Now in the first place, readers are here to be admonished and exhorted, ever to hold God, their Maker and Creator, in that highest of all honour which is due to Him; and never to exercise an insolent or forward eye, when considering His purpose in the creation of the human race; but to view Him with reverence and soberness, and with the pure eye of faith. I know full well, that no mention whatever can be made of God's eternal predestination, but, in a moment, numberless unholy and absurd thoughts rush into the mind. Hence it is, that many over-modest persons are found, who wish that the glorious doctrine of predestination were never named at all; lest occasion should thereby be given to wanton minds to exalt themselves against God. I, however, passing by all such over-careful speculations, and leaving them to others, consider it unjustifiable, in a Christian man, thus cautiously to keep back the genuine confession of the truth, lest it should be exposed to the grin of the profane. For in the first place there is nothing more precious to God than His truth. In the next place, He will not have His justice to be protected by our dissimulation. And finally, it needs no such protection.
Calvin, John (2011-11-24). Calvin's Calvinism: A Treatise on the Eternal Predestination of God. Translated by Henry Cole. (Kindle Locations 1309-1318). . Kindle Edition.
Calvin, John (2011-11-24). Calvin's Calvinism: A Treatise on the Eternal Predestination of God. Translated by Henry Cole. (Kindle Locations 1309-1318). . Kindle Edition.
Posts
2 comments:
DOES GOD ARBITRARILY BESTOW FAITH?
Many believe that Ephesians 2:8 teaches that God arbitrarily bestows faith on a selected few so they can believe and be saved. Nothing could be farther from the truth.
Ephesians 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.(NKJV)
Salvation is the gift of God, not faith. The gift God gives is forgiveness from sin.
How do men receive faith?
Romans 10:17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of God.(NKJV)
Faith comes from hearing the gospel preached. Faith is not arbitrarily dispatched to a chosen few.
Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greeks,
Salvation is attained by believing the gospel. Salvation is not predetermined by God and forced on a select few by forcing them to have faith and be saved.
1 Corinthians 1:21 For since, in the wisdom of God , it pleased God through the foolishness of the messaged preached to save those who believe.(NKJV)
God saves men through preaching the gospel. God does not preselect men and the force them to have faith so they will be saved.
John 3:36 "He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but that the wrath of God abides on him."(NKJV)
If God imputes faith to all who believe, why would those who do not believe receive the wrath of God. Non-believers would have no responsibility nor capability to believed and be saved.
1 John 3:20-23....And this is His commandment: that we we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment.(NKJV)
Why would God command us to believe on His Son Jesus Christ if we are not capable of believing, unless He arbitrarily bestows that faith on non-believers?
Jesus said "He who believes and is baptized will be saved.."(Mark 16:16) Jesus did not say God will give you the gift of faith so you can believe, be baptized and be saved.
YOU ARE INVITED TO FOLLOW MY CHRISTIAN BLOG. Bing search>>>steve finnell a christian view
The Latin root of the word "arbitrary" is the word "will" in English. So, yes, God does willfully bestow election on whom He wills to bestow it. God is the ultimate cause of both good and evil. The finite god of Arminianism is unable to control evil, while the God of the Bible is absolutely sovereign over all that comes to pass. Isaiah 46:9-10; Isaiah 14:24.
Ephesians 2:8-9 says that faith IS a gift. Furthermore, John 3:3-8 says that the new birth precedes faith. "Unless you are born again you cannot see..."
And Romans 9:11-13 says that God's choice precedes the birth of Jacob and Esau. Election is not based on foreseen good works.
Ephesians 1:4-5, 11
Post a Comment