-5, and Matthew 23:37 are some of the many verses that show human cooperation, while not the cause of salvation, is an important element. Irresistible grace is not Scriptural.
The Christian club that I am art of at university is reformed; while there are sections of the theology that I feel odd about, they have helped me open to Christ. I am forever grateful for that.
Don't fall into this trap. If God forces everything to happen, that means He is the Author of sin as well. Don't be tricked by Calvinist codewords like "sovereignty"(meaning: micromanagement) or grace(prevenient grace, God forcing you to like Him) or Election (God choosing to save specifically you, for no reason). God is sovereign while allowing us freedom. God gives us grace, which we can accept or deny, and He has elected that whosoever believes will not perish.
@@SeanWinters we are saved by grace through faith and this faith is not of ourselves, it is the gift of God. We are saved by faith, not works, lest any should boast. When we receive salvation we will have nothing to boast about, the grace of God saved us, and we received the grace through faith. We also received this faith from God. Think about those verses. If we were saved by grace through faith and received faith from God, then people who never received faith never had a chance, and people who receive faith was only in an act of God. We do have free will, and it may play a part, but the only part it’s played in salvation specifically is the sin that made our salvation necessary. No, God does not tempt us to sin. There is no sin in him so he cannot tempt us to sin. We sin of our own earthly wicked desires. But sin existing does not refute the verses in the Bible that explicitly state Salvation comes from the LORD alone, it does not come from the actions of men. And if completely from God, it is his to give or withhold as he chooses.
@@SeanWinters we also know that it is the LORD who fashions the hearts of minds of men, and it was the LORD who hardened pharaohs heart. Shall the clay say to the potter “Why hast thou made me thus?” Indeed. God does shape the hearts of minds of both the wicked and the righteous.
@@SeanWinters so while you are correct, the LORD does not cause others to sin, as there is no sin in him, he does shape us and mold us, the righteous and the wicked to do his will.
@@snufkin4568 "Saved by grace, through faith, and this is the Gift of God" In the Greek, faith is feminine, grace is masculine, "this" is neuter. Meaning that "this"(the gift) is not referring to grace nor faith, but rather, the gift is salvation. You have misread this verse because you don't understand greek. Understand that this part of your argument is incorrect and has been forever.
Why did God say "In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent." Why did God command all people to repent if He only allows a few to do so?
@@tommartin5667why did Adam & Eve eat the fruit of the tree knowledge of good & evil? Not everyone will hear conviction & heed repentance. Let those who have ears, let them hear. Everyone has ears, not everyone listens
Awesome brother! Subscribed after watching one of your other videos on the history and development of Christianity (“You can make a denomination out of that” - gold!!!). Keep it up please. Awesome content and production value!
Why did God say "In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent." Why did God command all people to repent if He only allows a few to do so?
@@carsonbaird3904 st augustine was a roman catholic. john calvin revered st augustine and mentioned him a lot in his institutes. both men believed in infant baptism and a church state. at my old reformed baptist church they made us stand up and do public confession. both believed the church replaced Israel and that the church will go through the tribulation. both also believe that salvation is faith that works. so being part of the faith is doing the works. which is very different to what bible believers teach now which is salvation is faith not works. no works must show at all. very different concept. my message to you is to check your salvation ruclips.net/video/_VRT2FFXntc/видео.htmlsi=GSt_7z_0gq4LZyNM
@@lefebre27 what the heck are you talking about ??? I’m serious,, I don’t find it funny at all !!! I’m asking you a question,,,,,, eternity is a long time::: to be constantly reminded that you got it WRONG
Just found your channel and think what you are doing is great. Keep up the good work. Not reformed myself but like a lot of reformed teachers. We agree on the major stuff. I flirted reformed but was swayed theologically it was not adding up. To many problem passages. Was struggling with connecting the theological dots of the OT to the NT then stumbled upon Dr. Michael S. Heiser and his major work The Unseen Realm. Guy is a normal Christian but if you read his stuff the Bible you will read it with a new set of eyes but in the best way that honors the text. He is a top rate scholar.
That was honestly a decent effort to summarize without oversimplifying or overstating. Great job! I liked this video and will subscribe, too. God bless you, man!
But Jesus didn’t choose to die for any specific people. The Bible says Jesus died for the sins of the whole world. Those who truly believe Jesus will be saved ❤
Anglicanism historically is tied most closely to geography and a prayer book. You can have Reformed Anglicanism on one hand (emphasizes a break in the Medieval church and unity with Reformers) and Anglo-Catholic on the other (emphasizes continuity with the Medieval church and counter to the Reformation).
As a Roman Catholic it actually shocks me that according to some reformed christians God actively created some people just to damn them for all eternity. Crazy stuff man
But how could an all-knowing god not create people just to damn them for eternity, if he knows they'll be damned before he chooses to create them? The thing I like about Calvinism is that it actually paints a more accurate picture of who god would be if he exists - a tyrannical, sadistic cunt in the skies. The most realistic version of Christianity is the one which exposes the true, evil nature of said religion..
@@beerboots I don't think that harsh kind of language was necessary to bring your point across. That said, I think my main critique of Calvinism is, that it's really human minded. God is a huge mystery and Calvinism just seems like it's trying to somehow make up an irrefutable theory of how some people can actually fall away from the faith or not live by the faith at all. I'm by no means an apologetic or have much of an idea of all the complexities of the Christian faith, but I like to compare the all-knowing, all-loving God to a parent who really loves its child eventhough the parent knows that the child has some major flaws (I like the example of dealing drugs). The parent knows what its child is doing but still loves it because it's its child. If now the child is convicted and has to go to prison, the parent would still see it as the just punishment of the child. In the same way it's God who created and thus loves all of his children, even if they disobey him with their sin. He knows that we are abusing the free will he gave us by sinning, but he so loved us that he gave away his only son so that we may have the chance to escape the prison of eternal punishment, if we choose also by our free will to believe in the death and resurrection of Christ.
@@sakarael_rex I just don't see how you can rectify this concept of an all-loving God with the notion that his children deserve hell and it is only by God's 'grace' that a minority of us get to escape that inconceivably cruel and unloving punishment if we're fortunate enough to have made the 'right' choice. Calvinism skips the wishful thinking and acknowledges that an all-knowing, all-powerful God is responsible for the outcomes he creates via the causal chain of effect. Where Calvinism goes off the rails into insanity, is it's notion that such a god is 'good'.
@@beerboots but that is indeed the nature of the Gospel. God gave us humans free will, cause he did not want to be worshipped by robots. And with our free will we decided to sin against our perferct Father thus deserving hell. But because God is indeed all-loving, instead of just damning everyone, he offered a solution to all our self-inflicted suffering in His son. That we are damned for all eternity is not God's fault, it's our own fault. And we indeed have the free will to save ourselves. That's exactly what's wrong with Calvinism. In Calvinism you literally are a slave to God's will, someone who can't make the free coice to be saved or to perish. If you're not elect, well, then you're just unlucky I guess. Personally I hope for the salvation of all, I would want nobody to perish in hell for all eternity and I would want every human person on earth to see God's glory in paradise. As a Calvinist there is no such hope, cause indeed most humans will just be damned.
Baptism is not a requirement to experience God’s grace, but it is a means by which God gives his grace to us. If you were baptized as an infant, and you persevered to the end in your faith, it is right to say that God saved you through the sacrament of baptism.
Mathew 18:15-20 teaches us how to handle controversy within the Church. 6 early Church controversies ruclips.net/video/xwFiyZfg1jU/видео.htmlsi=Czb6VFWjgjV-n0Yq
Thank you for explanation, brother. As Orthodox Christian in Yemen, there not many Christians here (only 0.01%). I am happy to call you my brother and that you also call me brother because we are all united to Jesus Messiah.
@@drakusorz2007 Because Muslims tax, torture, and kill people who don’t convert? How do you explain islam with calvinism? Is God responsible for it? or is free will?
Why did God say "In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent." Why did God command all people to repent if He only allows a few to do so?
Do you accept the authority of the Catholic Church when it decrees which books were inspired by God in the Old Testament but do you not accept the authority of the Catholic Church when it decrees which books were inspired in the New Testament? How does it work, can you please explain it to me?
That's correct. Thank you. Reformed Theology view Eph. 2, 1-4 World's view👇 Pelagius (/pəˈleɪdʒiəs/; c. 354-418) was a Romano-British theologian known for promoting a system of doctrines (termed Pelagianism by his opponents) which emphasized human choice in salvation and denied original sin.[1] Pelagius was accused of heresy at the synod of Jerusalem in 415 and his doctrines were harshly criticized by Augustine of Hippo, especially the Pelagian views about mankind's good nature and individual responsibility for choosing asceticism.[2] Pelagius especially stressed the freedom of human will.[3
The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting ANYONE to perish, but EVERYONE to come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9
So I don’t “have to be reformed to be saved”, that’s good to know. Please tell me which of the apostles were reformed? Maybe Matthew and definitely not James?
1 Calvinism was preceded by, and primarily inspired by Augustinianism, which on the other hand was an (in)direct product of Manichaeism, a sect, known back then as the pinnacle of Gnosticism and the major opponent of Christianity until Islam assumed this role. Mani's teaching was intended to 'combine', succeed, and surpass the teachings of Christianity, Zoroastrianism, Buddhism, Marcionism, Hellenistic and Rabbinic Judaism and other religions and mystery cults. It reveres Mani as the final prophet after / the reincarnation of Zoroaster, the Buddha, and Jesus. 2 Augustine renounced Manichaeism only shortly after having been threatened with death by the Roman emperorand only after Christianity became the only accepted religion of the state. He then taught some years free will, only to later inch back to their teachings. In his last 18 years he taught variants of the 5 points of TULIP and Double Predestination. Practically every person in the modern era (1500 AD+) who is a determinist, quotes Augustine as source for his belief. It is also not surprising that the Scriptures used by Manicheans are the very same ones used by Calvinists today. It must also be mentioned that Augustine is the absolute key figure in bringing the Apocrypha into our Bibles. He was the very first in 393 AD who approved in his own Council of Hippo the canonicity of the Apocrypha, shortly before the mega codices and later practically all Bibles indeed included those, until Zwingli and Luther separated them again from the Canon. He was one of the first to argue for financial tithing based on Old Covenant law. He further rejected the Genesis account being literal. Christians who took the Creation Story literally were his laughingstock and "looked like idiots among non-Christians because they denied science and reason". He believed in all seven Catholic sacraments (contradicting statements on purgatory, but probably affirming it) and taught that marital sex involving lust is sinful ... 3 Calvinism was absent among Pre-Nicene Christians. Even notable Calvinistic scholar and historian, Loraine Boettner, admitted, "This cardinal truth [Calvinism] of Christianity was first clearly seen by Augustine". For the first ~400 years of Christianity, its teachers, preachers, apostles, evangelists and theologians taught "historic traditionalism" without a deterministic theology. Borrowing from Manichaeism, Augustine brought strong determinism and their precise terminology of the 'elect' into the church (while he had made it within their circles only to be a 'hearer'; possibly also a motivation to create his own fellowship of 'elects'). 4 Calvin absorbed his doctrine primarily from Augustine: "Augustine is so wholly within me, that if I wished to write a confession of my faith, I could do so with all fullness and satisfaction to myself out of his writings." This is why one finds that every four pages written in the Institutes of the Christian Religion John Calvin quoted Augustine. Calvin would deem himself not a Calvinist, but an Augustinian. Christian Calvinist, should they be more likely deemed an Augustinian-Calvinist? As a result, Calvinism in particular is sometimes referred to as Augustinianism. It must also be mentioned that Calvin was an unrepented murderer, a dark episode often downplayed today, as we see e.g. in articles like the one Challies wrote in 2005. Calvin is directly responsible for the first 'heretic' sentenced to it by Protestants, the burning of his long-standing theological opponent, Servetus. He had him arrested while visiting his church and single-handedly provided the points of the indictment. Throughout the trial (of several weeks) he had put the screw upon the Council to pass a death sentence on Servetus and had gained his end (see 'The Right to Heresy - How John Calvin Killed a Conscience: Castellio against Calvin', Chapter 5, Pages 70-84, available for free on Scribd) . It might be true that Calvin had contemplated a mitigation of the sentence (sword instead of slow burning) - but only if Servetus were to purchase this mitigation by a spiritual sacrifice, by a last-hour- recantation to Farel, the friend Calvin sent while 'studying at home' during the execution (a recantation of the 'most abominable sin', of Modalism, the second charge was anti-infant baptism)."
