|
|
|
Apostate Calvinism and Reformed Theology BY RYAN HICKS © 1999 Ryan Hicks |
The enemies of righteousness and true holiness are ever so desirous of casting all their blame on God. The Bible does tell us to cast all our care upon Him for He careth for us (1 Peter 5:8), yet they would rather cast the blame for their actions on Him. They do so under the guise of exalting God's Sovereignty, all the while trashing His holiness and justice. One of their chief methods of shifting the blame from themselves for their sins is in their denial of free will.
They will go through church history and dig up theories of men and base their doctrines on what certain unsaved "reformers" or other people taught. The word of God is wrested to these people's own destruction (2 Peter 3:16). Let us look at some of their proof-texts and take them in context and for what they say NOT WHAT SOME THEOLOGIAN OF THE PAST THOUGHT OR MORE LIKELY WANTED THEM TO SAY!
John 1:13
13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
These unbelievers love to quote this verse, and have tricked many sincere believers into thinking that their will has no play in salvation, because is that not what this verse says? Let us look at it IN ITS CONTEXT, and then it becomes all too clear why these people only quote this verse and not the verse before it.
John 1:12-13
12 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:
13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
In the context, who is being talked about? They are people who have "received him [Christ]" and have believed on His name (both acts of the will). These people were given the power to become the sons of God, and they, who had already received Christ and believed on His name, were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. They are born of God, not of blood, nor the will of the flesh, nor the will of man (which the mention of the will of man here proves man has a will). Their new birth is of God, even of the Spirit and not of fleshly origin (John 3:6).
Romans 9:14-16
14 What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid.
15 For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.
16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.
Generally they only quote v.16, and leave out the rest because v.14 shows that their is no unrighteousness with God. He is not unfair in His dealing with man, and is not showing any respect of persons. God will have mercy on whom He will have mercy. He is Sovereign over His mercy and controls who receives it. No man can simply receive God's mercy by their own will, they must meet the qualifications that God has set up to obtain mercy, once one has done that they are in His will of mercy. Any other attempt to obtain mercy outside of confessing and forsaking sin (Proverbs 28:13; 1 John 1:9); Humbling yourself before the Lord (Proverbs 3:34; James 4:5-6); and believing on the Lord Jesus Christ (John 3:16; Acts 15:11; 16:31) will fail, for it does not meet God's requirements.
John 6:44
44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
This is another favorite text that is misapplied by these people. God is Sovereign and He draws all men, but not all men respond positively to that drawing and come to Christ. Jesus Himself taught that many are called and few are chosen (Matthew 20:16; 22:14). Now obviously if God is doing the calling and man has no say in whether or not they want to be saved, then how can only few be chosen? These same people argue that God only calls the elect (chosen), but Jesus teaching that many are called but few are chosen disproves this altogether, because why would He call many if only few are chosen? Would He not only call those that are chosen if their theory were true? One must believe on the Lord Jesus Christ in full repentance in response to God's calling or drawing them to thus become one of the elect or chosen.
Titus 2:11-12
11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
The grace of God that bringeth salvation (i.e. the calling grace or the drawing grace) HATH APPEARED TO ALL MEN. God draws all men, but only few respond positively to His drawing. Many people simply resist the Holy Ghost (Acts 7:51), which could not be done if God's grace was irresistible because if the Giver of the grace can be resisted then surely His grace can be also resisted.
2 Timothy 2:9-13
9 Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound.
10 Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
According to these people these verses prove that the elect will be saved regardless of whether they believe the gospel or ever repent. This is absurdity! Paul said that he was enduring all things for the elect's sakes "THAT THEY MAY ALSO OBTAIN THE SALVATION WHICH IS IN CHRIST JESUS WITH ETERNAL GLORY!" If this was something they had no choice in and already had regardless of whatever they believed or did, then Paul would be wasting his time enduring all things for the elect's sake!
2 Timothy 2:9-13
9 Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound.
10 Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
11 It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him:
12 If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:
13 If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.
IF WE, THE ELECT, DENY HIM HE WILL ALSO DENY US! If we believe not, he will remain faithful to His word and depart from us, for HE CANNOT DENY HIMSELF!
2 Thessalonians 2:13-14
13 But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:
14 Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
These people claim that this proves that God has chosen the elect "from the beginning." Yet, the verse very plainly shows us the means that one obtains salvation (i.e. through sanctification of the Spirit AND belief of the truth). It does not say, "God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation." It says, "God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth." These people want the choosing without the acts of their free will in sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth.
Romans 9:10-13
10 And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac;
11 (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;)
12 It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger.
13 As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.
This is the favorite passage used by these people. They take the usage of the word "election" in v.11 and instead of rightly dividing the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15) by examining the context, they automatically assume that "election" as used here refers to salvation. This is not the case. This has everything to do with the nations to come from Jacob and Esau and not their personal salvation. V.13 proves this for it quotes Malachi 1:2-3, which was given CENTURIES after Esau and Jacob were dead.
