This was too bad =(. Posted from http://www.stevenspointjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071127/SPJ0101/71127043

Washington Redskins safety Sean Taylor died early Tuesday, a day after the Pro Bowl player was shot at home by what police say was an intruder. He was 24.Family friend Richard Sharpstein said Taylor’s father told him the news around 5:30 a.m.“His father called and said he was with Christ and he cried and thanked me,” said Sharpstein, Taylor’s former lawyer. “It’s a tremendously sad and unnecessary event. He was a wonderful, humble, talented young man, and had a huge life in front of him. Obviously God had other plans.”Taylor died at Jackson Memorial Hospital, where he had been airlifted after the shooting early Monday, Sharpstein said.Two carloads of mourners, including the athlete’s father, arrived at the house Tuesday morning. They remained inside and did not speak to reporters. A single bouquet of flowers was left by a palm tree just outside a front gate. Beside the mailbox, an untouched newspaper lay with news of Taylor’s shooting.Doctors had been encouraged late Monday when Taylor squeezed a nurse’s hand, according to Vinny Cerrato, the Redskins’ vice president of football operations. But Sharpstein said he was told Taylor never regained consciousness after being transported to the hospital and that he wasn’t sure how he had squeezed the nurse’s hand.“Maybe he was trying to say goodbye or something,” Sharpstein said.Taylor, the fifth overall pick in the 2004 NFL draft following an All-American season at the University of Miami, was shot early Monday in the upper leg, damaging the key femoral artery and causing significant blood loss.“According to a preliminary investigation, it appears that the victim was shot inside the home by an intruder,” Miami-Dade County police said in a statement. “We do not have a subject description at this time.”But police were still investigating the attack, which came just eight days after an intruder was reported at Taylor’s home. Officers were sent to the home about 1:45 a.m. Monday after Taylor’s girlfriend called 911.Sharpstein said Taylor’s girlfriend told him the couple was awakened by loud noises, and Taylor grabbed a machete he keeps in the bedroom for protection. Someone then broke through the bedroom door and fired two shots, one missing and one hitting Taylor, Sharpstein said. Taylor’s 1-year-old daughter, Jackie, was also in the house, but neither she nor Taylor’s girlfriend were injured.Police found signs of forced entry, but have not determined if they were caused Monday, or the previous burglary.The shooting happened in the pale yellow house he bought two years ago. Eight days before the attack someone pried open a front window, rifled through drawers and left a kitchen knife on a bed at Taylor’s home, according to police.“They’re really sifting through that incident and today’s incident,” Miami-Dade Detective Mario Rachid said, “to see if there’s any correlation.”Taylor’s death comes nearly a year after Broncos cornerback Darrent Williams was killed in a drive-by shooting following an argument at a Denver nightclub on Jan. 1. University of Miami defensive lineman Bryan Pata was shot to death in November 2006 several miles from Taylor’s home in an unsolved killing.Taylor starred as a running back and defensive back at Gulliver Prep in Miami. His father, Pedro Taylor, is police chief of Florida City.

The more I read and learn about Irresistible Grace, the more I see its a question of Sovereignty. Is man Sovereign? Does he have the power to resist the Spirits call? Or does the Creator have power to do what He wants with what is His? I think its very clearly said in Isaiah:

8"Remember this and stand firm, recall it to mind, you transgressors, 9 remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me,10 declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done,saying, 'My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,'11 calling a bird of prey from the east, the man of my counsel from a far country. I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass; I have purposed, and I will do it. - Is. 46:8-11

Here is the two views on this doctrine:

Calvinistic View

The Efficacious Call of the Spirit or Irresistible Grace

In addition to the outward general call to salvation which is made to everyone who hears the gospel, the Holy Spirit extends to the elect a special inward call that inevitably brings them to salvation. The internal call (which is made only to the elect) cannot be rejected; it always results in conversion. By means of this special call the Spirit irresistibly draws sinners to Christ. He is not limited in His work of applying salvation by man's will, nor is He dependent upon man's cooperation for success. The Spirit graciously causes the elect sinner to cooperate, to believe, to repent, to come freely and willingly to Christ. God's grace, therefore, is invincible; it never fails to result in the salvation of those to whom it is extended.

