I've been made increasingly aware of the importance of CONTEXT when it comes to understanding scripture.
I strongly recommend the following article from David Servant. It looks at the dangers of applying out of context statements.
https://www.heavensfamily.org/ss/e_teachings/bible-out-of-context
5 comments:
“Free will allows us to choose repentance towards God or to continue in disobedience.”
“Man’s free will allows him to respond to the conviction of the Holy Spirit as he is challenged by the gospel. Man can respond favourable, believing the gospel and repenting. Or man can dismiss the gospel and remain bound in his sin.
Calvinism does not give that freedom to man. In Calvinism God chooses who will be saved…”
“We either choose to be part of His redemption which ultimately leads to His new heavens and new earth where only righteousness dwells: or we refuse to be part of it and suffer the consequences of eternal punishment.”
The above quotes are taken from one here who espouses an obvious man-centered theology which is not informed by Scripture (though this individual constantly carps on “CONTEXT, CONTEXT, CONTEXT!”). Note the “Calvinism does not give that freedom to man” claim. Well, no “ism” can, not even yours–no matter how much you desire to. See, the Bible says that we are not free. Jesus said we are not free. We are not free to choose anything but sin, for to it and Satan we are willing ignorant blind slaves. Paul wrote:
Ephesians 2
1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. 4But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ— by grace you have been saved— 6and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God…
Catch that: But God made us alive! And He did so even while we were His enemies! God regenerates, God gives new life! No man can will the new birth any more than he could have chosen to be born in the flesh–salvation is of the LORD our God!
The result of man-centered theology is half-truths which constuct whole lies. “Make a decision, and morally repair thyself,” says the unwitting assisstant of Satan; and tares are sown into the church. Then this same blind leader of the blind (and yet spiritually dead) stands back with the audacity to lament the carnal condition of churchianity–and condemns those who point to his man-centered theology as the divisive and destructive tool that it is!
For those of us who need an atonement that not only subdues our selfishness, but covers the penalty for our selfishness, Finney’s “gospel,” like Pelagius’s, is hardly good news.
Finney denies that regeneration depends on the supernatural gift of God. It is not a change produced from the outside. “If it were, sinners could not be required to effect it. No such change is needed, as the sinner has all the faculties and natural attributes requisite to render perfect obedience to God.” Therefore, “…regeneration consists in the sinner changing his ultimate choice, intention, preference.” Those who insist that sinners depend on the mercy of God proclaim “the most abominable and ruinous of all falsehoods.”
–Onesimus, have you not said as much? You claim to follow no man’s theology–but are these not horribly similar to your claims?–
From Finney and the Arminian revivalists, evangelicalism inherited as great a debt to Pelagianism as modern liberalism received from the Enlightenment version directly. When evangelists appeal to the unbeliever as though it was his choice that determines his destiny, they are not only operating on Arminian assumptions, but Pelagian assumptions that are rejected even by the official position of the Roman Catholic Church as a denial of grace. Whenever it is maintained that an unbeliever is capable by nature of choosing God, or that men and women are capable of not sinning or of reaching a state of moral perfection, that’s Pelagianism. Finney even preached a sermon titled, “Sinners Bound To Change Their Own Hearts.” When preachers attack those who insist that the human problem is sinfulness and the wickedness of the human heart-that’s Pelagianism. When one hears the argument, whether from the Enlightenment (Kant’s “ought implies can”), or from Wesley, Finney, or modern teachers, that “God would never have commanded the impossible,” they are echoing the very words of Pelagius. Those who deny that faith is the gift of God are not merely Arminians or Semi-Pelagians, but Pelagians. Even the Council of Trent (condemning the reformers) anathematized such a denial as Pelagianism.
“God would never have commanded the impossible,”–Onesimus, are you listening?
Hello Darren (you can't hide behind the name "anonymous"),
It’s sad to see that you are still blinded by the Calvinist heresy. You are so obsessed with human theology that you have to introduce Finney, Arminiansim. Pelagianism and so many other “isms” as straw men to attack my beliefs.
My claim is that Salvation was initiated and provided by God. That salvation was not possible and not accessible until God made a way for man to be saved.
The way to salvation is based entirely on God’s purposes and according to what HE wants out of His creation.
Scripture makes it CLEAR that he wants an obedient people for His new creation – the new heaven and new earth prophesied in scripture. To obtain that people He has sovereignly chosen to give man the responsibility of receiving the salvation He has graciously provided.
He does NOT want a mindless, programmed Stepford wife for His son, but a willing bride
Your theology denies that willingness. Your theology is a perversion of the truth, a doctrine of demons direct from the father of lies himself. Your theology worships a pathetic god who needs to force people to follow him. A cruel god who has created billions of people for those sole purpose of burning them in hell for eternity.
That cruel pathetic god is NOT the God I follow.
No, sinner, you just think you can live "TOTALLY according to God's will." That makes Christ and the cross unnecessary, doesn't it? Your man-centered theology is from hell.
1) Where did I ever say I thought I could live “TOTALLY according to God's will”?
2) Where did I say anyone could live "TOTALLY according to God's will" apart from Christ and the cross?
3) Do you believe God is totally incapable of changing someone so that they can live "TOTALLY according to God's will"?
Christ and the cross are TOTALLY necessary – without them all mankind are destined to remain sinners.
Christ died on that cross and was raised again so that we could be saved from our sins.
Was Christ’s death and resurrection a failure? Did Christ fail to save us from our sins?
Your sin centred theology denies the power of Christ and the cross and makes man's sin more powerful than God.
Also you said:
"Your man-centered theology is from hell”?
And what is hell Darren? Is hell the kingdom of satan and his demons? Is “hell” the source of anything? Or is it merely the resting place of the unsaved until the day of judgement?
That’s yet another human tradition you’ve fallen for Darren – thinking that hell is the SOURCE of evil rather than its destination.
I suggest again that you repent of your reliance on human theological traditions – turn to God, His Word and His Spirit and allow them to bring you into the TRUTH.
The lying traditions of man can only lead you deeper into deception.
How far away from living “TOTALLY according to God’s will” can we be before it becomes a serious issue regarding our relationship with God?
Is it ok to be living 90% “according to God’s will”, or 70%? How about 50% - is that an acceptable pass mark?
OR are we totally incapable of living “according to God’s will”?
Is God’s will so far beyond our capabilities that even the death and resurrection of Jesus, and the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit aren’t enough to bring us into line and to equip us to live according to His will?
Does it matter whether we live “TOTALLY according to God’s will” or not? Does God overlook our obedience all together or does He expect something more of us after we’ve been blessed by His gracious gift of salvation?
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From “The Limits of God’s Grace” by David Servant
The greatest tragedy today is that so many are trusting in a grace that God has never offered to anyone. We are indeed saved by grace—but it is a grace that offers us an opportunity to repent and become committed disciples who love God with all our hearts and keep His commandments. God’s grace forgives and transforms those who truly believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.
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