Calvin justified this killing with Old Covenant Law, Lev 24:16. "The one who blasphemes the name of the Lord should be put to death". Instead of repenting, "he boasted of the deed before a silent congregation" when he entered the pulpit the next Sunday. He also spelled out his theologically reinforced vengeance towards his opponents in a personal letter to Farel: “I am persuaded that it is not without the special will of God that, apart from any verdict of the judges, the criminals have endured protracted torment at the hands of the executioner.” 5 Calvinism today is generally undermining the need for evangelism (because it is at odds with election); it converts it into an unloving work without genuine love and motivation. Hyper-Calvinists would in their very strict application of Calvinism go as far as to factually forbid the preaching of the Gospel and the offer of salvation to the non-elect. 6 Rejection of the biblical concept of prevenient grace and free will leading to salvation (Puppet Theology). Mark Driscoll went as far (in the common overemphasis of 'grace') to say that Noah got saved by grace only and that his salvation had absolutely nothing to do with faith or righteousness - directly contradicting the Bible in 'Gen 6:9 ... Noah was a righteous man'. 7 Claim that man cannot respond / consent to God's call unto Salvation! God autonomously determines the desires and choices of people to accept Him ('Unconditional Election' = Random Selection). Claim that Belief is not a pre-condition to Past Salvation (being born again).
8 Propagation of the unbiblical 'Once-Saved-Always- Saved' theology ('Unconditional Salvation'). Regular claim that unrepented sin does not endanger Future Salvation !!!
Bible: Possible shipwreck. (Perseverance of faithful saints) Calvinism: No possible shipwreck. (Perseverance of all saints, Once-Saved-Always-Saved)
Bible: Prevenient grace + response through believer. (Conditional Election) Calvinism: Grace only + no response. (Unconditional Election, Sovereign Grace)
Bible: Jesus came to save the world. He died for all men. (Universal Atonement) Calvinism: Jesus came to save the elect. He died only for the elect. (Limited Atonement)
Bible: Jesus is the Light of the World. Calvinism: Jesus is the Light of the Elect.
Bible: A believer can reject the grace of God. (Resistable Grace) Calvinism: A believer cannot reject the grace of God. (Irresistible Grace)
Bible: Free Will & Predestination. Calvinism: Predestination only. Bible: God shows benevolent love to unbelievers and complacent love to believers. Calvinism: God hates unbelievers and loves believers only.
9 Arminianism, which is closer to God's truth, is their stereotype enemy and part of a strategic system of a false dichotomy. Spurgeon in 'Lectures To My Students' (which I read completely): "I was afraid the people might veer towards Antinomianism (complete denial of laws), an extreme as dangerous as Arminianism".
10 The unbiblical doctrine of Cessationism is particularly associated with Calvinism and only slowly opposed by New Calvinists. Most Calvinists teach that Spiritual Gifts have ceased, very similar to Pharisees who constantly rejected miracles ... and who had also a ...
11 ... very strong emphasis on uniform appearance. 12 Tendency towards spiritual racism. Elitist and often condescending attitude. They very often, if not regularly deem themselves more intellectual than others. Widely influenced by Spurgeon who was a great teacher, but who regularly 'called names' and showed little humility. "Calvinism is the true Gospel, not just a nickname". "Calvinism, then, is the spiritual meat which enables a man to labour on in the ways of Christian service".
My only hangup on this is the idea that God created us all, yet seemingly arbitrarily chooses some to be saved and some to be damned. Also the irresistible grace concept seems contrary to love, because love does not force. Furthermore, if God chooses certain people and makes it so they won't resist his grace, he's taking away their free will. At that point, why not simply take away the free will of all and make them all righteous? Feel free to correct me if I've misunderstood.
This is why I'm not a calvanist as well. In a nutshell it eliminates free will. And the cry from calvanists when I say this is that "the Bible never says the words free will, or anything like that" And yeah that's true, you won't find those specific words in there. But all of the cruxes in the Bible implicitly require free will to even exist. Love cannot be forced, and must be freely given requiring free will, the mere idea of punishment for disobedience in genesis requires that Adam and Eve had the capacity to choose to not disobey God. Having the capacity to choose to do, or not do something is otherwise known as; you guessed it, free will. Even without the words being outright used in scripture, for any of the key concepts in scripture to be true, free will is a requirement.
The author of the video did say that you don't have to be reformed to be saved, you just have to be united to Christ so I guess yes. Catholics are "the elects" too.
His "limited atonement" theory only confuses the unbeliever more suggesting that he cannot believe unless God chooses and that God chooses to damn the rest.
I still struggle with the idea of elect and non-elect in Calvinism. I want to believe that everyone was given the freedom and ability to choose Christ or deny Him of their own accord, ultimately leaving the responsibility on the individual person. I was told my thought process was closer to Arminianism, and I really don't know what that is, but I'm feeling my way through all this reformed theology stuff bit by bit, so I guess I'll get there when I get there.
I think what makes it hard for us to understand is that God exists outside of the timeline. But maybe the answer is in that, too. I'm on a similar journey. Grace and peace to you.
What you want to believe, is true. Christ declared grace on the whole world, long before the apostles uttered the word. Just as you said, once forgiven, it's up to an individual. Yes, Jesus said all are elect, but those who commit the unpardonable. Mt. 12:31-32 Mk. 3:28. Calvinism is an offshoot of catholicism, a church that departed from scripture, as early as 325 a.d. John 3:16 puts the kaibash on Calvinism, with the words, "whosoever ". Think about it. If Calvinism had any legitimacy, the Bible wouldn't be riddled with warnings. What Calvin did, is glom the predestination of apostles, on to us all, which is bogus.
@aniki91344 An inkling of truth on a foundation of lies, is status quo, the way things are, standard operating procedure, caviot emptor, a heartbreaking disappointment. Isn't it a mystery, that scripture should be the firewall to fraud, however, somehow the source of a multitude of denominations and doctrine? Since Satan is involved, maybe not.
Agreed. If everything we do is governed purely by predestination, then we can easily conclude that every sin committed by humanity is an extension of God's malicious nature, since in predetermining our actions He would have to assume responsibility for them. We cannot submit to the notion that God is malicious in any way, therefore there must be something beyond a predetermined path for each of us to follow (that something being a freely chosen path of sinfulness). Just as free will cannot encompass the whole of our journey, neither can a divinely imposed will. Both concepts lose their meanings in the absence of the other. In a sense, we are all elect. It's up to each of us to decide whether we accept the grace being extended to us.
I can answer that. Not all Reformed Christians did, but Presbyterians are from Scotland, and since Scotland is Celtic, the Celtic cross also became used as the Presbyterian cross.
Basis for mean calvinism is Romans 9:21-22 Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use?What if God, although choosing to show his wrath and make his power known, bore with great patience the objects of his wrath-prepared for destruction? If you lived life long enough, there is indeed people who cant change.
Here is my explanation of Calvinism: Total Depravity states that humans are so sinful and so fallen, to the point where we are unable to accept Christ unless God draws us near to Him. Unconditional Election states that since the beginning, God has already predestined who will be saved and who will not be saved, and God's predestination is solely based on His will and preference; not based on His foreknowledge or anything else. Limited Atonement states that Jesus did not die for everyone; He only died for the elect, or the people who have been predestined before time to accept Him and be saved. Irresistible Grace states that when God calls someone or draws someone near, that person does not have the ability or free will to resist God's calling; as if he was programmed to accept Christ no matter what. Perseverance Of The Saints states that once a person is saved/born again, they will always be saved; they can never fall out of grace no matter what, and they will continue to have faith in Christ and do good works until the end of their lives.
John Calvin’s favorite Gospel passage was when a man asked Jesus what must he do to gain eternal life, and Jesus tells him there is nothing to be done because his eternal fate was pre-determined before he was born.
oh there's tons of Baptists who "consider" themselves Reformed, but that doesn't mean they're actually Reformed. Reformed and Baptist are inherently contradictory
I am getting lost in the doctrinal differences of the denominations. Serious question: Can I just read the Bible and follow its teachings without needing courses in how I could interpret the text?
The Baptists may be what you’re looking for in a church - they encourage personal Bible reading better than most churches out there and don’t get bogged down too much with doctrine ecclesiology. You’d get the same thing with non denominational as well, just with less church structure.
Absolutely you can read the Bible on your own and try to follow it's teachings. The problem you will have, however, is God wants us to live in community, not on little islands. Being part of a church will require you to go along with a certain view of things. I suggest you find a church that says it believes in the Bible, and go along with the view of that church as you learn more. Eventually you will probably have disagreements, but don't be disagreeable personally. Secondary things in the Bible are not as clear as our denominations make them sometimes, but the main things are the plain things.
@@Ex_christian I've notice you commenting a lot on these videos. I was once anti-Christian myself. God used all that hatred and bitterness to eventually lead me to brokenness and humility. I pray he does the same with you, and that you experience the same grace I did when I repented and trusted Christ to forgive my sins.
@Redeemed Zoomer do you belive the sacraments are necessary for salvation or are just signs and symbols of our spiritual regeneration and connection PS. im a reformed southern baptist. love your work long live the reconqista!!!!!!!!
