What is the Calvinist view of God's sovereignty?
score:5
As a Calvinist, I believe God's Sovereignty to mean God has actively decreed all that will come to pass, and has done so for His glory in all things. God knows all that will come to pass because He has determined it, however not in the passive sense like I determine the temperature of water by touching it. Rather, God has actively determined all that will come to pass, and nothing occurs outside of God's decree.
Further, God's decree does not strive against man's will, in that man is forced into doing all that God decrees man will do, but instead man's will is determined by the decree. We willingly do that which God has decreed we will do (yet not necessarily that which God has prescribed).
With regards to Salvation, our view is that man is depraved and incapable of doing anything that pleases the LORD. In this state of depravity man will always despise the things of God, and will never seek them. It is only when God, in an act of grace, replaces the sinners heart of stone with a heart of flesh that the sinner will then will to do the things of God, and will come to God in obedience and belief.
So it's not God's choice vs man's choice. God doesn't coerce man into becoming saved. Rather, God's power radically changes man's heart so that man will willingly seek the LORD.
There are many very clear passages regarding this, however one very popular text is John 6 where we can read the following statements from Jesus:
"All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out." - John 6:37 KJV
Calvinists read here that anybody the Father gives to the Son will indeed come to the Son.
"And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day." - John 6:39 KJV
Here we read further that Christ came to do the Fathe'rs will, and that will is that all of those whom the Father gave to the Son, the Son will lose none of them, but will raise them up.
"No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day." - John 6:44 KJV
"And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father." - John 6:65 KJV
So no man has the ability or desire to come to Christ outside of the affectionate drawing by the Father.
This is by no means exhaustive. If I might suggest a book on the topic, I would suggest The Potter's Freedom, by Dr. James White.
Upvote:0
I agree with Jonathan, but here's a more comprehensive answer: Total depravity teaches that we are so corrupted in nature that we are unable to come to God in faith (since that would count as a good work, which we're unable to do):
Romans 8:7, 8 (NIV)
7 The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. 8 Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.Titus 1: 15, 16 (NIV)
15 To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure. In fact, both their minds and consciences are corrupted. 16 They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good.John 6:44 (NIV)
44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day.
Unconditional Election teaches us that God chooses us before we do anything to merit being chosen (i.e. nobody ever deserves it, but God chooses some people anyway):
Ephesians 1: 4-6 (NIV)
4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he[b] predestined us for adoption to sonship[c] through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.Ephesians 1:11 (NIV)
11 In him we were also chosen,[e] having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his willRomans 9: 11-13 (NIV)
11 Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad—in order that God’s purpose in election might stand: 12 not by works but by him who calls—she was told, “The older will serve the younger.”[d] 13 Just as it is written: “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”
Limited Atonment teaches that Christ didn't effectively die for everyone but only for Christians (i.e. those who would accept) - as opposed to the Arminian view that Christ's death had potential effectiveness for everyone although few benefit from it because not everyone believes in Jesus.
Matthew 1:21 (NIV)
21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus,[f] because he will save his people from their sins.” (note that He can't be saving everyone from their sins - just His people)Romans 8:30 (NIV)
30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. (note that he would not have justified those he know wouldn't accept Him)John 17:9 (NIV)
9 I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours.
Irristable Grace teaches us that when God chooses, He enlightens the unregenerate man and that person, understanding the Gospel, always accepts it:
John 6:37 (NIV)
37 All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away.Acts 13:48 (NIV)
48 When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and honored the word of the Lord; and all who were appointed for eternal life believed.Acts 16:14 (NIV)
14 One of those listening was a woman from the city of Thyatira named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth. She was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message.
Perseverance of the Saints is sometimes incorrectly understood as Once Saved Always Saved. The sentiment is correct but the tone is not. Calvinists believe that true Christians will always persevere - they cannot fall away from faith if they're true Christians.
John 6:38 (NIV)
And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me, but raise them up at the last day.Ephesians 1:13, 14 (NIV)
13b When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.Philippians 1:4-6 (NIV)
4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.John 10: 28, 29 (NIV)
28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all[c]; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.
I think there are good arguments for the both sides of the debate (based in Scripture) but I personally favour Calvinism. You'll note how beautifully Calvinism fits together (indeed, that integration is required) - if we're too corrupt to accept God, then God must choose us, which means He only has to die for the ones that He knows He'll save knowing that he can save them with irrisistable grace at the right time, and knowing that the ones he chooses will always stay Christian.
More post
- 📝 Are people by nature good or are they inherently evil?
