The Calvinism Debate - Way of Life Literature

might be saved. And for this cause God shall send themstrong delusion, that they should believe a lie: that they allmight be damned who believed not the truth, but hadpleasure in unrighteousness” (2 ess. 2:10-12).ese sinners who follow the antichrist will be damned butnot because they are not sovereignly elected and not becausethey are sovereignly reprobate but because of their personaldecision in regard to the truth. ey could receive the truthand be saved but they reject it. Words could not be plainer.THE BELIEVER MUST MAKE HIS CALLING ANDELECTION SURE -- “Wherefore the rather, brethren, givediligence to make your calling and election sure: for if yedo these things, ye shall never fall” (2 Peter 1:10).Regardless of whether this verse is interpreted as applyingto the saved or to the almost saved, the question for theCalvinist is, “How can sovereign calling and election be madesure by man?” Calvinism teaches that election for salvation isdetermined solely by God and that He imparts it irresistiblyto the sinner through sovereign regeneration and “the gi offaith.” What, then, does this verse mean?THE PREACHER CAN GAIN MORE SOULS FORCHRIST BY HOW HE CONDUCTS HIS LIFE ANDMINISTRY -- “For though I be free from all men, yet haveI made myself servant unto all, that I might gain themore. ... To the weak became I as weak, that I might gainthe weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might byall means save some” (1 Cor. 9:19, 22).Paul sacrificed and went to great efforts so that more menwould be saved. If election is sovereignly fore-determinedand irresistibly given, this makes no sense. How could Paul’sactions “gain more”? How could his actions “save some”?PAUL PERSUADED MEN -- “Knowing therefore theterror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are mademanifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest inyour consciences” (2 Cor. 5:11).75