God is the author and finisher of our faith. It's a work He alone can bring about by changing the core nature of a sinner into a saint. Ezekiel 36 is a perfect illustration of what God said He will do in His people.
Excerpt from the forward: "We only use the term 'Calvinism' for shortness. That doctrine which is called 'Calvinism' did not spring from Calvin; we believe that it sprang from the great founder or all truth. Perhaps Calvin himself derived it mainly from the writings of Augustine. Augustine obtained his views, without dount, through the Spirit of God, from the diligent study of the writings of Paul, and Paul received them of the Holy Ghost,from Jesus Christ, the great founder of the Christian dispensation. We use the term then, not because we impute any extraordinary importance to Calvin's having taught these doctrines. We would be just as willing to call them by any other name, if we could find one which would be better understood, and which on the whole would be as consistant with fact." -C. H. S.
Ivan Karamazov wrote: The issue I have with Calvinism is that ALL Calvinist force you to take a side, if you don't they label you anyway. The concept of Calvinism is always poorly explained and rarely defended in a way that is winsome and actually clears the subject. Much like the "rapture" it is not something that must be adhered to by death. In all my years and I'm all my inquiries I have NEVER had anyone defend Calvinism effectively in private or group. It usually results in an ignorant statement that I am spiritually dark or I would understand, even though no one else got it either. Keep your Calvinism and your KJV , I have other things to do. 😁
I've been following these posts for 2 years and this is the first time actually posting (though I've battled many urges to with MANY posts). I must say, God has brought me through many things on my journey. Situations that have caused me to search the scriptures for answers. That's a long long topic, for which I'm not going to go into now. But I hold in my possession a copy of a small publication called "A Defense of Calvinism" by C.H. Spurgeon (and I actually read it). Any who would be so bold as to claim absolutes on doctrinal beliefs and teaching, should be cautious. If you truly were seeking sound teaching on a matter, you
10/18/17 1:14 PM