My only question what about the their on the cross I'm sure you have heard that objection frequently but I am legitimately curious to hear your opinion. Thanks for your previous response I look forward to hearing your opinion
@@guitarhero327 Sure! Baptism is a sacrament. The Reformed tradition (like Calvin, Augustine, Westminster) defines a sacrament as having two parts: the sign and the thing signified. The sign isn't necessary for salvation, but the thing signified is. So the thief on the cross experienced the thing signified (spiritual regeneration) without the sign (baptism with water) HOWEVER, under ORDINARY circumstances, the sign and the thing signified are united. So under ordinary circumstances, Baptism as a whole is necessary for salvation. However I wouldn't question the salvation of someone who converts on a plane that crashes and they die before getting baptized. Hope that helps!
@Redeemed Zoomer OKOK yeah no I get what you're saying what I 1st understood was that you were saying the sign itself the water and/or the elements of communion were the thing that were necessary i.e. The Catholic position but what you're saying is that it is through faith alone but through ordinary script other circumstances baptism in the Lord supper shouldn't be Ignore I completely agree with that as well as your last statement although as a Baptist I place a little less importance on the physi can I can generally say that it is definitely a good answer one that I can get behind. So you would agree when Luther says that it's not the absence of the sacrament that leads to demonation but the contempt of the sacraments that lead to its damnation.
What's the use of speading the Gospel of the elect are "already chosen". Does that mean some elect are Gospel spreaders, and it solves that? It's kind of like the Matrix I guess.
So you can devote your entire life to Christ and the Reformed Church only to find out you’re not elect after all. So you wasted your whole life for nothing but damnation? What’s the point of faith if it’s just RNG?
I think you did not understand Calvinism that much. If you devote your entire life to Christ you are one of the elects (perseveration of the Saints - one of the five points of Calvinism).
@@pedroguimaraes6094Unless, of course, you were granted only "evanescent grace" in which point his point still stands. Preservation of the saints is nonsensical
@@italiansoldierfromww2460 It does not. Being an elect is having faith in Christ and persevering until the end. Every Christian denomination holds that this is necessary for being save (unless you are an universalist). The only difference is that we believe that you could only persevere because you were elected by God. It is that simple. In the end of the day, nothing changes in practice but this is important for you to understand how necessary God's grace is for our salvation.
therefore, Christ declares that the doctrine of the Gospel, though it is preached to all without exception, cannot be embraced by all, but that a new understanding and a new perception are requisite; and, therefore, that faith does not depend on the will of men, but that it is God who gives it.
Revelation 22:17 says, “Whosoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.” Calvinism, however says it actually means: The ones I (God) chose, will take of the water of life. John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” Calvinism, however says this verse actually means: For God so loved the ones He chose, that He gave His only begotten Son, that those He chose WILL have everlasting life. Joshua 24:15 says, “…choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve…But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” Calvinism, however says this verse actually means: There is no choice, rather, God will decide whether or not one will serve the Lord. 2nd Peter 3:9 says, “The Lord is…not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” Calvinism, however, says this verse actually means: The Lord is not willing that any of the ones He has chosen should perish, but that all of the ones He has chosen should come to repentance. Matthew6:8-10 says, “…therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done.” This is a prayer. If God’s will was already being done as per Calvinism, then why do we need to pray that it will happen? Hebrews 3:12-14 says, “Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; but exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end…” This is a call to not harden our hearts and depart from the living God, and to hold our confidence in Christ steadfast until the end. According to Calvinism, we can’t make that decision; God has already decided. John 1:29 says, “The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” Calvinism, however says this verse actually means: The Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the few that God has chosen. 1st Timothy 1:15 says, “This is a faithful saying …that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners…” Calvinism, however says this verse actually means: Jesus came into the world to save (ONLY) the sinners God has already chosen. 1ST John 19 says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Calvinism says, this verse really means, the ones He has chosen WILL confess their sins, and He is faithful and just to forgive them their sins and to cleanse them from all unrighteousness. Calvinism calls confession a synergistic work; meaning a work of faith added to what God has already done. Also, there is no IF in Calvinism. Revelation 3:20 says, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.” Calvinism says, this verse really means, “…when the one I have chosen hears my voice, he will open the door…” Luke 13:3 says, “…unless you repent, you too will all perish.” It doesn’t say, “it doesn’t matter if you repent UNLESS I have already chosen you.”
I recommend to read "What Love is this?" from Dave Hunt. Look at John 3,16 or 1 Tim 2,4. This and many other clear passages will debunk Calvinism as false doctrine
Does regeneration proceed faith? Answer: No. It comes as a result. "That whosoever believes in him may have eternal life..." If you are regenerated you have eternal life. Right?
. . . I am not better then most reformed believers, put I am better-off...I don't just preach to the chosen few, I preach salvation to all people in Christ Jesus. Knowing that God can save anyone that will repent of there sins, then put there faith in Jesus for their salvation like a parachute if you where going to jump out of an airplane...you can't just look at the parachute and be saved...you have to put it on...By faith put on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved.... God has given all mankind a measure of faith...and it's this faith that can save anyone that will repent and put their faith in Christ alone... Romans 12:3 “For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath (dealt to every man the measure of faith.”) .Romans 10:13-17 13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? 17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
I have no idea what denomination I fall under. All I know for sure to be the case is that Christ died for my sins and I need to be baptized in order for my soul to be saved.
Just go to the nearest Church which preach the Gospel correctly, administer the sacraments with due respect and hold the Nicene Creed. That should be enough.
You don’t need to be baptized to be saved- you need to believe in Jesus Christ for eternal life which cannot be lost. But you SHOULD be baptized because that is what saved people do. And like Pedro said- find a Bible believing Gospel preaching church near you 😊
@@britneyalyssa1314 the desire for baptism is a good thing! I rejoice that you are praying it. Let me ask you- do you believe in Jesus Christ for eternal life? If you do then Jesus said you have passed from death into life and no one can pluck you out of his hand!
Check out the Orthodox Church my friends. God led me there with a divine vision that continues. I knew nothing of Greek or orthodoxy prior to the vision.
Hey - can I ask you to explain why exactly you choose predestination instead of free will belief ? I am Catholic and to be fair I do not understand how is that more accurate view of God and his mode of operations given the message of NT.
i.e. How that passing over the non-elect works ? What is the real difference between mean and Nice calvinists ? You mean that we CAN by our actions suit the unchanging standard of God by using his grace that is extended uniformally to everyone, but not answered by all ? Because that would be the same as having free will. On the other hand if God somehow created someone and KNEW that this person will not be saved then He still actively caused it by making the person the way He did. How can there be any other option without falling to mean calvinism
_"can I ask you to explain why exactly you choose predestination instead of free will belief ?"_ "Instead of" indicates a misunderstanding. The Reformed don't think there is a conflict between what God predestines, ordains or makes providence for, but rather that our free will is established by those things. We would not and could not have free will unless God ordained all things such that we also have free will. I think the Westminster Confession of Faith puts it nicely: 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. 5.2 Although in relation to the foreknowledge and decree of God, the first cause, all things come to pass immutably and infallibly, yet, by the same providence, He ordereth them to fall out according to the nature of second causes, either necessarily, freely, or contingently. Also chapter 9 gives a good overview of the Reformed affirmation on free will.
@@oracleoftroy I understand from it that the creation is primarily done to serve the Gods plan and secondly it takes onto account peoples free will. But still - you do not have any say in being the elect. So is it saying that even though you could be a very good christian by your own will, you might never go to heaven despite your decisions anyways? (inb4 if we say that Gods plan makes you somehow act in certain way as to commit sin by your own will supposedly, then it is not free will. It is deterministic view of world and it would be opposed to free will.) EDIT. I've read the chapter 9. If I understood correctly it states that no man is capable of being good by his own volition anymore and all good that comes from man is only because of the God working with man. Am I understanding it correctly ? So all it says really is that man lost their free will because of sin and can only be reinvigorated by God. I must have misunderstood it, because it is quite obvious that all man can do good things. Even holy things if their put their mind to it. Unless it's about choosing to be holy. Then it basically means that no permanent convert can be without grace as grace is the only thing that enables man to do what is good constantly and with pure intention. But then still it leaves a lot of people basically broken and without free will which was taken away by original sin. Additionally there will be people who will never be able to be actually good because God didn't extend His grace to them which feels like the most horrible thing to do. Why this limited scope of grace is preferable to the universal one in reformed theology ? In short - As it now stands [as in : my understanding stands] (As a Catholic) I could agree that man cannot convert without Gods grace but the important point is that it must be universal and dependent on particular persons decision to follow it.
@@nc956 _"you do not have any say in being the elect."_ Correct, God as judge is the one who gets to show mercy. We as the convicted criminal don't get to sentence ourselves. _"So is it saying that even though you could be a very good christian by your own will, you might never go to heaven despite your decisions anyways?"_ No, such a person would be elect as such a response requires being born of the spirit, which only happens when God calls his elect to him. _"if we say that Gods plan makes you somehow act in certain way as to commit sin by your own will supposedly, then it is not free will"_ I don't think God's plan makes us do X. Nor do I think God plans by looking into the future or into alternative worlds and incorporating what he learns from that. Rather, I think it is better to understand that God ordains in a way that allows for freedom and contingency within God's creation. Are you free to flap your arms and fly in the sky? Birds are. Are you free to breath underwater? Fish are. Hungry? You are free to choose any food you want, and yet there are still limits to that freedom. Not everything you stick in your mouth is healthy, and not every good food that God created is available to you (because of cost, location, personal preference, shortages, economics, and a host of other factors). God could have ordained such freedom for humans as he did for other creatures, yet we rarely consider that as somehow taking away from our free will. It's only when God acts as God towards us that we seem to get uppity and demand that we be like God. _"I must have misunderstood it, because it is quite obvious that all man can do good things."_ Yes, you are going beyond what it says: Man, by his fall into a state of sin, hath wholly lost all ability of will to any _spiritual_ good *accompanying salvation;* so as a natural man, being altogether averse from that good, and dead in sin, is not able, by his own strength, *to convert himself,* or to prepare himself thereunto. Yes man can do good things, but Christianity isn't a karma system where doing good things erases bad things. We are condemned for our sin. If we murder someone, we are judged for murder, and no amount of good things can erase the sin. Doing good is the baseline expectation, not some special merit. So a fallen person can do good things, like be a good parent or walk little old ladies across the street or cure cancer, etc. But none of those good things are the spiritual good of salvation or the change of heart that only God can do for salvation. Only the grace and mercy of God can right our sin, and that is not something that happens at our beck and call, but by God's will. _"Then it basically means that no permanent convert can be without grace as grace is the only thing that enables man to do what is good constantly and with pure intention."_ Amen and well said. We are saved by God's grace and not at all by and thought or deed that originates in us. _"But then still it leaves a lot of people basically broken and without free will which was taken away by original sin."_ No, they are willfully sinning and so stand justly condemned. _"Additionally there will be people who will never be able to be actually good because God didn't extend His grace to them which feels like the most horrible thing to do."_ Those God does not show saving grace to are rightly condemned for their wilful sin against God. _"Why this limited scope of grace is preferable to the universal one in reformed theology ?"_ I'm not sure what you mean by universal grace. Are you saying everyone is saved? If not and some are indeed condemned, how is grace universal for those that did not receive grace? _"As it now stands [as in : my understanding stands] (As a Catholic) I could agree that man cannot convert without Gods grace but the important point is that it must be universal and dependent on particular persons decision to follow it."_ It's interesting that many modern Roman Catholics no longer agree with the churches teaching as found in the Canon of Orange. At least historically, the Catholic church agreed on these things as found in Canon 3-7. These ideas are far older than the Reformation, with Orange preceding Calvin by over 1000 years.
