The Highway Forums General Discussion Theology Discussion Forum Reformed Theology

I have been meeting with a man, a former Catholic Seminarian, for about 2 ½ years discussing the gospel and various doctrines. Last Wednesday we met again for coffee and to resume our discussions. He was ready and interested in learning more and had some questions.

The interesting point is, that the direction he was moving allowed me to present the Doctrines of Grace . He had stated that he was convinced that God was love, total love. I countered that God was also holy, sovereign and just. I mentioned the Scripture where God expressed His hatred of Esau (Malachi 1:3). That owing to Adam and Eve's disobedience and Original Sin, our relationship with God was severed, and we were deserving of death.

When I began to speak of God's foreknowledge, predestination, election, calling and regeneration, he became immediately interested and as I wrote them down and explained them he also began to copy them down in order to review them later. As we discussed the doctrines and historic points he expressed his excitement that he had always believed these doctrines. He had no reservations about them, they were biblical. We discussed how Catholic teachings and doctrines differed.

This was a startling breakthrough after more than 2 ½ years. We continued our discussion for an hour and a half before we adjourned. He wants to meet again next Wednesday. It was a very exciting and enjoyable meeting. We each came away after enjoying the discussions. It may be surprising to some that a former Catholic seminarian did not dispute the Creation story or the Bible itself but we have had many discussions.

I left the Catholic Church, in 1999 after 43 years. I had been deeply involved in several ministries, including instructing the the Catholic High School of Religion under the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine. This man was a student in the classes which I taught during 1963-1965. Later I was invited to become a permanent deacon on two occasions. The second time I seriously considered it but decided to seriously study the Scriptures. This study eventually led me to decide to leave the Catholic Church.

From that time I continued to study, served in three international Christian ministries and finally decided to formally study the Bible. In 2010 I completed a doctorate in biblical studies. I was ordained in 2009. As I continued to study on my own I eventually ran across the Doctrines of Grace. The doctrines challenged many things that I had learned. In order to put finally them aside, I ordered and began reading C. Gordon Olson's Getting the Gospel Right, A Balance View of Salvation Truth, between Arminianism and Calvinism. Calvinism, I was familiar with- the term Arminianism was new to me. That was several years ago, I have never finished the book. In fact I had only read 69 pages of over 360 before deciding that I could not agree with the author's views.

Studying Reformed Theology has been an eyeopener and has answered many questions that I formerly had. It has provided me with a great sense of security and hope. It has opened unlimited vistas to me. I look forward eagerly to learning more, knowing that I will never more than scratch the surface. As I continue to study the glory, majesty of God, His holiness, sovereignty and majesty. To read the massive accumulated sermons and articles by learned, reformed theologians and pastors and such as Charles Sturgeon, Jonathan Edwards and more, is inspiring and reassuring. It is indeed a pearl of great price.

I currently administer one forum devoted to polemics and apologetics with Catholics. The administrator of that forum became a great friend and mentor at the time when I was leaving the Catholic Church. He was a graduate of Dallas Theological Seminary. We maintained close contact for many years. Last year I was notified that he had passed away and requested to continue his forum. As I took over the forum and reviewed his archived articles, I discovered that he had become Reformed. I also administer another forum developing and authoring educational and doctrinal articles for the ministry in which I serve. Surprisingly, articles related to Reformed theology are beginning to appear.

Welcome to the Highway

It sounds like you have a fruitful ministry.
May the Highway bless you as you seek to glorify the Lord.

Tom

I just finished reading this article posted on the Rapture Forum. It is an excellent example of Semi-Pelagianism . The author appears to contradict himself after his initial attack on Calvinism and his denial of Unconditional Security. He fails to understand the nature of man also in that he believes that fallen man can bring himself to God under his own power. He also appears to be confusing the doctrine of Unconditional Election with Perseverance of the Saints.

Limited Atonement: Does Jesus Not Love All Sinners
By Joseph Chambers
THE CALVINISTIC DOCTRINES OF LIMITED ATONEMENT AND UNCONDITIONAL SECURITY ARE JUST DEAD WRONG AND TOTALLY UNBIBLICAL.
http://www.pawcreek.org/open-bible-dialog/limited-atonement-does-jesus-not-loves-all-sinners

The article is disheartening to say the least. The pastor/author is woefully misinformed concerning what historic Calvinism is. I'm sure Dave Hunt would be very proud of him.

It is obvious he is confusing the particularity of God's eternal council to save a remnant out of Adam's fallen race, for whom Christ was sent to redeem and the Holy Spirit to bring to Christ and ensure their ultimate glorification with the indiscriminate proclamation of the gospel.

As I have mentioned myriad times, those who embrace such a view as this pastor/author "believe" in a different 'god' a different 'Jesus', a different 'spirit' and another gospel than those who hold to the biblical and historic Protestant teaching of Scripture. They elevate man above God and relegate God to a position below man, He being a helpless being who is preoccupied with praying for humans to 'accept Jesus into their hearts' and not make Christ's death on the cross a thing of empty vanity. Who it is who is listening to those prayers would be most interesting to know as to its identity.

It is certainly possible, should God be pleased to do so, to open this man's mind and heart to see the error of his ways and to reveal the truth of the one true Almighty, sovereign redeeming God and the depth of sin within him to which he is being held captive. May God be merciful to him and all of similar mind and heart.