Thursday, 27 December 2018
Wednesday, 4 April 2018
Biblical Believers Baptism
A man made plans to meet his friend at a corner about 10 blocks from his home to go about the town visiting bars. When he arrived at the arranged place, his friend had not yet arrived. It started to rain very heavily so he went into the closest building to keep dry while he waited. In this building there were evangelical camp meetings being held. When the pastor stood up to speak, the message of salvation was so powerfully presented that the man was drawn to it and listened intently to the message (John 12:32). With tears streaming down his cheeks he made his way to the alter where he asked the pastor, "Sir, what must I do to be saved?" (Acts 16:30).
The pastor responded, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved (Acts 16:31). Jesus Christ Himself said that he who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned (Mark 16:16). The Apostle Paul said, the word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that is, the word of faith which Paul preached, that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. (Romans 10:8-10). And when the Apostle Philip was asked by the Ethiopian Eunuch to be baptized, Philip responded by saying, If you believe with all your heart, you may (Acts 8:37a). Do you believe this?"
The man answered and said, "yes, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God (Acts 8:37b)."
The pastor turned to him and opening up the baptismal, he led the man into the water and said, "Upon the profession of your faith I now baptize you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19b)." He then immersed the man into the water and immediately, coming up from the water (Mark 1:10), the pastor said, "therefore you are now buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life (Romans 6:4). Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit (Romans 15:13).
No where in the whole bible will you ever find infant baptism this plainly shown as believers baptism is shown. Even R.C. Sproul, who very strongly advocates for infant baptism, agrees in his debate with John MacArthur that no where is it explicitly said that any infant was ever or ought to be baptized. You can hear him say it on YouTube where he debates John MacArthur on infant baptism. This is an argument from silence. Arguments from silence ARE NOT biblical nor can they ever be won. Please think about this and also this passage in 1 Corinthians 11:25 where in Christ's own words He tells us what the sign is of the new covenant ... In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”
I have 8 children and my youngest is almost 5. If we all heard about Jesus today for the first time and all believed and were baptized all at once, then our whole household believed and were baptized. No babies in the group. To say that households means that there were babies is adding to the gospel because just like my home, households does not mean that there are infants. In Acts 10 where it talks about Cornelius, it says that he and his household already believed in the God of Israel and gave alms before he had the vision in which he was directed to call for the Apostle Peter. Babies cannot believe. So it's safe to say no babies were in the group.
For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again. 2 Corinthians 5:14-15
The pastor responded, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved (Acts 16:31). Jesus Christ Himself said that he who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned (Mark 16:16). The Apostle Paul said, the word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that is, the word of faith which Paul preached, that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. (Romans 10:8-10). And when the Apostle Philip was asked by the Ethiopian Eunuch to be baptized, Philip responded by saying, If you believe with all your heart, you may (Acts 8:37a). Do you believe this?"
The man answered and said, "yes, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God (Acts 8:37b)."
The pastor turned to him and opening up the baptismal, he led the man into the water and said, "Upon the profession of your faith I now baptize you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19b)." He then immersed the man into the water and immediately, coming up from the water (Mark 1:10), the pastor said, "therefore you are now buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life (Romans 6:4). Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit (Romans 15:13).
No where in the whole bible will you ever find infant baptism this plainly shown as believers baptism is shown. Even R.C. Sproul, who very strongly advocates for infant baptism, agrees in his debate with John MacArthur that no where is it explicitly said that any infant was ever or ought to be baptized. You can hear him say it on YouTube where he debates John MacArthur on infant baptism. This is an argument from silence. Arguments from silence ARE NOT biblical nor can they ever be won. Please think about this and also this passage in 1 Corinthians 11:25 where in Christ's own words He tells us what the sign is of the new covenant ... In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”
I have 8 children and my youngest is almost 5. If we all heard about Jesus today for the first time and all believed and were baptized all at once, then our whole household believed and were baptized. No babies in the group. To say that households means that there were babies is adding to the gospel because just like my home, households does not mean that there are infants. In Acts 10 where it talks about Cornelius, it says that he and his household already believed in the God of Israel and gave alms before he had the vision in which he was directed to call for the Apostle Peter. Babies cannot believe. So it's safe to say no babies were in the group.
For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again. 2 Corinthians 5:14-15
Tuesday, 27 March 2018
6. In Defense of Faith ... Why I Believe What I Believe. Gift of Grace.
John 1:16-18 ... 16 And of His fullness we have all received, and GRACE FOR GRACE. 17 For the law was given through Moses, but GRACE AND TRUTH CAME THROUGH JESUS CHRIST. 18 No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.
Romans 1:4-6 ... 4 and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, BY THE RESURRECTION FROM THE DEAD. 5 THROUGH HIM we have RECEIVED GRACE and apostleship FOR OBEDIENCE TO THE FAITH among all nations for His name, 6 among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ;
1 Corinthians 1:3-5 ... 3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 4 I thank my God always concerning you FOR THE GRACE OF GOD WHICH WAS GIVEN TO YOU BY CHRIST JESUS, 5 that you were enriched in everything by Him in all utterance and all knowledge,
2 Corinthians 9:13-15 ... 13 while, through the proof of this ministry, they glorify God for the obedience of your confession to the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal sharing with them and ALL MEN, 14 and by their prayer for you, who long for you because OF THE EXCEEDING GRACE OF GOD in you. 15 THANKS BE TO GOD FOR HIS INDESCRIBABLE GIFT!
Ephesians 2:7-9 ... 7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of HIS GRACE IN HIS KINDNESS TOWARD US IN CHRIST JESUS. 8 For BY GRACE YOU HAVE BEEN SAVED THROUGH FAITH, and that not of yourselves; IT IS THE GIFT OF GOD, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.
Grace is the Gift of God we receive when we do what it says in Romans 10:9 ... that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
Notice how plain passages come together very nicely to show us God's truth from His Word alone? Without outside help. Even children can understand this.
Titus 2:10-12 ... 10 not pilfering, but showing all good fidelity, that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things. 11 FOR THE GRACE OF GOD THAT BRINGS SALVATION has appeared to ALL MEN, 12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age,
Hebrews 13:8-9 ... 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. 9 DO NOT BE CARRIED ABOUT WITH VARIOUS AND STRANGE DOCTRINES. For IT IS GOOD that the heart be established BY GRACE, not with foods which have not profited those who have been occupied with them.
