| “There
is no worse screen to block out the Spirit than confidence
in our own intelligence.” |
-
John Calvin |
God
Is Sovereign!
That
means that He is absolutely in control over every single
aspect of His universe. If God is "Almighty" or
all-powerful, then there is no other power that is working
in opposition to Him. All things work together to accomplish
God's will. The greatest comfort to a Christian is the knowledge
that no matter what happens, it will all redown to God's
glory, and the good of His people. God controls not only
the huge events, but every bit of minutae of this life.
Absolutely nothing happens without God's hand, and that
is the reason to celebrate and worship Him!
Humans
are not free agents when it comes to will. "Free will"
is an unbiblical, and therefore heretical concept. Every
human is born spiritually dead, with no ability whatsoever
to please or approach God. It is only when God actively
plants his Holy Spirit inside us and we are made spiritually
alive that we can begin to understand our fallen state,
and our need for a Savior. Until then, we happily go about
our lives, hellbound, thinking we're in control.
Are
we "free" to make daily choices? Of course, but
every choice we make was predetermined by God to accomplish
His plan. Get used to this Biblical fact! The people
who argue in favor of "free will" simply have
no idea who they're messing with (God). At no point in the
Bible does God say to us that He wants us to freely choose
him because only then would we be expressing 'true love'
to Him. That is a humanistic and heretical way of teaching
love. Any loving parent with the knowledge that
their children were heading for disaster, for example, would
stop their children from getting hurt and hedge them in
so they couldn't get hurt too badly. This is exactly what
God does for His chosen people. He does not leave the Heaven
or Hell choice up to us, because He loves His children with
a special love, the same way any parent loves their own
childen more than someone else's. The Bible does not teach
otherwise, and yet the vast majority of the Christian church
teaches that God loves each and every individual who ever
lived exactly the same. Millions of people are being lead
astray by believing this false Gospel teaching, which puts
the emphasis on them and their glorious "free wills"
rather than the supreme will of God. If you believe YOU
chose God, then you are glorifying yourself for making such
a 'good decision', rather than worshipping the God who actually
chose you. Wake up from your arrogance and recognize that
God saved you from your own sinful ways, and then you will
truly worship Him!
Many
people will say "if God is controlling me, then I'm
just a puppet or a robot! That can't be how it is!".
And yet, while the Bible doesn't use the words "puppet"
or "robot", it does make it clear that there are
only two kinds of people in the world: children of God,
and children of the Devil. If you aren't controlled by God,
you are controlled by Satan. No one is a "free agent",
because no one is worthy or even able to actually "choose"
to approach God out of their own wisdom and inherent goodness.
This is another great comfort to the Christian: that his
salvation is not left up to him to earn or mess up, but
rather it is preordained by God, who never fails in what
He sets out to do.
Because
I know I am saved, I am made free to worship God, and tell
others the Gospel. If my salvation were left up to me, not
only would I mess it up, but I would spend my entire life
(as most Christians do) trying to do enough good works to
"earn" my salvation. This is not only impossible,
but unbiblical as well.
So what
is "Calvinism"?
"Calvinism"
as a name for a belief system is something of a misnomer.
It does not mean that I am a follower of John Calvin. It
is simply the nickname that has come to represent the theology
that puts emphasis on God's grace and sovereignty and recognizes
Man's utter depravity or inability to achieve righteousness,
as represented in the Bible. It's a shame, actually, that
a man's name has become associated with this Bible-based
theology, because people can attack and tear down the man
and think they've somehow done away with the beliefs. Calvin
did not sit down one day and come up with this system. Had
it been something new, he would have rejected it! It has,
in fact, been the basis of sound, orthodox Christian doctrinal
teaching since the writings of Paul. A better name would
be "Reformed Theology". The truth of the doctrine,
however, has never been defeated, because it is the true
exposition of Holy Scripture.
Why
am I drawn to Reformed Theology?
- It
is the most Biblically accurate understanding of God.
