Calvinism Sermon: Unconditional Election (Part 3 in series)

I'm a new believer who is confused. Do we have free will? Has God predestined some to heaven and some to hell? If so why evangelize?

In school I learned that Calvinists believe that God has already determined who gets salvation and you have no control of whether or not you can be a good person. Is this taken from scripture or is it just a perspective Calvinists took on?

I believe that this shouldn't divide us Christians this is good because people like Jeff or Arminianism beliefs are still preaching Christ unlike the ME I Now dominations God Bless to those striving to really know Christ and deny themselves.

calvinism is a christian pacifying trap. Jesus did not teach it, neither did the disciples/apostels. It is based on misconceptions and partial truths. I know it, I grew up in it, and it causes serious issues if you want to follow Jesus's commandments...

1 John 2/2 and he died not only for the sins of the elect but also for the sins of the whole world.

I am not doubting Calvinism, for I see it in Scripture; but this is what I get out of the Bible:

1. God's Will

Though it is God's will that I am predestined, it (In my eyes) is by chance that it was his will. Thus it is only by a faint chance that I was drawn by the Spirit, who overcame my rebellion FOR ME, to be saved from eternal torment. And this in a world where the majority are not. Probably the vast majority are not.

-How can I not feel that this is rather arbitrary and that our grief for the lost should overwhelm whatever joy we have for ourselves? Also, how can I not shake that terror of having been so close to the fire and had no power on my own to avoid it?

2. Conversions.

So they are inevitable. If I see an unsaved person in the street, say, an LBGT activist, come to Christ, I am experiencing God's sovereignty brought to completion in that individual, correct?

In other words, that person was not a wretch who had a change of heart by way of reasoning or logic, but a wretch who - against THEIR will - had the Spirit infiltrate their soul change their heart from stone to flesh. And this was done at a predetermined time by God.

We are commanded to spread the Gospel, but it seems therefore that the command is NOT so that others will be saved - for salvation does not depend on our actions - but rather we are commanded because WE are saved. It is to be our role. That preaching the Word, on top of other traits, is to confirm our election.

-How can this not discourage us from feeling that devout Christianity is more of an obligation than an empowerment? That is, if God saves them anyway, why would I WANT to get involved? Is it to simply be apart of the action, to be available for the Spirit to use, and thus reap a reward? Whereas if I was not involved than all is well for both the activist and I anyhow and I'm just out one treasure in heaven?

3. The Big Picture.

Let me be blunt.

This is how the Story begins: There is eternal, three-part God. Nothing else. All is well.

This is how the Story ends (As described by God): There is eternal, three-part God, now with his elect angels and humans in new heaven and earth. And a far greater host of humans and angels suffering for all eternity.

Father forgive my blasphemy, my leaning own understanding, my failure to remember that NOW we see in a mirror dimly, BUT how is the latter better? How is this Glory?

I will have all who read this know, I live in shear terror of God.

if brother fights brother then neither have love a discusion is to be made for those who do not believe.

I believe “TULIP” theology to be unscriptural.  On the other hand, I am not an Arminian and I believe in eternal security.
Total inability means sinners are unable to come to Christ unless they are first regenerated.  But the Bible teaches that a man is born again when he believes, not before he believes.  “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name” (John 1:12).
Unconditional election means God arbitrarily chose some people for heaven, and others for hell.  But the Bible says that God is, “not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (II Peter 3:9; cf. I Tim. 2:4).
Limited atonement means Christ died only for the elect.  But First John 2:2 says, “And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.”
Hebrews 2:9 says, “that He by the grace of God should taste death for every man” (cf. also John 1:29; 3:16).
Irresistible grace means that the saving grace of God is effectually applied only to those whom God has determined to save (the elect).  Here we can see the logical connection between “total inability” (or “total depravity”) and “irresistible grace.”  Since total inability means that man is unable of believing God, and man will never come to Christ on his own, God must first change a person’s nature before he is saved. 
To the staunch Calvinist, regeneration must precede conversion. But is God’s grace “irresistible”?  We see many examples in the Bible of sinners resisting God’s grace.  Stephen said to the Jewish leaders in Acts 7:51, “Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.”
Calvinists would argue that these stiffnecked sinners were not part of the elect and were therefore predestined for hell.  But this is not what the Bible teaches.
The last doctrine in the TULIP system is the “perseverance of the saints.”   This means the elect believer will continue in the state of holiness and righteousness through the work of the Holy Spirit, and the elect believer will continue in this state all the way through till he gets to heaven. 
This doctrine has been called “once saved, always saved” and has been associated with the doctrine of eternal security, though there are some differences.
I must say that while I tend to agree more with the Arminians on their opposition to the first four points, I break company with them on the fifth (cf. Romans 9:35-39).
Eternal life is for eternity.  It is not “temporary eternal life.”
Before moving on, let me say we can agree with the Calvinists when they are right – the sovereignty of God, eternal security, etc.
And we can agree with the Arminians when they are right – man’s responsibility, unlimited atonement, etc.   However, we should not be forced to take sides in this debate.My main issue is that the Calvinist can not go up to everyone and tell them God loves them and died for their sins.

Unsubbed

I think I could MAYBE accept this doctrine if what came out of the mouths of so many evangelical Christians (of which I am one) wasn't completely inconsistent with Calvinism. That is, they speak in universal terms at the pulpit, during Bible studies, and when witnessing, yet cling to this system that says, and I quote "All are not created on equal terms, but some are preordained to eternal life, others to eternal damnation."

Are they really just closet free willers, but like to hold fast to Calvinist doctrine because it's more weighty and resolute?

What am I missing here?

John 6:37 at 1:05:00 so clear and straight to the point...that I never read my bible 😂. So glad my mind was changed to believe this doctrine

Jeff mentioned the scripture references would be posted on his page - anyone know where that might be?

My primary issue with this is found at 17:10 - the all-too-common language used by Calvinists that any theological position other than clearly articulated Calvinism is precarious at best or damning at worst. If you're not a Calvinist or don't adequately understand Calvinism, you might as well be one of those crazy Jehovah's Witnesses or one of those crazy Buddhists!

If Calvinism is true, the idea that any misunderstanding of grace or divine sovereignty can "wreck grace" is nonsensical. The elect, regenerate Arminian (or Wesleyan, or Molinist, or Thomist...) who never learns anything other than what they were raised with is not at risk. Perfect theology is neither a prerequisite nor a reliable fruit of salvation.

I think Jeff miss understands Todd Whites teachings. When Todd focuses on the worth of someone. He's helping folks who think they are so far gone believe that God still loves them. He loves you so much He sent his only begotten son to die for so that you could be reconciled. The bible says the kingdom of God (us) are a treasure. Praise God we do have worth because God gave it to us. I find your brushing off of that truth which is what Todd White is talking about misguided.

This sermon was a masterpiece!

I know one thing, if everyone here who "hates Calvinists" so much was really concerned about the eternal welfare of the lost, I would see A LOT more evangelists out and about. I don't, just so we are clear..... "Our first care should be that the sheep should be gathered to the great Shepherd; there will be time enough afterwards to secure them for our various folds." Charles H. Surgeon. if your really a Christian, those words should mean something.

This was very encouraging!

These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was. I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word. Now they have known that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee. For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me. I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine. And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them. And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are. While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled. And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves. I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth. Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world. O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me. And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.
John 17:1‭-‬26 KJV
http://bible.com/1/jhn.17.1-26.KJV