BigMack
Don't let them turn you to the dark side girl, your simple faith in what God has told us, is true.
Hi BigMack. Let me throw down the gauntlet. Show us all how any analysis of the Scriptures that has been presented by those of us this group would classify as "Calvinists" has violated the immediate context of any of the passages or the broad context of Scripture. I contend that the exegesis is sound. (I don't like the label "Calvinist" myself becase the doctrine predatates Calvin and I would say is the orthodox position of Peter and Paul.) The problem is that autonomous man does not like being brought squarely to grips with the idea that he is not the absolute source of authority in the universe. One does not have to like a conclusion for it to be true. God is the sovereign ruler over all of the universe he made, including the hearts and will of men. That said, it is also true that God is good and not the author of sin. The two statements are not mutually exclusive and the Scriptures are not ashamed to proclaim both truths.