I'm glad you asked...: Calvinism, re-addressed

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Calvinism, re-addressed

I’ve tried to witness to Calvinists but they always come back with…"What's that got to do with it? We were chosen for salvation before the foundation of the world.....having predestinated us unto the adoption of children.....according to the good pleasure of His will." How can I address their retorts?

I have dealt with many Calvinists in the past, and they are the hardest bunch of people to deal with in my experience because of their pride. So once I give them an explanation of truth, and yet they still want to resist...I let them alone! You could give them more than enough truth to believe, but they simply will not hear it! It truly is a heart of unbelief of the verses problem. But for you, in order to deal with their potential objections, here is where I would go from next...

Make sure that you have them answer everyone of my questions below for you as well okay?! Do like our Lord, put them on the offensive to deal with their non-sense!

Okay, when they say to you "What's that got to do with it? We were chosen for salvation before the foundation of the world…”

Ask them exactly what verse shows that they were chosen for salvation before the foundation of the world?! There is not one verse in scripture that says that an individual person was chosen for salvation!

Regarding “having predestinated us unto the adoption of children.....according to the good pleasure of His will…" Again, I would

My answer: Where does it say that in scripture? There is not one verse that says that God chose individuals outside of being in Christ!

Ephesians 1:4-5

According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us [in Him] unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,

All those references have to with those being in Christ! Our Lord Jesus Christ is the “elect,” and whosoever will [Romans 9:33; Romans 10:11; Romans 10:13], may get in Him through Paul's gospel!

Romans 4:4-5; 3:22

Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:

Lastly, I'd ask them to explain these verses to me—have them read it and teach it to you!

1Timothy 2:3-4

For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

Have them explain to you how if it is God's will (which they purport to be irresistible) that all men be saved, then why aren't all saved?! How is that possible if God's Will is irresistible?

2 Peter 3:9

The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

How do they explain this one away? If this is about the "elect," then why even write it? If they are elect "for salvation" from before the foundation of the earth, then why/how would any of them even be in risk of perishing?

In fact, if the elect are chosen by God before the foundation of the earth, then why even evangelize?! Aren't the elect still the elect even if you don't evangelize? Would not the Sovereign God make it known to them even without man's intervention?

Another thing, what about these verses?

Jeremiah 19:3

They have built also the high places of Baal, to burn their sons with fire for burnt offerings unto Baal, which I commanded not, nor spake it, neither came it into my mind:

How can man do anything without it first coming into the mind of God?

Jeremiah 3:35

And they built the high places of Baal, which are in the valley of the son of Hinnom, to cause their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire unto Molech; which I commanded them not, neither came it into my mind, that they should do this abomination, to cause Judah to sin.

Again, how can mankind do something that God did not command, nor did it even come first into His mind, let alone man’s mind?

They claim that man, in his total depravity has no free will! Then explain this verse, as well as all these verses!

Leviticus 22:18

Speak unto Aaron, and to his sons, and unto all the children of Israel, and say unto them, Whatsoever he be of the house of Israel, or of the strangers in Israel, that will offer his oblation for all his vows, and for all his freewill offerings, which they will offer unto the LORD for a burnt offering;