John Calvin’s theory or doctrine of predestination has lead many people
astray, because it takes all responsibility away from man and places
it
on God. Last week we looked briefly at the first point of his doctrine
called Total Depravity. This doctrine teaches that after Adam sinned
that
man’s nature was so changed he became unable to respond to God and
His
word. It also teaches that everyone is born a sinner, because we have
inherited Adam’s sin. Of course these things are refuted in the word
of
God.
The next point of Calvin’s doctrine is called “Unconditional Election.”
This teaches that since man is incapable of responding to God, that
God
must have made some arbitrary and predetermined choice as to who will
and
who won’t be saved. Those who are saved according to this doctrine
are
the “called” or “elect” and they can do nothing that would cause
themselves to be lost, just as those who are not “called” can do nothing
but be lost.
To support this claim Calvin turned to such passages as Ephesians 1:3-14,
to try and prove that man cannot come to God of his own freewill. Calvin
also turned to Romans 8:29-30, stating that this passage teaches that
God
has predestinated the fate of individuals ether to be saved or lost
before time began.
To the claim of “Unconditional Election,” we point out first and foremost
that God’s spokesmen throughout the ages have declared that we MUST
make
the choice to come to God through faithful obedience to His revealed
will
or die spiritually. When one looks at such passages as Deuteronomy
30:15-20 we are impressed with the use of the words “if” and “choose,”
in
this passage. Also if mankind cannot choose to come to God why did
God
have Joshua challenge the children of Israel in Joshua 24:14-24 to
choose
that very day if they would serve Jehovah God or the gods of their
fathers?
This foul doctrine of Calvin would make God a respecter of person if
it
were true! Plus, it would make absolutely no sense at all for God to
send
His Son to die on the cross for the whole world (John 3:16), if the
whole
world could not respond to such love! The apostle Peter did not believe
in “Unconditional Election,” because he said in Acts 10:34-35, “Then
Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is
no
respecter of person: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh
righteousness, is accepted with him.” The apostle Paul did not believe
in
this doctrine because he felt the need to preach to everyone (Romans
1:14-17).
© Copyright 2003 Paul D. Fisher. All rights reserved.