- 📝 Are couples with secular marriages not allowed to serve in their Catholic parish?
- 📝 Can our own spiritual gifts be given to others?
- 📝 If you are forgiven through the Grace of God, why do you need an Indulgence?
- 📝 Is it a good guess that Heaven's joy surpasses even the keenest felt here?
- 📝 How do people who believe in immediate heaven for believers at death explain Tabitha?
- 📝 Are there any biblical accounts of women performing a miracle from God?
- 📝 What verses from the Bible claim that Jesus has justified and redeemed man by his sacrifice on a cross?
- 📝 How can I find and read Alpha News?
- 📝 Does every sin affect other people?
- 📝 What did C. S. Lewis base his idea of sehnsucht/joy on?
- 📝 Is SIN a sin just because God says it is sin?
- 📝 Is it Christian Doctrine to say that macroevolution is not the same as microevolution?
- 📝 Did Luther add a word to Romans 3?
- 📝 What is the earliest known instance of a petition directed to Mary?
- 📝 How do Apostolic Christians interpret arguably sexist verses in Sirach?
- 📝 What does Neo-Scholastic Thomism say about the Charismatic Renewal movement?
- 📝 Seeing as there is only one mediator between God and man, what’s the role of the prophets?
- 📝 Should a Protestant read the apocryphal books of the Bible?
- 📝 Christianity and Fatalism
- 📝 how are tarot cards,horoscope,and readings aginst God and scripture?
- 📝 Why do OEC discount the literal interpretation of the book of Genesis?
- 📝 According to Protestant New Testament Scholars, can one argue for the inspiration & unity of scripture without using a “theological” claim or method?
- 📝 How do Filipino Catholics get a church annulment when their state marriage is valid, considering the Philippines doesn't have divorce?
- 📝 Are there examples of English words and phrases that are associated with blasphemy of the Virgin Mary?
- 📝 How would a Calvinist interpret Matthew 13:37-40?
- 📝 Burial of remains following medical research
- 📝 What does it mean to "flee to the mountains" as writen in Mark?
- 📝 Why can't God cope with Iron chariots?
- 📝 Was Jesus a man of few words, according to Catholic Church?
Source: stackoverflow.com
Search Posts
Related post
- 📝 What is the Calvinist view of God's sovereignty?
- 📝 What is the Roman Catholic view on Matthew 23:9?
- 📝 What are the primary differences and implications of a propitiatory view of the atonement versus an expiatory view?
- 📝 What was Isaac Newton's view of the Trinity?
- 📝 What is the Bible and Christian view on Astrology?
- 📝 What is the basis for Lombard's view that the basis of justification for OT men was different than for OT women?
- 📝 What reasons do those who reject the JEPD view of Scripture provide?
- 📝 What is the basis of the view that Jesus was separated from the Father and Holy Spirit upon death?
- 📝 What is Alvin Plantinga's view on divine sovereignty and free will?
- 📝 Which year did Jesus die? What is the most commonly held view
- 📝 What was Satan's view on the authority of Scripture?
- 📝 What is the Catholic view of the rapture?
- 📝 What is the Biblical basis against the Calvinist doctrine of Irresistible Grace?
- 📝 What was John Wesley's view of the Lord's Supper?
- 📝 What was the difference between Ratramnus's view of the Eucharist and that of Calvin?
- 📝 What was Van Til's view on the use and validity of historical proofs for the resurrection?
- 📝 What is the Evangelical view on tithing?
- 📝 What is the Calvinist perspective on regeneration?
- 📝 What is the Calvinist perspective on John 5:28–29 in regard to earning salvation?
- 📝 What is the basis for the Swedenborgian view that the most common concept of God in Christianity (the Trinity) is a belief in three gods?
- 📝 What view of eschatology did the early church believe?
- 📝 What are the differences between hamartiology from a Nazarene to a Calvinist perspective?
- 📝 What is the Catholic response to the Eastern Orthodox view that the Immaculate Conception remove Jesus' ability to redeem all of humanity?
- 📝 What is the Catholic view on frozen embryos
- 📝 What was St. Thomas Aquinas's view on the difference between punishment accorded to original sin and punishment accorded to individual sin?
- 📝 What is the Catholic view of the Book of Enoch?
- 📝 What was Jesus' view on the authority of Scripture?
- 📝 What is the Calvinist Perspective on the Tribulation
- 📝 What is the historical Christian view on the rebuilding of David's Tabernacle?
- 📝 What is Roman Catholic Church's official view on the nature of Christ?