Romans 1:4-6 ... 4 and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, BY THE RESURRECTION FROM THE DEAD. 5 THROUGH HIM we have RECEIVED GRACE and apostleship FOR OBEDIENCE TO THE FAITH among all nations for His name, 6 among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ;
1 Corinthians 1:3-5 ... 3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 4 I thank my God always concerning you FOR THE GRACE OF GOD WHICH WAS GIVEN TO YOU BY CHRIST JESUS, 5 that you were enriched in everything by Him in all utterance and all knowledge,
2 Corinthians 9:13-15 ... 13 while, through the proof of this ministry, they glorify God for the obedience of your confession to the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal sharing with them and ALL MEN, 14 and by their prayer for you, who long for you because OF THE EXCEEDING GRACE OF GOD in you. 15 THANKS BE TO GOD FOR HIS INDESCRIBABLE GIFT!
Ephesians 2:7-9 ... 7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of HIS GRACE IN HIS KINDNESS TOWARD US IN CHRIST JESUS. 8 For BY GRACE YOU HAVE BEEN SAVED THROUGH FAITH, and that not of yourselves; IT IS THE GIFT OF GOD, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.
Grace is the Gift of God we receive when we do what it says in Romans 10:9 ... that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
Notice how plain passages come together very nicely to show us God's truth from His Word alone? Without outside help. Even children can understand this.
Titus 2:10-12 ... 10 not pilfering, but showing all good fidelity, that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things. 11 FOR THE GRACE OF GOD THAT BRINGS SALVATION has appeared to ALL MEN, 12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age,
Hebrews 13:8-9 ... 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. 9 DO NOT BE CARRIED ABOUT WITH VARIOUS AND STRANGE DOCTRINES. For IT IS GOOD that the heart be established BY GRACE, not with foods which have not profited those who have been occupied with them.
5. In Defense of Faith ... Why I Believe What I Believe. Satanic Preachers of Righteousness.
If you, as a Calvinist, keep stubbornly holding onto Calvinism that is contrary to the Word of God, this can easily be shown via God's Word, you will end up losing out on the relationship God desires to have with you. Please take off Calvinism and listen to the Word of God. Calvinism IS NOT the Gospel. The bible IS the Gospel. The Gospel is Good News. It's not good news if you are not one of the elect that you will never have even a chance to have a loving relationship with God and will suffer for all eternity in the flames of hell and not by your choice.
Deuteronomy 30:15-20 ... 15 “See, I HAVE SET BEFORE YOU TODAY LIFE AND GOOD, DEATH AND EVIL, 16 in that I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments, His statutes, and His judgments, that you may live and multiply; and the Lord your God will bless you in the land which you go to possess. 17 But IF YOUR HEART TURNS AWAY SO THAT YOU DO NOT HEAR, and are drawn away, and worship other gods and serve them, 18 I announce to you today that you shall surely perish; you shall not prolong your days in the land which you cross over the Jordan to go in and possess. 19 I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore CHOOSE LIFE, THAT BOTH YOU and YOUR DESCENDANTS MAY LIVE; 20 that you may love the Lord your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days; and that you may dwell in the land which the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them.”
Clear as a bell. I have the responsibility to choose. God set before you LIFE AND GOOD, DEATH AND EVIL therefore CHOOSE LIFE, THAT YOU MAY LIVE. How clearer do you need God to make it that if you are not the one completing the other part of the relationship that there won't be one. You need two willing parties to have a relationship otherwise it's not a relationship but a dictatorship. God doesn't want a dictatorship with humanity, He wants a relationship. It doesn't say that God will choose for mankind. It is clear that if you turn your heart away and don't listen and obey God that you'll perish.
R.C. Sproul openly implies that this passage, and many others just like it, is a pagan passage ... listen to him for yourself ... https://youtu.be/8bsq8DhTykQ starting at 34 minutes. Either God means it that we can choose between good and evil or reformers, like R.C. Sproul, are right when they say that it's a pagan thing that we can choose between good and evil. If God is right then the reformers are liars and deceivers. They CANNOT both be right.
Here is a rabbit trail ... another place where R.C. Sproul misrepresents God, which is a grievous sin, is at this link https://youtu.be/uR4y6_teHS0. Does God desire all men to be saved? is the question he's been asked. Well what does God say PLAINLY?
2 Peter 3:8-9 ... 8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, NOT WILLING that ANY should perish, but that ALL should come to repentance.
And in 1 Timothy 2:1-8 ... 1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for ALL MEN; 2 For kings, and for ALL that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. 3 For THIS IS GOOD AND ACCEPTABLE IN THE SIGHT OF GOD OUR SAVIOUR; 4 WHO WILL HAVE ALL MEN TO BE SAVED, AND TO COME UNTO THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE TRUTH. 5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; 6 Who gave himself a ransom for ALL, to be testified in due time. 7 Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not; a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity. 8 I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.
The bible says in 1 John 4:1, 6 ... 1 Beloved, BELIEVE NOT EVERY SPIRIT, BUT TRY THE SPIRITS WHETHER THEY ARE OF GOD: because MANY FALSE PROPHETS are gone out into the world. 6 We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. HEREBY KNOW WE THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH, and THE SPIRIT OF ERROR.
In Acts 17:10-15 ... 10 Then the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. 11 These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so. 12 Therefore many of them believed, and also not a few of the Greeks, prominent women as well as men. 13 But when the Jews from Thessalonica learned that the word of God was preached by Paul at Berea, they came there also and stirred up the crowds. 14 Then immediately the brethren sent Paul away, to go to the sea; but both Silas and Timothy remained there. 15 So those who conducted Paul brought him to Athens; and receiving a command for Silas and Timothy to come to him with all speed, they departed.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-22 ... 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not despise prophecies. 21 Test all things; hold fast what is good. 22 Abstain from every form of evil.
And 2 Corinthians 11:9-15 ... 9 And when I was present with you, and in need, I was a burden to no one, for what I lacked the brethren who came from Macedonia supplied. And in everything I kept myself from being burdensome to you, and so I will keep myself. 10 As the truth of Christ is in me, no one shall stop me from this boasting in the regions of Achaia. 11 Why? Because I do not love you? God knows! 12 But what I do, I will also continue to do, THAT I MAY CUT OFF THE OPPORTUNITY FROM THOSE WHO DESIRE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE REGARDED JUST AS WE ARE IN THE THINGS OF WHICH THEY BOAST. 13 FOR SUCH ARE FALSE APOSTLES, DECEITFUL WORKERS, TRANSFORMING THEMSELVES INTO APOSTLES o2f CHRIST. 14 And no wonder! FOR SATAN HIMSELF TRANSFORMS HIMSELF INTO AN ANGEL OF LIGHT. 15 Therefore IT IS NO GREAT THING if his MINISTERS also TRANSFORM THEMSELVES INTO MINISTERS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, whose end will be according to their works.
