Calvinism or Armenianism – Nope

Regarding your page dealing with Calvinism and Armenianism, you state, in effect, that in no Biblical or historical Christian text is there evidence that anyone has ever been predestined or elected. Are you serious? or just blissfully ignoring dozens of NT texts?

Jeremy

Not ignoring a single one Jeremy. Everyone who hears the Gospel is called, and everyone who’s called on the name of the Lord was predestined to fulfill God’s purposes. It’s not that God only chooses a few to be saved, but when we were saved, our petition for salvation was chosen by God because of the Blood of Christ. To state that God will save only particular ones and choose not to save others is directly in contradiction to the words of Jesus Christ who plainly said: John:3:15: That whosoever believeth on him shall not perish, but have eternal life. 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him shall not perish, but have everlasting life. 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed on the name of the only begotten Son of God.

Take note of the above quote from the Lord. Now look at the words in bold! Whosoever in my dictionary is all or anyone. What does it mean in your dictionary? And the use of the word World, does this mean Global or All? Again, it does in my dictionary. Does it yours? This is the elementary part, lets get down to the meat and potatoes.

The Word of God is true or it isn’t. It agrees with itself or it doesn’t. Based on my faith that Gods Word is something He preserves I believe it’s true and agrees with itself. Don’t you? Most all the arguments made in support of the Calvinist view are made on a few passages which  I honestly believe are taken out of context.

• Romans 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
• Romans 8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. 8:30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
• Ephesians 1:5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
• Ephesians 1:11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:
• 1st Peter 1:20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,

Just these verses alone would suggest that we have no free will, or that we’re only a few whom God had chosen to be saved. But the entire context must be taken to understand that this is for “all”. For instance take the second chapter of Romans; Romans 2:11 For there is no respect of persons with God. 2:12 For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law; Without understanding first that Gods will is the same as His predestination, you miss the mark of understanding. If God is not a respecter of persons, then He shows no favoritism. And if you will note above, the writer of Romans says “For as many as have sinned” we must also understand that this means all who come to the age of accountability. Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

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.

Below is the article Jeremy was referring to:

Not and Never have been a Calvinist or an Armenian

Surprising statement made by this Baptist preacher, huh? You ask, well Parson, you gotta either be one or the other don’t you? Nope is my reply. You see, these doctrines are 100% in essence, against historical and biblical teachings to certain extents. And what exactly did the brethren before the reformation believe?

Well, from available documents and the research of historians I’ve gleaned this: (note: where you see the use of the word “sacrament” you are reading the viewpoint of a non-baptist)

• They didn’t ever mention in any written history that I can find that anyone was chosen (predestined) to be saved by God or that we were so depraved “totally rotten” we couldn’t realize we needed a Savior. No mention what so ever until Brother John Calvin or Brother Armenius showed up on the scene in the late 1500’s and early 1600’s.
• They believed that baptism by immersion was the only baptism save the baptism of the Holy Spirit:
  • Neander’s History of the Christian Religion:
    • “Baptism was originally administered by immersion; and many of the companions of St. Paul allude to this form of its administration. The immersion is a symbol of death, of being buried with Christ; the coming forth from the water is a symbol of a resurrection with Christ; and both, taken together, represent the second birth, the death of the old man, and a resurrection to a new life. An exception was made only in the case of sick persons, which was necessary, and they received baptism by sprinkling.”
  • Mosheim’s Ecclesiastical History, first century:
    • “The sacrament of baptism was administered in this century without the public assemblies, in places appointed and prepared for the purpose, and was performed by immersion of the whole body in the baptismal font.
    • “The sacrament of baptism was administered publicly twice every year, at the festivals of Easter and Pentecost or Whitsuntide, either by the bishop or the presbyters, in consequence of his authorization and appointment. The persons that were to be baptized, after they had repeated the creed, confessed and renounced their sins, and particularly the devil and his pompous allurements, were immersed under water, and received into Christ’s kingdom by a solemn invocation of Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, according to the express command of our blessed Lord. After baptism, they received the sign of the cross, were anointed, and, by prayers and imposition of hands, were solemnly commended to the mercy of God, and dedicated to his service; in consequence of which, they received the milk and honey, which concluded the ceremony. The reasons of this particular ritual coincide with what we have said in general concerning the origin and causes of the multiplied ceremonies that crept, from time to time, into the church.”
• They never symbolized nor had any part or dealings with the Church/Government Papacy of Rome:
  • Sir Isaac Newton tells us:
    • “The modern Baptists formerly called Anabaptists are the only people that never symbolised with the Papacy.”
  • Cardinal Stanislaus Hosius (1504-1579) who was the president of the Council of Trent said:
    • “If the truth of religion were to be judged by the readiness and cheerfulness which a man of any sect shows in suffering, the opinions and persuasions of no sect can be truer or surer than those of the Anabaptists, whence there have been none for these twelve hundred years past that have been more grievously punished, or that have more cheerfully and steadfastly undergone and even offered themselves to the most cruel sorts of punishment than these people.” [11]
    • “Were it not that the Baptists have been grievously tormented and cut off with the knife during the past twelve hundred years they would swarm in greater numbers than all the reformers.”
  • Ulrich Zwingli, Swiss Reformer, (1484-1531), the man who was instrumental in having the penalty of drowning as the price paid for all those who persisted in the “heresy” of anabaptism.
    • “The institution of Anabaptism is no novelty, but for thirteen hundred years has caused great disturbance in the church, and has acquired such a strength that the attempt in this age to contend with it appears futile for a time.”
      • Yes, the Anabaptists mentioned here are the same Baptists we know today.
• They believed that you must be born again (regenerated) and then baptized:
  • At the time Sylvanius received the copy of the Scriptures after returning Syrian, (657 a.d.) , Pope Gregory the First issued Papal mandates condemning and urging the persecution of heretics he called:
    • “Montenses and other Anabaptists.” He describes them as the advocates of a spiritual church, composed of regenerated persons only, and as rebaptizers of those whom they received from others societies. (Gregorii, I Papea, Lib, iii: “De herese Donatistarum pullutanta. Multos insuper quibus regenerationis qua prabuerat rebaptizonte.”).

Here is my point and the above study is ongoing, so check back here from time to time. The doctrines of Calvinism and Armenism have been one of the great hindrances to evangelism since pedo-baptism (infant baptism) came about. Christianity is a simple, “Know-So” religion. So simple a child could understand it! Mark 10:14 But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. 10:15 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.

• We all were predestined to be saved, it’s up to us to accept the FREE GIFT of Salvation which is available to all!
  • John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him shall not perish, but have everlasting life. 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed on the name of the only begotten Son of God.
• We are not so depraved that we can’t choose to ask for salvation!
  • Joshua 24:15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. 24:16: And the people answered and said, God forbid that we should forsake the Lord, to serve other gods;
• The doctrines (teachings) of Jesus Christ never change. Man does.
  • Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

Your servant in Christ Jesus,

The Parson