Forgive me for my ignorance but my understanding of Calvinism is that Christians replaced the Jews� is this what people are referring to when you chat about predestination? I apologize, honestly that�s all I have ever really been taught about this theology. If there is more to it, I�m sure there is, please share�..
Calvinism teaches that only some people are chosen to be saved...but the Bible teaches that god is not willing that any should perish, but all should come to repentance...that all have an opportunity to rcieve His free gift of salvation.
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 he 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. Faith is not something man contributes to salvation but is itself a part of God�s gift of salvation� it is God�s gift to the sinner, not the sinner�s gift to God.
Unconditional Election
God�s choice of certain individuals unto salvation before fore 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. On the contrary, God gives faith and repentance to each individual whom He selected. These acts are the result, not the cause God�s choice. Election therefore was not determined by or conditioned upon any virtuous quality or act foreseen in man. Those whom God sovereignly elected He brings through the power of the Spirit to a willing acceptance of Christ. Thus God�s choice of the sinner, not the sinner�s choice of Christ, is the ultimate cause of salvation.
Particular Redemption or Limited Atonement
Christ�s redeeming work was intended to save the elect only and actually secured salvation for them. His death was a substitutionary endurance of the penalty of sin in the place of certain specified sinners. In addition to putting away the sins of His people, Christ�s redemption secured everything necessary for their salvation, including faith which unites them to Him. The gift of faith is infallibly applied by the Spirit to all for whom Christ died, therefore guaranteeing their salvation
The Efficacious Call of the Spirit or Irresistible Grace
In addition to the outward general call to salvation which is made to everyone who hears the gospel, the Holy Spirit extends to the elect a special inward call that inevitably brings them to salvation. The eternal call (which is made to all without distinction) can be, and often is, rejected; whereas the internal call (which is made only to the elect) cannot be rejected; it always results in conversion. By mean, of this special call the Spirit irresistibly draws sinners to Christ. He is not limited in His work of applying salvation by man�s will, nor is He dependent upon man�s cooperation for success. The Spirit graciously causes the elect sinner to cooperate, to believe, to repent, to come freely and willingly to Christ. God�, grace. therefore, is invincible; it never fails to result in the salvation of those to whom it is extended.
Perseverance of the Saints
All who are chosen by God, redeemed by Christ, and given faith by the Spirit are eternally saved. They are kept in faith by the power of Almighty God and thus persevere to the end.
According to Calvinism:Salvation is accomplished by the almighty power of the Triune God. The Father chose a people, the Son died for them, the Holy� Spirit makes Christ�s death effective by bringing the elect to faith and repentance, thereby causing them to willingly obey the gospel. The entire process (election, redemption, regeneration) is the work of God and is by grace alone. Thus God, not man, determines who will be the recipients of the gift of salvation.REAFFIRMED by the Synod of DortThis system of theology was reaffirmed by the Synod of Dort in 1619 as the doctrine of salvation contained in the Holy Scriptures. The system was at that time formulated into �five points� (in answer to the five points submitted by the Arminians) and has ever since been known as �the five points of Calvinism.�
When the Hebrews came out of Egypt only 1/5 left because that is all that believed� ten others had their first born die along with the Egyptians (no blood over the doorpost)*( (According to Jewish belief)) the following scriptures speak of foreigners� and their choice. Leviticus 24: 22 You are to apply the same standard of judgment to the foreigner as to the citizen, because I am ADONAI your G-d."
Exodus 12: 48 If a foreigner staying with you wants to observe ADONAI's Torah, all his males must be circumcised. Then he may take part and observe it; he will be like a citizen of the land. But no uncircumcised person is to eat it. 49 The same teaching is to apply equally to the citizen and to the foreigner living among you."
Leviticus 17: 8 "Then you shall say to them, 'Any man from the house of Israel, or from the aliens who sojourn among them, who offers a burnt offering or sacrifice, 9 and does not bring it to the doorway of the tent of meeting to offer it to the LORD, that man also shall be cut off from his people.
Numbers 9: 14 If a foreigner is staying with you and wants to observe Torah for ADONAI, he is to do it according to the regulations and rules of Torah- you are to have the same law for the foreigner as for the citizen of the land.'"