@@oracleoftroy "I'm not sure what you mean by universal grace. Are you saying everyone is saved? If not and some are indeed condemned, how is grace universal for those that did not receive grace?" By universal and near constant grace I mean that all people receive Gods blessing to do good and be free of the burden of impaired free will. So that everyone can if they choose accept or reject Gods law. By rejecting it a man is thrown again into sin, by accepting it he is saved. I would compare it to suspended sentence. God loves every human being so he gives everybody maximum amount of chances to actually be a good person. I personally refuse to believe that there are people who have no chances to be good, so conversely I think that everybody experiences grace multiple times in their life. If only to reject it and end up in hell in the end. "Those God does not show saving grace to are rightly condemned for their wilful sin against God" But how is that willful sin if they never received grace to be able to desire spiritual good in the first place ? This exact point leads me to believe that everybody has that kind of chance. Maybe even every day or almost always. Which in turn make our decision the turning point. Not because we deserve that, but because undeserving love and because without sin (or with grace) we all have the potential to be saints. In short - I do not believe that God would actually omit anyone when giving grace. Why would He do that ?
We love God don't we folks
Most importantly he loves us back
Yessir
Yes
Amen
Ooooohhhh Yeeeeaaaahhhh 😎❤✝
I've never been a particularly religious man. I believe in God and Jesus. But have only read portions of the Bibel. But your content is very informative and easy to understand, and I'm considering attending a church.
I pray you find the right church where you move beyond a belief of God/Jesus to establishing an intimate relationship with our Heavenly Father! May you seek and follow Him and become a new person as the Holy Spirit will live in you and change your life through the fruits of the spirit! 🙏🏽✝️
Let this be a warning from a former atheist. Do not associate with Sunday keepers, as in time and study, you will discover that the vast majority of professing Christianity contradicts the Bible, or the Bible contradicts. That majority, is the subject of 1John 2:3-4
According to scripture, God is a family. These heretics will tell you, the Bible Teaches God is 3 people. You will discover the gospel about Christ is everywhere, and overwhelming, while the gospel according to Christ is almost non existent. That's just the tip of the liar iceberg.
Scripture, of the correct version, is the firewall to fraud.
Ask thyself why so many denominations and doctrine.
You'll find with experience, the ten commandments is a key factor in every issue, every solid doctrine, every truth, biblically from beginning to end of the Bible.
Revelation 22:14
My conversion was a long drawn out ordeal, beginning with emotion, joy, then years ended the honeymoon by genuine seeking of God, who's existence is a serious enormity, and not bogus, as religion, for the most part, is.
God bless you. I recommend you read and study the Bible with an open mind. Don’t expect Christianity to be all gentle, tender, meek, mild or clean. Christianity is weird and hard to understand because reality is weird and hard to understand and Christianity is real. Find good, honest, non-fringe teachers and a church that doesn’t try to explain away the scripture to help you learn. Don’t overestimate the importance of your own feelings, it’s a mistake many Christians make today. Pray that God leads you to the truth, he can. That’s my practical advice to you, anyway.
How are you doing bro?
attend a catholic one
For this guy to not have a degree in theology it’s pretty impressive the way he delivers the message, It really validates what I’ve been thinking about the last days: “the unqualified will become wiser than the qualified”.
God bless your ministry brother!
Bc college is expensive and zoomers have internet
@@BC-sn8imand really all Bible college does is teach you other people's conclusions and such from the Bible that can be found yourself by just reading the Bible and saving like 40k lol
Yes. This. hahahaha@@BC-sn8im
Where is that in the bible? How did you get that idea about the last days and being unqualified?
Just where does it say “the unqualified will become wiser than the qualified”?
Profound! You are one incredibly cool theological nerd. I’m thankful to God for His providence as to allowing me find you. Great grace abounds toward you.
great work! my calvinist friends will be mad on how accurate yet short this video is
It's okay. They were predestined to be mad about it.
@@pinochet3698haha
@@pinochet3698 🤣
@@pinochet3698 10/10 well memed agusto
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣@@pinochet3698
The idea of predestination is interesting. I believe that God's will is to save all people and for all people to love him, but since he's a relational God and love can't be forced, he gives us the free will to choose to be with him or not.
Great explanation of Reformed theology. Thank you, and keep it up!
But of course it is like you are saying. What kind of animal can believe that God chooses people before hand?
@@germankoster4910 Ephesians 1, Ephesians 2:1-10, Romans 3:10-12, Romans 8:28-33, Romans 9, John 6:37-45, 1 Corinthians 2:14, Deuteronomy 30:6, 2 Timothy 1:9, 1 Thessalonians 5:9, 1 Peter 1:1-2, 2 Thessalonians 2:13, and many more.
The problem with free will according to Jesus is that it only ever chooses darkness. Hence the need for rebirth. (John 3)
It doesn’t matter what you believe the only thing what matters is what is written in the Bible.
Ephs 2 8and9 says its not by mans free will. sorry man can not choose God God must choose you.
Not gonna lie, was anticipating a mockery and caricature and this was probably the most to the point presentation I've heard someone give. Excellent job!
I mean he is a Calvinist/Reformed so makes sense haha
@@UltraX34 right, but you don’t know that from simply seeing a video pop up as a suggestion.
He mocks some denominations in his videos.
As a non-calvinist, the two versions of calvinist theology are interpreted to me as "God does not care about non-elected people or God hates non-elected people" which feels really contradictory to scripture and Christ's sacrifice... Could any reformed people please clear my mind about this?
Catholic predestination > Calvinist predestination
God cares about everyone but only gives grace to an elect. God cares about the non-elect, but is giving them what they deserve. While God also equally cares about the elect but gives them grace. Similar to a teacher and giving students detentions for disrupting class if that makes sense.
@@cormundum_o That has no basis in Scripture or Tradition.
@@thehighlander6770 John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that He gave his one and only begotten son, that whoever believes in him will not perish but have eternal life."
God so loved the world, not only the elect. The later books in the new testament talk about how only the elect will go to heaven.
"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God- not by works, so that no one can boast."
Grace is an undeserved favor. Therefore, God only gives grace to some not others.
If you need further info read Ephesians 1, Romans 6 and Romans 9.
@@cormundum_o So what you're saying is that God loves everyone equally, but he only gives some grace? That really just sounds like, "God technically loves everyone equally, but you don't get to go to heaven and that guy does because reasons."
Of course, this is only a dilemma if you believe grace is irresistible, but verses like Revelation 22:17 and Acts 7:51 show that our own cooperation, while not the cause of our salvation, is still an important element.
I used to be catholic until I read the Bible. I dont even know what denonination I am now. All I know is I love God and His Words. This love that I have, that I know is from God, helps me love everyone and follow His commands. Lets love God and the Word of God, Jesus. And lets all live in love and peace, in Him. This world will eventually end, but in Christ we will be forever. This is the true, forever LOVE.❤❤❤
May I ask you what made you leave Catholicism?
@@bitfrankie Hi, how are you? Like I have posted, I have read the Bible. I have learned who truly God is. So, I have learned what He really wants for us and what He really wants from us. Just being in any religion and doing the traditions of religion, is not what the Father wants for us. What He really want, is for us to learn from Him through His Word by the help of the Holy Spirit. Which all sums up to, the love of God for us. So that we may have life within ourselves by accepting Word of God in our lives.
That is why I left catholism, because this church does not FULLY accept the Word of God.
@@RonA0607 I am doing great! Thanks for the clarification. But why do you think Catholicism doesn´t fully accept the Word of God? Do you think that some aspects of the Tradition contradict it? If that is the case, what aspects? Have a great night and God bless you, my brother in Christ.
@@bitfrankie Yes, traditions of catholism contradicts the Word of God. More aspects on idolatry and hypocrism. I can post scriptures from Catholic Public Domain Version of the Bible and you can have a read and see.
You shall not make for yourself a graven image, nor a likeness of anything that is in heaven above or on earth below, nor of those things which are in the waters under the earth. You shall not adore them, nor shall you worship them. I am the Lord your God: strong, zealous, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the sons to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me,
Exodus 20:4-5 CPDV
"Pay attention, lest you perform your justice before men, in order to be seen by them; otherwise you shall not have a reward with your Father, who is in heaven. Therefore, when you give alms, do not choose to sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the towns, so that they may be honored by men. Amen I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your almsgiving may be in secret, and your Father, who sees in secret, will repay you. And when you pray, you should not be like the hypocrites, who love standing in the synagogues and at the corners of the streets to pray, so that they may be seen by men. Amen I say to you, they have received their reward. But you, when you pray, enter into your room, and having shut the door, pray to your Father in secret, and your Father, who sees in secret, will repay you. And when praying, do not choose many words, as the pagans do. For they think that by their excess of words they might be heeded. Therefore, do not choose to imitate them. For your Father knows what your needs may be, even before you ask him.
Matthew 6:1-8 CPDV
All of those who create idols are nothing, and their most beloved things will not benefit them. These are their witnesses, for they do not see, and they do not understand, so that they might be confounded. Who has formed a god or cast a molten image, which is useful for nothing? Behold, all those who partake in this will be confounded. For these makers are men. They will all assemble together. They will stand and be terrified. And they will be confounded together.
Isaiah 44:9-11 CPDV
For the laws of the people are empty. For the work of the hand of the craftsman has cut a tree from the forest with an axe. He has adorned it with silver and gold. He has put it together with nail and hammer, so that it will not fall apart. They have been fabricated in the likeness of a palm tree, and they will not speak. They must be carried to be moved, because they do not have the ability to walk. Therefore, do not be willing to fear them, for they can do neither evil nor good."
Jeremiah 10:3-5 CPDV
Do you not know that the iniquitous will not possess the kingdom of God? Do not choose to wander astray. For neither fornicators, nor servants of idolatry, nor adulterers, nor the effeminate, nor males who sleep with males, nor thieves, nor the avaricious, nor the inebriated, nor slanderers, nor the rapacious shall possess the kingdom of God.
1 Corinthians 6:9-10 CPDV
Blessed are those who wash their robes in the blood of the Lamb. So may they have a right to the tree of life; so may they enter through the gates into the City. Outside are dogs, and drug users, and homosexuals, and murderers, and those who serve idols, and all who love and do what is false. "I, Jesus, have sent my Angel, to testify to these things for you among the Churches. I am the Root and the Origin of David, the bright morning Star."
Revelation 22:14-16 CPDV
But if anyone considers himself to be religious, but he does not restrain his tongue, but instead seduces his own heart: such a one's religion is vanity. This is religion, clean and undefiled before God the Father: to visit orphans and widows in their tribulations, and to keep yourself immaculate, apart from this age.