So if R.C. Sproul says things contrary of the Word of God, as I've shown in a few passages, it makes him a satanic preacher of righteousness. This is not my words but God's Word.
Another example: Revelation 3:20 ... Behold, I stand at the door and knock. IF anyone hears My voice and OPENS the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.
Again clear as a bell. It does not say that He'll smash through the door if you don't open it. Although, as this one Calvinist once said, "if you are one of the elect God will get you even if He has to drag you kicking and screaming into the pearly gates".
In Jeremiah 19:4-6 ... 4 “BECAUSE THEY HAVE FORSAKEN ME and made this an alien place, because they have burned incense in it to other gods whom neither they, their fathers, nor the kings of Judah have known, and have filled this place with the blood of the innocents 5 they have also built the high places of Baal, to burn their sons with fire for burnt offerings to Baal, WHICH I DID NOT COMMAND OR SPEAK, NOR DID IT COME INTO MY MIND, 6 therefore behold, the days are coming,” says the Lord, “that this place shall no more be called Tophet or the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, but the Valley of Slaughter.
Notice it starts off saying that the people had forsaken Him first. Then after saying what they did after they had forsaken God ... God says it never even entered His mind!!! How is that possible if the Calvinists are right when they say that everything is preordained by God for His Glory and by His own free will and that nothing ever happens that God didn't preordain???? If He preordained it then it obviously already entered His mind because He thought about it, then decided what will happen and declared it. So is God lying at this point or is Calvinism wrong? You can't have it both ways. Or is God perhaps getting forgetful? Or is it like many true bible believers believe that perhaps God never preordained everything that ever happened but rather only certain things and He FOREKNEW everything that was going to happen? If someone wants me to believe that God preordained everything that ever happened, including what satan and Adam did, then show me the verse that litterally says it in exactly those words so that it cannot possibly be interpreted in any other way, like the verses that I'm quoting here.
Jeremiah 31:19 ... Surely, after my turning, I repented; and after I was instructed, I struck myself on the thigh; I was ashamed, yes, even humiliated, Because I bore the reproach of my youth.’
Repentance is something we do out of our own free will. It doesn't say that this person was preordained or forced to repent.
Look at these passages ...
Exodus 32:14 ... 14 And THE LORD REPENTED of the evil which he thought to do unto his people.
Genesis 6:6 ... And IT REPENTED THE LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.
Exodus 20:5 ... Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God AM A JEALOUS GOD, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;
Judges 2:18 ... And when the Lord raised them up judges, then the Lord was with the judge, and delivered them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge: for IT REPENTED THE LORD because of their groanings by reason of them that oppressed them and vexed them.
2 Samuel 24:16 ... And when the angel stretched out his hand upon Jerusalem to destroy it, THE LORD REPENTED him of the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed the people, It is enough: stay now thine hand. And the angel of the Lord was by the threshing place of Araunah the Jebusite.
1 Chronicles 21:15 ... And God sent an angel unto Jerusalem to destroy it: and as he was destroying, THE LORD BEHELD, AND HE REPENTED him of the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed, It is enough, stay now thine hand. And the angel of the Lord stood by the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.
Is God evil? The God of the Bible is not evil. But He will punish people for their disobedience.
Jonah 3:10 says ... And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not.
I thought He predestined it??!! So He changed His mind? I thought Calvinists say that God's decrees cannot be changed ... ever!!!
James 5:16 ... Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
We can ask God for things and He'll do it??? How can our prayers avail anything if everything is preordained outside of anything we do or don't do? The logical conclusion of Calvinism is that God NEVER really answers prayers. It's just an act in a play. Something we do because we are actors in the play God wrote.
I believe that we should just take God's Word at face value. I could go on for hours but I'll end here.
Note: King James Version and New King James Version's are used.
Recommend watching:
1. Watch "Calvinism Cult Exposed 1: Who So Ever - Marc Monte (Faith Baptist Church of Avon)" on YouTube
https://youtu.be/CkasxLdAwuA
2. Watch "Calvinism Cult Exposed 2: Calvin & "St." Augustine (Catholic) - Marc Monte" on YouTube
https://youtu.be/dJhxm8vKffg
3. Watch "Calvinism Cult Exposed pt.3" on YouTube
https://youtu.be/Ol6_Vbhujq8
4. Watch "Calvinism Cult Exposed pt.4" on YouTube
https://youtu.be/GgNhiaX4LGg
5. Watch "Calvinism Cult Exposed pt.5" on YouTube
https://youtu.be/F1F-B_p9n_4
6. Watch "Calvinism Cult Exposed pt.6" on YouTube
https://youtu.be/3x4bCOAJc0M
7. Watch "Calvinism Cult Exposed pt.7" on YouTube
https://youtu.be/corjzNPr0S0
8. Watch "Calvinism Cult Exposed pt.8" on YouTube
https://youtu.be/BbGyCFZ7mIM
9. Watch "Jerry Walls: What's Wrong With Calvinism, Part 1" on YouTube
https://youtu.be/Daomzm3nyIg
10. Watch "Jerry Walls: What's Wrong With Calvinism, Part 2" on YouTube
https://youtu.be/1IBUtF8EtAo
11. Watch "Clive Lewis and John Piper's Calvinist Confusions, by Dr. Jerry Walls" on YouTube
https://youtu.be/_eQKu3_9pgk
12. Watch "John Piper Exposed (Again): Progressive Sanctification Lie"" on YouTube
https://youtu.be/zujaSj4AyNE
Deuteronomy 30:15-20 ... 15 “See, I HAVE SET BEFORE YOU TODAY LIFE AND GOOD, DEATH AND EVIL, 16 in that I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments, His statutes, and His judgments, that you may live and multiply; and the Lord your God will bless you in the land which you go to possess. 17 But IF YOUR HEART TURNS AWAY SO THAT YOU DO NOT HEAR, and are drawn away, and worship other gods and serve them, 18 I announce to you today that you shall surely perish; you shall not prolong your days in the land which you cross over the Jordan to go in and possess. 19 I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore CHOOSE LIFE, THAT BOTH YOU and YOUR DESCENDANTS MAY LIVE; 20 that you may love the Lord your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days; and that you may dwell in the land which the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them.”
