DISQUS

Bob · 3 years ago

That's a bummer man, I'm a calvinist and I don't think calvinism is for everyone (but it is what the bible teaches). I really fought against accepting God's soveriegn predestination (being a default Arminian) and really didn't want to believe these things. I wouldn't have been willing to accept a mere logical system but an expostion of scripture on these matters alone. Well you've heard it all before so I won't bore you with key scriptures, but I do not think that it hinders the gospel proclamation at all to hold to a particular redemption. I in no way feel I need to tone done my invitation of sinners to come to Christ because its not my job to decide who is elect and not.

Brandon Cox · 3 years ago

Bob, Thanks for the comment. I feel I need to clarify that I would not label myself an Arminianist either. Further, I am appreciative that Calvinism emphasizes a God-centered theology instead of a man-centered one. However, one need not be a Calvinist to see the sovereignty of God clearly.

Tim · 2 years ago

Brandon,


Thanks for your "confession". I have struggled for several years with this arguement between Calvinist and Arminianism. I agree with you that I am first and last a believer in Christ and I believe the Bible is the the authority, not man. Hyper-Calvinism and Hyper-Arminianism are divisive... and since God is not the author of confusion, I think the truth is in God's Word.



Tim Carroll

Brandon Cox · 2 years ago

Tim, thanks for your comment. You're absolutely right to see God's Word as the final authority.


I feel I should add to this post that since writing this article, I obtained and read Chosen But Free by Norman Geisler, who articulates well what I feel about this issue. My one disagreement is with Geisler's insistence on using the term "moderate Calvinist" to include people in between "extreme Calvinism" and Arminianism. Personally, I don't feel the need to define my beliefs about the sovereignty of God based on what John Calvin, or any other human theologian taught.

Morgan · 11 months ago

interesting. i know this is an old post, but i've been slowly catching up on your old posts. as you touched upon-i've always looked at the two extreme views as the God view vs the man view

Brandon · 11 months ago

@Morgan,

It's an old post, but still something I struggle with all the time. I'm convinced if we ever have God's sovereignty all figured out then we need to repent of our pride.

Brother Phil · 11 months ago

This post is a series of posts that I have been reading tonight. It is 4:19 AM; I have been up since 2 AM. My wife and I were having a discussion about Salvation (me, a 'calvinist'; she, a believer in Christ !!). I have been saved since 1979 but tonight I am beginning to find Freedom!! And Choices !! I now see that Calvinism is responsible for irresponsible behaviours in 'christians' who do not see behaviour as relevant. (This mindset was part of my belief system also). Now I realize I DO have a choice, that I CAN live out my Salvation in Love and Appreciation for Christ creates a sweet stir in the depths of my belly!! Calvinism put me in prison; I could do NOTHING (or else!!!). Now I understand how the Bible can be a paradox but still be valid.
The most important issue is not answers; it is Faith (an active Faith in Christ). It gives New Life to the New Life !!!!

Lynne · 10 months ago

Bravo!!! It is best to follow the teaching of Christ and be a Christian than a man, Calvin, and be a Calvinist. Remember also that Calvin drowned 2 people intentionally based on his system of theology. Also remember that John MaCarthur was taken to the supreme court because a student committed suicide based on the Calvinistic teachings he received at the Master's College (John Macarthur president)

Tom Fellows · 10 months ago

Yeah, I'm guilty of dragging up old posts again!!! LOL

I'm like the one in the earlier comment that sits and reads all the posts on one's blog. Since I work nights and have the luxury of surfing the net, I get quite a bit of reading done.

Brandon, you have no idea how much stumbling across your blog has blessed me. I come from a background that taught never to question anything, yet I am from a generation that questions everything! I don't see questioning as rebellion, as the older generations do. I see questioning as needful so that our generation will know what we believe, and why we believe it. It is truly being "ready to give an answer..."

Since I'm preparing to resume my pulpit ministry full-time, I've been blessed to sit under a pastor (10 years younger than me), but who "gets it" and loves just as much as I do, sitting around and asking questions about all the "sacred cows" of the Baptist faith. I believe that it sharpens our intellect, and strengthens our faith when we are willing to question, examine, research and either affirm or disaffirm (word?) our positions.

Lord bless you, brother. It's good to know I'm not the only one out there that struggles with some of these things from time to time.

