The Highway Forums General Discussion Theology Discussion Forum One Arminian on Predestination

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And what statement of Calvin did you read? and where? In case you didn't know, the biblical doctrine of predestination wasn't invented by John Calvin. There were many before him that held to the same view that he did. Calvin even admits that Augustine was instrumental in helping him see this doctrine in Scripture.

Wonderful!! I would agree with all of the above, at least at face value. Of course, what YOU mean by these things may be something different?

Again, the first three statements are true according to Reformed theology and the Bible.

1) God did from eternity elect some to salvation in Christ. (Deut 7:6,7; Jh 10:16; Acts 13:48; Rom 8:29,30; 9:11-24; 11:5,6; Eph 1:4; 2Thess 2:13,14; Titus 1:1,2; 1Pet 1:1,2. See also: God's Indisputable Sovereignty)

2) God does not force anyone to sin. All men from conception are sinful by nature and thus they sin most naturally and willingly.

3) Men are not "created evil" in the sense that they would otherwise be good in and of themselves. All men are created as fallen in Adam and thus they a) imputed with guilt and b) inherit a corruption of nature. (Ps 51:5; Jh 5:21; Rom 5:12-18; 1Cor 15:21,22; Eph 2:1-5; Col 2:13) All men were "on trial" in Adam, who God appointed the federal head of the entire human race. Whatever Adam did affected all who would come after and by him.

1) Are you implying that man has a "free will"?
2) Whether or not man has a free will has no bearing upon God's hatred of sin and His grieving that men commit sin against Him, i.e., they transgress His most holy law, even His very person.

I think you have already answered this question by your affirmation, "He is all powerful and sovereign an all things." (Isa 44:7; 45:21; 46:9,10; Jer 32:19; Ps 33:11; 135:6; Dan 4:35; Rom 11:33-36; Eph 1:9-11)

1) Evil, i.e., sin originated with Satan and all the angels which participated in the rebellion against God. Did this happen against God's will; His decree/foreordination?

2) God's very being is many things, which includes love. Love is not God's only or supreme attribute. God is also holy, jealous, perfect, transcendent, sovereign, omnipotent, omnipresent, omniscient, etc.

3) God's love is the very ground upon which any are predestinated to eternal life in Christ Jesus. There could be no predestination if it wasn't true that God is love. But His love didn't demand or require that He save anyone. It was God's sovereign choice to do so. (Eph 1:4)

Could you explain why you think God's love is in contradiction with the Reformed view of predestination?

In His grace,