Sunday, May 1, 2011

Chosen But Free.

Chosen but free by Norman l. Geisler give a good comparison about Calvinistic and Arminian with the use of Scriptures. According to Armenian “salvation is accomplished through the combined efforts of and man, man’s response being the determining factor. God has provided salvation for everyone, but his provision becomes effective only for those who, of their own free will, "choose" to cooperate with him and accept his offer of grace. At the crucial point, man's will plays a decisive role; thus man, not God, determines who will be recipients of the gift of salvation.” In 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 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”.

I agree with Norman Geisler in many of the main points that he makes. One of them is when Geisler states that God is the one who is in charge of all things. I agree that is charge of this world including (humans, Satan, fallen angels). To support his point he uses a verse from the Bible. Isaiah 46:10. This verse talks about that God knows everything from the beginning to the end. Also he is the one in control do manage everything according to his will. I also agree with the point on extreme Calvinism. “Geisler engages in this redefinition not only with regard to the general term "Calvinism", but he also redefines the individual doctrines which are part and parcel of Calvinism. This is seen in his discussion of T-U-L-I-P”. He says that Calvin was not an extreme Calvinism because he did not believe in the points. Also he says on the total depravity point that most people who take this side are basically dead spiritually because they are not able to communicative to God.

I also agree when he discuss the point of Arminians. One point that Geisler makes is that extreme Arminians believe that God does not know everything because of all the freewill that is given. I agree with this view because it is stating that God does know everything when in scripture it states in Hebrews 4:13. I also agree in the point that what we believe or do have consequence good or bad. The point I think I don’t agree is when he makes that stamen that whether when we are saved if we will always be saved. For what I understand God give us free will to make the decision to be saved or not. Why do we have to accept Jesus or be a Christian when at the end we will be saved? If these was true there is no reason of going to thru world and teach the gospel, or just be like Jesus. You can sin and sin, and do not repent and still go to heaven. This point is very confusing, and is really hard to understand. But I don’t think is true because if it is true, them there not purpose in life.

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