Arminian View

The Holy Spirit Can Be Effectually Resisted

The Spirit calls inwardly all those who are called outwardly by the gospel invitation; He does all that He can to bring every sinner to salvation. But inasmuch as man is free, he can successfully resist the Spirit's call. The Spirit cannot regenerate the sinner until he believes; faith (which is man's contribution) proceeds and makes possible the new birth. Thus, man's free will limits the Spirit in the application of Christ's saving work. The Holy Spirit can only draw to Christ those who allow Him to have His way with them. Until the sinner responds, the Spirit cannot give life. God's grace, therefore, is not invincible; it can be, and often is, resisted and thwarted by man.

As Stephen Mansfield once said (This isn't word for word but its pretty close) "The thing that I find funny in our culture today is that God is this lonely old man with beard up in Heaven hoping, just hoping someone will accept Him. Jesus is knocking on the door, hoping, just hoping someone will open it. In reality God goes after His elect." First thing I see in resistible grace is this, making man feel good, giving him the glory, and most importantly making sure man has a say in his salvation. Absolutely crazy, not crazy heretical!

Lets talk about the outward call and the inward call. The definition of the outward call is this: The call that humans themselves provide when they preach the good news, this call never results in salvation though. The definition of the inward call is this: The process where the Holy Spirit enters into one who has been predestined before the foundation of the world and saves him/her. The first call is only the work of corrupt man, it can't penetrate man's total depravity. The second call is done by the in-corruptible God, and can penetrate anything! So man can plant the seed, but its the work of God to nurture it, water it, and provide the light! Isn't that amazing, we get to help God gather His elect! Does God need our help? Of-course not! He could very well do it by Himself, but He allows us to plant the seed!

The main problem I see when I look at the Arminian view is that God's sovereignty is challenged. Again as I have pointed out before, God, having to stoop to obey man's decisions! That is the whole concept of the Arminian faith, Man first, God second. They would of-course deny that, I mean its blasphemous. But that is what it confirms in every single doctrine of their faith. I will comment on this more later. Here the words of R.J. Rushdoony:

The debate on irresistible grace, was not between some law intermingled with a doctrine of chance miss-called freedom, on the one hand, and the doctrines of rigid Calvinism on the other, but simply between God and chance. If an iota of chance is allowed into the universe then God's Sovereignty is denied, and God is not God. -R.J. Rushdoony

Last but definitely not least, I will add Scripture to back this doctrine.

Deuteronomy 30:6, 8 “And the LORD your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your offspring, so that you will love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live…And you shall again obey the voice of the LORD and keep all his commandments that I command you today.”

Deuteronomy 29:4 “But to this day the LORD has not given you a heart to understand or eyes to see or ears to hear.”

Job 31:4 “Does not He see my ways and number all my steps?”

Job 42:2 “I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.”

Proverbs 16:9 “The heart of a man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps.”

Isaiah 55:10-11 “For as the rain and snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.”

Matthew 16:15-17 “He said to them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Simon Peter replied, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.’ And Jesus answered him, ‘Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.’”

These are just the very few that support not only Irresistible Grace, but also God's Sovereignty!! I don't know how you could argue against these doctrines, its so blatantly set forth in Scripture! Well if you have any questions or objections contact me at andrew32693@yahoo.com . God bless!