Numbers 15: 13 "'Everyone who is native-born must do these things in this way when he brings an offering made by fire as an aroma pleasing to the LORD. 14 For the generations to come, whenever an alien or anyone else living among you presents an offering made by fire as an aroma pleasing to the LORD, he must do exactly as you do. 15 The community is to have the same rules for you and for the alien living among you; this is a lasting ordinance for the generations to come. You and the alien shall be the same before the LORD: 16 The same laws and regulations will apply both to you and to the alien living among you.'"
Deuteronomy 31: 11 when all Israel have come to appear in the presence of ADONAI at the place he will choose, you are to read this Torah before all Israel, so that they can hear it. 12 Assemble the people-the men, the women, the little ones and the foreigners you have in your towns -so that they can hear, learn, fear ADONAI your G-d and take care to obey all the words of this Torah;
G-d allowed all foreigners to have a choice to follow G-d or not: Ruth did, Rahab did and they did choose Him. Have prayed many times I do not understood why G-d chose to reveal Himself to me but He did. I was 18 in a restraint of all things and all of the sudden I heard if you die today you will go to hell. And I knew it. I somehow knew who it was and I was more afraid than I have ever been in my life; or will be again. I did not know Him but I said �SAVE ME�. And He DID!!! Within a week I was enrolled in Bible College (2 year no big deal) because I wanted to �know� this Jesus. I am grateful I found a Messianic church in my community and it has been over a 20 year journey ever since. I have been a good cause for Messiah and a very bad one. Did He predestined me or just reveal Himself to me and give me a choice? Either way I am grateful beyond measure. My grandmother is 91 and still looking for the Messiah to come�. (She is a greater woman than I�ll ever be in every way)�
"Have prayed many times I do not understood why G-d chose to reveal Himself to me but He did. I was 18 in a restraint of all things and all of the sudden I heard if you die today you will go to hell. And I knew it. I somehow knew who it was and I was more afraid than I have ever been in my life; or will be again. I did not know Him but I said �SAVE ME�. And He DID!!! Within a week I was enrolled in Bible College (2 year no big deal) because I wanted to �know� this Jesus. I am grateful I found a Messianic church in my community and it has been over a 20 year journey ever since. I have been a good cause for Messiah and a very bad one. Did He predestined me or just reveal Himself to me and give me a choice? Either way I am grateful beyond measure. My grandmother is 91 and still looking for the Messiah to come�. (She is a greater woman than I�ll ever be in every way)�"
Thank you for sharing. When i was walking among them i did not care about God, i was running away from him. I knew there was a god, but i loved my flesh, my self, my world to much for such a rule making creator to ruin my life. I had walked down the isle numerous times, prayed the sinners prayer numerous times. I was good that was all i had to do was acknowledge "Jesus, born of a virgin, is the Son of God, died on the cross as the only acceptable,sinless sacrifice for my sins, buried in a borrowed tomb, raised from the dead on the third day, ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father. Omnipotent, omniscient, Holy Trinity, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. He died to pay for my sins, and the sons of the world...that's all the people in the world. " I was in right. wow was i deceived. Then i joined a Reformed Church and then started learning the gospel of God. The holy infallible word of God. Something happened to me. I was very happy on my bar stool smoking, drinking having sex with who ever came along. I was happy as a clam. Then this happened.
Ezekiel 36:26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27 I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.
God got a hold of me and brought me to my knees in repentance. I turned from my evil ways took up my cross and followed him. I have never known such love, peace and happiness as i did the moment i first believed. No one will ever know him till he changes their heart of stone. I am not my own i have been bought with a price. I serve him out of thankfulness for such a great redemption.
2 Thess,2:13 " But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen (haireomai - to take for oneself) you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:" Did you catch that? God from the beginning CHOSE some to salvation. Through what? sanctification of the Spirit and BELIEF OF THE TRUTH.
2 Thess,2:13 " But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen (haireomai - to take for oneself) you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:" Did you catch that? God from the beginning CHOSE some to salvation. Through what? sanctification of the Spirit and BELIEF OF THE TRUTH.
Ac 10:34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:
Both scriptures are in the same bible, so what you endeavor to do, as do all those that have given their ear to reformation theology as to accept it as THE TRUTH.
The latter scripture is in total contrast to what you believe, so of course you deny the latter scripture with an unbelievable explanation.
The whole context of the scripture you posted is in total disagreement with what you say is the truth.
Go read that whole chapter in Acts. Peter is acknowledging that one need not be a Jew. It's not about national heritage. God has people in every nation.
