FREE WILL VS. “TULIP”
In the last sermon, I introduced the concept of ATHEISTIC or MATERIALIST DETERMINISM —
… which is the philosophical view that ALL HUMAN WILL is ultimately fatalistically PRE-DETERMINED …
… based on the notion that we are purely PHYSICAL or MATERIAL BEINGS …
… interacting w/ OTHER FORCES of MATTER in the UNIVERSE …
… & that our VOLITION (which is our ABILITY to MAKE & ACT upon CHOICES) …
… is constrained by a CASUAL RELATIONSHIP to EXTERNAL FACTORS …
… such as PAST historical EVENTS, the ENVIRONEMENT, our EARLY INFLUENCES, our DNA & biology …
… & the NATURAL LAWS which govern the universe …
This PHILOSOPHY is best summarized in this quote by an ATHEIST DETERMINIST who said that: “Ultimately, we are biological computers — designed by evolution — built through genetics, and programmed by the environment.”
This view is ATTRACTIVE to ATHEISTS …
… because if their ACTIONS are PRE-DETERMINED by UNIVERSAL FORCES beyond their control —
… then they can’t RIGHTLY be HELD ACCOUNTABLE for their ACTIONS.
But for the CHRISTIAN, this BELIEF is easily refuted Biblically by Joshua’s famous command in Joshua 24:15: “… choose you this day whom ye will serve.”
As well as verses like Deuteronomy 30:19, where God says: “… I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:”
I also showed how EVERY COMMAND or ADMONISHMENT in the BIBLE …
… places a DEMAND on the WILL …
… which then requires a DECISION to be freely made —
… on the PART of the WILL.
AS MEN, We are also MADE in GOD’S IMAGE.
(which includes not just how we look, but our traits & characteristics) …
& So since God has FREE WILL …
… we also have FREE WILL …
BUT whereas GOD’S WILL is ABSOLUTE & UNLIMITED …
… w/ the EXCEPTION that GOD WILL NOT CONTRADICT HIS OWN NATURE —
… HUMAN WILL is LIMITED by both PHYSICS …
… & the NATURAL LAWS which govern the UNIVERSE —
… For example, we can’t WALK THROUGH WALLS or FLY w/out the aid of technology.
THE HUMAN WILL is also — in its current state — TAINTED or CORRUPTED by SIN …
… so our WILL is not functioning the way that it was intended to in the 1st place.
>> But while HUMAN VOLITION is currently LIMITED by NATURE & WEAKENED by SIN …
… OUR WILL is not WHOLLY EXTINGUISHED as both DETERMINISTS & CALVINISTS claim.
… otherwise …
… we COULD NOT be JUSTLY HELD ACCOUNTABLE …
… for CHOICES that WE ARE UNABLE to make.
This is proven by Romans 14:12, which says: “So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.”
& Jesus’ words in Matthew 12:36: “But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.”
This means that we have a TREMENDOUS amount of FREE WILL —
… within the PARAMETERS of CHOICES that we are PRESENTED w/ in LIFE …
… since we literally be held accountable for EVERY WORD that we SPEAK & everything that we DO.
Elijah said: “… How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him …” (1 Kings 18:21).
We see that CHOICES ARE not only POSSIBLE & CLEARLY DEMARCATED …
… but even COMMANDED in the BIBLE …
IN TODAY’S SERMON …
… we’ll be dealing w/ the THEOLOGICAL & DOCTRINAL implications …
… of FREE WILL in light of CALVINISM …
— Particularly the famous CALVINISTIC ACRONYM, TULIP.
TULIP STANDS FOR:
T – TOTAL DEPRAVITY or TOTAL INABILITY —
U – UNCONDITIONAL ELECTION
L – LIMITED ATONEMENT
I – IRRESISTIBLE GRACE
& P – PERSEVERANCE of the SAINTS
— Add to this the 6TH UNOFFICIAL point of CALVINISM —
… DOUBLE PREDESTINATION —
… which means that God not only ELECTS who to send to HEAVEN …
… but GOD also ELECTS who to SEND to HELL …
… & that He does this irrespective of any FORESEEN MERIT of WORKS or FAITH on our PART.