- It
is the most intellectually honest and satisfying explanation
of Christianity and Salvation.
- It
offers by far the most comfort and rest to those who are
God's chosen, but it is certainly not "feel-good
religion".
- It's
not based on emotionalism, "spiritual" experiences,
or any human expectations.
- It
allows the Bible to mean what it says without the need
for over-spiritualized interpretations which cloud the
issues.
- It's
not about me or you, but about God. Its purpose is not
to satisfy the flesh, but to mortify it. It puts God and
Man in their proper places and perspectives. (i.e., God
is on his throne as ruling Sovereign of the universe,
and the sole purpose of mankind is to glorify God. Discomfort
may follow when you realize your place!)
- Its
doctrines are sound, Biblical TRUTH.
|
Amazing
Grace: The History & Theology of Calvinism
is an excellent DVD for explaining the teachings of
the Reformed Faith. I recommend it to everyone. |
What
is this truth?
Reformed
Theology represents a return to the original Pauline doctrines
of the Bible, after 1000 years of the DARK AGES, when Roman
Catholicism dominated the Church, and introduced a myriad
of traditions that have more to do with ancient Babylonian
"mystery religion" than Christianity. The Protestant
Reformation was a great awakening within Christianity that
marked a return to holy scripture as the ultimate authority
on spiritual matters, and did away with many of the trappings
of false religion.
The
trap that the church had fallen into previously was the
notion that the traditions and decrees of the church held
just as much authority as Scripture. The errancy of this
teaching has not only been proven again and again by contradicting
Church proclamations, but was originally demonstrated by
Jesus himself who, after His resurrection, did not immediately
reveal Himself as risen to His disciples (who would become
the Church), but first opened the scriptures to them to
teach them about all the things concerning Himself. He was
standing right there, and yet even He turned to the scripture
to reveal His truth. Only after referencing the scriptures
did He then reveal His identity to them, showing that God's
Word is the ultimate authority and source for Truth, and
has greater weight than the physical senses and actions
of the people who read and follow it.
You
may have heard of the "5 Points of Calvinism"
or the "Doctrines of Grace". These points
aren't a set of beliefs that Calvin sat down one day and
composed. They are actually the Church's responses to the
heretical teachings of the students of a man named Arminius.
Rather than get into the history of the debate (which you
can read about elsewhere),
I will simply spell out the five points. These have been
debated for centuries, but will never be defeated, because
they are undeniable Biblical truths. If they make you uncomfortable,
I would encourage you to adjust your thinking about God
to bring it in line with what the Bible says, rather than
be led by your man-made traditions. Remember: if you disagree
with one of these points, ask yourself why. Is it because
the Bible says otherwise, or is it because you are more
comfortable being governed by your own ideas than by God's
Word?
1.
Total Depravity
Because of the fall, man is unable of himself to savingly
believe the gospel. The sinner is dead, blind, and deaf
to the things of God; his heart is deceitful and desperately
corrupt. His will is not free, it is in bondage to his evil
nature; therefore, he will not--indeed he cannot--choose
good over evil in the spiritual realm. Consequently, it
takes much more than the Spirit's assistance to bring a
sinner to Christ--it takes regeneration by which the Spirit
makes the sinner alive and gives him a new nature. Faith
is not something man contributes to salvation but is itself
a part of God's gift of salvation--it is God's gift to the
sinner, not the sinner’s gift to God.
Genesis
2:15-17, Romans 5:12, Psalm 51:5, 1 Corinthians 2:14,
Romans 3:10-18, Jeremiah 17:9, John 6:44, Ephesians 2:1-10
Additional
Reading: The
Bible: Can You Believe It? by Lee Hill
2.
