The Arminian Prayer by C.H. Spurgeon

[friendyadvice]

I truly believe that Faith and Salvation are gifts directly from God. "No man can come to me unless my Father draws him"

[natserog]

Dead men cannot cry out to GOD unless GOD gives him that ability. Sola Scriptura

[timothy]

I think so many listen to this clip and start overreacting. Spurgeon wasn't saying anyone would pray that way; he is saying that the Arminian belief that emphasizes the will of man and his decision as the prime cause of salvation would logically lead to that conclusion. In the same way, I've heard today many anti-Calvinists spout the same things about Calvinist. Here is a cut and paste of a comment down below:

"The Calvinist Prayer: Thank you Lord that you picked ME as one of THE SPECIAL ELECT! Thank you God that I'm not one of those wretched reprobates! Thank you God for loving ME, for choosing ME, for regenerating ME, for wanting ME in heaven for saving ME...ME...ME...ME...ME! Oh God, what would I do without ME! ME ME ME ME ME! Thank you God I'm so IRRESISTIBLE!!! Thank you God for showing ME all your HIDDEN SECRETS that you kept from all those wicked sinners! Thank you For making ME sooo special and ENLIGHTENED!!! I'm so glad you MADE ME accept you!! And finally Lord, thank you for throwing all those no good rotten god-hating non-calvinists in hell where they belong! AMEN."

One side says Arminians would boast about their salvation, but I doubt any Arminian would outwardly boast. They believe in the grace of God and salvation on the cross, but their definition of God's sovereignty and man's will differs. The other side says the Calvinist would boast about being the elect as if God chose them because they were special. Yet I've never heard any Calvinists boast that as well. What happens is both sides have their own presuppositions about their position and want to show the other side the logical problems with it and many times do it in a fashion that only provokes anger. We are saved by God's love and grace (John 3:16, Ephesians 2:8-9), but this discussion gets so ugly that I think people just want to be "right" instead of edifying and exhorting one another.

I was saved by the Lord at an independent Baptist church that I still attend now. That was almost twenty years ago. For my first nine to ten years I never heard of Calvinism until I asked a brother in the Lord at my church about Romans 9 because I was bothered by the verses I read. That is when I was introduced to Calvinism and the introduction basically had the similar underlying tone of the Calvinist prayer I cut and paste. I said, "NO, I don't think anything like that." Yet no one explained the meaning of Romans 9. My pastors always told me to read and study my scriptures, so I did. And wrestled with all these verses I read for years before God just showed me that He was God and everything He did was good. So I wouldn't call myself a Calvinist (because there is more baggage to that name than just God's sovereignty), but I do believe that God is sovereign in salvation and it begins with Him, not us. Yet just me coming to that conclusion was enough to make others angry. The crux of the objections were, God would be unrighteous and how could God hold man responsible for his sins if He was in sovereign control of salvation? And yet I saw both objections raised and answered in Romans 9:14-24 and came to the conclusion that God is sovereign over all. Yet there will always be name calling on both sides and that is the saddest part of all.

[firstnamelastname]

This comment section needs a hazardous waste warning.

[iacoponefurio]

I pray NOT for the world but for those YOU GAVE me out of the world.

Very straightforward.

[jenniferwalsh]

Choosing faith in God is not a work to be boasted about. When that truth is present, you will never pray in this way. But I understand why they think this. They think that choosing faith is a work, but it’s not. It’s out free will decision but the work of God. It’s not a work in and of ourselves. The scripture teaches this. Praise Jesus!

[leobaker]

Amen thank you showing this video. We need more of this.

[foreverinchrist]

All men are spiriturally dead until God Changes the Heart. (Ez.11:19, 32:26). Unless God changes the heart no one can turn to him. Man does not have the ability to chose Christ at all. Christ said thet you have not chosen me but I have chosen you (Jn.15:16).

[lonelyguyofficial]

So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
Romans 8:8 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.
John 6:44 KJV

And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul.
Acts 16:14 KJV

[CBALLEN]

Faith is a fruit of the HOLY Spirit, so without God first imparting His spirit, there is no faith to believe.

[eddiesprain]

We Arminians worship God for saving us. Not our free will for saving us. Yes we believe in free will, but we give God the glory for being our saviour.

[sojyoommen]

Thank you so much my brother in Christ for this wonderful video. May Almighty God continue to bless and guide you.

[justplainliam]

my favorite verse in the bible is the life lived out before me by my papa. mother teresa didn't know much scripture and practically no theology. she just wanted to take care of people who were almost dead in the name and love of Jesus. "the letter kills. the Spirit gives life."

