Posted on 07/22/2013 10:36:50 AM PDT by juliosevero
“I see Calvinist churches ordaining gays, supporting abortion and boycotts against Israel, especially in Europe and America. Should I conclude that Calvinist churches are not genuine Christian churches?”
Not the Calvinist church I’m a member of-Presbyterian Church in America(PCA). I don’t think you’d see such behavior in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church(OPC), Evangelical Presbyterian Church(EPC) the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church(ARP) or the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America(RPCNA) either.
Jesus said, “you did not choose me, I chose you” John 15
EVERY major family of Churches has apostates “ordaining gays, supporting abortion and boycotts against Israel, especially in Europe and America.” Including charismatics...
In fact, the ordination of homosexuals in (liberal/apostate) denominations is often done (falsely) invoking (gag!) a “new move of the Holy Spirit,” so its very unfair to single out Calvinists. Mainline Presbyterianism rejected actual Calvinism a couple generations ago anyway...., and they actively persecute those congregations and pastors who do not go along with their sexually perverted apostasy....
The author also very oddly refers to “LUCK” several times...as if there’s a random, outside of God, force that affects people.
There are very good reasons why non-charismatic Christians are suspicious of charismatic Christians, as they often do seem superstitious and just (frankly) flakey.
In John 15, Christ is speaking to the disciples before sending them out. He was not speaking to all believers.
You misinterpreted Acts 13:48. Christians, once saved, are ordained to good works and to witness and to eternal life.
God knows who will be saved, but he does not choose. His eternal purpose is to have a people that are faithful without being chosen. He already has the angels that were created with the full awareness of His existence. If that were all He wanted, there would be no reason for human creation.
“Actually, if we had free will we would not need the Cross. I would be able to choose not to sin, and them have eternal life on my own account, not that of Jesus.”
The ability to sin is proof of free will. You already have the free will to choose to sin or not to sin and also to choose to believe in Christ or not. But living a sinless life is impossible. If there was no free will, as you claim, humans would essentially be robots.
In fact, you’re claiming that we don’t have free will proves that we do.
***The ability to sin is proof of free will. ...But living a sinless life is impossible.***
Make self-refuting arguments much?
Frankly, what Sproul means by “true prophecy” has never been in great supply. After all, the Bible isn’t really that big a book, and the true prophets are therein.
However, I don’t believe in cessationism either. I think God will do what God wants to do.
“1 Samuel 19: 19 Word came to Saul: “David is in Naioth at Ramah”; 20 so he sent men to capture him. But when they saw a group of prophets prophesying, with Samuel standing there as their leader, the Spirit of God came upon Saul’s men and they also prophesied. 21 Saul was told about it, and he sent more men, and they prophesied too. Saul sent men a third time, and they also prophesied. 22 Finally, he himself left for Ramah and went to the great cistern at Secu. And he asked, “Where are Samuel and David?” “Over in Naioth at Ramah,” they said. 23 So Saul went to Naioth at Ramah. But the Spirit of God came even upon him, and he walked along prophesying until he came to Naioth. 24 He stripped off his robes and also prophesied in Samuel’s presence. He lay that way all that day and night. This is why people say, “Is Saul also among the prophets?”
It’s not self refuting at all.
We are not FORCED to sin. We CHOOSE to sin.
“No, His eternal purpose is His own glorification. One of the ways He accomplishes that is exercising His sovereignty in salvation. It is human (sinful) nature and human pride that rebels against the idea that we do not have ultimate control of our salvation.”
Your belief is Calvinistic and incorrect. Calvinism appeals to human pride in the belief that God picks and chooses who is saved, which is a lie. Unfortunately, this belief is pervasive in many “modern” churches due to John Calvin’s heretical beliefs which give excuses to those who do not witness for Christ.
God’s eternal purpose is much more than his own glorification. Read Revelation chapter 21 verse 6-8 “It is done”. God is proclaiming he now has his people that are faithful and have chosen him over the world.
Now that's prophetic.....:-)
That doesn't mean, of course, that everyone who claims to be a prophet is one.
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