>> That God, simply, by the “GOOD PLEASURE OF HIS WILL” — (as they themselves say) …
… chooses to SAVE SOME & DAMN OTHERS.
>> & I’m going to show today that ALL the POINTS of TULIP are WRONG!
LET’S BEGIN with, “T” for —
— TOTAL DEPRAVITY —
This is the VIEW that MAN is so DEPRAVED in his will —
… because of the SIN NATURE …
… that he is NO LONGER CAPABLE of believing the Gospel …
… or even BEING ABLE to CALL OUT to GOD for MERCY.
… They reason that since NON-BELIEVERS are SPIRITUALLY DEAD …
… they CAN’T REPENT & BELIEVE …
… any more than a DEAD MAN can RISE UP & WALK.
BUT the VERY CALL to REPENT & to BELIEVE the GOSPEL —
… is a DEMAND placed on MAN’S WILL.
MAN is GIVEN a CHOICE to either put HIS FAITH on JESUS or to REJECT HIM —
2 Chronicles 30:9 says: “… For the Lord your God is gracious and merciful, and will not turn away his face from you, if ye return unto him.
That word IF is very important to the QUESTION of FREE WILL.
It implies that there is more than 1 POSSIBLE OUTCOME to every ACTION of the WILL.
If you Turn to CHRIST, He will not turn away his face from you …
… If you do not TURN to CHRIST, He will turn his face away from you …
& The BIBLE says that we are the ONES who will be HELD RESPONSIBLE for such DECISIONS …
1 John 1:9 says: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
>> So TOTAL DEPRAVITY right from the OUTSET —
… is inconsistent with the Scriptural CALL to REPENT!
& 1-way we can examine this QUESTION FURTHER …
… is by looking @ the words of JESUS HIMSELF in the Gospels.
What kind of language did JESUS use when talking about things like BELIEF & SALVATION?
Are JESUS’ WORDS indicative of FREE WILL …
… or they indicative of the TOTAL DEPRAVITY of the WILL?
Jesus said to the Pharisees in John 5:40: “And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.”
Jesus doesn’t say you CANNOT come to ME …
… But that YOU WILL NOT come to ME!
HIS WORDS are indicative of FREE WILL.
LOOK ALSO @ Matthew 23:37: “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!”
Again, it’s a MATTER of WILL.
They CHOSE not to COME to GOD …
>> … they WOULD NOT …
Revelation 22:17 says: “And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.”
TO WILL is present in these verses.
& This lines up w/ Romans 10:11 & 10:13, which says: “… Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed … For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
BUT 1 of the MAIN BIBLE VERSES that CALVINISTS use to defend TOTAL DEPRAVITY is John 6:44: “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.”
& This leads to the “U” in TULIP …
— UNCONDITIONAL ELECTION —
The CALVINIST CLAIM is that GOD the FATHER CHOOSES who to SAVE …
… & UNCONDITIONALLY ELECTS him to SALVATION.
But John 6:44 doesn’t say that GOD CHOOSES or ELECTS in this passage …
It says that GOD the FATHER DRAWS people to JESUS …
& By HARMONIZING the Gospels …
… we get a FULLER PICTURE of JESUS meant, when He said: “No man can come to me, except the Father … draw him …”
Look @ John 12:32, where Jesus said: “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.”
Jesus is speaking here of the CROSS.
Through the CROSS, the Bible says that ALL MEN —
… not only the ELECT —
… are drawn to CHRIST.
>> This HAPPENS when the FATHER draws them to the CROSS …
… by sending HIS SON …
& Then they have a CHOICE to MAKE.
THE BIBLE also states that God WANTS EVERYONE to REPENT & BELIEVE.