Clear as a bell. I have the responsibility to choose. God set before you LIFE AND GOOD, DEATH AND EVIL therefore CHOOSE LIFE, THAT YOU MAY LIVE. How clearer do you need God to make it that if you are not the one completing the other part of the relationship that there won't be one. You need two willing parties to have a relationship otherwise it's not a relationship but a dictatorship. God doesn't want a dictatorship with humanity, He wants a relationship. It doesn't say that God will choose for mankind. It is clear that if you turn your heart away and don't listen and obey God that you'll perish.
R.C. Sproul openly implies that this passage, and many others just like it, is a pagan passage ... listen to him for yourself ... https://youtu.be/8bsq8DhTykQ starting at 34 minutes. Either God means it that we can choose between good and evil or reformers, like R.C. Sproul, are right when they say that it's a pagan thing that we can choose between good and evil. If God is right then the reformers are liars and deceivers. They CANNOT both be right.
Here is a rabbit trail ... another place where R.C. Sproul misrepresents God, which is a grievous sin, is at this link https://youtu.be/uR4y6_teHS0. Does God desire all men to be saved? is the question he's been asked. Well what does God say PLAINLY?
2 Peter 3:8-9 ... 8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, NOT WILLING that ANY should perish, but that ALL should come to repentance.
And in 1 Timothy 2:1-8 ... 1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for ALL MEN; 2 For kings, and for ALL that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. 3 For THIS IS GOOD AND ACCEPTABLE IN THE SIGHT OF GOD OUR SAVIOUR; 4 WHO WILL HAVE ALL MEN TO BE SAVED, AND TO COME UNTO THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE TRUTH. 5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; 6 Who gave himself a ransom for ALL, to be testified in due time. 7 Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not; a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity. 8 I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.
The bible says in 1 John 4:1, 6 ... 1 Beloved, BELIEVE NOT EVERY SPIRIT, BUT TRY THE SPIRITS WHETHER THEY ARE OF GOD: because MANY FALSE PROPHETS are gone out into the world. 6 We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. HEREBY KNOW WE THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH, and THE SPIRIT OF ERROR.
In Acts 17:10-15 ... 10 Then the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. 11 These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so. 12 Therefore many of them believed, and also not a few of the Greeks, prominent women as well as men. 13 But when the Jews from Thessalonica learned that the word of God was preached by Paul at Berea, they came there also and stirred up the crowds. 14 Then immediately the brethren sent Paul away, to go to the sea; but both Silas and Timothy remained there. 15 So those who conducted Paul brought him to Athens; and receiving a command for Silas and Timothy to come to him with all speed, they departed.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-22 ... 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not despise prophecies. 21 Test all things; hold fast what is good. 22 Abstain from every form of evil.
And 2 Corinthians 11:9-15 ... 9 And when I was present with you, and in need, I was a burden to no one, for what I lacked the brethren who came from Macedonia supplied. And in everything I kept myself from being burdensome to you, and so I will keep myself. 10 As the truth of Christ is in me, no one shall stop me from this boasting in the regions of Achaia. 11 Why? Because I do not love you? God knows! 12 But what I do, I will also continue to do, THAT I MAY CUT OFF THE OPPORTUNITY FROM THOSE WHO DESIRE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE REGARDED JUST AS WE ARE IN THE THINGS OF WHICH THEY BOAST. 13 FOR SUCH ARE FALSE APOSTLES, DECEITFUL WORKERS, TRANSFORMING THEMSELVES INTO APOSTLES o2f CHRIST. 14 And no wonder! FOR SATAN HIMSELF TRANSFORMS HIMSELF INTO AN ANGEL OF LIGHT. 15 Therefore IT IS NO GREAT THING if his MINISTERS also TRANSFORM THEMSELVES INTO MINISTERS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, whose end will be according to their works.
So if R.C. Sproul says things contrary of the Word of God, as I've shown in a few passages, it makes him a satanic preacher of righteousness. This is not my words but God's Word.
Another example: Revelation 3:20 ... Behold, I stand at the door and knock. IF anyone hears My voice and OPENS the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.
Again clear as a bell. It does not say that He'll smash through the door if you don't open it. Although, as this one Calvinist once said, "if you are one of the elect God will get you even if He has to drag you kicking and screaming into the pearly gates".
In Jeremiah 19:4-6 ... 4 “BECAUSE THEY HAVE FORSAKEN ME and made this an alien place, because they have burned incense in it to other gods whom neither they, their fathers, nor the kings of Judah have known, and have filled this place with the blood of the innocents 5 they have also built the high places of Baal, to burn their sons with fire for burnt offerings to Baal, WHICH I DID NOT COMMAND OR SPEAK, NOR DID IT COME INTO MY MIND, 6 therefore behold, the days are coming,” says the Lord, “that this place shall no more be called Tophet or the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, but the Valley of Slaughter.
Notice it starts off saying that the people had forsaken Him first. Then after saying what they did after they had forsaken God ... God says it never even entered His mind!!! How is that possible if the Calvinists are right when they say that everything is preordained by God for His Glory and by His own free will and that nothing ever happens that God didn't preordain???? If He preordained it then it obviously already entered His mind because He thought about it, then decided what will happen and declared it. So is God lying at this point or is Calvinism wrong? You can't have it both ways. Or is God perhaps getting forgetful? Or is it like many true bible believers believe that perhaps God never preordained everything that ever happened but rather only certain things and He FOREKNEW everything that was going to happen? If someone wants me to believe that God preordained everything that ever happened, including what satan and Adam did, then show me the verse that litterally says it in exactly those words so that it cannot possibly be interpreted in any other way, like the verses that I'm quoting here.
Jeremiah 31:19 ... Surely, after my turning, I repented; and after I was instructed, I struck myself on the thigh; I was ashamed, yes, even humiliated, Because I bore the reproach of my youth.’
Repentance is something we do out of our own free will. It doesn't say that this person was preordained or forced to repent.
Look at these passages ...
Exodus 32:14 ... 14 And THE LORD REPENTED of the evil which he thought to do unto his people.
Genesis 6:6 ... And IT REPENTED THE LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.
Exodus 20:5 ... Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God AM A JEALOUS GOD, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;
Judges 2:18 ... And when the Lord raised them up judges, then the Lord was with the judge, and delivered them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge: for IT REPENTED THE LORD because of their groanings by reason of them that oppressed them and vexed them.
