The Calvinism Debate - Way of Life Literature

10. Calvinism cannot explain the book of Hebrews.e book of Hebrews refutes the Calvinist or TULIPdoctrines of unconditional and “sovereign” election andirresistible grace, that God sovereignly and arbitrarily chooseswho will be saved and irresistibly and absolutely draws themso that on one hand it is impossible for the non-elect to besaved and on the other hand it is impossible for the elect notto be saved. If this were true, the Holy Spirit would not givesuch dire warnings and exhortations to professing believersabout the possibility of apostasy, because if they are electedthey could not possibly perish and if they are not elected,nothing they could do would change their status. Consider,for example, the following passages:Consider Hebrews 2:3: “How shall we escape, if we neglectso great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by theLord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him.”is exhortation makes no sense in light of Calvinistdoctrines. If election is as the Calvinist teaches, how couldthe elect neglect salvation and how could the non-elect doanything other than neglect salvation?Consider Hebrews 3:12-14: “Take heed, brethren, lest therebe in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing fromthe living God. But exhort one another daily, while it is calledTo day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulnessof sin. For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold thebeginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end.”If the elect are predetermined “sovereignly” and if electionhas nothing whatsoever to do with the sinner himself and ifhe is irresistibly drawn, what could this exhortation possiblymean? How could a sovereignly elected, irresistibly drawnbeliever depart from God, and how could the non-elect doanything other than depart from God?Consider Hebrews 4:9-11: “ere remaineth therefore a restto the people of God. For he that is entered into his rest, healso hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.37