Ahhhh yes, its Thanksgiving again! I've always loved the good food, the wonderful time with the family and the old Esping thanksgiving tradition, shooting blue-rock. But the question I ask myself now is, am I thankful enough for all the blessings God has bestowed on me? I am faced with the obvious answer, no. I don't appreciate all the things God has given me, most of the time I take them for granite! God's Word says that we need to be thankful at all times, and I always fall short of that. Look at what the Bible says on this matter:

15And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. -Col 3:15

17I will give to the LORD the thanks due to his righteousness, and I will sing praise to the name of the LORD, the Most High. -Ps. 7:17

1I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds. -Ps, 9:1

20 giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, - Eph 5:20

These are just a very few that tell us to give thanks to God. I hope you all have a great Thanksgiving. And don't forget to give thanks to our Savior for all the blessings He gives us!

I got this from my Aunt in her last e-mail, it makes me just sick! May God have mercey on us corrupt humans. Thus article posted from
http://www.onenewsnow.com/2007/10/perspectives_does_the_golden_c.php

It all started with a phone call I received several months ago. A concerned mother called to tell me about The Golden Compass, an upcoming film from New Line Cinema. Several more phone calls followed the first one as did a plethora of emails expressing disgust over this movie -- and rightly so.
I plan to review the movie, but I haven't had the opportunity to see it yet. So, in the meantime, here is some information that will help you understand why the film has the potential to be extremely dark and dangerous.
According to CNSNews.com, leading atheist writers and intellectuals are engaged in a "scientific" quest to ultimately destroy organized religion, particularly Christianity. Oxford professor Richard Dawkins, author Sam Harris and journalist Christopher Hitchens are some of the big names leading this "new atheism" initiative. Evidence of their agenda is seen in efforts such as the Out Campaign and the Blasphemy Challenge.
CNSNews.com defines the Out Campaign as "a movement started by Dawkins to encourage Americans to proudly display their atheism." ABC News describes the Blasphemy Challenge as a way "to challenge people to make videos of themselves denying, denouncing or blaspheming the Holy Spirit, and then post them on YouTube." ABC News also calls it "the cutting edge of a new and emboldened wave of atheism."
The Blasphemy Challenge targets teens while an upcoming movie that may have a similar agenda is likely to appeal to families, especially children.
The Golden Compass is a film from New Line Cinema based on the first book of a series, His Dark Materials, written by English atheist Philip Pullman. It is set to release December 7 in theaters nationwide. From watching the trailer, it's easy to see that the film has a C. S. Lewis/Narnia feel to it, but don't be deceived.
Pullman's book trilogy is the story of "a battle against the church and a fight to overthrow God," BBC News reported. The Guardian, a British newspaper, goes even further to describe the books as "metaphysical fantasies encompassing parallel worlds, the death of God and the fall of man ...."
"I don't know whether there's a God or not. Nobody does, no matter what they say," Pullman said in an interview posted on his website.
Therefore, without yet seeing the film, at least one pro-family group -- the American Family Association -- is alerting Christians to the potential dangers of The Golden Compass. Because of Pullman's clearly articulated anti-Christian motives, AFA is warning all viewers to run from the film.
The Golden Compass is set in an alternative world with a sinister Magisterium. It is about a girl named Lyra who sets out to rescue her friend Roger who has been kidnapped by an organization known as the Gobblers. Roger's rescue turns into an epic quest to save two different worlds -- one in which people's souls manifest themselves as animals. These manifestations are known as "daemons," and Pullman says they help a person grow toward wisdom.
In addition, the movie website allows visitors to answer a set of questions and create their own daemons that journey alongside them in life.
"One of the [book] series' main themes -- the rejection of organized religion and in particular the abuse of power within the Catholic Church -- is to be watered down," according to the Telegraph, a newspaper in the U.K. "But when the film is released in December the Magisterium will be shown as a critique of all dogmatic organizations, thereby avoiding a religious backlash."
Although the film has supposedly been stripped of the books' key denunciation of religion to prevent offending Catholic audiences, that doesn't appease the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights. The Catholic League still views The Golden Compass as bait for Pullman's books, which the group says are representative of the author's two-fold agenda "to promote atheism and denigrate Christianity. To kids."

