I appeal to Calvinists because it shows
(1) That Calvinism is inconsistent within itself, disagreeing among 'extreme' and 'moderate' on how to interpret various verses.
(2) The Calvinist is like a Romanist, he will not accept anything that is not written by a Calvinist as being valid.
Thus, like the Romanist, if an article is from a non-Calvinist source, it is just dismissed as being 'Arminian', 'Romanist' 'Pelegian', etc and not 'worthy' to be addressed.
The King James translators knew your mindset when they stated in their preface that those who opposed them would be the Papists and 'certain brethren who do not accept anything unless it is hammered out on their own anvil'
So, I will use Calvinistic sources to show that Calvinism is a mass of inner contradictions and bible twisting, that is rooted in one single premise, God's will and ways are unknowable, not revealed in Scripture (but 'we' Calvinists do know that God only saved those He chose, for no known reason found in scripture)
I don't care who said what. When I read 2 Peter 3 in context paying attention to whom Peter is speaking and what he is speaking about, it is crystal clear, razor-sharp clear, that he is speaking to and about believers, and ONLY believers. I don't need a theologian to tell me what my own eyes can see, my own mind can comprehend, and what I have learned of English syntax, grammar, and sentence construction. Sorry you can't wrap you mind around that obvious and clear fact due to your spiritual blindness and bias. It's there, if you will open your eyes and mind.
And 1Tim.2:4?
Spurgeon said that referred to all men!
Piper admitted that there too many passages that referred to God's love for all of mankind, to be summarily dismissed by the Calvinists.
Hence his article on the 'two wills'.
Now if it were not God's revealed will for all men to be saved, there would be no reason for a 'secret will' as maintained by Calvin, Spurgeon, Boettner, Piper etc.
But I guess you guys are smarter then these guys, who really did not understand Calvinism as well as you do!
In your dreams, Ed. That statement is not provable, and I am living proof that it is wrong. Truth is Truth, and I don't filter it through Calvinist glasses, despite your illusion that I do. I wouldn't lean to heavily on that statement, because you can very easily be proven very, very wrong.
And 1Tim.2:4?
What about it? That's not the passage we're talking about. 2 Peter 3 is what I was referring to. Stay on topic. My remarks are concerned with that passage and that passage alone.
But I guess you guys are smarter then these guys, who really did not understand Calvinism as well as you do!
I make no claims to be such. It is you who accuse me of that, with no grounds other than your intense hatred of Calvin. I trust in God to lead me into all truth, and I read a wide variety of material, and not all of it is Calvinist, or Calvinist leaning. In fact the majority is not. I'm currently reading some things about Wesley, and looking for more by him and Jacob Arminius as well. Once I have found enough, I intend to post and critique what I have found.
What I have found so far is rather interesting, and I expect to hear howls of protest from the Wesleyan and Arminian camps when I finish my study...Wesley said some rather controversial things, that are not really very biblical and can be proven as such. When I have gathered enough, I will post it. Do not make the mistake of thinking I will be "converted"...what I have found so far has only strengthened my beliefs.