2 Samuel 24:16 ... And when the angel stretched out his hand upon Jerusalem to destroy it, THE LORD REPENTED him of the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed the people, It is enough: stay now thine hand. And the angel of the Lord was by the threshing place of Araunah the Jebusite.
1 Chronicles 21:15 ... And God sent an angel unto Jerusalem to destroy it: and as he was destroying, THE LORD BEHELD, AND HE REPENTED him of the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed, It is enough, stay now thine hand. And the angel of the Lord stood by the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.
Is God evil? The God of the Bible is not evil. But He will punish people for their disobedience.
Jonah 3:10 says ... And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not.
I thought He predestined it??!! So He changed His mind? I thought Calvinists say that God's decrees cannot be changed ... ever!!!
James 5:16 ... Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
We can ask God for things and He'll do it??? How can our prayers avail anything if everything is preordained outside of anything we do or don't do? The logical conclusion of Calvinism is that God NEVER really answers prayers. It's just an act in a play. Something we do because we are actors in the play God wrote.
I believe that we should just take God's Word at face value. I could go on for hours but I'll end here.
Note: King James Version and New King James Version's are used.
Recommend watching:
1. Watch "Calvinism Cult Exposed 1: Who So Ever - Marc Monte (Faith Baptist Church of Avon)" on YouTube
https://youtu.be/CkasxLdAwuA
2. Watch "Calvinism Cult Exposed 2: Calvin & "St." Augustine (Catholic) - Marc Monte" on YouTube
https://youtu.be/dJhxm8vKffg
3. Watch "Calvinism Cult Exposed pt.3" on YouTube
https://youtu.be/Ol6_Vbhujq8
4. Watch "Calvinism Cult Exposed pt.4" on YouTube
https://youtu.be/GgNhiaX4LGg
5. Watch "Calvinism Cult Exposed pt.5" on YouTube
https://youtu.be/F1F-B_p9n_4
6. Watch "Calvinism Cult Exposed pt.6" on YouTube
https://youtu.be/3x4bCOAJc0M
7. Watch "Calvinism Cult Exposed pt.7" on YouTube
https://youtu.be/corjzNPr0S0
8. Watch "Calvinism Cult Exposed pt.8" on YouTube
https://youtu.be/BbGyCFZ7mIM
9. Watch "Jerry Walls: What's Wrong With Calvinism, Part 1" on YouTube
https://youtu.be/Daomzm3nyIg
10. Watch "Jerry Walls: What's Wrong With Calvinism, Part 2" on YouTube
https://youtu.be/1IBUtF8EtAo
11. Watch "Clive Lewis and John Piper's Calvinist Confusions, by Dr. Jerry Walls" on YouTube
https://youtu.be/_eQKu3_9pgk
12. Watch "John Piper Exposed (Again): Progressive Sanctification Lie"" on YouTube
https://youtu.be/zujaSj4AyNE
Monday, 19 March 2018
4. In Defense of Faith ... Why I Believe What I Believe. All Means All and World Means All and Whoever Means All.
Calvinists have a tendency to say that 'yes all means all' and 'world means all' and 'whoever means all' when it suits their theology. However, when it contradicts their theology they say 'all, world and whoever means the elect only'. You see, Calvinists don't believe that Jesus only came for all, they believe He only came for the elect. Here are just a few of the verses that refute Calvinists theology.
Romans 5:12 NKJV ... Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to ALL men, because all sinned—
Romans 5:18 NKJV ... Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to ALL men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to ALL men, resulting in justification of life.
1 Timothy 2:4 NKJV ... who desires ALL men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
Isaiah 53:6 ... All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us ALL.
Job 37:7 NKJV ... He seals the hand of every man, that ALL men may know His work.
Act 17:30 NKJV ... “Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands ALL men everywhere to repent,
1Timothy 2:1 NKJV ... Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for ALL men,
1 Timothy 4:10 NKJV ... For to this endwe both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of ALL men, especially of those who believe.
2 Corinthians 5:14 NKJV ... For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for ALL, then ALL died;
2 Corinthians 5:19 NKJV ... that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the WORLD to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
1 John 2:2 NKJV ... And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole WORLD.
Titus 2:11 NKJV ... For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to ALL men,
Mark 16:15-16 NKJV ... 15 And He said to them, “Go into ALL the WORLD and preach the gospel to EVERY creature. 16 HE who believes and is baptized will be saved; but HE who does not believe will be condemned.
John 1:12 NKJV ... But AS MANY AS received Him, TO THEM He gave the right to become children of God, TO THOSE who believe in His name:
John 3:15-18 NKJV ... 15 that WHOEVER believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the WORLD that He gave His only begotten Son, that WHOEVER believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the WORLD, but that the WORLD through Him might be saved. 18 “HE who believes in Him is not condemned; but HE who does not believe is condemned already, because HE has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
Romans 5:12 NKJV ... Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to ALL men, because all sinned—
Romans 5:18 NKJV ... Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to ALL men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to ALL men, resulting in justification of life.
1 Timothy 2:4 NKJV ... who desires ALL men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
Isaiah 53:6 ... All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us ALL.
Job 37:7 NKJV ... He seals the hand of every man, that ALL men may know His work.
Act 17:30 NKJV ... “Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands ALL men everywhere to repent,
1Timothy 2:1 NKJV ... Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for ALL men,
1 Timothy 4:10 NKJV ... For to this endwe both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of ALL men, especially of those who believe.
2 Corinthians 5:14 NKJV ... For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for ALL, then ALL died;
2 Corinthians 5:19 NKJV ... that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the WORLD to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
1 John 2:2 NKJV ... And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole WORLD.
Titus 2:11 NKJV ... For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to ALL men,
Mark 16:15-16 NKJV ... 15 And He said to them, “Go into ALL the WORLD and preach the gospel to EVERY creature. 16 HE who believes and is baptized will be saved; but HE who does not believe will be condemned.
John 1:12 NKJV ... But AS MANY AS received Him, TO THEM He gave the right to become children of God, TO THOSE who believe in His name:
John 3:15-18 NKJV ... 15 that WHOEVER believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the WORLD that He gave His only begotten Son, that WHOEVER believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the WORLD, but that the WORLD through Him might be saved. 18 “HE who believes in Him is not condemned; but HE who does not believe is condemned already, because HE has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
Saturday, 10 March 2018
3. In Defense of Faith ... Why I Believe What I Believe. Things you might find fascinating
I looked up a number of Words just to see how often they showed up in the bible. I physically counted them. Not every time it is used directly in salvation itself but about half of the time it is directly related to salvation. But some words are almost 100% used directly or indirectly in salvation. Here are the words and how often I found them.