James 1:26-27 CPDV
Hypocrites! How well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying: 'This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. For in vain do they worship me, teaching the doctrines and commandments of men.' "
Matthew 15:7-9 CPDV
Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. So then, every good tree produces good fruit, and the evil tree produces evil fruit. A good tree is not able to produce evil fruit, and an evil tree is not able to produce good fruit. Every tree which does not produce good fruit shall be cut down and cast into the fire. Therefore, by their fruits you will know them.
Matthew 7:15, 17-20 CPDV
What is next? Should I say that what is immolated to idols is anything? Or that the idol is anything? But the things that the Gentiles immolate, they immolate to demons, and not to God. And I do not want you to become partakers with demons. You cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of demons. You cannot be partakers of the table of the Lord, and partakers of the table of demons. Or should we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he is? All is lawful to me, but not all is expedient.
1 Corinthians 10:19-22 CPDV
Do not choose to love the world, nor the things that are in the world. If anyone loves the world, the charity of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world is the desire of the flesh, and the desire of the eyes, and the arrogance of a life which is not of the Father, but is of the world.
1 John 2:15-16 CPDV
Jesus responded and said to him, "Amen, amen, I say to you, unless one has been reborn anew, he is not able to see the kingdom of God." Jesus responded: "Amen, amen, I say to you, unless one has been reborn by water and the Holy Spirit, he is not able to enter into the kingdom of God. What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit.
John 3:3, 5-6 CPDV
There are many more teachings in the Bible about this stuff, I encourage you to read the whole Bible. God bless you brother.
@@RonA0607 hello … I can totally understand where ur coming from .. the catholic dictionary is actually rather honest about the teachings they believe.. I suggest it will help u understand specifically why it doesn’t agree … simply put … there is 2 standards they believe .. 1. The Bible 2. Tradition . All Christian’s are supposed to have 1 standard only . The Bible . And as soon as u add another standard in addition… money / tradition / human standards / you get something other than the truth .. unfortunately.
My main issue with Calvanism is that I believe we have free will. That we must choose Christ. God knows who will and won't choose, but He still gives us a choice.
did you resolve that issue? if not, you can always rely on yt search "why i am not a calvinist" you may change "calvinist" to "prebysterian" or " methodist" or else 😁😁
You never find the phrase “choose Christ” in the Bible.
You never find the adjective “free“ as a description of the will of man in the Bible
@@maximustheconfessor72 Staying that you have free will is not an argument either.
I’m not arguing. The Bible doesn’t say a mans will is free. That’s a fact. It’s just a total figment of your imagination.
@@aletheia8054 Acts 7:51, Romans 2:4-5, and Matthew 23:37 are some of the many verses that show human cooperation, while not the cause of salvation, is an important element. Irresistible grace is not Scriptural.
@@thehighlander6770 in the Bible, there is human will or flesh will.
The Calvinist and freewill people just seem to make up your own stuff .
The Christian club that I am art of at university is reformed; while there are sections of the theology that I feel odd about, they have helped me open to Christ. I am forever grateful for that.
Don't fall into this trap. If God forces everything to happen, that means He is the Author of sin as well. Don't be tricked by Calvinist codewords like "sovereignty"(meaning: micromanagement) or grace(prevenient grace, God forcing you to like Him) or Election (God choosing to save specifically you, for no reason).
God is sovereign while allowing us freedom. God gives us grace, which we can accept or deny, and He has elected that whosoever believes will not perish.
@@SeanWinters we are saved by grace through faith and this faith is not of ourselves, it is the gift of God.
We are saved by faith, not works, lest any should boast.
When we receive salvation we will have nothing to boast about, the grace of God saved us, and we received the grace through faith. We also received this faith from God.
Think about those verses. If we were saved by grace through faith and received faith from God, then people who never received faith never had a chance, and people who receive faith was only in an act of God.
We do have free will, and it may play a part, but the only part it’s played in salvation specifically is the sin that made our salvation necessary.
No, God does not tempt us to sin. There is no sin in him so he cannot tempt us to sin.
We sin of our own earthly wicked desires.
But sin existing does not refute the verses in the Bible that explicitly state Salvation comes from the LORD alone, it does not come from the actions of men.
And if completely from God, it is his to give or withhold as he chooses.
@@SeanWinters we also know that it is the LORD who fashions the hearts of minds of men, and it was the LORD who hardened pharaohs heart.
Shall the clay say to the potter
“Why hast thou made me thus?”
Indeed. God does shape the hearts of minds of both the wicked and the righteous.
@@SeanWinters so while you are correct, the LORD does not cause others to sin, as there is no sin in him, he does shape us and mold us, the righteous and the wicked to do his will.
@@snufkin4568 "Saved by grace, through faith, and this is the Gift of God"
In the Greek, faith is feminine, grace is masculine, "this" is neuter. Meaning that "this"(the gift) is not referring to grace nor faith, but rather, the gift is salvation.
You have misread this verse because you don't understand greek. Understand that this part of your argument is incorrect and has been forever.
As a Calvinist this helped explain a few things I was confused about
Why did God say "In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent." Why did God command all people to repent if He only allows a few to do so?
Why would you go out of your way to identify as a Calvinist, aren’t you a Christian? Don’t idolize your theological opinion over God Himself.
@@tommartin5667why did Adam & Eve eat the fruit of the tree knowledge of good & evil?
Not everyone will hear conviction & heed repentance.
Let those who have ears, let them hear.
Everyone has ears, not everyone listens
@@JC-gu2rnbecause all of us are sinners including Adam and Eve. You would have done the same thing.
Thats their fault @@JC-gu2rn
This is great work. Thank you. I was especially helped by your pairing of the sacraments with their invisible realities.
As a non reformed Arminian, I love your videos.
What is a reformed Arminian?
@@sal2975 too funny
Romans 8:28-30
Helpful for me even as someone who enjoys studying this this topic. Thanks!
Awesome brother! Subscribed after watching one of your other videos on the history and development of Christianity (“You can make a denomination out of that” - gold!!!). Keep it up please. Awesome content and production value!
Why did God say "In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent." Why did God command all people to repent if He only allows a few to do so?
Greetings from South Africa and the Afrikaans Protestant Church!
OVS didn’t know you follow this account?
As a non Calvinist, I now understand all the reasons why I disagree with Calvinism.
it's basically catholicism at this point
lol not even close@@snackpup
@@carsonbaird3904 st augustine was a roman catholic. john calvin revered st augustine and mentioned him a lot in his institutes. both men believed in infant baptism and a church state. at my old reformed baptist church they made us stand up and do public confession.
both believed the church replaced Israel and that the church will go through the tribulation. both also believe that salvation is faith that works. so being part of the faith is doing the works.
which is very different to what bible believers teach now which is salvation is faith not works. no works must show at all.
very different concept. my message to you is to check your salvation ruclips.net/video/_VRT2FFXntc/видео.htmlsi=GSt_7z_0gq4LZyNM
@@carsonbaird3904your dreaming
Here before it blows up. Great work man!
As a "5-Point Spurgeonist" I appreciate your honesty in the representation of Reformed theology. Definitely predestined to Subscribe haha
What the Heck is a 5 point Spurgeonist ?? Please explain, I ask this as a Christian person !! ✝️
@@maxprescott9371 lol we’re just not full paedobaptists brother
@@lefebre27 what the heck are you talking about ??? I’m serious,, I don’t find it funny at all !!! I’m asking you a question,,,,,, eternity is a long time::: to be constantly reminded that you got it WRONG
@@lefebre27 Your Title, your Theology……. won’t Save You
@@maxprescott9371 😂 what’s your problem? It’s a soteriological perspective and position. We all have one, it’s not an Gospel issue
Thank you for making such a concise description of Reformed Theology!
Just found your channel and think what you are doing is great. Keep up the good work.
Not reformed myself but like a lot of reformed teachers. We agree on the major stuff.
I flirted reformed but was swayed theologically it was not adding up. To many problem passages.
Was struggling with connecting the theological dots of the OT to the NT then stumbled upon Dr. Michael S. Heiser and his major work The Unseen Realm. Guy is a normal Christian but if you read his stuff the Bible you will read it with a new set of eyes but in the best way that honors the text. He is a top rate scholar.
Excellent advice! Thanks so much.
I'd love to have a philosophical debate with you eventually, as a Catholic
I have family that are catholic they said i was too disruptive in church 💀. im a pentacostal. Hahaha God bless you 😇
Thomas Aquinas sure has some things to say about this video haha, God bless you fellow catholic brother
Ave maria!
There is no reason for any Christian to follow an evil 16th century French lawyer.
Romans 8:28-30
That was honestly a decent effort to summarize without oversimplifying or overstating.
Great job! I liked this video and will subscribe, too.
God bless you, man!
Yep
But Jesus didn’t choose to die for any specific people. The Bible says Jesus died for the sins of the whole world. Those who truly believe Jesus will be saved ❤
Anglicanism historically is tied most closely to geography and a prayer book.
You can have Reformed Anglicanism on one hand (emphasizes a break in the Medieval church and unity with Reformers) and Anglo-Catholic on the other (emphasizes continuity with the Medieval church and counter to the Reformation).
Which is the definition of illogical. Catholicism is the one true faith.
Great, simple explanation. 👍👍
Some Calvinists would say you do need to be a calvinist to be saved hahaha
That’s so stupid
hahahah
Thanks for this brief video. I like it a lot.
As a Roman Catholic it actually shocks me that according to some reformed christians God actively created some people just to damn them for all eternity. Crazy stuff man
Yeah. It would really destroys the fact that God did not create evil.
But how could an all-knowing god not create people just to damn them for eternity, if he knows they'll be damned before he chooses to create them? The thing I like about Calvinism is that it actually paints a more accurate picture of who god would be if he exists - a tyrannical, sadistic cunt in the skies. The most realistic version of Christianity is the one which exposes the true, evil nature of said religion..
@@beerboots I don't think that harsh kind of language was necessary to bring your point across. That said, I think my main critique of Calvinism is, that it's really human minded. God is a huge mystery and Calvinism just seems like it's trying to somehow make up an irrefutable theory of how some people can actually fall away from the faith or not live by the faith at all. I'm by no means an apologetic or have much of an idea of all the complexities of the Christian faith, but I like to compare the all-knowing, all-loving God to a parent who really loves its child eventhough the parent knows that the child has some major flaws (I like the example of dealing drugs). The parent knows what its child is doing but still loves it because it's its child. If now the child is convicted and has to go to prison, the parent would still see it as the just punishment of the child. In the same way it's God who created and thus loves all of his children, even if they disobey him with their sin. He knows that we are abusing the free will he gave us by sinning, but he so loved us that he gave away his only son so that we may have the chance to escape the prison of eternal punishment, if we choose also by our free will to believe in the death and resurrection of Christ.
