tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35419831.post4505150959322253419..comments2023-07-22T04:24:08.498-04:00Comments on Controversial Calvinism: Calvin vs. Cunningham & NicoleStevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01602468757765608379noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35419831.post-8999667955750829402007-06-23T12:41:00.000-04:002007-06-23T12:41:00.000-04:00Thanks for the comments David and Tony. I cannot ...Thanks for the comments David and Tony. I cannot comprehend the idea that Calvin "repudiated" a universal saving will in God. *That*, to me, is the mystery.Stevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01602468757765608379noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35419831.post-44678650744321706862007-06-22T14:41:00.000-04:002007-06-22T14:41:00.000-04:00"He who rejecteth me. That wicked men may not flat..."<I>He who rejecteth me</I>. That wicked men may not flatter themselves as if their unbounded disobedience to Christ would pass unpunished, he, adds here a dreadful threatening, that though he were to do nothing in this matter, yet his doctrine alone would be sufficient to condemn them, as he says elsewhere, that there would be no need of any other judge than Moses, in whom they boasted, (John 5:45.) The meaning, therefore, is: “<B>Burning with ardent desire to promote your salvation</B>, I do indeed abstain from exercising my right to condemn you, and am entirely employed in saving what is lost; but do not think that you have escaped out of the hands of God; for though I should altogether hold my peace, the word alone, which you have despised, is sufficient to judge you."<BR/><BR/>Calvin on John 12:48.<BR/><BR/>The universal saving will of God is so plain in Calvin. He even says Christ "burned" with an "ardent desire" to save those who yet abided under the judgment of God as lost men.Tony Byrnehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02102293843397809802noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35419831.post-81427933918597024022007-06-22T13:53:00.000-04:002007-06-22T13:53:00.000-04:00"Thus all the more ought we groan, seeing that the..."Thus all the more ought we groan, seeing that the world is too perverse to return to God, but rather elects to oppose him. This seeing how truly the Devil has blinded humankind, we are right to feel dejected and sad. Why? Because to see souls created in the image of God move toward their own damnation is hardly a light matter, <B>especially souls that were redeemed at such a cost by the blood of God's Son</B>. It ought to make us sad to see them perish so miserably. Above all, we must keep in mind the <B>purpose</B> for which our Lord ordained the preaching of the Gospel, that by faith, as Saint Paul says, we might render to God the obedience and honor that God is due [1 Timothy 1:17; 6;16], and <B>that humankind might be saved</B>, "for it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes" [Romans 1:16]. Consequently, in view of the fact that human malice frustrates <B>God's intentions</B>, we are justified in raising a lament similar to Micah's."<BR/><BR/><A HREF="http://theologicalmeditations.blogspot.com/2005/08/excellent-calvin-quote.html" REL="nofollow">Calvin, Sermons on Micah, Sermon 25, 7:1-3, p., 371</A>.<BR/><BR/>Even in this one quote, Calvin affirms that:<BR/><BR/>1) Christ redeemed some that perish.<BR/><BR/>2) God's revealed will that "humankind might be saved" by means of the gospel is called a "purpose."<BR/><BR/>3) Human malice "frustrates God's intentions."<BR/><BR/><A HREF="http://theologicalmeditations.blogspot.com/2006/10/one-of-my-favorite-calvin-quotes.html" REL="nofollow">On Galatians 5:12</A>, Calvin connects "all men without exception" with the "whole world" for whom Christ suffered:<BR/><BR/>"for it is the will of God that we should seek the salvation of all men without exception, as Christ suffered for the sins of the whole world."<BR/><BR/>Here's Calvin again <A HREF="http://www.ccel.org/ccel/calvin/calcom23.vii.xiv.html" REL="nofollow">on Eze 18:23</A>:<BR/><BR/>"He confirms the same sentiment in other words, that <B>God <I>desires</I> nothing more earnestly than that those who were perishing and rushing to destruction should return into the way of safety</B>. And for this reason not only is the Gospel spread abroad in the world, but God wished to bear witness through all ages how inclined he is to pity."<BR/><BR/>"...God wishes all to be saved..."<BR/><BR/>"...God wishes all to be converted."<BR/><BR/>Later, when Calvin says this...<BR/><BR/>"Since, therefore, repentance is a kind of second creation, it follows that it is not in man’s power; and if it is equally in God’s power to convert men as well as to create them, it follows that the reprobate are not converted, because God does not wish their conversion; for if he wished it he could do it: and hence it appears that he does not wish it. But again they argue foolishly, since God does not wish all to be converted, he is himself deceptive, and nothing can be certainly stated concerning his paternal benevolence."<BR/><BR/>...he is referencing God's decretal or secret will, in distinction to that will disclosed in his revealed word.<BR/><BR/>Frankly, Cunningham and Nicole (and McMahon) are not less than blind (it may be worse than blindness) to what Calvin is saying. As one man said, “When we lack the will to see things as they really are there is nothing more mysterious than the obvious.” When we lack the will to see the truth, we won't see it.Tony Byrnehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02102293843397809802noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35419831.post-60192162024771800152007-06-22T10:34:00.000-04:002007-06-22T10:34:00.000-04:00Brilliant Steve. I hope Nicole and others will rea...Brilliant Steve. I hope Nicole and others will read your posts.David Ponterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10329361749094253372noreply@blogger.com