Comments for soli Deo gloria

Comment on John Piper and Calvinism by chrispoblete

chrispoblete — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 05:29:17 +0000

*another 3 years after I got saved, that is.

Comment on John Piper and Calvinism by chrispoblete

chrispoblete — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 05:28:16 +0000

I agree with Ron that SOME calvinists will argue Calvin over Christ. I think it’s worth noting that I am a young evangelical who considers himself a Calvinist… not because of Piper or Driscoll or Sproul, but because God saved me apart from myself and I believe that’s what Scripture teaches. It would be another 3 years before I learned that what I believed about salvation was called Calvinism by many. Did I choose God? Yes. But WHY did I choose him?

Not because of me, that’s for sure. And that, I will never understand. But instead will be thankful for.

God bless you all.

Comment on Does God Choose Who Will Be Saved? by mike

mike — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 23:32:21 +0000

To analyze scripture, you should have some working knowledge of Greek. In Acts 13:48 “tetagemanoi”, a nominative case, perfect tense, passive middle voice participle of “tasso” is used, and indicates a * present* influence on the Gentiles toward eternal life and believing the gospel. This fits the context: Acts 14:1 continues, saying Paul and Barnabas “so spake, that a great multitude … believed.”

“Tasso” is used 7 other times in the NT, none of which express the idea of predestination. Where predestination is mentioned, it is derived from “proordizo.”

Romans 8:29 does not mention eternal states, instead the likeness of Christ.

John 6:65 is properly rendered “except it were given [Gr “didomi”] unto him of my Father.” I.e. the Father gives the opportunity to come. Something given can be accepted or rejected. Other uses of “didomi” throughout the NT : John 1:17, John 4:10, John 17:14, John 18:11, Romans 12:3 and 15:15, Galatians 2:9. All use the same Greek term, and all mean something that can be accepted or rejected.

Romans 2:1 is taken from the Psalms, and is not meant to give scientific description of the condition of man. It shows the general attitude of his heart – the sinful nature. Obviously this doesn’t say men are unable to respond to the gospel when a missionary seeks them out.

Romans 9 says a lot of things, but it doesn’t say anything about eternal destinies of individuals. The passage about Jacob and Esau are about nations – see obvious references to Malachi – and do not address their eternal destinies. The passage about Pharoah only says God will use the innate evil of a person to do His will. Reading Exodus, one can’t avoid passages clearly stating that God hardened Pharoah’s heart – they’re usually right next to ones saying Pharoah hardened his own.

So, Calvinist interpretations of the Bible are a little skewed in my opinion. They rest more on the work of Augustine and Luther, though Calvin only gave credit to the former. It’s odd though – only Augustine can be mentioned, because all the other early church fathers say nothing on the subject, or, like Chrysostom – an archbishop – say that free will exists. And what’s even more alarming is that someone who reads Augustine closely sees that for him, the sovereignty of God and the free will of man are co-existent.

So before spreading a philosophy, be sure you have done the research. At the very least, this means looking into the original language in which it was written.

Comment on John Piper and Calvinism by mike

mike — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 22:20:58 +0000

This site is confusing – quotes by CS Lewis, who was Anglican and definitely not a Calvinist – and a nod toward Thomas Aquinas, who in his Summa called those who denied free will stupid! And to the right I see a link to a quote by Spurgeon, who was himself confused about Calvinism! But then I see John Piper is mentioned here, and it all makes sense. I think his book, which came out in the 80’s, on christian hedonism, must have taken a decade or two to get some traction in Christian universities and colleges. Now it’s catching on. But, like the Reformation, it seems to run on personality – and desire – and less on solid common sense – and truth.

Comment on No God, No Morality by Thomas Chakkiath

Thomas Chakkiath — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 10:30:32 +0000

I think the concept of morals and ethics can only be derived from the idea of an (the) Absolute, say God. One can be good to his fellow-beings even without
believing in God.But how to substantiate this ? Furthermore, why should one be good at all to one’s fellowbeings ?

Comment on Why I Am A Calvinist by haystackcommentary

haystackcommentary — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 22:27:49 +0000

“Thanks for the comment! I might be inclined to disagree with you, however. I think that if we were to view the Bible in a holistic manner, then we would come to the same conclusion that the Reformers did, namely, that God is sovereign over the salvation of souls.”