“Persuaded” shows up 21 times in the New King James Version of the Bible.
“If” shows up 1643 times in the New King James Version of the Bible.
“Choose” shows up 39 times in the New King James Version of the Bible.
“Confess” shows up 25 times in the New King James Version of the Bible.
“Choice” shows up 31 times in the New King James Version of the Bible.
“Come” shows up 1720 times in the New King James Version of the Bible.
"turn" shows up 287 times in the New King James Version of the Bible.
“Whoever" shows up 254 times in the New King James Version Bible. Most of the whoever's were directly related to salvation.
Wow I'll give you a sample of a few. Not every passage of these are about salvation but at least half are directly related to salvation in one way or another.
Mark 10:21 - Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.”
Luke 9:23 - Then He said to them all, “if anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.
Matthew 16:24-28 ... 24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. 25 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. 26 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? 27 For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works. 28 “Assuredly, I say to you, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.”
Luke 14:20 ... “Still another said, ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.'
Luke 14:27 ... “And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.
Luke 18:16 ... But Jesus called them to Him and said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God.
Luke 18:22 ... So when Jesus heard these things, He said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”
Commit to the lord statements are a few times too ... Psalms 37:5 ... Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass … and in Proverbs 16:3 ... Commit your works to the Lord, and your thoughts will be established … these are clear that we are able to respond to the call of God.
Acts 10:43 ... “To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins.”
Romans 9:33 ... As it is written: “Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and rock of offense, and whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.”
Romans 10:13 ... For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.
We need to strive to be more like Jesus everyday. So my answer is yes absolutely. Bible passages to support this answer are ...
1. John 9:4 ... I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work.
2. Daniel 12:3 ... Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament, and those who turn many to righteousness like the stars forever and ever.
Mark 4:12 ... “so that ‘Seeing they may see and not perceive, and hearing they may hear and not understand; lest they should turn, and their sins be forgiven them.' ”
Luke 1:17 ... “He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,' and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”
Gal 4:9 ... But now after you have known God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage?
Tons of more verses with these words are about saving souls. I saw a quote once, it said, "I want to win just one more for Jesus". But in true Reformed teachings, especially in hyper Calvinist teachings, missions work is pointless and a waste of time because you being God's mouthpiece is not going to alter whatever these people have been predestined outside of anything that they, or even you the missionary/pastor, did, do, will do, said, say or will say someday. Why would Jesus bother sending people out to make disciples when this will be fruitless and won't accomplish anything because the person spoken to cannot choose Christ? Jesus doesn't support this teaching. He said in Isaiah 55:11 ... So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.
Christ's truth that He shares through us is able to save people because those words won't come back empty. Even if people reject it, it'll be evidence brought against them on judgement day when they try and say, "I didn't know!"
Acts 17:10-15 ... 10 Then the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. 11 These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so. 12 Therefore many of them believed, and also not a few of the Greeks, prominent women as well as men. 13 But when the Jews from Thessalonica learned that the word of God was preached by Paul at Berea, they came there also and stirred up the crowds. 14 Then immediately the brethren sent Paul away, to go to the sea; but both Silas and Timothy remained there. 15 So those who conducted Paul brought him to Athens; and receiving a command for Silas and Timothy to come to him with all speed, they departed.
This shows that even if a pastor is blessed by God you should question what he says and teaches. Don't take anyone's word for it. And a frightening truth is that this is happening in this day in the church. The devil will stop at nothing to destroy it. The Baptists in Calvin's day were theologically 100% separate but the Calvinists are infiltrating and perverting even Baptist churches. Like it says in this passage, "they came there also and stirred up the crowds". May God preserve His blessed church.
Matthew 24:15-31 ... 15 “Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (whoever reads, let him understand), 16 “then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17 Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house. 18 And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes. 19 But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! 20 And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath. 21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22 And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened. 23 “Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There!’ do not believe it. 24 For false Christ's and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 25 See, I have told you beforehand. 26 “Therefore if they say to you, ‘Look, He is in the desert!’ do not go out; or ‘Look, He is in the inner rooms!’ do not believe it. 27 For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 28 For wherever the carcass is, there the eagles will be gathered together. 29 “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
Something I found very interesting and amazed me very much, and moved by was when it is about the character of God that Pastor Greg Bylsma preached on. These are his words (paraphrased) on March 4, 2018, at Living Water Reformed Church in Brantford, Ontario, Canada ... The sovereign God of the universe did not come to demand the descendants of Adam to worship and serve Him, but rather to serve this humanity and lay down His life for lost and wicked humanity.
“True Love Cannot be Forced nor Demanded”
Ravi Zechariah
Therefore, since true love cannot be forced nor demanded, and God wants us to love Him, the only way He can have genuine love from mankind, He had to come to us the way He did. Not demanding but serving. What amazing love is this!
I wanted to ask him if he's sure he's a Calvinist. After all his sermon was not in line with Calvinism but it was in line with God's Word. Praise the Lord! May God richly bless pastor Greg Bylsma for this message. This is not what Calvinism teaches. They believe that if people believe in free will, that this means that this person doesn't believe in the sovereignty of God, because they believe that God is totally in power and demands and decrees everything because He alone makes any decisions. This is why a true Calvinist does not believe that man has free will nor that man is able to respond to God's call at all. This is not what that quote is saying if God in His sovereignty came to serve and not be served.
In my opinion God is a God of love and our truest friend because as John 15:13 says ... Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.
What an awesome, wonderful and loving God we have that He would go this far to prove His divine love for mankind, that even though they are undeserving, God still came and died for mankind.
To respond to God in Christ we need to answer the question Jesus asked Peter. Read Mark 8:28-30 ... 28 So they answered, “John the Baptist; but some say, Elijah; and others, one of the prophets.” 29 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered and said to Him, “You are the Christ.” 30 Then He strictly warned them that they should tell no one about Him.
Here again is the question, look at Matthew 21:10-11 ... 10 And when He had come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, “Who is this?” 11 So the multitudes said, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth of Galilee.”
Who do you say Jesus is?
“Persuaded” shows up 21 times in the New King James Version of the Bible.
“If” shows up 1643 times in the New King James Version of the Bible.
“Choose” shows up 39 times in the New King James Version of the Bible.
“Confess” shows up 25 times in the New King James Version of the Bible.
“Choice” shows up 31 times in the New King James Version of the Bible.