Here is probably one of the most hated doctrines by Arminians today, Limited Atonement. Have you ever heard the phrase Four point Calvinist? Obviously one who denies one of the five points of Calvinism, usually the denied doctrine is Limited Atonement. Sometimes they refer to themselves as Christmas Calvinists since NOEL as in No L in T.U.L.I.P. My Father refers to them like this "A four point Calvinist is just another word for an Arminian." Reason being that all five points work together and if even one is missing then they don't add up with Scripture. OK I'm rambling, back to Limited Atonement.

Calvinistic View

Particular Redemption or Limited Atonement
Christ's redeeming work was intended to save the elect only and actually secured salvation for them. His death was substitutionary endurance of the penalty of sin in the place of certain specified sinners. In addition to putting away the sins of His people, Christ's redemption secured everything necessary for their salvation, including faith which unites them to Him. The gift of faith is infallibly applied by the Spirit to all for whom Christ died, therefore guaranteeing their salvation.

Arminian View

The Holy Spirit Can Be Effectually Resisted
The Spirit calls inwardly all those who are called outwardly by the gospel invitation; He does all that He can to bring every sinner to salvation. But inasmuch as man is free, he can successfully resist the Spirit's call. The Spirit cannot regenerate the sinner until he believes; faith (which is man's contribution) proceeds and makes possible the new birth. Thus, man's free will limits the Spirit in the application of Christ's saving work. The Holy Spirit can only draw to Christ those who allow Him to have His way with them. Until the sinner responds, the Spirit cannot give life. God's grace, therefore, is not invincible; it can be, and often is, resisted and thwarted by man.

Copied from http://www.the-highway.com/compare.html

OK, first thing I notice when I read the the Arminian doctrine is this, "The all powerful God is limited in power and forced to submit to the wishes of His creation and cannot interfere with them in the matter of redemption." Please forgive the sarcasm, but it kind of makes me frustrated. I mean man limiting God on what God can do with the SALVATION WHICH HE GAVE US! Look at the Scripture I used in the Unconditional Election post Romans 9:17-23. It seems very clear to me that God does what He wants with His creation. But the response to such a statement is usually this, "It wouldn't be fair for God it interfere in humans lives, He should let them make their own decision." *Blinks* Umm.. OK, where in Scripture does it say that? If you find it I would really like to see it. Also, who are you oh man to say what God should do? Number one, if God just set salvation in front of us so that we would accept it, we would not. We have no ability to do so. When our Representative Adam sinned the Original sin we were all made unclean and unable to seek for the things of God, slaves to sin. Number Two, not fair, really, you know what fair could have been? Fair is sending every single human in existence to suffer the penalty of sin for eternity in hell, that would have been fair. Which also would be what would happen if God had left salvation up to us. Number Three, like I said before, this idea takes away some of God's glory! God provides, man chooses a fifty fifty deal. But our existence is to only bring Glory to God, nothing else. So basically we are taking the glory due God and giving it to us! I have heard some say that "If God where to choose whom would be saved and Whom would not then that would interfere with Man's free will." First off, man does have a free will, not human ability. We have the free will to choose what we will wear, what we will eat and so on and so on, which of course all happens under God's Sovereignty. But we do not have human ability, that is the human ability to choose God. We lost that in the fall, and now only are able to choose one thing, sin. You see in the fall our nature changed, from a Godly nature, to a sinful nature. We cannot change our sinful nature, if we could then we could say that we are going to stop sinning and actually be able to do it! That just shows you how impossible it is for us to change our nature. God can change our nature however, and He changes those of whom He has chosen.

Lets look at this from a different view, God has three choices.