@@sakarael_rex I just don't see how you can rectify this concept of an all-loving God with the notion that his children deserve hell and it is only by God's 'grace' that a minority of us get to escape that inconceivably cruel and unloving punishment if we're fortunate enough to have made the 'right' choice. Calvinism skips the wishful thinking and acknowledges that an all-knowing, all-powerful God is responsible for the outcomes he creates via the causal chain of effect. Where Calvinism goes off the rails into insanity, is it's notion that such a god is 'good'.
@@beerboots but that is indeed the nature of the Gospel. God gave us humans free will, cause he did not want to be worshipped by robots. And with our free will we decided to sin against our perferct Father thus deserving hell. But because God is indeed all-loving, instead of just damning everyone, he offered a solution to all our self-inflicted suffering in His son. That we are damned for all eternity is not God's fault, it's our own fault. And we indeed have the free will to save ourselves. That's exactly what's wrong with Calvinism. In Calvinism you literally are a slave to God's will, someone who can't make the free coice to be saved or to perish. If you're not elect, well, then you're just unlucky I guess. Personally I hope for the salvation of all, I would want nobody to perish in hell for all eternity and I would want every human person on earth to see God's glory in paradise. As a Calvinist there is no such hope, cause indeed most humans will just be damned.
There’s also reformed Baptist, and what where you saying about the sacraments be necessary, like as in its a big deal or you need them to be saved?
If I understand it correctly, they are more like post-salvation, necessary kinds of worship.
Baptism is not a requirement to experience God’s grace, but it is a means by which God gives his grace to us. If you were baptized as an infant, and you persevered to the end in your faith, it is right to say that God saved you through the sacrament of baptism.
How do you reconcile irresistible grace with verses such as Acts 7:51, Romans 2:4-5, and Matthew 23:37?
Mathew 18:15-20 teaches us how to handle controversy within the Church.
6 early Church controversies
ruclips.net/video/xwFiyZfg1jU/видео.htmlsi=Czb6VFWjgjV-n0Yq
Keep up the great work ❤ Christ bless
Great work!
Bro your definently getting an MVP plaque in heaven cus these vids you make are such a great bridge for me to get my friends interested in Christ
Thank you for explanation, brother. As Orthodox Christian in Yemen, there not many Christians here (only 0.01%). I am happy to call you my brother and that you also call me brother because we are all united to Jesus Messiah.
A big hug from a Brazilian Arminian for all my christian brothers
Future theologian in the making
In Dutch, the song in the background is Psalm 68, what's it called in English?
I am Muslim but love ur channel. I just subscribed
Good job!
Good video, simple and straight explanation, still like being free instead of being predestined to be left on read.
Calvinism sounds kinda weird to me, I don't know why
@@dimitrimolotovvyacheslav4604 because it’s not true
@@trentonnaylor7437 how do you explain islam without calvinism.
@@drakusorz2007 Because Muslims tax, torture, and kill people who don’t convert? How do you explain islam with calvinism? Is God responsible for it? or is free will?
@@drakusorz2007 what?
Why did God say "In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent." Why did God command all people to repent if He only allows a few to do so?
Good video appreciate it 👍.
Great Video
Any recommended reading for Reformed theology?
Do you accept the authority of the Catholic Church when it decrees which books were inspired by God in the Old Testament but do you not accept the authority of the Catholic Church when it decrees which books were inspired in the New Testament? How does it work, can you please explain it to me?
That's correct. Thank you. Reformed Theology view Eph. 2, 1-4
World's view👇
Pelagius (/pəˈleɪdʒiəs/; c. 354-418) was a Romano-British theologian known for promoting a system of doctrines (termed Pelagianism by his opponents) which emphasized human choice in salvation and denied original sin.[1] Pelagius was accused of heresy at the synod of Jerusalem in 415 and his doctrines were harshly criticized by Augustine of Hippo, especially the Pelagian views about mankind's good nature and individual responsibility for choosing asceticism.[2] Pelagius especially stressed the freedom of human will.[3
The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting ANYONE to perish, but EVERYONE to come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9
So I don’t “have to be reformed to be saved”, that’s good to know. Please tell me which of the apostles were reformed? Maybe Matthew and definitely not James?
Superb.
1 Calvinism was preceded by, and primarily inspired by Augustinianism, which on the other hand was an (in)direct product of Manichaeism, a sect, known back then as the pinnacle of Gnosticism and the major opponent of Christianity until Islam assumed this role. Mani's teaching was intended to 'combine', succeed, and surpass the teachings of Christianity, Zoroastrianism, Buddhism, Marcionism, Hellenistic and Rabbinic Judaism and other religions and mystery cults. It reveres Mani as the final prophet after / the reincarnation of Zoroaster, the Buddha, and Jesus.
2 Augustine renounced Manichaeism only shortly after having been threatened with death by the Roman emperorand only after Christianity became the only accepted religion of the state. He then taught some years free will, only to later inch back to their teachings. In his last 18 years he taught variants of the 5 points of TULIP and Double Predestination. Practically every person in the modern era (1500 AD+) who is a determinist, quotes Augustine as source for his belief. It is also not surprising that the Scriptures used by Manicheans are the very same ones used by Calvinists today.
It must also be mentioned that Augustine is the absolute key figure in bringing the Apocrypha into our Bibles. He was the very first in 393 AD who approved in his own Council of Hippo the canonicity of the Apocrypha, shortly before the mega codices and later practically all Bibles indeed included those, until Zwingli and Luther separated them again from the Canon. He was one of the first to argue for financial tithing based on Old Covenant law. He further rejected the Genesis account being literal. Christians who took the Creation Story literally were his laughingstock and "looked like idiots among non-Christians because they denied science and reason". He believed in all seven Catholic sacraments (contradicting statements on purgatory, but probably affirming it) and taught that marital sex involving lust is sinful ...
3 Calvinism was absent among Pre-Nicene Christians. Even notable Calvinistic scholar and historian, Loraine Boettner, admitted, "This cardinal truth [Calvinism] of Christianity was first clearly seen by Augustine". For the first ~400 years of Christianity, its teachers, preachers, apostles, evangelists and theologians taught "historic traditionalism" without a deterministic theology. Borrowing from Manichaeism, Augustine brought strong determinism and their precise terminology of the 'elect' into the church (while he had made it within their circles only to be a 'hearer'; possibly also a motivation to create his own fellowship of 'elects').
4 Calvin absorbed his doctrine primarily from Augustine: "Augustine is so wholly within me, that if I wished to write a confession of my faith, I could do so with all fullness and satisfaction to myself out of his writings." This is why one finds that every four pages written in the Institutes of the Christian Religion John Calvin quoted Augustine. Calvin would deem himself not a Calvinist, but an Augustinian. Christian Calvinist, should they be more likely deemed an Augustinian-Calvinist? As a result, Calvinism in particular is sometimes referred to as Augustinianism.
It must also be mentioned that Calvin was an unrepented murderer, a dark episode often downplayed today, as we see e.g. in articles like the one Challies wrote in 2005. Calvin is directly responsible for the first 'heretic' sentenced to it by Protestants, the burning of his long-standing theological opponent, Servetus. He had him arrested while visiting his church and single-handedly provided the points of the indictment. Throughout the trial (of several weeks) he had put the screw upon the Council to pass a death sentence on Servetus and had gained his end (see 'The Right to Heresy - How John Calvin Killed a Conscience: Castellio against Calvin', Chapter 5, Pages 70-84, available for free on Scribd) . It might be true that Calvin had contemplated a mitigation of the sentence (sword instead of slow burning) - but only if Servetus were to purchase this mitigation by a spiritual sacrifice, by a last-hour- recantation to Farel, the friend Calvin sent while 'studying at home' during the execution (a recantation of the 'most abominable sin', of Modalism, the second charge was anti-infant baptism)."
Calvin justified this killing with Old Covenant Law, Lev 24:16. "The one who blasphemes the name of the Lord should be put to death". Instead of repenting, "he boasted of the deed before a silent congregation" when he entered the pulpit the next Sunday. He also spelled out his theologically reinforced vengeance towards his opponents in a personal letter to Farel: “I am persuaded that it is not without the special will of God that, apart from any verdict of the judges, the criminals have endured protracted torment at the hands of the executioner.”
5 Calvinism today is generally undermining the need for evangelism (because it is at odds with election); it converts it into an unloving work without genuine love and motivation. Hyper-Calvinists would in their very strict application of Calvinism go as far as to factually forbid the preaching of the Gospel and the offer of salvation to the non-elect.
6 Rejection of the biblical concept of prevenient grace and free will leading to salvation (Puppet Theology). Mark Driscoll went as far (in the common overemphasis of 'grace') to say that Noah got saved by grace only and that his salvation had absolutely nothing to do with faith or righteousness - directly contradicting the Bible in 'Gen 6:9 ... Noah was a righteous man'.
7 Claim that man cannot respond / consent to God's call unto Salvation! God autonomously determines the desires and choices of people to accept Him ('Unconditional Election' = Random Selection). Claim that Belief is not a pre-condition to Past Salvation (being born again).
8 Propagation of the unbiblical 'Once-Saved-Always- Saved' theology ('Unconditional Salvation'). Regular claim that unrepented sin does not endanger Future Salvation !!!
Bible: Possible shipwreck. (Perseverance of faithful saints)
Calvinism: No possible shipwreck. (Perseverance of all saints, Once-Saved-Always-Saved)
Bible: Prevenient grace + response through believer. (Conditional Election)
Calvinism: Grace only + no response. (Unconditional Election, Sovereign Grace)
Bible: Jesus came to save the world. He died for all men. (Universal Atonement)
Calvinism: Jesus came to save the elect. He died only for the elect. (Limited Atonement)
Bible: Jesus is the Light of the World.
Calvinism: Jesus is the Light of the Elect.
Bible: A believer can reject the grace of God. (Resistable Grace)
Calvinism: A believer cannot reject the grace of God. (Irresistible Grace)
Bible: Free Will & Predestination.
Calvinism: Predestination only.
Bible: God shows benevolent love to unbelievers and complacent love to believers.
Calvinism: God hates unbelievers and loves believers only.
9 Arminianism, which is closer to God's truth, is their stereotype enemy and part of a strategic system of a false dichotomy. Spurgeon in 'Lectures To My Students' (which I read completely): "I was afraid the people might veer towards Antinomianism (complete denial of laws), an extreme as dangerous as Arminianism".
10 The unbiblical doctrine of Cessationism is particularly associated with Calvinism and only slowly opposed by New Calvinists. Most Calvinists teach that Spiritual Gifts have ceased, very similar to Pharisees who constantly rejected miracles ... and who had also a ...
11 ... very strong emphasis on uniform appearance.
12 Tendency towards spiritual racism. Elitist and often condescending attitude. They very often, if not regularly deem themselves more intellectual than others. Widely influenced by Spurgeon who was a great teacher, but who regularly 'called names' and showed little humility. "Calvinism is the true Gospel, not just a nickname". "Calvinism, then, is the spiritual meat which enables a man to labour on in the ways of Christian service".
Someone’s been listening to Leighton flowers I see haha
@@redeemedzoomer6053 Keep listening too!
