Some of our readers may be at the stage of only beginning to explore the issues of Calvinism. If this is you, may I recommend the following list of texts, and what they may have to teach us about the origins of faith and repentance. These are in addition to a few entire chapters of the Bible (Romans 9-11 and Ephesians 1) that lay out the doctrine of Election.
My desire is that you would use these texts as launching points for your study and exploration of these issues. Please do not ignore their contexts, either! Take your time through these, maybe print them off and keep them in your Bible for handy reference.
Where does Faith come from?
Ephesians 2:8; 2 Peter 1:1; Luke 17:5; 1 Timothy 1:14; Romans 10:17 and 12:3; Acts 14:27; 2 Timothy 3:15; Galatians 3:22-23; James 2:5; Acts 3:16; Hebrews 12:2; 1 John 5:4
**** In addition, are all men given this gift? See 2 Thessalonians 3:2****
Where does Repentance come from?
Acts 5:31 and 11:18; Romans 2:4; 2 Timothy 2:25; Psalm 80:3, 7, and 19; 1 Samuel 2:25
Where does Belief come from?
John 6:45 and 12:39-40; Romans 6:17 and 11:30; 1 Corinthians 3:5; 2 Thessalonians 2:10-13; Acts 13:48; Deuteronomy 29:4 and 30:6; Philippians 1:29
What is the ultimate source of Gospel obedience?
1 Peter 1:2 and 2:8; Jude v.4; Psalm 65:4; 2 Thessalonians 3:13; 2 Peter 1:3; John 15:16, 19
Does God hate anyone?
Psalm 5:5 and 10:3 and 11:5; Proverbs 6:16-19; Romans 9:10-16
Does God actively blind or harden anyone, so that they will not receive the Gospel?
Isaiah 44:18; 2 Thessalonians 2:11; Matthew 13:10-16; Romans 9:18 and 11:7-10
As a note of caution: Let me stress that the goal in our study of Scripture is not that we should amass a load of proof-texts in the hopes of countering or cancelling out the proof-texts on the other guy's side of the debate. Our goal is to harmonize all of Scripture, and my personal experience was that before I became a Calvinist, I lightly skimmed over all the references I have given above. It's not that there were just as many references that proved Arminianism, but it's that I simply ignored whatever did not seem to fit.
You have to allow your theology to "fit" all these verses! They're inspired too! :)
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
For Exploration of the Issues
Monday, February 25, 2008
The Government Check Challenge!
Very soon the Federal Government is going to be sending you a check as a part of it's so-called "economic stimulus package."
Are you trying to figure out what to do with it?
How about taking some of the money from that check (or your tax refund) and buy at least one case (36 copies) of these books and start giving them to every teenager you know? -especially those in public schools!
Think of what might happen if several of us all over the nation do this!
Please pray about commiting to this challenge and spreading the word to other Christian bloggers. It's time some government money is used to support the truth about evolution!
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
The Postmodern Liberal Challenge
This is a challenge for anyone (I have two specific people in mind) to engage in the discipline of exegesis, and provide that exegesis in the comment box of Ephesians 1. I want to see you engage the historical and literary contexts, the context of the chapter in the overall book. Why each verse, under the inspiration of the Spirit is placed where it is, looking at important grammatical structures (verbs, prepositions, etc.), and examining the original languages to help get to a closer understanding of the teaching of the text. If you can do this, I will give you my respect, and I will also send you a free copy of AW Pink's, The Sovereignty of God.
Note: Philosophizing over Ephesians 1 DOES NOT COUNT. Biblical Exegesis using the means about is what I am looking for.
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