I hope there’s a better argument then this. The conclusion is irrelevant to the search if one is searching for the truth. If we are going to reject conclusion just because we do not like them then why bother?

Comment on “Why We Love the Church” by Paul

Paul — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 04:48:44 +0000

Appreciated this book immensely. See my review at http://inchristus.wordpress.com/2009/07/19/churchless-christians/

Comment on John Piper and Calvinism by Ron

Ron — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 05:55:37 +0000

Calvinism points to one thing alone and that is the teachings of John Calvin not Jesus Christ. Instead of being bold for Christ. Youll find that most calvinists want to argue for the sake of calvin and not Christ.
Calvinists believe that our Loving God who said in John 3:16 That God so loved the world that whosoever will believe on Him will not perish but have eternal life.
Only loves a select which they deem the elect few.
Nowe if you notice in the verse. God said not that whosoever. Not whoever I choose.
God loves each one of us. He doent pick and choose. Scripture says that God does not show favortism.
If He doent show favoritism then how can He pick and choose? He can’t and He won’t.
Where calvanists get confused is on foreknowledge. God nows ahead of time who will as in John 3:16 will believe in Jesus. And who won’t. Then He does as He wills with them.
God will not save somebody that does not want to be saved as God will never deny anyone salvation who wants to be saved.
Is it Gods will that all men be saved? Yes
scripture says that its the Will of God that all men be saved.
God gave us freewill. We have the God given ability to make choices whether we get up and go to work or whether we want to eat steak or chicken.
God wants us to choose Him by choice not
by force. Yet through the influence of the Holy Spirit.
The calvinist doctrine teaches that there is know need to witness.
Why witness if God is predestined some to hell and some to heaven. They have no need to hear the gospel God has automatically saved them or condemned them according to the calvanist doctrine.
Yet it is the testimony of scripture that God will witness to people even if they dont accept Christ.
Agrippa said “Paul you almost persuade me to me a Christian”
God made the gospel available, Agrippa by his own choice didnt accept.
God loves each one of us. And gives us the choice to serve Him. God prepared heaven for His followers. And a Hell for the ones who choose to deny Him.
God is not a tyrant that sends someone to Hell that wants to know the truth. As He wont save someone that doesnt want to be.
He touches our Hearts His word convicts the sinner but its our choice whether we want to serve Him or not.
God is so soveriegn He gave us the choice
to accept His grace or deny it.
My God loves us all not just who He picks and chooses. We as fallen Humans pick
and choose who we will love. Yet Christ died for us all while we were still sinners according to scripture. Which only backs up what God said.
God so LOVED the world that He gave his only begotten Son, that WHOSOEVER WILL BELIEVE in Him will not perish but have everlasting life.
Christ died for WHOEVER WILL not who He chooses.

Comment on Why I Am A Baptist by Damon Whitsell

Damon Whitsell — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 10:52:02 +0000

I really enjoyed your article and site my baptist brother. After many years of bible study,, I joined a little baptist church.

Here is a few articles from one of my blogs I think you will like.

INFANT BAPTISM AND BAPTISMAL REGENERATION EXPOSED! It’s PAGAN Origin and Harmful History

http://how2becomeachristianinfoblog.com/2008/11/11/infant-baptism-and-baptismal-regeneration-exposed-its-history-and-harm/

WATER BAPTISM: A PAGAN AND JEWISH RITE,BUT NOT CHRISTIAN by James Moon

http://how2becomeachristianinfoblog.com/2008/09/01/water-baptism-a-pagan-and-jewish-ritebut-not-christian-by-james-moon/

Acts 2:38 Satan’s Favorite Bible Verse! w/ greek grammer VIDEO

http://how2becomeachristianinfoblog.com/2008/10/24/acts-238-satans-favorite-bible-verse-w-greek-grammer-video/

GODBLESS YA
damon

Comment on Bruce Waltke on “Finding the Will of God” by brianmont51

brianmont51 — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 21:24:49 +0000

Dude, I stinking loved this quote. I am gonna read this book now. Thanks for sharing!