2 Peter 3:9 says that God is: “… not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”
It directly says that it’s NOT GOD’S WILL that ANY PERISH —
… But we KNOW that some DO PERISH —
… So is GOD incapable of fulfilling HIS WILL?
… & If it’s not HIS WILL that ANY PERISH …
… why would He elect only SOME?
>> Because MEN CHOOSE NOT to BELIEVE.
& God respects their FINAL DECISION.
GOD will try to do EVERYTHING He can to SAVE PEOPLE —
… including SUFFERING on the CROSS for MEN —
… & lowering Himself to the FORM of MAN —
… But He WILL NOT force you to BELIEVE …
BUT CALVINISTS quote Romans 10:20 in support of UNCONDITIONAL ELECTION: “I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me.”
& They use this to say that GOD UNCONDITIONALLY ELECTS who He wants …
… irrespective of whether a PERSON has FAITH or NOT …
… or is even SEEKING after GOD.
>> That GOD CHOOSES SOME & DAMNS others.
But Romans 10:20 isn’t even in context of INDIVIDUAL SALVATION.
Jesus was commenting on the fact that the JEWS rejected their own MESSIAH …
… & the GOSPEL was then preached directly to the GENTILES instead.
I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me.”
The GENTILES are the ONES who SOUGHT HIM NOT …
… and GOD was made MANIFEST UNTO THEM …
>> & This occurred through the PREACHING of the GOSPEL.
BUT THIS IS THE MAIN THING that CALVINISTS MISS …
… when it COMES to ELECTION & PREDESTINATION.
It’s TRUE that the WE’RE ELECTED from the FOUNDATION of the WORLD —
… & that we’re PREDESTINATED & ELECT …
>> … But why is there absolutely NO MENTION of GOD’S FOREKNOWLEDGE …
… in any of the POINTS of the TULIP?
The CALVINIST teaches that GOD’S ELECTION to GRACE is …
… IRRESPECTIVE of ANY FORESEEN MERIT OR FAITH on our PART …
In other words, NEITHER FAITH nor WORKS on our PART really plays into the equation.
What they teach is that GOD simply CHOOSES based on His own MYSTERIOUS WILL …
… & then INJECTS FAITH into the ELECT, so that they BELIEVE.
BUT THE BIBLE TEACHES that GOD’S ELECTION is based on GOD’S FOREKNOWLEDGE …
… that it’s not seemingly RANDOM or based on GOD’S SECRET WILL.
1 Peter 1:2 says that we are: “Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ …”
God sees the END from the BEGINNING, as the ALPHA & OMEGA …
>> By HIS FOREKNOWLEDGE …
… GOD SEES who’s going to choose HIM & reject HIM, from ALL ETERNITY.
It’s in REAL TIME to us because we exist temporally & time is linear to us …
… whereas GOD exists ETERNALLY & sees the EVENTS of ALL TIME simultaneously …
>> Romans 8:29 also says: “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son …”
GOD literally KNEW US …
… as in He had RELATIONAL KNOWLEDGE of US …
… from ALL ETERNITY …
… even though we had not yet been created in TIME.
But the CALVINIST — against both the GRAIN of SCRIPTURE & LOGIC—
… insists that we have NO WILL or ABILITY to CHOOSE GOD …
>> … & so He only ELECTS & DIES for the SAINTS.
& This leads to the “L” in TULIP—
— LIMITED ATONEMENT —
Since, according to Calvinism, no one can CHOOSE to BELIEVE the GOSPEL —
… & since GOD is the 1 who is CHOOSING who to SAVE & who to DAMN …
… it really wouldn’t make sense, according to CALVINISM —
… that CHRIST would then DIE for ALL PEOPLE —
>> & So LIMITED ATONEMENT is the VIEW that JESUS DID NOT DIE for EVERYBODY …
… but that JESUS only DIED for the SAVED …
>> … In other words, Jesus’ BLOOD ATONEMENT …
… was LIMITED & SHED only for the ELECT.