“Come” shows up 1720 times in the New King James Version of the Bible.
"turn" shows up 287 times in the New King James Version of the Bible.
“Whoever" shows up 254 times in the New King James Version Bible. Most of the whoever's were directly related to salvation.
Wow I'll give you a sample of a few. Not every passage of these are about salvation but at least half are directly related to salvation in one way or another.
Mark 10:21 - Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.”
Luke 9:23 - Then He said to them all, “if anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.
Matthew 16:24-28 ... 24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. 25 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. 26 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? 27 For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works. 28 “Assuredly, I say to you, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.”
Luke 14:20 ... “Still another said, ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.'
Luke 14:27 ... “And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.
Luke 18:16 ... But Jesus called them to Him and said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God.
Luke 18:22 ... So when Jesus heard these things, He said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”
Commit to the lord statements are a few times too ... Psalms 37:5 ... Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass … and in Proverbs 16:3 ... Commit your works to the Lord, and your thoughts will be established … these are clear that we are able to respond to the call of God.
Acts 10:43 ... “To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins.”
Romans 9:33 ... As it is written: “Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and rock of offense, and whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.”
Romans 10:13 ... For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.
We need to strive to be more like Jesus everyday. So my answer is yes absolutely. Bible passages to support this answer are ...
1. John 9:4 ... I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work.
2. Daniel 12:3 ... Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament, and those who turn many to righteousness like the stars forever and ever.
Mark 4:12 ... “so that ‘Seeing they may see and not perceive, and hearing they may hear and not understand; lest they should turn, and their sins be forgiven them.' ”
Luke 1:17 ... “He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,' and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”
Gal 4:9 ... But now after you have known God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage?
Tons of more verses with these words are about saving souls. I saw a quote once, it said, "I want to win just one more for Jesus". But in true Reformed teachings, especially in hyper Calvinist teachings, missions work is pointless and a waste of time because you being God's mouthpiece is not going to alter whatever these people have been predestined outside of anything that they, or even you the missionary/pastor, did, do, will do, said, say or will say someday. Why would Jesus bother sending people out to make disciples when this will be fruitless and won't accomplish anything because the person spoken to cannot choose Christ? Jesus doesn't support this teaching. He said in Isaiah 55:11 ... So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.
Christ's truth that He shares through us is able to save people because those words won't come back empty. Even if people reject it, it'll be evidence brought against them on judgement day when they try and say, "I didn't know!"
Acts 17:10-15 ... 10 Then the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. 11 These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so. 12 Therefore many of them believed, and also not a few of the Greeks, prominent women as well as men. 13 But when the Jews from Thessalonica learned that the word of God was preached by Paul at Berea, they came there also and stirred up the crowds. 14 Then immediately the brethren sent Paul away, to go to the sea; but both Silas and Timothy remained there. 15 So those who conducted Paul brought him to Athens; and receiving a command for Silas and Timothy to come to him with all speed, they departed.
This shows that even if a pastor is blessed by God you should question what he says and teaches. Don't take anyone's word for it. And a frightening truth is that this is happening in this day in the church. The devil will stop at nothing to destroy it. The Baptists in Calvin's day were theologically 100% separate but the Calvinists are infiltrating and perverting even Baptist churches. Like it says in this passage, "they came there also and stirred up the crowds". May God preserve His blessed church.
Matthew 24:15-31 ... 15 “Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (whoever reads, let him understand), 16 “then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17 Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house. 18 And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes. 19 But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! 20 And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath. 21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22 And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened. 23 “Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There!’ do not believe it. 24 For false Christ's and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 25 See, I have told you beforehand. 26 “Therefore if they say to you, ‘Look, He is in the desert!’ do not go out; or ‘Look, He is in the inner rooms!’ do not believe it. 27 For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 28 For wherever the carcass is, there the eagles will be gathered together. 29 “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
Something I found very interesting and amazed me very much, and moved by was when it is about the character of God that Pastor Greg Bylsma preached on. These are his words (paraphrased) on March 4, 2018, at Living Water Reformed Church in Brantford, Ontario, Canada ... The sovereign God of the universe did not come to demand the descendants of Adam to worship and serve Him, but rather to serve this humanity and lay down His life for lost and wicked humanity.
“True Love Cannot be Forced nor Demanded”
Ravi Zechariah
Therefore, since true love cannot be forced nor demanded, and God wants us to love Him, the only way He can have genuine love from mankind, He had to come to us the way He did. Not demanding but serving. What amazing love is this!
I wanted to ask him if he's sure he's a Calvinist. After all his sermon was not in line with Calvinism but it was in line with God's Word. Praise the Lord! May God richly bless pastor Greg Bylsma for this message. This is not what Calvinism teaches. They believe that if people believe in free will, that this means that this person doesn't believe in the sovereignty of God, because they believe that God is totally in power and demands and decrees everything because He alone makes any decisions. This is why a true Calvinist does not believe that man has free will nor that man is able to respond to God's call at all. This is not what that quote is saying if God in His sovereignty came to serve and not be served.
In my opinion God is a God of love and our truest friend because as John 15:13 says ... Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.
What an awesome, wonderful and loving God we have that He would go this far to prove His divine love for mankind, that even though they are undeserving, God still came and died for mankind.
To respond to God in Christ we need to answer the question Jesus asked Peter. Read Mark 8:28-30 ... 28 So they answered, “John the Baptist; but some say, Elijah; and others, one of the prophets.” 29 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered and said to Him, “You are the Christ.” 30 Then He strictly warned them that they should tell no one about Him.
Here again is the question, look at Matthew 21:10-11 ... 10 And when He had come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, “Who is this?” 11 So the multitudes said, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth of Galilee.”
Who do you say Jesus is?
2. In Defense of Faith ... Why I Believe What I Believe. Brief History
I've been, for many months, doing an in-depth study on the 5 points of Calvinism and just recently started studying the 5 points of Arminianism because Calvinism made no sense to me and is also a hugely contradicted by the bible over and over again. I'm not an expert on Arminianism nor have I in-depth studied it but the 5 points of Arminianisms basic teachings are in line with God's Word as you'll see by the many bible passages I'll be showing.
