The Calvinism Debate - Way of Life Literature

sinners to repent and believe or perish and pronounce severejudgment upon sinners for not believing if He knows thatonly those who are sovereignly elected can do such a thing?Calvinists have made pathetic attempts to answer this, butin my estimation the fact of Christ’s warnings simply andplainly refute their doctrine.9. Calvinism cannot explain the apostle Paul.Paul attempted to win the more. “For though I be free fromall men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I mightgain the more” (1 Cor. 9:19). How can I win more if thenumber of the elect has been settled from eternity?Paul’s goal was to “save some.” “To the weak became I asweak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to allmen, that I might by all means save some: (1 Cor. 9:22). Isn’tthe election of the saved already assured without Paul’s help?How could anything he did in his life and ministry have anyaffect upon the elect?Paul sacrificed so that men would be saved. “Even as Iplease all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, butthe profit of many, that they may be saved” (1 Cor. 10:33). Ifelection is sovereignly predetermined and irresistible, Paul’sstatement makes no sense.Paul persuaded men. “Knowing therefore the terror of theLord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God;and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences” (2Cor. 5:11). If Paul were a Calvinist, he would know that theelect don’t need persuading and the non-elect can’t bepersuaded!Paul was willing to go to Hell for the unsaved Jews. “For Icould wish that myself were accursed from Christ for mybrethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh” (Rom. 9:3).How could a mere man care more about the destiny of theunsaved than God? We are convinced that the cry of Paul’sheart here is merely a mirror of the cry of God’s own heart forall lost sinners.36