But the PLAIN, SIMPLE READING of SCRIPTURE says otherwise …
… It says that Jesus DIED for the SINS of the WHOLE WORLD …
… & that GOD is NOT WILLING that ANY should PERISH …
… but that ALL should come to REPENTANCE.
THE 2 VERSES that MOST CLEARLY REFUTE LIMITED ATONEMENT are —
John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
& 2 Peter 3:9, in which God is: “not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”
& The only way to get around these VERSES …
… is to RE-DEFINE the WORDS, “WORLD” & “ALL” …
… which is exactly what CALVINISTS do.
… & They do all kinds of SCRIPTURAL GYMNASTICS to say …
… that ALL means ALL SAVED PEOPLE …
… & that WORLD means SAVED PEOPLE from EVERY NATION.
… But that goes against the PLAIN, SIMPLE READING of SCRIPTURE.
>> … & It’s an obvious case of trying to FIT the BIBLE to your DOCTRINE …
… instead of fitting your DOCTRINE to the BIBLE.
& Again, If GOD’S NOT WILLING that ANY SHOULD PERISH?
… then why are not ALL SAVED?
>> CALVINISM is SELF-DEFEATING when looked @ LOGICALLY in light of the Scriptures.
1 John 2:2 says: “And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.”
>> CALVINISTS teach that the BLOOD ATONEMENT of JESUS is LIMITED.
>> The BIBLE teaches teaches that the BLOOD ATONEMENT …
… is OFFERED FREELY & UNIVERSALLY to ALL MEN —
… but that it is CONDITIONALLY RECEIVED …
… & applied THROUGH FAITH.
>> In other words, JESUS died for ALL — but only those who BELIEVE will be saved.
LIMITED ATONEMENT is actually the EASIEST of the 5-POINTS of CALVINISM to refute …
… because of the amount of CLEAR PASSAGES that we have:
1 John 2:2 says: “And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.”
1 Timothy 2:6 says that Jesus: “gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.”
John 4:42 says: “… Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.”
1 Timothy 4:10 says: “For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.”
Why does it say … ESPECIALLY of those that BELIEVE?
Because JESUS offered SALVATION to ALL MEN —
… but He is only truly the SAVIOR of those who BELIEVE …
Isaiah 53:6 says: “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.”
& Finally, Hebrews 2:9 says: “But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.”
They can try to CHANGE what “ALL” means —
They can try to CHANGE what “THE WORLD” means —
… but how are they going to CHANGE what “EVERY MAN” means?
& This leads to the “I” in TULIP …
— IRRESISTIBLE GRACE —
IRRESISTIBLE GRACE is the teaching that …
… When ELECTED, the ELECT can’t HELP but to BELIEVE the GOSPEL …
… even against their WILL or DESIRE.
Since God is OMNIPOTENT & His GLORY is UNLIMITED …
… Calvinists teach that when GOD CALLS the ELECT to SALVATION —
… they CANNOT RESIST the CALL to be SAVED.
& so GOD LITERALLY FORCES HIMSELF on the SAVED.
THEY HAVE NO CHOICE but to BELIEVE …
… which is why it’s called IRRESISTIBLE GRACE.
BUT FOR THE 4TH POINT of TULIP — to make sense …
… The DOCTRINE of IRRESISTIBLE GRACE says ….
… that the ELECT GET SAVED 1ST …
… THEN THEY BELIEVE …
>> In other words, they teach that SALVATION occurs before FAITH …
>> … that YOU’RE BORN AGAIN & REGENERATED 1ST —
… so that you CAN believe.
>> They say this, because they don’t believe MAN takes ANY PART in the SALVATION PROCESS —
… not EVEN CONSENTING to FAITH or DECIDING to BELIEVE.
>> But this is COMPLETELY OPPOSITE to what the BIBLE teaches.
