Spencer, Pink and Bishop put
the Calvinist’s position squarely on the line: i.e., since man is
born spiritually dead, blind and deaf, he is incapable of accepting or rejecting
the gospel, or turning to God, or receiving Christ as Saviour and Lord.
If God does not first quicken the sinner by His Spirit, he cannot turn to
God and be saved. This forced Calvinists to reach two conclusions: (1) the Lord
Jesus died only for those whom He has chosen.
(2) Outside of a comparative few, billions of unsaved, unchosen ones will
be tortured by fire and brimstone throughout the endless ages of eternity – not
because they rejected Christ and His truth but because they had no opportunity
to even hear the truth. Strange as it may seem, this is an image millions highly
revere and will defend at any cost.
CALVINISM:
If God does not first quicken the sinner by His Spirit, he cannot be
saved.
BUT THE BIBLE SAYS:
“In Whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the
gospel of your salvation: in whom also AFTER THAT YE BELIEVED, YE WERE SEALED
WITH THAT HOLY SPIRIT OF PROMISE.”
Eph. 1:13.
Note God’s order:
We first believe, then we’re sealed. Calvin foolishly reversed
that order and put the sealing of the Holy Spirit first. Yet he is considered in
history as one of the great theologians of his time.
Someone once remarked, “What fools these mortals be.”
And how true that is of anyone when philosophy, theory and imagination
replaces the Word of God.
CALVINISM:
Man, being born spiritually dead, blind and deaf, cannot turn to God
unless he is one of the chosen of God.
BUT THE BIBLE SAYS: “God is
no respecter of persons…the wisdom that is from above is…without partiality…”
Acts 10:34; James 3:17.
Clearly, we cannot believe Calvin (and Calvinism) and the Bible.
CALVINISM:
“So adverse to God [are fallen men] that they CANNOT TURN to Him, so
blind they CANNOT SEE Him, so deaf they CANNOT HEAR Him…”
G.S. Bishop.
BUT THE BIBLE SAYS:
God convicts all men (John 16:7-9) He urges all men to choose life that
they may live (Deut. 30:19 Joshua 24:15; Isa. 65:12); He entreats all men to
turn and be filled with the His Spirit.” Prov. 1:23.
He gives light to all men, (John 1:9); He draws all men, (John 12:32); He
reveals Himself to all men, (Rom. 1:19-20)
He died for all men (Heb. 2:9); and He calls all men to be saved.
(Isa. 45:22; Jer. 22:29).
Yes, God has proven Himself
to be infinitely fair in His dealings with mankind. (Isa. 1:18) Let’s not
quibble, it’s man’s stubbornness and pride that has driven him to reject the
light God has given him and caused him to turn to deaf, dumb and mute idols to
replace the God of the Bible.
Calvinism is but one more idol in the land. 1 Tim. 4:1.
This is not to say that
Calvin or any of his followers are not saved.
That is an issue solely determined by one’s relationship to Jesus Christ
- nothing more.
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