The Calvinism Debate - Way of Life Literature
The Calvinism Debate - Way of Life Literature
The Calvinism Debate - Way of Life Literature
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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 <strong>of</strong> 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 <strong>of</strong> 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?” <strong>Calvinism</strong> teaches that election for salvation isdetermined solely by God and that He imparts it irresistiblyto the sinner through sovereign regeneration and “the gi <strong>of</strong>faith.” 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 <strong>of</strong> 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