[williammarinelli]

"Isn't this where your theology ultimately leads?" If we want to consider the inevitable logical conclusions of one's presuppositions, let's consider the Westminster Confession (and cite what the Calvinists actually wrote, as opposed to taking issue with an imaginary prayer that no one says.) Westminster Confession: "God from all eternity did by the most wise and holy counsel of His own will, freely and unchangeably ordain whatsoever comes to pass."

Now let's compare with Scripture - "They have built also the high places of Baal, to burn their sons with fire for burnt offerings unto Baal, which I COMMANDED IT NOT, nor spake it, neither CAME IT INTO MY MIND" (emphasis mine.)

I choose to believe Scripture.

But were the Westminster Confession true, then my opposition to Calvinism would be a result of God's eternal decree.

[MariusVanWoerden]

The Reformation is part of History. Calvin did not make a new doctrine but all he did is referring to the early church fathers like John Chrysostom, against the heresies of the Catholic church. However I gladly give you some Bible text

Words like “predestined – predestinated – foreknowledge – elect – election – foreordained” appear with regularity and are always the basis for Pauline teaching on salvation. When someone denies personal predestination from before the foundation of the World” it shows that they have never really stood toe-to-toe with the Bible and read it for what it actually says. The staunchest brick wall opposition to deny the truth of God’s word is always built on traditions of men; never on the clear word of Scripture. Our fleshly, human ego just loves the idea that our “will” is totally at liberty. Yet, the Bible tells us that we are “dead in trespasses and sins.” Human tradition refuses to believe that. And Biblical salvation is always based on God’s free and sovereign grace, Only His will and His good pleasure; NEVER on our willingness first and God’s grace last. Again, human tradition refuses to believe that.

Exodus 33:19 And he said, “I will make all my goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you my name ‘The Lord.’ And I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy.

Proverbs 16:4 The Lord has made everything for its purpose, even the wicked for the day of trouble.

Matthew 20:23 He said to them, “You will drink my cup, but to sit at my right hand and at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.”

Matthew 22:14 For many are called, but few are chosen.”

Matthew 25:34 Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.

Mark 13:20 And if the Lord had not cut short the days, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect, whom he chose, he shortened the days.

John 6:37 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.

Acts 13:48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed.

John 6:44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.

John 15:16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.

John 17:9 I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours.

Romans 8:28-30 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

Romans 9:11 (for the children not yet being born, nor having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works but of Him who calls), 12 it was said to her, “The older shall serve the younger.” 13 As it is written, “Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated.”
14 What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? Certainly not! 15 For He says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion.” 16 So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy.

Romans 11:7 What then? Israel failed to obtain what it was seeking. The elect obtained it, but the rest were hardened,

2 Timothy 1:9 Who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began,

Ephesians 1:3-5 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, 5 having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will.

Ephesians 1:11-12 In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory.

1 Peter 1:2 According to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you.

1 Peter 1:20 He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you

Galatians 1:15 But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace,

1 Thessalonians 1:4 For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you,

Revelation 13:8 And all who dwell on earth will worship it, ( So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast) everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain.

Revelation 20:1 Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. 2 He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; 3 and he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations no more.

Revelation 20:7 Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan WILL BE released from his prison 8 and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea. “WILL BE” means it will happen BECAUSE of God’s Decree.
Why now release Satan to deceive the nations? This lifetime is short and Hell is forever. Would you rather be presumptuous and not find out the truth. Never Lost is Never Saved.

How much FREE-WILL do people in Thailand have with 93% practicing Buddhist and 5.5% Islam 1.5% divided in no religion and Christians? To be born & raised a Buddhist only a miracle from our Sovereign Lord can change the heart of a person. If God wanted all to be saved all would be saved. The old covenant was for Israel only. The new covenant does not have limitation to certain people.

[foreverinchrist]

If all men are saveable and they don't get saved, then Christ has failed to do tthe Fathers will. (John.6:37, 38). Jesus died a perfect death and his death secured the salvation of all that the Father chose. The fact is, all men will not be saved.(Mt.7:21-23).

[bobbyadkins]

So I guess if a person's life was saved by another, they would have a reason to boast because they let that person save their life? I don't think so.

[tap-theannexproject]

Nice " i am better than you are " battle among christians. What is it good for?

[plowhand]

Why does it seem that the vast majority of folks starting these Calvinist vs Arminian threads that divide brothers in Christ are Calvinist? I don’t know the answer but it seems to me that Calvinism is the weaker argument. Jesus will clear it up for me when I get to see him. Maranatha.

[kennethmoore]

Do Armenians have their own religious book, they can't know the Bible of my Lord Jesus Christ. I'am not a calvanist but the foundation of Armenian runs counter to the foundation of the Bible. Why do I need Christ when I can make it to heaven on my own.