1. Save absolutely no one and let everyone receive their just punishment. This would be fair and just.

2. Save everyone by His grace and compassion. This also would be fair and just.

3. Save some by His grace and compassion and let some receive their just reward. This is just and fair.

So, which one can you find fault with? I can't find anything wrong with any of them. To quote R.C. Sproul in his teaching series "What is Reformed Theology" he says "I don't know why God doesn't save everybody, I don't know why He saves anybody!" Personally though I'm not going to try to figure it out either. I'm sure mostly all Christians (including me) wish God would save everybody. It seems right to our depraved human minds. But we are humans and do not have the same reasoning as God, not even close.

Lets look at the word "can" and "may" for a second. The Arminian doctrine is stated as this "Any human, of his own ability, CAN choose Christ and save himself." The Calvinistic doctrine says this, "Any human, of his own ability, MAY choose Christ and save himself." Can you tell the difference? Can has to do with ability, may has to do with permission. So basically we may choose Christ, but we can't choose Christ. God gave us permission to choose Him, but we do not have the ability to choose Him.

One more fact before I close. There is a question that remains un-answered in the Arminian theology. If Jesus died for every one's sins and payed the penalty for every human being how can God justly sentence anyone to hell? He can't, if Jesus died for every one's sins then everyone is pure and clean in God's eyes, so no one can go to hell, their sins are all payed for. But Scripture plainly tells us that some will go to hell, take Luke 16 for instance. A contradiction is plainly set forth, it doesn't add up. Whenever I debate Limited Atonement my opponents have never been able to give me a straight answer on this question. Why? Because there is none. Its simple, Jesus did not die for everyone, or everyone would be saved.

In closing I would like to share some Scripture supporting my belief:

John 5:21 “For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will.”

John 17:1-2 “When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, ‘Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him.’”

John 17:9, 20 “I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours…I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word.”

Romans 8:32-34 “He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things. Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.”

Ephesians 5:25-27 “Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.”

Hebrews 2:14-17 “Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham . Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.”

Hebrews 9:15 “Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.”

Hebrews 10:14 “For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.”

1 Peter 1:1-2 “Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who are elect exiles of the dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you.”

1 Peter 1:20-21 “He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for your sake, who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.”

If you have any questions or objections feel free to contact me at andrew32693@yahoo.com. God bless you

Hello again. I thought I better had get this straight before I go any farther in my posts on the five points of Calvinism.

The Bible is THE most important book in the entire world, I'm sure most Christians would agree with me on that. But saying that it is infallible seems to upset many today. Some people actually think we could live the christian life without THE SCRIPTURES! I hope to show you that without the Scriptures we would be preached in-correct doctrine, we would be entirely lost in our christian walk, and that without the Bible our picture of God would be entirely heretical.

