Gary Matthew McInnis Calvinism states: God’s choice of certain individuals for salvation before the foundation of the world rested solely in His own sovereign will. His choice of particular sinners was not based on any foreseen response or obedience on their part, such as faith, repentance, etc. Because of the Fall, man is unable of himself to savingly believe the gospel. The sinner is dead, blind and deaf to the things of God; his heart is deceitful and desperately corrupt. His will is not free; it is in bondage to his evil nature. Therefore, he will not—indeed cannot—choose good over evil in the spiritual realm. Consequently, it takes much more than the Spirit’s assistance to bring a sinner to Christ. It takes regeneration, by which the Spirit makes the sinner alive and gives him a new nature. So, if God unconditionally elects and then irresistibly regenerates / makes alive the sinner to become a new creature able to enter the kingdom before he believes in the work of Christ, there is actually no need for the work of Christ. If it is UNCONDITIONAL election, then the CONDITION of Christ dying or not is as mute as man’s response. They’ve already been elected and whether or not Christ dies, they have still been predestined to life no matter the means, if any, that God chooses to require. And, if people are regenerated / made alive by the Spirit in order to believe in the work of Christ, then they really don’t need to believe in the work of Christ to receive life because they were already made alive by the Spirit! Nothing else has to be done if you have already been elected. In fact, for the Calvinist, to be elect is to be saved and to already be intimately known. Therefore, why would a penalty have to be paid, or faith be necessary? God already selected you for salvation, no conditions need to be met, and that should be enough. You may argue that Jesus had to die to meet the justice of God. This is a good argument, but not for the God of Calvinism. He is sovereign and every decision He makes is just. He is the Potter and we are the clay. He has mercy upon whom He wants to have mercy. He has unconditionally chosen – enough said. Who are you to talk back to God about who He has elected, why He has elected them, or the means, if any, He will save them by. Again I ask, why did Jesus come incarnate to go to the cross when, with the CALVINISTIC UNDESTANDING of election, predestination, and regeneration the cross accomplishes nothing NECESSARY for election or new life?
Posted on: Sun, 21 Dec 2014 15:21:52 +0000