Predestination Does NOT Mean #calvinism #reformedtheology

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:

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

[mikelyons]

Nailed it again Brother. Exactly, earlier the reader was told "all have sinned...(wait for it)...AND have fallen short of the glory of God".

Therefore, you need your sins forgiven/atoned for AND a new body that can withstand the Holy presence of God... these bodies can't (see 1 Corinthians 15 & Jesus post resurrection appearances for more details of New Prototypes). That combined with Jesus, Paul, Peter, James & John continually encouraging us to lay up for ourselves treasures in Heaven, reward in Heaven, momentary light afflictions, looking unto Jesus the author & finisher of our faith....

[donthephoneman]

The difference is one is man centered theology, and one is Christ centered. I do know this that if it wasn’t for the grace of God . Who called me out of darkness into His light. I would have never been saved. Just like I had no choice to be born of the flesh, I had no choice to be born of the Spirit. I can only praise God for going against my supposed free will . And by His will He saved a wretch like me. To God alone be the Glory. HALLELUYAH!!! He is a real Savior who actually saves His people from their sins., and gives them spiritual life.

[valleyolillies]

"You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you" John 15:16
OR
"No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him." John 6:44
How do you interpret these?

[genoz]

You actually didn’t finish the verse, Romans 8:23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. This is speaking about the moment we will receive our glorified bodies, but we have already been adopted into the family of God, and it was predestined by God.

[nathanieljamal]

I mean if we cross reference Romans 8:29-30 I think we can see Ephesians 1 as part of a multi-faceted predestination. There's no reason to deny salvific predestination, no further reason to say it is not based on what is in God and not what is in man

[joseotoya]

Right on GLS! Context kills Calvinism. 👍

[zacharyhutzell]

What about the verse before, Eph. 1:4?

“even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love”.

Brother, I would also like to hear your explanation of Romans 8:28-30. Thank you!

I think that the doctrines of grace or “Calvinism” are true, but I love your videos in providing insight into how other Christians interpret certain passages. Thanks!

[freethought]

That’s a great way to add context. However, it still doesn’t change that fact that we are predestined to do so by GOD.

[undergroundpublishing]

Very well done. Short clarifications like this are a big help. Keep up the good work.

[ArmyScoutMom]

Thank you Brother for shining yet another light on predestination doctrine. Just subscribed. We and our Calvinist brethren need to remember the most important thing... there is no salvation without our Lord and Savior Jesus. It is not through works, but through God's mercy and Grace that we are able to come to Him through Jesus. It is imperative that we lift up 1. salvation through grace, 2. the Bible is the inerrant word of God, and 3. we are indwelt by the Holy Spirit when we are born again. Everything else is details and we must not fight each other. We must obey the Lord's command to love our brother as we love ourselves. We won't be fighting about doctrine when we're in heaven LOL! God bless you and your ministry and God bless all true believers! Let us take this energy for infighting and redirect it towards witnessing to others and helping new believers in the knowledge of God's word. We must be very careful to take new Christians under our wing, mentor them, and lead by example. We must create a community of believers to keep newbies in the faith (& ourselves) on the path... 🙏

[PeteJab]

So when you adopt an orphan, you’re actually waiting for the orphans approval. Got it, thanks.

[Elmarias]

Fastest clearest single passage rebuttal and exposition of Cakvinist predestination.

[andrewbrown]

That's how the bible proves the bible. Extremely well done.

[greggcurrie]

No, misinterpreting the text. Ephesians is that we were predestined. But taking romans out of context seems to disagree. But romans is talking about our physical bodily resurrection, the final completion of the adoption. Just read it.

[yeeandy]

Can u enlight us more about 2timothy 1:9-10, 2 Thessalonian 2:13, Acts 13:48, 1Corinthians 2:7, what those predestine means ?

[jaceful]

Exactly because no one truly knows who is saved and isn't only God knows. That's a judgment in which we should not do as well. Notice ephesians says in "His sight." Not ours.

[thespurge]

I’m curious, do you guy’s actually believe that we are not adopted as sons and daughters (children of God) the moment we are justified by faith?

[carlpeterson]

Here is the surrounding text that he partially quoted. It shows us that he chose us before the foundation of the world and predestines us for adoption. We are adopted and will receive full adoption at the last days. Just like we are saved now and will be fully saved later. His thoughts do not really add up once you see more.

Eph 1- "4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves

[hvrlxm_]

Predestined - determined in advance by divine will or fate. The words have definitions. If we just respect the definitions of the words, it's impossible to reject calvinism.

[tradesoup]

I believe that you are missing more context brother, because in 2 Thessalonians, Paul says "But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth. To this he called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ" (2 Thessalonians 2:13-14).

So, the firstfruits (those who are already saved, as you said in the video) were chosen by God. Man, because of the fall, cannot seek God and we only seek sin; as Paul tells us in Romans. It is only by God's divine intervention that we are able to seek Him.