Joe & Pilgrim,

Thanks brothers for the articles and encouragement. Since Monday I've been reading "The Forgotten Spurgeon", and today I've probably come the closet to understanding and having peace about what is called Calvinism. And I think my hang up has been that I don't want to be called a Calvinist because, to me, it would be following a man so to speak. However, my desire is to be true to God's word, have a right understanding of Scripture and ultimately, if God pleases to place me in ministry, to correctly handle the Word of Truth...what a heavy responsibility. So I am coming to the realization now, as I've heard others say and am seeing for myself, that Calvinism is nothing more than the Gospel itself. So maybe I'd rather call it that.

Aside from all of that, I am seeing more and more that the L in tulip is what it is--Limited Atonement. Limited to the elect and the elect have nothing to boast in but Christ alone and it's not for any of us to pre-qualify the elect, but we MUST, ABSOLUTELY MUST, preach the gospel to ALL men (and that's all men of every nation, creed, race etc.)...see, I actually did read. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Bless you brothers,

tj
"-that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection..."