BTW, my sister went to Western as well. I live just across the river from Louisville.

Jimbo · 6 months ago

Hi Brandon

"Free to Decide"- that title gives it away, really.
Wonder if you,ve read Luthers Bondage of the Will.
Jesus did say Without Me ye can do nothing" and "none can come except the Father draw them"
There are many Scriptures to which I could point ,ie Romans 9 , Eph 1, etc.
You,ve no doubt been through them all, well PREDESTINATION will stand throughout all the ages whether you or I can figure it our Salvation belongs to the Lord.
Free to Decide? Only by the Grace of God see John 17.

regards Jim

Brandon · 6 months ago

Jim, I believe in predestination. I believe that God is solely responsible for our salvation - it has nothing to do with us - we could never offer to God anything which would procure our eternal destiny with God in heaven. I simply don't agree with determinism, which in my belief, is equivalent to fatalism. The gospel calls for a response and a decision. A decision doesn't save us, Jesus does, but a decision is what God requires of us as the basis of conversion.

I like the way you answer the question - only by the grace of God. I agree.

Kevin Hash · 5 months ago

@Have Time for Some Calvinism? It’s Changing the World! | Brandon A. Cox - Personal and Pastor's Blog -

Hey Brandon,
I stumbled onto your blog, it looks great. We are hoping to redo our church website with Wordpress.

I thought I'd pass along something ironic, based on your blog here. I found James White rebuttal of the sermon's by Adrian Rogers (in romans 8 & 9 and being definitive in sending me the other direction.

God Bless you and the work you are doing in Christ's church.
KBH

David · 5 months ago

As one who has struggled over Calvinism many years, I found this blog which I came across tonight fascinating. Thank you for it. When I was a new Christian and found my spirit very wounded by Calvinism, I asked a Calvinist why he thought I had to believe in Calvinism. He said that the reason was that there was no other way to interpret Romans 9-11. However, a wonderful Bible teacher steered me to a great book, God's Strategy in Human History, by Forster and Marston, which was a Christianity Today Book of the Month Club Selection. It had a fabulous explanation of all the Bible passages that sound Calvinistic, and it explained them all in a non-Calvinistic way which made a lot of sense. This book greatly comforted me that I could believe in the Bible's inerrancy without feeling forced to believe in Calvinism. It's available on Amazon.com -- God's Strategy in Human History by Roger Forster and Paul Marston

Gordon · 5 months ago

1. Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, 2. for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. 3. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4. who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5. For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, 6. who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time, 7. for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle I am speaking the truth in Christ and not lying a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.

One must consider that if God desires all to be saved then of the same breath pick a few for salvation and damn the rest then we have a real problem with truth. Can God be holy if he damns the people to eternal hell and picks form the all a few while at the same time telling us He desires all to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth?

There are three answers to this passage and Calvinism is the most illogical of the three.

God desires all to be saved:

Calvinism picks a few of the all

Universalism picks saves all humanity

However, the only position left is to allow some form of human freedom in the process which does not violated God's sovereignty, recognizes the depravity of man and honors the atonement of Christ.

Calvinism is not a logical order of belief. Calvinist must arguer against passages that clearly teach that Christ died for all mankind. Is that logical? No

Calvinist must arguer that foreknowledge does not mean foreknowledge. Is that logical? No

Calvinist must arguer that regeneration is before faith and this is not found in Scripture where as we read in a number of places where salvation follows faith. The clear passages are there but denied. Is this logical? No

We must stop supporting the argument that Calvinism is logical because it is not.

Brandon · 5 months ago

Good point about logic. I think I say Calvinism is logical only in the sense that the major tenets may be mutually supported by a system which flows out if human reason and intellect, not out of truth. Our logic certainly doesn't always correspond with God's perfect wisdom, especially since the fall.

Tracy · 5 months ago

Brandon, I think you have written very well and studied this out. It does sound like Calvinism does a great disservice to what the bible speaks of as the "simplicity in Christ". God means what he says when he said HE wishes that NONE should perish but that ALL should come to repentance. Its just a sad fact that many will not choose Him, but God will save any one who asks for it on God's terms. Well done for the glory of God and true- He cannot be put into a box that our intellectual theologians have designed for him. He is greater than what we can fathom!

Will · 5 months ago

@Jimbo - Hey, man, use the comma instead of the apostrophe. It's right below the 'm'.