Good points, my guy!
My only hangup on this is the idea that God created us all, yet seemingly arbitrarily chooses some to be saved and some to be damned. Also the irresistible grace concept seems contrary to love, because love does not force. Furthermore, if God chooses certain people and makes it so they won't resist his grace, he's taking away their free will. At that point, why not simply take away the free will of all and make them all righteous? Feel free to correct me if I've misunderstood.
This is why I'm not a calvanist as well.
In a nutshell it eliminates free will.
And the cry from calvanists when I say this is that "the Bible never says the words free will, or anything like that"
And yeah that's true, you won't find those specific words in there. But all of the cruxes in the Bible implicitly require free will to even exist. Love cannot be forced, and must be freely given requiring free will, the mere idea of punishment for disobedience in genesis requires that Adam and Eve had the capacity to choose to not disobey God. Having the capacity to choose to do, or not do something is otherwise known as; you guessed it, free will.
Even without the words being outright used in scripture, for any of the key concepts in scripture to be true, free will is a requirement.
That's why 4 point Calvanists exist
Thank you so much for this video! May I ask if someone is non reformed such as catholic do they still count as “the elect”?
The author of the video did say that you don't have to be reformed to be saved, you just have to be united to Christ so I guess yes. Catholics are "the elects" too.
So when we avengelazie do we say "God MIGHT have died for you"? "MAYBE Christ died for you" ?
Great video, I just wish it went more in depth to the various reformed movements in American Christian denominations like reformed Baptists, etc.
Since reformed baptists do not adhere to covenant theology, they aren't really reformed in the traditional sense.
Thanks for this
Thank you. I just wanted a simple answer as to what is calvinism.
I like how simple it is.
His "limited atonement" theory only confuses the unbeliever more suggesting that he cannot believe unless God chooses and that God chooses to damn the rest.
As a non reformed idk what my label would be, do ima say bible believer u explained the calvanists pretty gud
I still struggle with the idea of elect and non-elect in Calvinism. I want to believe that everyone was given the freedom and ability to choose Christ or deny Him of their own accord, ultimately leaving the responsibility on the individual person. I was told my thought process was closer to Arminianism, and I really don't know what that is, but I'm feeling my way through all this reformed theology stuff bit by bit, so I guess I'll get there when I get there.
I think what makes it hard for us to understand is that God exists outside of the timeline. But maybe the answer is in that, too. I'm on a similar journey. Grace and peace to you.
What you want to believe, is true. Christ declared grace on the whole world, long before the apostles uttered the word. Just as you said, once forgiven, it's up to an individual. Yes, Jesus said all are elect, but those who commit the unpardonable.
Mt. 12:31-32 Mk. 3:28. Calvinism is an offshoot of catholicism, a church that departed from scripture, as early as 325 a.d. John 3:16 puts the kaibash on Calvinism, with the words, "whosoever ".
Think about it. If Calvinism had any legitimacy, the Bible wouldn't be riddled with warnings. What Calvin did, is glom the predestination of apostles, on to us all, which is bogus.
@@eltonron1558 Thank you, that actually clears up a considerable amount of confusion I was dealing with.
@aniki91344 An inkling of truth on a foundation of lies, is status quo, the way things are, standard operating procedure, caviot emptor, a heartbreaking disappointment.
Isn't it a mystery, that scripture should be the firewall to fraud, however, somehow the source of a multitude of denominations and doctrine? Since Satan is involved, maybe not.
Agreed. If everything we do is governed purely by predestination, then we can easily conclude that every sin committed by humanity is an extension of God's malicious nature, since in predetermining our actions He would have to assume responsibility for them. We cannot submit to the notion that God is malicious in any way, therefore there must be something beyond a predetermined path for each of us to follow (that something being a freely chosen path of sinfulness). Just as free will cannot encompass the whole of our journey, neither can a divinely imposed will. Both concepts lose their meanings in the absence of the other.
In a sense, we are all elect. It's up to each of us to decide whether we accept the grace being extended to us.
I dont have religion, but I like the wisdoms coming from every books of every religion
does anyone know why did reformed protestants adopt the celtic cross? It's really cool, but idk if I should adopt it too
I can answer that. Not all Reformed Christians did, but Presbyterians are from Scotland, and since Scotland is Celtic, the Celtic cross also became used as the Presbyterian cross.
Very informative. I'm Pentecostal, but I like learning about my other homies.
Basis for mean calvinism is
Romans 9:21-22
Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use?What if God, although choosing to show his wrath and make his power known, bore with great patience the objects of his wrath-prepared for destruction?
If you lived life long enough, there is indeed people who cant change.
But people can change?
So regeneration happens before faith? 1:45
Degeneration happens in faith. You degenerate into a pile of crap for believing in such make believe crap. Christianity is a cult!
Amen!!!!!!!
I always get infralapsarian and supralapsarian confused! Now I will forever remember "nice" and "mean" Calvinism 😂
The possibility of wrongness can be overwhelming.
“Reformed” in Reformed Theology refers to the Theology/tradition that came out of the Reformation in 16th century Europe.
Nailed it
Here is my explanation of Calvinism:
Total Depravity states that humans are so sinful and so fallen, to the point where we are unable to accept Christ unless God draws us near to Him.
Unconditional Election states that since the beginning, God has already predestined who will be saved and who will not be saved, and God's predestination is solely based on His will and preference; not based on His foreknowledge or anything else.
Limited Atonement states that Jesus did not die for everyone; He only died for the elect, or the people who have been predestined before time to accept Him and be saved.
Irresistible Grace states that when God calls someone or draws someone near, that person does not have the ability or free will to resist God's calling; as if he was programmed to accept Christ no matter what.
Perseverance Of The Saints states that once a person is saved/born again, they will always be saved; they can never fall out of grace no matter what, and they will continue to have faith in Christ and do good works until the end of their lives.
Man, despite studying it for 2 years thoroughly, it still shocks from time to time just how anti-biblical calvinism is.
calvinists would disagree
@@buffcommie942 I know. Quite unfortunate.
Can someone clarify for me: if god created man in his image why does he doom the non-elect to hell?
Book of genesis
That's calvinism, the true Biblical answer is they doom themselves by using their free will to reject Christ
John Calvin’s favorite Gospel passage was when a man asked Jesus what must he do to gain eternal life, and Jesus tells him there is nothing to be done because his eternal fate was pre-determined before he was born.
I would add that there is a small but growing sector of the Baptists that consider themselves reformed.
oh there's tons of Baptists who "consider" themselves Reformed, but that doesn't mean they're actually Reformed. Reformed and Baptist are inherently contradictory
I am getting lost in the doctrinal differences of the denominations. Serious question: Can I just read the Bible and follow its teachings without needing courses in how I could interpret the text?
Easy….. they are ALL cults!
The Baptists may be what you’re looking for in a church - they encourage personal Bible reading better than most churches out there and don’t get bogged down too much with doctrine ecclesiology. You’d get the same thing with non denominational as well, just with less church structure.
Absolutely you can read the Bible on your own and try to follow it's teachings. The problem you will have, however, is God wants us to live in community, not on little islands. Being part of a church will require you to go along with a certain view of things. I suggest you find a church that says it believes in the Bible, and go along with the view of that church as you learn more. Eventually you will probably have disagreements, but don't be disagreeable personally. Secondary things in the Bible are not as clear as our denominations make them sometimes, but the main things are the plain things.
@@andyontheinternet5777 which god out of the thousands?
@@Ex_christian I've notice you commenting a lot on these videos. I was once anti-Christian myself. God used all that hatred and bitterness to eventually lead me to brokenness and humility. I pray he does the same with you, and that you experience the same grace I did when I repented and trusted Christ to forgive my sins.
@Redeemed Zoomer do you belive the sacraments are necessary for salvation or are just signs and symbols of our spiritual regeneration and connection PS. im a reformed southern baptist. love your work long live the reconqista!!!!!!!!
Yes they are necessary
My only question what about the their on the cross I'm sure you have heard that objection frequently but I am legitimately curious to hear your opinion. Thanks for your previous response I look forward to hearing your opinion
@@guitarhero327 Sure! Baptism is a sacrament. The Reformed tradition (like Calvin, Augustine, Westminster) defines a sacrament as having two parts: the sign and the thing signified. The sign isn't necessary for salvation, but the thing signified is. So the thief on the cross experienced the thing signified (spiritual regeneration) without the sign (baptism with water) HOWEVER, under ORDINARY circumstances, the sign and the thing signified are united. So under ordinary circumstances, Baptism as a whole is necessary for salvation. However I wouldn't question the salvation of someone who converts on a plane that crashes and they die before getting baptized. Hope that helps!
@Redeemed Zoomer OKOK yeah no I get what you're saying what I 1st understood was that you were saying the sign itself the water and/or the elements of communion were the thing that were necessary i.e. The Catholic position but what you're saying is that it is through faith alone but through ordinary script other circumstances baptism in the Lord supper shouldn't be Ignore I completely agree with that as well as your last statement although as a Baptist I place a little less importance on the physi can I can generally say that it is definitely a good answer one that I can get behind. So you would agree when Luther says that it's not the absence of the sacrament that leads to demonation but the contempt of the sacraments that lead to its damnation.
@@redeemedzoomer6053 straight up heresy.
Amen 🙏
Nice genevian psalm 68 in the background music
What's the use of speading the Gospel of the elect are "already chosen". Does that mean some elect are Gospel spreaders, and it solves that? It's kind of like the Matrix I guess.
So you can devote your entire life to Christ and the Reformed Church only to find out you’re not elect after all. So you wasted your whole life for nothing but damnation? What’s the point of faith if it’s just RNG?
I think you did not understand Calvinism that much. If you devote your entire life to Christ you are one of the elects (perseveration of the Saints - one of the five points of Calvinism).
@@pedroguimaraes6094Unless, of course, you were granted only "evanescent grace" in which point his point still stands. Preservation of the saints is nonsensical
@@italiansoldierfromww2460 It does not. Being an elect is having faith in Christ and persevering until the end. Every Christian denomination holds that this is necessary for being save (unless you are an universalist). The only difference is that we believe that you could only persevere because you were elected by God. It is that simple. In the end of the day, nothing changes in practice but this is important for you to understand how necessary God's grace is for our salvation.
Heresy. That’s the end of it
Yep, all religions are!
therefore, Christ declares that the doctrine of the Gospel, though it is preached to all without exception, cannot be embraced by all, but that a new understanding and a new perception are requisite; and, therefore, that faith does not depend on the will of men, but that it is God who gives it.
Source?
So if someone dies without being baptized even if they believed they'll go to hell?
No because we believe in salvation by faifth only. Baptism does not saves, but it is a mean of grace.
Nope- all who call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Baptism doesn’t save you, it is what saved people do
What about Reformed Christians who reject Calvinism
Revelation 22:17 says, “Whosoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.” Calvinism, however says it actually means: The ones I (God) chose, will take of the water of life.
