The Highway Forums General Discussion Theology Discussion Forum Total Depravity

I have no articles on The Highway that deals with hyper-Calvinism specifically... sorry.

Yes, there are quite of number of items which fit into the hyper-Calvinistic camp. Let me crystal clear on this point that even though there are a number of hyper-Calvinists, throughout history and even today, that should never result in one assuming that everything they espouse is in error. I did graduate work at a hyper-Calvinist seminary and although I strongly took issue with some of their main tenets, they were solidly biblical on other issues.

In addition to the odious error that the Gospel belongs only to the elect and additionally, only the elect have the warrant to believe , there is the doctrine of "Common Grace" to which caused a split in the Christian Reformed Church, which is now apostate and resulted in the formation of the Protestant Reformed Church under the leadership of Herman Hoeksema. On the one hand, the PRC was correct in rejecting the CRC's invention of "Common Grace" but unfortunately they went too far the other way. I have already mentioned that extreme position whereby they insist that shows no benevolence toward the reprobate but only hatred with the intent to increase their damnation. But aside from the fact that there is no biblical support for this view, it is fallacious on its face. Since ALL MEN are under God's wrath and His just condemnation due to the Fall, i.e., the judgment/penalty put upon Adam and all his progeny, which is classically known as Original Sin; inherited corruption of nature and the imputation of guilty. That alone qualifies everyone for eternal punishment. More could be said on this to be sure. Books have been written on both sides of the dispute as well as some who take issue with both sides, which is where I stand.

Another issue which can be attributed to hyper-Calvinism is "Monergistic Sanctification" vs. "Synergistic Sanctification". In the former position, which is another popular issue found online, is that man contributes nothing to his sanctification, for as they insist, if that is not true, then God shares His glory with man. This is a dangerous view for it denies the doctrine of regeneration whereby a radical transformation, the enlivening of a sinner's dead soul, by the Spirit changes the sinner's innate disposition of hating God and all that is good to one that loves God and all that is good, albeit imperfectly in this life. They insist that it is all of God and nothing of man. But again, even a cursory reading of Scripture, e.g., Romans, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, et al, clearly shows that God by the Spirit through the Apostle Paul commands and encourages the Christian to DO and THINK those things which are required of him in his life. They are not commands to the Holy Spirit to do and think, but the regenerated Christian. It is both the working of God the Spirit Who indwells true believers AND the new nature which will and work His good will. For this is what the Christian was ordained to do (Eph 2:8-10).

Okay, one more item and enough for me at this time There is this popular error, although it has existed for centuries, but not predominately in Reformed circles until fairly recently, that God wills/desires the salvation of all men. I find this particularly repulsive for it is one of the major tenets of semi-Pelagianism, Arminianism, many sects, cults and non-Christian religions. It's foundation rests upon the unbiblical notion that God loves everyone. IF God truly wills/desires that all men be saved, then they will infallibly be saved, aka: Universalism. Whatever God has decreed from eternity will, by His secret providence come to pass. There is no dissimulation within the Godhead whereby God truly desires something to happen but it never does. What then becomes of the fundamental attribute of God's Omnipotence? (Job 23:13; Isa 46:9-13; Rom 9:6-13; Eph 1:11).