Unconditional Election
God's choice of certain individuals unto salvation before
the foundation of the world rested solely in His own sovereign
will. His choice of particular sinners was not based on
any foreseen response or obedience on their part, such as
faith, repentance, etc. On the contrary, God gives faith
and repentance to each individual whom He selected. These
acts are the result, not the cause of God's choice. Election
therefore was not determined by or conditioned upon any
virtuous quality or act foreseen in man. Those whom God
sovereignly elected He brings through the power of the Spirit
to a willing acceptance of Christ. Thus God's choice of
the sinner, not the sinner’s choice of Christ, is
the ultimate cause of salvation.
Romans
9:10-21, Ephesians 1:4-11, Ephesians 2:4-10, Romans 8:29-30,
Acts 11:18, Acts 13:48
Additional
reading: Who
Chooses Who? by Lee Hill
3.
Limited Atonement
Christ's redeeming work was intended to save the elect only
and actually secured salvation for them. His death was a
substitutionary endurance of the penalty of sin in the place
of certain specified sinners. In addition to putting away
the sins of His people, Christ's redemption secured everything
necessary for their salvation, including faith which united
them to Him. The gift of faith is infallibly applied by
the Spirit to all for whom Christ died, thereby guaranteeing
their salvation.
Matthew
1:21, Romans 5:12-21, Romans 3:21-26, Ephesians 2:8-10,
Titus 3:5-6, Philippians 1:6, John 10:11-30, John 17:6-12,
Romans 8:28-30, John 6:44, Acts 20:28
Additional
Reading: Everyone
Who Believes? BELIEVES WHAT? by Lee
Hill
4.
Irresistible Grace
In addition to the outward general call to salvation which
is made to everyone who hears the gospel, the Holy Spirit
extends to the elect a special inward call that inevitably
brings them to salvation. The external call (which is made
to all without distinction) can be, and often is, rejected;
whereas the internal call (which is made only to the elect)
cannot be rejected, it always results in conversion. By
means of this special call the Spirit irresistibly draws
sinners to Christ. He is not limited in His work of applying
salvation by man's will, nor is He dependent upon man's
cooperation for success. The Spirit graciously causes the
elect sinner to cooperate, to believe, to repent, to come
freely and willingly to Christ. God's grace, therefore,
is invincible; it never fails to result in the salvation
of those to whom it is extended.
John
3:16, Matthew 22:14, Acts 17:29-31, Matthew 23:37-39,
John 6:44, Romans 8:28-30, John 1:12-13, John 3:1-8, Ephesians
2:8-10
Additional
Reading: The
Sheep and The Goats: An Easy Illustration Just For "Ewe"
by Lee Hill
5.
Perseverance of the Saints
All who were chosen by God, redeemed by Christ, and given
faith by the Spirit are eternally saved. They are kept in
faith by the power of Almighty God and thus persevere to
the end.
John
3:16, John 6:35-40, John 6:44, Philippians 1:6, Philippians
2:12-13, Jude 24-25, Ephesians 1:13-14, Romans 8:28-30,
Romans 8:35-39
Additional
Reading: Where
Is God When Disaster Strikes? by Lee
Hill
This
Is The Gospel!
The
TRUTH will set you free! Being a Christian does not mean
submitting yourself to a set of man-made rules and constructs.
Rather, it means to be SET FREE from the bondage of your
sinful nature and your limited ideas about God. It's not
about YOU. It's about God. Don't think for a second that
God will be impressed with your personal righteousness.
Rather, trust in Christ's righteousness as it is imputed
to you, and accept the fact that you don't deserve salvation,
but your salvation is utterly because of the Amazing Grace
of GOD ALMIGHTY, and that is the best news you will ever
hear!
For
further reading ...
Read these documents. They explain Reformed Theology
far better than I!
Quotes
from C. H. Spurgeon:
"I
do not come into this pulpit hoping that perhaps somebody
will of his own free will return to Christ. My hope
lies in another quarter. I hope that my Master will
lay hold of some of them and say, "You are mine,
and you shall be mine. I claim you for myself."
My hope arises from the freeness of grace, and not from
the freedom of the will."