Lets start at my first point, the fact we would be preached in-correct doctrine, and from there we will progress. Have you ever played telephone? A group of people form a circle and sit down. The leader whispers something in the ear of the person next to him/her and that person whispers what he/she heard into the ear of the next person and so on and so on. Once the phrase has passed all around the circle the last person says what she heard. As you can imagine, what the final person says is not usually what the real phrase started out to be. It is the same with Christians, if we had no Scripture and just had to remember all the things that are written in the Scriptures, we would have a Bible full of heresy and very miss-leading. Scripture tells us the full character of God, it shows us how holy He is, and how un-deserving we are. Without it we would have a God that is in no way like our God. Graciously, He gave us the book that He wrote through great men of the faith. He gave it to us so that we would study it and keep God's statutes and be more conformed to His image, to basically fulfill our duty as humans to GLORIFY God and enjoy Him forever. Unfortunately, in America especially, we have neglected our duty and have not studied God's holy word. We put our Bibles on our cozy room table's so people can see what great people we are, that we own a Bible. We take it to church and then bring it back and set it on the table again and we don't touch it tell next Sunday. I know that's what I did for the first 11 years of my life. Not realising what a great gift it is, in-fact taking it for granite that what I hold in my hand is The Actual Word of God! Even now I still take it for granite, not realising what life would be like without it. OK back to my main point, lets take the people who deny the Infallibility of Scripture. How do they know anything written in God's word is for certain? Can you imagine the un-certainty they must have. How can they be sure which parts are correct, and which parts are not? They them-selves have to decide. So basically, we have fallen humans deciding which part's of the Bible is God's word and which isn't! That make no sense what so ever! Fallen man deciding whats infallible? Sorry for those fragmented sentences, as you have probably seen my grammar is very poor. Next what about the way they defend their faith. I have debated Reformed theology with a few people who denied the Infallibility of Scripture, its a nightmare. Whenever I used a Scripture verse to support my view they would deny it and then turn around and give a Scripture verse that seemed to support their view. When I asked how they could be sure that the verse they used was infallible and mine was not the answered "Because it easy to see that your view is wrong so any verse supporting your view must be in-correct." So they can basically declare what is wrong and what is right and then turn around and tell me that their way is the only true way and I need to repent. Being very blunt, they speak for God. Another world view of the Bible is this idea; "This verse may speak to you in a different way but it speaks to me in this way so lets compromise." Theology should never ever be compromised, its basically trying to have peace, over having a correct view of God, which is more important, God or man? Those who claim that the Spirit reveals Scripture in a different way to different people basically are saying all views of Christianity are correct. Also that God is willing to submit to any view of any human. I hope that we can all agree that there is one Correct view of God, how do we find that view? Study the Scriptures. I think the idea that part of Scripture being fallible simply came from man finding out that his theology didn't fit with Scripture, so they molded it into the form that did. That meant throwing some of it away. But like I said it doesn't make sense for man to decide whats infallible, not to mention twisting God's words. There is one more view that I want to address before I close, the idea that the Old Testament is irrelevant, and that the New Testament is all that matters. Here is what one who believes this would most likely say, or at least the ones whom I have encountered have said; "The Old Testament has wonderful true stories, but since it was under the Old Covenant all the laws, except those specifically mentioned in the New Testament, are now irrelevant." Pretty ridiculous isn't it, yes the Old Covenant is no longer in act, but that's not what decides what laws are relevant and which are not. Anything that is contrary to God's nature is sin. I had one person go as so far as to tell me that since it is not SPECIFICALLY mentioned as a no no in the New Testament homosexuality is not a sin and OK with God. Clearly this view leads to many stumbling blocks.

In closing here is a great verse that affirms Sola Scriptura 2 Timothy 3:16

16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, -2 Tim 3:16

And here are some others:

4For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. -Romans 15:4

20knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. 21For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. -2 Pet 1:20-21

May God add His blessing to His word! If you have any questions or objections contact me at andrew32693@yahoo.com. May God Bless You!

Man, I haven't written since May First, talk about Neglect!


Well I'm going to continue my Theological rant and go on to the next doctrine of the Reformed faith, Unconditional Election. Here is a brief over-view of the Arminian Doctrine and the Calvinistic Doctrine.

Arminian View

Conditional Election
God's choice of certain individuals unto salvation before the foundation of the world was based upon His foreseeing that they would respond to His call. He selected only those whom He knew would of themselves freely believe the gospel. Election therefore was determined by or conditioned upon what man would do. The faith which God foresaw and upon which He based His choice was not given to the sinner by God (it was not created by the regenerating power of the Holy Spirit) but resulted solely from man's will. It was left entirely up to man as to who would believe and therefore as to who would be elected unto salvation. God chose those whom He knew would, of their own free will, choose Christ. Thus the sinner's choice of Christ, not God's choice of the sinner, is the ultimate cause of salvation.

Calvinistic View

Unconditional Election
God's choice of certain individuals unto salvation before the foundation of the world rested solely in His own sovereign will. His choice of particular sinners was not based on any foreseen response of obedience on their part, such as faith, repentance, etc. On the contrary, God gives faith and repentance to each individual whom He selected. These acts are the result, not the cause of God's choice. Election therefore was not determined by or conditioned upon any virtuous quality or act foreseen in man. Those whom God sovereignly elected He brings through the power of the Spirit to a willing acceptance of Christ. Thus God's choice of the sinner, not the sinner's choice of Christ, is the ultimate cause of salvation.

