The Calvinism Debate - Way of Life Literature

dispose” (Strong). It is used eight times in the NewTestament. Twice it is translated “ordain” (Acts 13:48; Rom.13:1). Elsewhere it is translated “addict” (1 Cor. 16:15),“appoint” (Mat. 28:16; Acts 22:10; 28:23), “determine” (Acts15:2), and “set” (Lk. 7:8).ere are two questions that must be answered here. First,how many sinners are ordained to eternal life? Second, whyare men ordained to eternal life?e answer to the first question is that God would have allmen to be saved (1 Tim. 2:3-4). e Calvinist answer, thatGod has only sovereignly elected a few to be saved, is notScriptural.e answer to the second question is that men are ordainedto eternal life by believing the gospel and calling upon thename of Christ (Mk. 16:16; Lk. 8:50; Jn. 1:12; 3:13-18; 3:36;5:24; 6:35; 6:40; 6:47; 8:24; 11:25; 12:36; 12:46; 20:31; Acts8:36-37; 10:43; 13:39; 16:31; Rom. 1:16; 3:22; 4:5; 10:18-13; 1Cor. 1:21; Gal. 3:22; 1 Tim. 1:16; 1 Jn. 5:13). is is the orderthat is given consistently throughout the New Testament--believe and be saved.“e Jews here had voluntarily rejected the word of God.On the other side were those Gentiles who gladly acceptedwhat the Jews had rejected, not all the Gentiles. Why theseGentiles here ranged themselves on God’s side as opposed tothe Jews Luke does not tell us. is verse does not solve thevexed problem of divine sovereignty and human free agency.ere is no evidence that Luke had in mind an absolutumdecretum of personal salvation. Paul had shown that God’splan extended to and included Gentiles. Certainly the Spiritof God does move upon the human heart to which somerespond, as here, while others push him away” (Robertson’sWord Pictures).Titus 1:1--“Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of JesusChrist, according to the faith of God’s elect, and theacknowledging of the truth which is aer godliness.”107