Calvinism Refuted

"Unconditional Election"

(or Calvinistic Predestination)

Bible Texts Calvinists misuse to prove "Calvinistic Predestination"

2 Pet 3:16
"as also in all Paul's letters, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction."


We Speak truth in LOVE

1. Acts 4:28

What was "determined before?" The death of Jesus! This death had been prophesied as a part of God's plan (Lk. 22:21-22; Acts 2:22-23). The Jews did not realize that they were fulfilling God's plan and He did not force them to kill His Son; they were accountable for their own actions.

2. 1 Corinthians 2:7

  1. The context shows clearly that it is God's plan of redemption that was foreordained. In verse 5, the power of God is in the gospel (Rom. 1:16).
  2. In times past, it had been a mystery, not fully revealed.
  3. Even the prophets did not understand completely about Christ.
  4. But now this plan is revealed as the wisdom of God (Eph. 3:3-5; 1 Pet. 1:10-12).
  5. This sacrifice was "for our glory" or salvation. It was a part of God's eternal purpose (Eph. 3:8-11).

3. Romans 8:28-30

  1. Who is under consideration here?
  2. "those who love God" - not a few whom God loves
  3. "the called according to His purpose" - we are not called by a still, mysterious voice or by a direct operation of the Holy Spirit or by God Himself, but by the gospel (2 Thess. 2:14).
  4. Those who hear, believe and respond in obedience are referred to as "the called" (Gal. 1:6; 1 Pet. 2:9).
  5. In Romans 8:29-30, we can see the unfolding of God's plan. God determined to send mankind a Savior to die for all men.
  6. He foreordained all of the events before they actually took place.
  7. In that sense, God predestinated our salvation. It wax not that He selected us individually to be saved or lost, but that those who accepted the gospel call would be saved.
  8. Those who answer that call are justified and glorified.

4. Ephesians 1:4-5,11

  1. God has had an eternal plan in mind - a scheme of redemption for those who will accept it.
  2. Those who are chosen are those who are "in Him" (Christ) vs. 3-4
  3. We become God's children by our faith in and obedience to Christ's gospel (v. 5). God adopts us into His family upon our obedience (Rom. 8:15; Gal. 4:4-6).
  4. The counsel of God's will (v. 11) refers to His decision to send Jesus to redeem the obedient.

Conclusion

  1. The Bible does teach predestination, but not the kind that Calvinists teach. The Bible does not teach that God has decided ahead of time who will be saved and who will be lost. We are free, moral agents with the capacity to accept or reject God's commandments.
  2. Predestination or fore ordination is what God did before the world began, as He determined to save man from sin through the sacrifice of His own Son. Those who answer His call through the gospel experience the blessings of that plan now in Christ Jesus. (Rom. 2:3-11)

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