Simple scriptural proof of Calvinism for the uninitiated
Dec 21, 2013 23:41:46 GMT
Post by Colossians on Dec 21, 2013 23:41:46 GMT
This material is for the teaching of the Body of Christ, however the author reserves copyright over it.
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SIMPLE SCRIPTURAL PROOF OF CALVINISM FOR THE UNINITIATED
When Christians speak of “coming to Christ”, they are speaking of one’s first declaration to the effect that Jesus Christ is Lord.
They are not saying that one comes to Christ and then declares that Jesus is Lord, but that declaring that Jesus is Lord is in and of itself that very coming to Christ.
For if the former were true (if it were true that one came to Christ and then declared that He was Lord), by what criterion might it be said (irrespective of how brief the intervening period might be) that he was in fact in Christ in the intervening period?
So one’s coming to Christ, and one’s declaration that Jesus Christ is Lord, are (at least from a temporal and experiential viewpoint) synonymous.
Now ... the scripture declares the following:
“no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost” 1 Cor 12:3
and by “say that Jesus is the Lord”, it is essentially meant “agree that Jesus is Lord” , else one who couldn’t speak at all could never become a Christian.
This “by the Holy Ghost” refers to the fact that it is the Holy Ghost within one who in fact is doing the talking/agreeing. Or we might say that He is providing the irresistible urge for the talking/agreeing.
The crux of the matter is this:
In order to declare/agree that Jesus is Lord, we are told in this verse of 1 Corinthians that one must already have the Holy Ghost within him. That is, the Holy Ghost doesn't come into one because he has declared that Jesus is Lord (this is the anti-Calvinist position), but rather, one declares that Jesus is Lord because the Holy Ghost is within him (this is the Calvinist position).
In this way then, God gets all the glory. And so David at his last says:
"But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort? for all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee" 1 Chr 29:14.
Once again then:
“no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost” 1 Cor 12:3.
Amen.
____________________________________________________________
SIMPLE SCRIPTURAL PROOF OF CALVINISM FOR THE UNINITIATED
When Christians speak of “coming to Christ”, they are speaking of one’s first declaration to the effect that Jesus Christ is Lord.
They are not saying that one comes to Christ and then declares that Jesus is Lord, but that declaring that Jesus is Lord is in and of itself that very coming to Christ.
For if the former were true (if it were true that one came to Christ and then declared that He was Lord), by what criterion might it be said (irrespective of how brief the intervening period might be) that he was in fact in Christ in the intervening period?
So one’s coming to Christ, and one’s declaration that Jesus Christ is Lord, are (at least from a temporal and experiential viewpoint) synonymous.
Now ... the scripture declares the following:
“no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost” 1 Cor 12:3
and by “say that Jesus is the Lord”, it is essentially meant “agree that Jesus is Lord” , else one who couldn’t speak at all could never become a Christian.
This “by the Holy Ghost” refers to the fact that it is the Holy Ghost within one who in fact is doing the talking/agreeing. Or we might say that He is providing the irresistible urge for the talking/agreeing.
The crux of the matter is this:
In order to declare/agree that Jesus is Lord, we are told in this verse of 1 Corinthians that one must already have the Holy Ghost within him. That is, the Holy Ghost doesn't come into one because he has declared that Jesus is Lord (this is the anti-Calvinist position), but rather, one declares that Jesus is Lord because the Holy Ghost is within him (this is the Calvinist position).
In this way then, God gets all the glory. And so David at his last says:
"But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort? for all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee" 1 Chr 29:14.
Once again then:
“no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost” 1 Cor 12:3.
Amen.