Is what I teach a Determinism?
This is a teaching by Calvinists that God has ordained all things from the beginning of the world. For instance that someone is headed to condemnation before they are born, and this is willed by God. I would say this is foreknown by God as stated in my previous verse. God knows all things that are going to come. But this does not neccesarily mean that God wills all things. For instance scripture speaks of God wanting everyone to be saved ( 2 Peter 3:9, 1 Timothy 4:10, and I Timothy 2:4), but this does not mean all people are saved as scripture clearly talks of all people not being saved( Matthew 25:31-46, John 3:18, I John 5:11-12, John 3:36, Acts 26:17-18, Acts 13:41). The reason people are condemned is their own wickedness, and rejection of faith (Ephesians 2:3, Acts 7:51, Hebrews 3:5-6, and Mark 3:27-28). So I hold that God knows all things that will come to pass, but God doesn't will all things that would come to pass (I.E. The Fall). But God allows bad things to happen, which he doesn't will for his purposes (Hebrews 12:5-9). So God does not want evil to occur (James 1:15), but works through the evil for his own purposes. God wants no one to perish, knows who will perish. I know that this is a complicated issue, hopefully this clarifies the position.
posted by Stew at 10:56 AM
2 Comments:
But if we are saved only through God's action on our behalf, doesn't make His inaction action?
But then...at the end of the day, we do not know who will be saved...only God knows. I hold out hope that He will find a way to save all at last. But in the meantime, I do what is my job to do...and that is to preach Christ.
Rebecca,
Where I would disagree with a staunch Five-Point Calvinist is the fact that if God foreknew damnation and didn't do anything, than the verses talking about everyone being willed to saved wouldn't make sense. As well as the verses dealing with Blaspheming of the Holy Spirit. I might have slightly misrepresented Calvinist teaching. This is what seperates Lutheran from Calvinist teaching on this matter. I realize this is splitting hairs.
While, it is true that only God knows who will be saved. It is also true as cited in the scriptures above that not all people are saved. Especially those who reject the son, and practice false religions. While every Christian wants all people saved, that sometimes isn't reality for their own wickedness. I agree this is a minor issue, and that preaching Christ is more important than arguing about determinism, or decision theology.
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