"A
man is not saved against his will, but he is made willing
by the operation of the Holy Ghost. A mighty grace which
he does not wish to resist enters into the man, disarms
him, makes a new creature of him, and he is saved."
"Free will carried many a soul to hell, but never
a soul to heaven."
"A sinner can no more repent and believe without
the Holy Spirit's aid than he can create a world."
"I believe that nothing happens apart from divine
determination and decree ... We shall never be able
to escape from the doctrine of divine predestination
- the doctrine that God has foreordained certain people
unto eternal life."
"The greatest enemy to human souls is the self-righteous
spirit which makes men look to themselves for salvation."
"If it were Christ's intention to save all men,
how deplorably he has been disappointed!"
"There is enough dust on some of your Bible's to
write "damnation" with your fingers."
"George whitefield said, 'We are all born Arminians.'
It is grace that turns us into Calvinists.
"It is no novelty, then, that I am preaching; no
new doctrine. I love to proclaim these strong old doctrines,
that are called by nickname Calvinism, but which are
surely and verily the revealed truth of God as it is
in Christ Jesus. By this truth I make a pilgrimage into
the past, and as I go, I see father after father, confessor
after confessor, martyr after martyr, standing up to
shake hands with me. Were I a Pelagian, or a believer
in the doctrine of free-will, I should have to walk
for centuries all alone. Here and there a heretic, of
no honorable character, might rise up and call me brother.
But taking these things to be the standard of faith,
I see the land of ancients peopled with my brethren;
I behold multitudes who confess the same as I do, and
acknowledge that this is the religion of God's own church."
"There is no attribute of God more comforting to
his children than the doctrine of Divine Sovereignty.
Under the most adverse circumstances, in the most severe
troubles, they believe that Sovereignty hath ordained
their afflictions, that Sovereignty overrules them,
and that Sovereignty will sanctify them all. There is
nothing for which the children of God ought more earnestly
to contend than the dominion of their Master over all
creation — the kingship of God over all the works
of his own hands — the throne of God, and his
right to sit upon that throne. On the other hand, there
is no doctrine more hated by worldlings, no truth of
which they have made such a foot-ball, as the great,
stupendous, but yet most certain doctrine of the Sovereignty
of the infinite Jehovah. Men will allow God to be everywhere
except on his throne.
| Podcasts
I recommend the following podcasts to all
Christians. They are an excellent way to
keep your mind engaged and focused on the
things of God, especially as listened to
in earbuds as you go about your daily routines!
These broadcasts are not exercises in feel-good
preaching, but rich sources for stimulating
discussions and rigorous defenses of the
Gospel of Jesus Christ. |
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Grace Christian
Assembly
Pastor Jim McClarty |
The
Dividing Line
Dr. James White |
Unbelievable?
Justin Brierley |
The
GraceLife Pulpit
Phil Johnson |
SMYRNA,
TN
Intensive live Bible study messages from
Grace Christian Assembly, and teaching on
theology and sound doctrine |
PHOENIX,
AZ
Call-in radio program covering a range of
topics in Dr. White's sphere of apologetics |
UNITED
KINGDOM
Weekly broadcast bringing people with opposing
views together for rich dialogue |
SUN
VALLEY, CA
Sermons from the GraceLife Fellowship at
Grace Community Church, hosts of the Shepherd's
Conference |
Blogs
For further reading, food for thought, current
insight, and sharp entertainment, read up
on these fascinating blogs. |
 |
Alpha
& Omega Ministries
Dr. James White and Team Apologian
post articles about current events and
topics related to Christian Apologetics."The
Gospel is Ours to Proclaim, Not to Edit." |
|
SalvationByGrace.org
Pastor Jim McClarty's blog
covering topics of theology and Grace
Christian Assembly. |
|
Pyromaniacs
Phil Johnson and his fellow "Pyromaniacs"
serve up some interesting food for thought. |
|
Lane's
Blog
Young blogger Lane Chaplin
posts interviews and clips, featuring
his Rightly Divided program. |
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