Do Calvinists Believe God Arbitrarily Chooses People to Save?

Dr. Leighton Flowers, Director of Evangelism and Apologetics for Texas Baptists, addresses an article written by a Calvinistic author regarding "the 12 myths about Calvinism," which can be seen here:

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[bobbyadkins]

I don't know of anyone who refutes Calvinism better than Leighton. He quotes their very words and they say he is wrongfully representing Calvinism.

[JohnQPublic]

Another spectacular presentation from Dr. Flowers exposing the horrifying way in which Calvinists assault the very nature and character of GOD with their inane mumbo-jumbo doctrines.

[kevinevans]

I’ve never met one person “predestined” to hell glorify God in it, I’ve only heard “chosen” people say this, easy for them to say. Glorify God as your predestined to eternal Hell and meditate on the fact Jesus doesn’t love you. Thank the Lord I’m not a Calvinist!

[JoshMcSwain]

I can't watch many of these videos because of toxic comment sections.

I have just one question: if God has a secret will, how did people find out about it? Because it wouldn't be a secret then. This isn't in the Bible because if it were in the Bible it wouldn't be a secret.

[sinthalis]

Calvanism: When thinking you're better then everyone else just isn't enough.

[BelievingThinkers]

Great to see you posting again brother hope all is well with your family praying for your ministry.

[TheBiblicistPerspective]

Knocked this out of the park! Strong work and excellent run through the pertinent verses.

[JohnQPublic]

Dr. Flowers left out the easiest and most powerful way to prove man has libertarian free-will, is to say the kind of libertarian free-will that everybody knows we are talking about, the definition of the word found in every English the kind of libertarian free-will GOD has endowed everybody with, the power to individually freely choose to believe in and worship HIM as our GOD.

Genesis 4:1-7 …….. verse 7 ……. *“IF YOU DO WELL, * will you not be accepted? And *IF YOU DO NOT DO WELL* sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is contrary toc you, but you must rule over it.”

So the first person ever born on earth had the individual power of libertarian free-willed choice to either *DO WELL OR NOT DO WELL!*

[oracleoftroy]

I think we should be gravely concerned with the false dichotomy presented here; that either God has to reveal his plan in fullness to a decree that the created creature can know and understand it or God is being arbitrary. As if God can't have intentional plans that he doesn't reveal to man. As if man has the right to judge God. I see hints of the lie of the garden, that man is like God and has the right to use their own knowledge of good and evil to stand in judgment over God.

We need to learn Job's lesson: "I know that you can do all things,
and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted. ‘Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?’ Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know. ‘Hear, and I will speak;
I will question you, and you make it known to me.’ I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you; therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes."

[nyop]

The Holy Spirit draws but not all head the call! Some believe that the Holy Spirit doesn’t draw everyone, and only a select few. But the word clearly says that if He be lifted up he will draw all men unto Him. God has been lifted up! He his high and lifted up!

[lcn]

WAVES of clarity! Praise The Lord for your gift of sharing this Truth!

[gregjay]

I have always known Calvinism to be error but these videos have helped me understand why Calvinism is error; not just error but heresy.

[davidjennings]

#8 - he is writing to clarify so that it isn't misunderstood. Perfectly reasonable. The use of 'arbitrary'' is sloppy and open to interpretation. Ask google and def no 1 is "based on random choice or personal whim". The same with the Cambridge and Oxford dictionaries.

[mrnoedahl]

Arbitrary “: existing or coming about seemingly at random or by chance or as a capricious and unreasonable act of will.”

[CryoftheProphet]

If I am a sinner from birth, and I find the gospel persuasive because God put His law in my heart, and that very law allows me to identify the truth of the Gospel, persuading me to belief, from a state of unbelief, that is somehow a work?

[DOJOPROSHOP]

“These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: as thou hast given him power over ALL flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast GIVEN him.”
‭‭John‬ ‭17‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will GIVE them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;”
‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭2‬:‭24‬-‭25‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“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. 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 ‭6‬:‭44‬, ‭65‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Man’s so-called “Free Will” is in bondage to sin and a slave. The fact of the matter, Man is Dead in trespasses and sin… man is incapable of coming to Christ and therefore if you are to be saved God must choose (Elect) and save us by Grace through Faith… and that faith is a gift of God! Just as repentance is a gift of God…

You may trust in your so-called free will and glory in your ability to come to Christ in and of your own “free will” but I will glory in God’s Free Grace and praise Him for all eternity for rescuing me from the slave market of sin!
To God be all the Glory!
Sola Deo Gloria

To say that God‘s sovereignty is “limited by man’s free-will” makes man sovereign over God… that is not only nonsense but out right heresy. You are following the teachings of the egotist Jack Hyles and his corrupt Arminian followers who blindly believe and accept his teachings rather than the clear teaching of scripture alone!

“But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭2‬:‭14‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Romans 3 declares that there is NON that Seek after God. There are no seekers… that is why if there are to be saved people God must seek and save the lost!

“And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭2‬:‭1‬-‭5‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Glorying in your so-called Free Will is complete and total heresy because your will is dead and incapable of coming to Christ or seeking God…
Oh, But God who is rich in mercy… I will glory in the grace and mercy of God and the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ who died for my sins and saved me. Jesus is the author and finisher of my faith! Trusting in your “free-will” you may, but I will trust in God’s Free and abundant Grace. To who be the Glory forever, Amen 🙏

[danielcartwright]

Also, as you've pointed out, the choosing of Jacob over Easau was not unconditional. There was a condition that they had to be a descendant of Abraham.

[bobfree]

DR Flowers systematically and cordially uses Scripture to prove that Calvanism is wrong and not biblical. My studies have brought me too almost the same exact conclusions. Secret Will cannot be used to verify a nebulous calvanistic view. Gods ways and thoughts are Not out thoughts and ways.There are many things we just cannot KNOW about GOD.but He has revealed His Gospel in simple and clear scriptures.

[yobabybubba]

That was so good , The whole thing was good especially the last 3rd.

[nikao]

another definition for arbitrary is capricious, unreasonable, unsupported which I believe this describes allah and that's the problem I have with calvinism is that to me it makes the christian God more like allah and muslims believe you can't be sure your saved until you get to heaven as with calvinism once your saved your saved but you won't know till you get there. they are to close for comfort