Doctrine of Predestination

[Big Boy Johnson]

Calvin taught that there is nothing one can do to be saved because God has already decided who is going to be saved and who is not going to be saved. John Calvin twisted the meaning of Ephesians 1:4-5.

His interpretation of these two verses caused him to ask, “Does this passage teach that our salvation is strictly a matter of God’s arbitrary election before the world was made, irrespective of any choice that we might exercise in the matter?”

According to John Calvin, this passage teaches exactly that. The Presbyterian Westminster Confession of Faith stated: “By decree of God, for the manifestation of His glory, some men and angels are predestined unto everlasting life, and others foreordained to everlasting death.” (Article III).

Thus, we have the damnable heresy of predestination. This doctrine is at the core of Calvinism and its influence is widely felt throughout much of christendom and has influenced people that claim to not be calvinists.

 

[Davy]

One must study all... the Bible to even begin to understand how Apostle Paul meant the idea of being 'predestinated' per Romans 8. And the idea of predestination IS WRITTEN in God's Word. So anyone saying it is not an idea that is written are simply being hard-headed against God's written Word, and my following explanation isn't for them.

Rom 8:29-30
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.

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.
KJV

Matt.25:34 - Jesus points to the kingdom having been prepared for Christ's sheep before the foundation of the world. That points to the idea of predestination.

John 17:6 - Jesus mentions those given Him (Apostles), originally belonged to The Father, and The Father gave them to Jesus. That's predestination.

Ephesians 1:4 - Paul speaking to the Church at Ephesus, those who were chosen before the foundation of the world.

Revelation 13:8 - those who names were written in the book of life from the foundation of the world will not worship that "dragon" (devil).

Matthew 22:14 - Jesus saying that many are called, but few are chosen. That's about predestination of an elect.


The Biblical proof that this idea of PREDESTINATION exists, is that fact of those chosen vs. those called only.

Apostle Paul was a prime example of a chosen one. But when Christ chose him on the road to Damascus, Paul was actually hunting down Christians and bringing them in chains back to Jerusalem to be tried. Yet Jesus said that Paul was His "chosen vessel" to take The Gospel to the Gentiles, and to kings, and to the children of Israel. Jesus DIVINELY INTERVENED in Paul's life, taking Paul's choice away and removing all doubt. That is a sign of a chosen one, one which Christ already owns.

New Testament Scripture gives both... examples, teaching about a group of Christ's elect that can never fall away (like Paul), and then those whom Paul continually admonished to remain in Christ, which means those could... fall away IF they so desired, and thus having been 'called' only, and not chosen.

That's how Calvin, et al, became confused, because The Bible does teach about a chosen elect that cannot fall away from their duty God gives them (remember Jonah?). But The Bible also teaches about those that are subject to falling away, and thus called only. The chosen have already been predestinated, and justified, and sanctified, before the foundation of the world, and that's who Paul was pointing to in Romans 8.

 

[Big Boy Johnson]

God predestined ALL to be saved, and then many allowed satan to blind their eyes to prevent them from seeing the Gospel
See - Romans 8:29-30, Romans 1:19-21, Titus 2:11-12, 1 John 2:2, 2 Peter 3:9, 1 Timothy 2:1-4, Acts 17:30, John 12:32, Hebrews 2:9, John 3:16, Matthew 5:6

The Lord tells us in His Word why not all are saved:

2 Corinthians 4:4
In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

Jesus tells us each person is responsible for finding the pathway that leads to life because they are without excuse (Romans 1:19-21)

Matthew 7:14
Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leads unto life, and few there be that find it.

Sadly the calvinists claim Jesus is a liar since Jesus never taught calvinism and they specialize in twisting scripture as they are speaking in behalf of their father the devil

Here are those that end up being the elect:

Psalm 4:3
But know that the LORD hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the LORD will hear when I call unto him.

2 Timothy 2:21
If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.

Galatians 5:1
Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

Romans 6:16
Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?

Those that turn away from walking in darkness and instead walk with the Lord and endure In Christ until, the end of their lives are the elect.

This does not mean the Lord did not want all to be saved or that He has not provided salvation for all as the calvinists have been falsely taught by the devil.