Why Calvinism Gets Ephesians 1 Wrong #biblestudy

The topic of Calvinism is something that I have personally spent a lot of time studying and thinking about for the past decade. In recent years this theology has grown a lot in popularity, being propagated by popular and prominent pastors and christian leaders like John Piper, James White, John Macarthur, RC Sproul and ministry organizations like the Gospel Coalition and Apologia Studios.

This theology is based on a particular understanding of passages like Romans 9, John 6 and Ephesians 1, which are interpreted by Calvinists in a way that results in the conclusion that God has determined before the foundation of the world which individuals he will save and has ultimately created a countless mass of humanity throughout history for the purpose of condemning them to eternal torment in hell for committing sins that he himself determined that they commit. This may be a bit more of an abrasive and pointed way of putting it, but I think if you come to understand the claims and beliefs of the theologians mentioned above who teach these doctrines, you will see that this is an accurate and honest representation of their ultimate conclusions.

I personally find the view of God that is communicated in Calvinism to be immoral and a gross misrepresentation of what the bible actually describes God to be like. Although I do have moral and emotional apprehensions toward this theology, that is not ultimately the reason why I came to reject it. I came to reject it on biblical grounds. After examining the many Calvinistic proof texts like Romans 9 and Ephesians 1, I became convinced that Calvinists are simply misunderstanding and misinterpreting these texts.

I make videos about this topic because it is important to me and I believe that bad theology (bad ideas about God) are harmful to people emotionally, mentally and spiritually. My goal in making videos like this is not to demonize Calvinists who teach these things or to say they are evil heretics or anything of the sort, but to simply explain why I strongly disagree with their conclusions and offer what I consider to be a better way of understanding the many biblical texts that are often used to support these views.

GREAT LIGHT STUDIOS FILMS:

FEAR NOT ONLY BELIEVE

METAMORPHOSIS | From Violent Drug Dealer To Jesus Follower

SEEK FIRST (Freedom From Anxiety And Fear)

#calvinism #calvinismdebate #christianity #JohnPiper #DesiringGod #Soteriology #predestination #apologiastudios #apologetics

[jay]

I actually went through Ephesians and made notes of everytime there is an “in Him” a few weeks ago on this exact logical path. Very cool!

[cecilspurlockjr.]

Yep, that's where ephesians destroys calvinism. Only those who have heard and believed the word of truth are in CHRIST and ephesians tells us that those who are in HIM are predestined to the adoption, not predestined to believe .

[jeffreybomba]

The “proof texts” that are foundational to the creation of Calvinism, require that you have already accepted it and you are reading those foundational texts with a Calvinist lens. In reality, every major ism is built that way.

[BEABEREAN]

To be or not to be. That is the question 😆

[djohnson]

When a calvinist reads Ephesians 1:4 word for word and immediately says, "SEE!!! It says that we are chosen to be saved from before the foundation of the world!!!" 🤦‍♂️

They add salvation to the text where it doesn't exist and as they read on they start changing the definition of words, claiming "Adoption really means salvation!!!".🤦‍♂️

My question is, if calvinists have to insert words or change definitions to make a text say what they want, why wouldn't that concern them about the doctrine they believe 🤔
Not to mention the fact that calvinism requires that one must ignore all surrounding context. Just like starting in verse 4 instead of starting at verse 1 - 3, which really explains a lot.

[primeobjective]

They always sneek in "TO BE" in Christ when they attempt to exegete the text of Ephesians 1.

[GhostBearCommander]

"Chosen in Christ"
Not
"Chosen to be in Christ"

[robertzamzow]

Does God find out who will be in Christ?

[richardwashington]

How would this work with David, Abraham, etc... I am wesleyan in beliefs with regard to soteriology, however how does this work with OT saints? They were chosen to be in Christ eventually right? or because Christ is eternal they were In Christ already before He was manifested in the flesh and went through the work of the death, and resurrection?

[ManassehJones]

"For whom He did foreknow." For those whom He did not know, Matt 7:22-23

[aletheia]

Is holy and blameless before Jesus in Christ? Is a son in Christ?

[stubowl]

to be in Christ for the one predestined means that when they first apprendend Christ through faith, this is the moment when they find out that God has predestined them to be in Christ. This does not mean that they acquire perfect knowledge of the mind or activity of God who moves them and frees them from death to life. Calvin rocks btw :D