RE>> if Jesus isn't coming back for awhile, how come your friend Harold Camping (Calvinist to a tee) wrote that funny book 1994? Don't you Calvanists agree on anything? :-) <<
I do not know this fellow "Harold Camping" . I have never heard of him. He may indeed be a Calvinist but that is a term that people ( other than Calvin he would have none of it ) have given to those who understand the true nature and cause of Salvation because Calvin is likely the most "famous" example in modern times.
When you talk about the nature and cause of Salvation you are talking about?
Soteriology which is the study of "Salvation."
When you talk about when Jesus comes back you are talking about?
Eschatology which is the study of "Last things"
It is no surprise for someone to understand that men are saved by the sheer Grace and election of God and yet be completely confused about Church History or Eschatology or even the nature of the sacraments The last one is a bit hard to swallow but I have an example .
Charles H. Spurgeon. Who was the greatest Baptist preacher to have lived. Being even nick named
"The Prince of Preachers" was a Calvinist concerning Soteriology but was confused about the nature and meaning of Baptism as well as the mode ! He did not baptize infants and believed in immersion rather than sprinkling.
You may be very surprised to know this but almost every church you see today Except Rome
at one time believed in "Calvinism" until these modern times of apostasy.
London Confession of 1689- ( Baptist )
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Chapter X - Of Effectual Calling
1. Those whom God hath predestined unto life he is pleased, in his appointed and accepted time, effectually to call ( Rom 8:30; Eph 1:10,11; 2Thess 2:13,14) by his word and spirit, out of that state of sin and death in which they are by nature, to grace and salvation ( Eph 1:1-6) bu Jesus Christ; enlightening their minds, spiritually and savingly; to ( Acts 26:18; Eph 1:17,18 ) understand the things of God?..Etc. Etc. because I do not have a scanner.
4. Others not elected, although they may be called by the ministry of the word etc. etc.
The Thirty Nine Articles 1563- (Episcopalian or Anglican)
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Chapter XVII - Of Predestination and Election
Predestination to Life is the everlasting purpose of God, whereby ( before the foundations of the world were laid ) he hath constantly decreed by his councel secret to us, to deliver from the curse and damnation those whom he hath chosen in Christ out of mankind, and to bring them by Christ to everlasting salvation, as vessels made unto honor. Etc..Etc.. still no scanner :-}
Martin Luther 1525- ( Lutheran )
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It is, then, fundamentally necessary and wholesome for Christians to know that God foreknows nothing contingently, but that He foresees, purposes, and does all things according to His own immutable, ( BV -unchangeable ) eternal and infallible will.
Monu - Luther wrote a book called "Bondage of the Will." Find it and read it.
Savoy Confession of Faith 1658- ( Congregationalists )
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Chapter 10 Of Effectual Calling
1, All those whim God hath predestined unto life, and those only, he is pleased in his appointed and accepted time effectually ( BV Irresistably ) to call by his Word and Spirit, out of that state Etc..Etc..
Belgic Confession 1561- ( Reformed )
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XVI Of Eternal Election
We believe that all the posterity of Adam being thus fallen into perdition and ruin, by the sin of our first parents, God then did manifest himself such as he is; that is to say, merciful and just: Merciful , since he delivers and preserves from this perdition all, whom he, in his eternal and unchangeable counsel of mere goodness, hath elected in Christ Jesus our Lord, without any respect to their works: Just, in leaving others in the fall and perdition wherein they have involved themselves.
Monu - Notice the divines who wrote the Belgic were pretty weak about the Doctrine of Reprobation having said " leaving others" rather than "appointing others" Then concerning Prebyterians which is what I ascribe to I "adopted" this one. I have found it the most accurate and complete
The Westminister Confession of Faith 1643.
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Monu - This last part I got to copy and paste ?. You can find it on the net?
======= We are in an age of Apostasy =======
How can you tell when we live in an age of apostasy? Read your Ezekiel especially chapter 14.
The Elders came from Israel to visit Ezekiel in exile and ask him (without sincerity) questions concerning his ministry and God. They were just like the Pharisees who came out to see John the Baptist and Jesus. Look at what God says to Ezekiel.
Ezekiel 14: 9 And if the prophet be deceived when he hath spoken a thing, I the LORD have deceived that prophet, and I will stretch out my hand upon him, and will destroy him from the midst of my people Israel.
God told Ezekiel he would lie to them. Their hearts were holding an idol. They were freely sinning ( Iniquity = Lawlessness )
Ezekiel 14:3 Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart, and put the stumblingblock of their iniquity before their face: should I be enquired of at all by them?
What was it about the Idol in their hearts? It was not concerned with righteousness or the Law of God. Most Christians today cannot even quote the Ten Commandments from memory never mind teaching all that they reveal. They trust God to forgive them and have legalized sin. Jesus did not legalize sin. He died to deliver His elect from it!
What did Paul say about Grace ?
Romans 6:15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.
What did Paul say about Law ?
Romans 3:31 Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.
Those two principles are grade one "Sunday School" for Children under Six !
Yet many Christians today believe there are only two schools to fit into.
Those who are saved by Grace and have no Law in their religion.
Those who have no Grace but only Law and legalistic religion.
It is beyond them to see that true Christians who please God are saved by Grace unto obedience of God?s Law.
Apostasy is Religion without Righteous ( Law Abiding ) Living. I tell you Monu many men who are passed off as Pastors in modern Churches cannot remember the Ten Commandments and could not tell you the books of the Bible from memory never mind what they are about!
That is a man who is not called of God to preach at all !
They do not have Churches that are Houses of Prayer as Christ said but theatres of entertainment to keep the flesh happy!
Isaiah 56:7 Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people.
Jesus could not handle what was passing for worship in His day nor would he today!
I can only think of one verse to describe what I see today?
John 11:35 Jesus wept.
I weep with Him. |