Arminianism was coined by Jacobus Arminius 1559-1609 ... his followers wrote out Mr. Arminius's work in 5 main points and handed in the 5 points of Arminianism to the Synod of Dort, to my understanding, in about 1610, within a year of his death, not enough time for his followers to have completely mess up his writings and teachings. John Calvin was dead for more than fifty years before the 5 points of Calvinism were actually drawn up at the Synod of Dort by hard core/hyper Calvinists who were willing to murder anyone opposing Calvinism just like the Catholics had done. There is a good reason that John Calvin is known as a pope. The only reason they drew up the 5 points of Arminianism was because Arminius's teaching went in the face of Calvin's teachings.
Nowadays Calvinists try real hard to down play John Calvin's role in Servetus's death. But here it is clear as a bell that John Calvin was out for Servetus's blood. I looked up John Calvin on Wikipedia. (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Calvin) .... Following the execution of Servetus, a close associate of Calvin, Sebastian Castellio, broke with him on the issue of the treatment of heretics.
Calvin wrote a letter to Farel on 13 February 1546 noting that if Servetus were to come, he would not assure him safe conduct: "for if he came, as far as my authority goes, I would not let him leave alive." If I were a juror in the court deciding John Calvin's guilt, I'd definitely vote "guilty" 100%. (Cottret 2000, pp. 216–217; Parker 2006, pp. 147–148; Levy, Leonard W. (1995), Blasphemy: Verbal offense Against the Sacred from Moses to Salman Rushdie, p. 65, ISBN 978-0-8078-4515-8.)
With the approval of Calvin, the other plotters who remained in the city were found and executed. The opposition to Calvin's church polity came to an end.
(Cottret 2000, pp. 198–200; Parker 2006, pp. 156–157; Manetsch 2013, p. 187)
State and church are separate, though they have to cooperate to the benefit of the people. Christian magistrates have to make sure that the church can fulfill its duties in freedom. In extreme cases the magistrates have to expel or execute dangerous heretics. But nobody can be forced to become a Protestant.
(Jan Weerda, Calvin, in Evangelisches Soziallexikon, col. 212 ... Otto Weber, Calvin, Johannes, in Die Religion in Geschichte und Gegenwart, 3. Auflage, Band I (1957), col. 1598)
Scholars agree that it is important to distinguish between Calvin's views toward the biblical Jews and his attitude toward contemporary Jews. In his theology, Calvin does not differentiate between God's covenant with Israel and the New Covenant. He stated, "all the children of the promise, reborn of God, who have obeyed the commands by faith working through love, have belonged to the New Covenant since the world began." [112] Nevertheless, he was a covenant theologian and argued that the Jews are a rejected people who must embrace Jesus to re-enter the covenant. [113] ([112] Lange van Ravenswaay 2009, p. 144 quoting from Calvin, Institutes II.11.10 … [113] Pak, G. Sojin. John Calvin and the Jews: His Exegetical Legacy. Reformed Institute of Metropolitan Washington, 2009, p. 25.)
Most of Calvin's statements on the Jewry of his era were polemical. For example, Calvin once wrote, "I have had much conversation with many Jews: I have never seen either a drop of piety or a grain of truth or ingenuousness – nay, I have never found common sense in any Jew." (Calvin's commentary of Daniel 2:44–45 translated by Myers, Thomas. Calvin's Commentaries. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1948, quoted in Lange van Ravenswaay 2009, p. 146)
Arminianism was coined by Jacobus Arminius 1559-1609 ... his followers wrote out Mr. Arminius's work in 5 main points and handed in the 5 points of Arminianism to the Synod of Dort, to my understanding, in about 1610, within a year of his death, not enough time for his followers to have completely mess up his writings and teachings. John Calvin was dead for more than fifty years before the 5 points of Calvinism were actually drawn up at the Synod of Dort by hard core/hyper Calvinists who were willing to murder anyone opposing Calvinism just like the Catholics had done. There is a good reason that John Calvin is known as a pope. The only reason they drew up the 5 points of Arminianism was because Arminius's teaching went in the face of Calvin's teachings.
Nowadays Calvinists try real hard to down play John Calvin's role in Servetus's death. But here it is clear as a bell that John Calvin was out for Servetus's blood. I looked up John Calvin on Wikipedia. (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Calvin) .... Following the execution of Servetus, a close associate of Calvin, Sebastian Castellio, broke with him on the issue of the treatment of heretics.
Calvin wrote a letter to Farel on 13 February 1546 noting that if Servetus were to come, he would not assure him safe conduct: "for if he came, as far as my authority goes, I would not let him leave alive." If I were a juror in the court deciding John Calvin's guilt, I'd definitely vote "guilty" 100%. (Cottret 2000, pp. 216–217; Parker 2006, pp. 147–148; Levy, Leonard W. (1995), Blasphemy: Verbal offense Against the Sacred from Moses to Salman Rushdie, p. 65, ISBN 978-0-8078-4515-8.)
With the approval of Calvin, the other plotters who remained in the city were found and executed. The opposition to Calvin's church polity came to an end.
(Cottret 2000, pp. 198–200; Parker 2006, pp. 156–157; Manetsch 2013, p. 187)
State and church are separate, though they have to cooperate to the benefit of the people. Christian magistrates have to make sure that the church can fulfill its duties in freedom. In extreme cases the magistrates have to expel or execute dangerous heretics. But nobody can be forced to become a Protestant.
(Jan Weerda, Calvin, in Evangelisches Soziallexikon, col. 212 ... Otto Weber, Calvin, Johannes, in Die Religion in Geschichte und Gegenwart, 3. Auflage, Band I (1957), col. 1598)
Scholars agree that it is important to distinguish between Calvin's views toward the biblical Jews and his attitude toward contemporary Jews. In his theology, Calvin does not differentiate between God's covenant with Israel and the New Covenant. He stated, "all the children of the promise, reborn of God, who have obeyed the commands by faith working through love, have belonged to the New Covenant since the world began." [112] Nevertheless, he was a covenant theologian and argued that the Jews are a rejected people who must embrace Jesus to re-enter the covenant. [113] ([112] Lange van Ravenswaay 2009, p. 144 quoting from Calvin, Institutes II.11.10 … [113] Pak, G. Sojin. John Calvin and the Jews: His Exegetical Legacy. Reformed Institute of Metropolitan Washington, 2009, p. 25.)
Most of Calvin's statements on the Jewry of his era were polemical. For example, Calvin once wrote, "I have had much conversation with many Jews: I have never seen either a drop of piety or a grain of truth or ingenuousness – nay, I have never found common sense in any Jew." (Calvin's commentary of Daniel 2:44–45 translated by Myers, Thomas. Calvin's Commentaries. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1948, quoted in Lange van Ravenswaay 2009, p. 146)
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