John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” Calvinism, however says this verse actually means: For God so loved the ones He chose, that He gave His only begotten Son, that those He chose WILL have everlasting life.
Joshua 24:15 says, “…choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve…But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” Calvinism, however says this verse actually means: There is no choice, rather, God will decide whether or not one will serve the Lord.
2nd Peter 3:9 says, “The Lord is…not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” Calvinism, however, says this verse actually means: The Lord is not willing that any of the ones He has chosen should perish, but that all of the ones He has chosen should come to repentance.
Matthew6:8-10 says, “…therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done.” This is a prayer. If God’s will was already being done as per Calvinism, then why do we need to pray that it will happen?
Hebrews 3:12-14 says, “Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; but exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end…” This is a call to not harden our hearts and depart from the living God, and to hold our confidence in Christ steadfast until the end. According to Calvinism, we can’t make that decision; God has already decided.
John 1:29 says, “The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” Calvinism, however says this verse actually means: The Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the few that God has chosen.
1st Timothy 1:15 says, “This is a faithful saying …that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners…” Calvinism, however says this verse actually means: Jesus came into the world to save (ONLY) the sinners God has already chosen.
1ST John 19 says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Calvinism says, this verse really means, the ones He has chosen WILL confess their sins, and He is faithful and just to forgive them their sins and to cleanse them from all unrighteousness. Calvinism calls confession a synergistic work; meaning a work of faith added to what God has already done. Also, there is no IF in Calvinism.
Revelation 3:20 says, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.” Calvinism says, this verse really means, “…when the one I have chosen hears my voice, he will open the door…”
Luke 13:3 says, “…unless you repent, you too will all perish.” It doesn’t say, “it doesn’t matter if you repent UNLESS I have already chosen you.”
I recommend to read "What Love is this?" from Dave Hunt. Look at John 3,16 or 1 Tim 2,4. This and many other clear passages will debunk Calvinism as false doctrine
Does regeneration proceed faith? Answer: No. It comes as a result. "That whosoever believes in him may have eternal life..." If you are regenerated you have eternal life. Right?
. . . I am not better then most reformed believers, put I am better-off...I don't just preach to the chosen few, I preach salvation to all people in Christ Jesus. Knowing that God can save anyone that will repent of there sins, then put there faith in Jesus for their salvation like a parachute if you where going to jump out of an airplane...you can't just look at the parachute and be saved...you have to put it on...By faith put on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved....
God has given all mankind a measure of faith...and it's this faith that can save anyone that will repent and put their faith in Christ alone...
Romans 12:3
“For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath (dealt to every man the measure of faith.”)
.Romans 10:13-17
13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?
17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Let me fix the ending for you…
“you don’t need to be reformed to be saved, you need to be one of the elect.”
Cross your fingers guys 🤞🏾
If you're a calvinist..
What a foolish theology. Wow.
Well! I guess that settles it.
God knows what we will do with our free will
I have no idea what denomination I fall under. All I know for sure to be the case is that Christ died for my sins and I need to be baptized in order for my soul to be saved.
Just go to the nearest Church which preach the Gospel correctly, administer the sacraments with due respect and hold the Nicene Creed. That should be enough.
You don’t need to be baptized to be saved- you need to believe in Jesus Christ for eternal life which cannot be lost.
But you SHOULD be baptized because that is what saved people do.
And like Pedro said- find a Bible believing Gospel preaching church near you 😊
@@ExNihiloComesNothing as much as I believe I don’t feel saved. I’m hoping a baptism will help that.
@@britneyalyssa1314 the desire for baptism is a good thing! I rejoice that you are praying it.
Let me ask you- do you believe in Jesus Christ for eternal life? If you do then Jesus said you have passed from death into life and no one can pluck you out of his hand!
@@ExNihiloComesNothing I do believe in Jesus for eternal life. I even trained myself to recite the Lord’s Prayer during a nightmare.
It's a crime to mention reformed theology and NOT mention Plantinga! His writing about reformed theology is brilliant.
Yes I am 'Reformed' (Not Christian)
Check out the Orthodox Church my friends.
God led me there with a divine vision that continues. I knew nothing of Greek or orthodoxy prior to the vision.
Hey - can I ask you to explain why exactly you choose predestination instead of free will belief ?
I am Catholic and to be fair I do not understand how is that more accurate view of God and his mode of operations given the message of NT.
i.e. How that passing over the non-elect works ? What is the real difference between mean and Nice calvinists ?
You mean that we CAN by our actions suit the unchanging standard of God by using his grace that is extended uniformally to everyone, but not answered by all ?
Because that would be the same as having free will.
On the other hand if God somehow created someone and KNEW that this person will not be saved then He still actively caused it by making the person the way He did. How can there be any other option without falling to mean calvinism
_"can I ask you to explain why exactly you choose predestination instead of free will belief ?"_
"Instead of" indicates a misunderstanding. The Reformed don't think there is a conflict between what God predestines, ordains or makes providence for, but rather that our free will is established by those things. We would not and could not have free will unless God ordained all things such that we also have free will.
I think the Westminster Confession of Faith puts it nicely:
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.
5.2 Although in relation to the foreknowledge and decree of God, the first cause, all things come to pass immutably and infallibly, yet, by the same providence, He ordereth them to fall out according to the nature of second causes, either necessarily, freely, or contingently.
Also chapter 9 gives a good overview of the Reformed affirmation on free will.
@@oracleoftroy
I understand from it that the creation is primarily done to serve the Gods plan and secondly it takes onto account peoples free will.
But still - you do not have any say in being the elect. So is it saying that even though you could be a very good christian by your own will, you might never go to heaven despite your decisions anyways?
(inb4 if we say that Gods plan makes you somehow act in certain way as to commit sin by your own will supposedly, then it is not free will. It is deterministic view of world and it would be opposed to free will.)
EDIT. I've read the chapter 9. If I understood correctly it states that no man is capable of being good by his own volition anymore and all good that comes from man is only because of the God working with man. Am I understanding it correctly ? So all it says really is that man lost their free will because of sin and can only be reinvigorated by God.
I must have misunderstood it, because it is quite obvious that all man can do good things. Even holy things if their put their mind to it. Unless it's about choosing to be holy.
Then it basically means that no permanent convert can be without grace as grace is the only thing that enables man to do what is good constantly and with pure intention.
But then still it leaves a lot of people basically broken and without free will which was taken away by original sin. Additionally there will be people who will never be able to be actually good because God didn't extend His grace to them which feels like the most horrible thing to do. Why this limited scope of grace is preferable to the universal one in reformed theology ?
In short - As it now stands [as in : my understanding stands] (As a Catholic) I could agree that man cannot convert without Gods grace but the important point is that it must be universal and dependent on particular persons decision to follow it.
@@nc956 _"you do not have any say in being the elect."_
Correct, God as judge is the one who gets to show mercy. We as the convicted criminal don't get to sentence ourselves.
_"So is it saying that even though you could be a very good christian by your own will, you might never go to heaven despite your decisions anyways?"_
No, such a person would be elect as such a response requires being born of the spirit, which only happens when God calls his elect to him.
_"if we say that Gods plan makes you somehow act in certain way as to commit sin by your own will supposedly, then it is not free will"_
I don't think God's plan makes us do X. Nor do I think God plans by looking into the future or into alternative worlds and incorporating what he learns from that. Rather, I think it is better to understand that God ordains in a way that allows for freedom and contingency within God's creation.
Are you free to flap your arms and fly in the sky? Birds are. Are you free to breath underwater? Fish are. Hungry? You are free to choose any food you want, and yet there are still limits to that freedom. Not everything you stick in your mouth is healthy, and not every good food that God created is available to you (because of cost, location, personal preference, shortages, economics, and a host of other factors).
God could have ordained such freedom for humans as he did for other creatures, yet we rarely consider that as somehow taking away from our free will. It's only when God acts as God towards us that we seem to get uppity and demand that we be like God.
_"I must have misunderstood it, because it is quite obvious that all man can do good things."_
Yes, you are going beyond what it says: Man, by his fall into a state of sin, hath wholly lost all ability of will to any _spiritual_ good *accompanying salvation;* so as a natural man, being altogether averse from that good, and dead in sin, is not able, by his own strength, *to convert himself,* or to prepare himself thereunto.
Yes man can do good things, but Christianity isn't a karma system where doing good things erases bad things. We are condemned for our sin. If we murder someone, we are judged for murder, and no amount of good things can erase the sin. Doing good is the baseline expectation, not some special merit.
So a fallen person can do good things, like be a good parent or walk little old ladies across the street or cure cancer, etc. But none of those good things are the spiritual good of salvation or the change of heart that only God can do for salvation. Only the grace and mercy of God can right our sin, and that is not something that happens at our beck and call, but by God's will.
_"Then it basically means that no permanent convert can be without grace as grace is the only thing that enables man to do what is good constantly and with pure intention."_
Amen and well said. We are saved by God's grace and not at all by and thought or deed that originates in us.
_"But then still it leaves a lot of people basically broken and without free will which was taken away by original sin."_
No, they are willfully sinning and so stand justly condemned.
_"Additionally there will be people who will never be able to be actually good because God didn't extend His grace to them which feels like the most horrible thing to do."_
Those God does not show saving grace to are rightly condemned for their wilful sin against God.
_"Why this limited scope of grace is preferable to the universal one in reformed theology ?"_
I'm not sure what you mean by universal grace. Are you saying everyone is saved? If not and some are indeed condemned, how is grace universal for those that did not receive grace?
_"As it now stands [as in : my understanding stands] (As a Catholic) I could agree that man cannot convert without Gods grace but the important point is that it must be universal and dependent on particular persons decision to follow it."_
It's interesting that many modern Roman Catholics no longer agree with the churches teaching as found in the Canon of Orange. At least historically, the Catholic church agreed on these things as found in Canon 3-7. These ideas are far older than the Reformation, with Orange preceding Calvin by over 1000 years.
@@oracleoftroy
"I'm not sure what you mean by universal grace. Are you saying everyone is saved? If not and some are indeed condemned, how is grace universal for those that did not receive grace?"
By universal and near constant grace I mean that all people receive Gods blessing to do good and be free of the burden of impaired free will. So that everyone can if they choose accept or reject Gods law. By rejecting it a man is thrown again into sin, by accepting it he is saved.
I would compare it to suspended sentence. God loves every human being so he gives everybody maximum amount of chances to actually be a good person. I personally refuse to believe that there are people who have no chances to be good, so conversely I think that everybody experiences grace multiple times in their life. If only to reject it and end up in hell in the end.
"Those God does not show saving grace to are rightly condemned for their wilful sin against God"
But how is that willful sin if they never received grace to be able to desire spiritual good in the first place ? This exact point leads me to believe that everybody has that kind of chance. Maybe even every day or almost always. Which in turn make our decision the turning point. Not because we deserve that, but because undeserving love and because without sin (or with grace) we all have the potential to be saints.
In short - I do not believe that God would actually omit anyone when giving grace. Why would He do that ?
well said... spoken like a true protestant lol