These where taken from http://www.the-highway.com/compare.html.

OK lets look at the Arminian View for a second, maybe longer. First thing I notice when I read it is this; "We see man, wow, mans a pretty good guy. He may be hurtin from sin but its nothing he can't recover from. Seriously, man has the ability to choose God, wow, lets give man a hand. Sure Jesus died to provide the salvation but man calls the shots, he decides, he's the head honcho. Sure God tugs at the hearts of man but He obviously wouldn't interfere in a man's life, I mean that's like ummmm wrong." Sorry for the satire but that's what its saying in the long shot.

Now lets cut to the chase. Why can't God be in charge? Why does God have to leave it up to man? WHY???? The average Arminian would say it would be un-fair for God to meddle in the affairs of someones life. What about Romans 9:17-23?

17For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, "For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth." 18So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills.
19You will say to me then, "Why does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?" 20But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, "Why have you made me like this?" 21 Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use? 22What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, 23in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory -Romans 9:17-23

Looks to me like God is in control not man. Man is God's creation and God can very well do what He pleases with what belongs to Him. Besides, where is the Scripture support for this heretical idea that man chooses God? Well if someone ever finds it I'm would really like to see it.

Side note here, I'm a firm believer in Sola Scriptura or in English the infallibility of Scripture. I'll make a case for this in a later post.

Also, something else I noticed was that God is portrayed as a bratty spoiled rotten child. A God who basically says *crosses arms, stamps foot, and speaks in a prideful voice* "Well, unless YOU choose me first I won't choose you Hmpf!" Is that the God of the Bible? I think not very strongly! So basically what I calculate is this: The all powerful God looks down the corridors of time and saw that Geoff chose Him so God chose Geoff and so on and so on. The all powerful God who created everything submitting to the will of His own creation? The will of a wicked and totally corrupt people. Truth is if God left Salvation up to man no one would choose it. Why? Their to busy sinning and being part of the world, they have no good in them to choose God. They can't, there is no good left in man, not one drop. We all sinned through Adam and by the sin of one man we are all made corrupt. Look here in Jeremiah 13:23

Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard his spots?Then also you can do good who are accustomed to do evil -Jeremiah 13:23

So how does corrupt man choose God? If God left it all up to man, man would rather keep sinning. There is no way around it, unless you deny the infallibility of Scripture.

Also this view requires a work to be saved! Is accepting Christ a work? Of-course it is! Think about it. Our flesh hates God and loves sin. So basically accepting God would be choosing what we hate over what we love. Some of you might say "Is it a work to accept a gift?" Well look at it this way. In the Arminian view man is sick, suffering from sin but still alive. Man is given the choice to die or to accept the medicine that will save him from certain death. The medicine is provided but the man will have to accept the medicine and work to digest it. So I would definitely say that accepting Christ is a work.

Lets review what we have talked about.

Arminian doctrine in a nut-shell

1. God has nothing to with salvation except for the fact that He provided it

2. Man makes the choice for his salvation upon man's own free will and has nothing to do with God

3. God is a child who won't choose you unless you choose Him

4. Choosing Christ over sin is definitely a work

In closing Man deserves 80% of the glory for making the choice for God over sin. While God can have 20% for providing the salvation.

Sound like the God of the Bible? I don't think so, here's the Calvinistic view

1. God has everything to do with our salvation. He provided it, He decided who would have it and who wouldn't before the foundation of the world.

2. God chose whom will have salvation according to HIS will and pleasure.

3. We do no work for our salvation, God does it all

In closing God deserves 100% of the glory and humans deserve nothing since they did nothing.

You make the decision which sounds more like the God of Scripture?

Feel free to contact me at andrew32693@yahoo.com. God bless you.