>> The BIBLE’S CLEAR TEACHING is that you BELIEVE the GOSPEL 1ST …
& as a RESULT of BELIEVING the GOSPEL …
… you are BORN AGAIN or REGENERATED …
Romans 10:8-11 lays out the ORDER or SEQUENCE of SALVATION:
8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
WHAT COMES FIRST?
BELIEVING with the HEART & CONFESSING w/ the MOUTH —
— & then you’re SAVED & BORN AGAIN …
10 For with the heart man believeth unto [what? unto] righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
So, again, it’s HEARTFELT BELIEF that it says PRECEDES RIGHTEOUSNESS or SALVATION …
11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
& The BIBLE is VERY CLEAR that WE CAN RESIST the HOLY GHOST —
Acts 7:51 says: “Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.”
In other words, the HOLY SPIRIT is NOT IRRESISTIBLE.
The BIBLE says that GOD CAN BE RESISTED.
Proverbs 1:24 also says: “Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded;”
That doesn’t sound IRRESISTIBLE @ ALL!
As astonishing as it is …
… the Bible says that GOD calls PEOPLE & they REFUSE …
… GOD STRETCHES OUT HIS HAND …
… & MEN DON’T REGARD IT.
That’s the EXACT OPPOSITE of IRRESISTIBLE GRACE.
>> It should really be called RESISTIBLE GRACE.
Titus 2:11 says: “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,”
If GOD’S GRACE was IRRESISTIBLE —
… then according to TITUS 2:11, ALL MEN would be SAVED —
… but that’s not the case.
John 1:12 says: “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:”
>> So you have to BELIEVE on HIS NAME in order to be SAVED.
>> NOT — you have to BE BORN AGAIN in order to BELIEVE.
This leads to the 5TH & FINAL POINT, the “P” in “TULIP” —
— PERSEVERANCE of the SAINTS —
TULIP’S 5TH POINT has to do w/ ETERNAL SECURITY —
… (which we also AFFIRM) —
… but they have their own CALVINISTIC SPIN on it …
… & The MAIN DIFFERENCE has to do w/ the WORD …
… “PERSEVERANCE” vs. “PRESERVATION”.
We believe in PRESERVATION — that GOD will PRESERVE SAINTS …
… & KEEP THEM SAVED until the END …
… CALVINISTS BELIEVE that God will CAUSE the SAINTS to PRESERVERE in FAITH & GOOD WORKS …
… so that @ the END they will be SAVED.
>> & That’s another KEY difference between US & HYPER-CALVINISTS …
WE BELIEVE we’re ALREADY SAVED.
… that the MOMENT we trusted in JESUS, we are already seated in HEAVENLY PLACED w/ CHRIST.
CALVINISTS on the other HAND, point to PASSAGES like Matthew 24:13: “But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.”
A TRUE, 5-POINT HYPER-CALVINIST believes that only those who ENDURE to the VERY END …
… endure in GOOD WORKS & FAITH …
… are the ONES who will be SAVED …
>> & This is how CALVINISTS bring in WORKS through the BACK-DOOR.
& the ENTIRE CONTEXT of MATTHEW 24:13 is the END TIMES …
… & the TRIBULATION.
The DISCIPLES had asked JESUS in MATTHEW 24 …
… when the END TIMES would begin & what they should expect …
… & Jesus DESCRIBES the TRIBULATION PERIOD where SAINTS are getting MARTYRED …
… & He says those who are ALIVE during that time & ENDURE to THE END …
… will be SAVED from the TRIBULATION …
… because they’ll be RAPTURED OUT, AFTER THE TRIBULATION.
That’s why in MATTHEW 24:29, Jesus says: “Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light …”
& in v. 30: “And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.”
The CONTEXT of ENDURING to the END is not about SALVATION …
… it’s about being SAVED OUT of the TRIBULATION when JESUS RETURNS …
… IF the SAINTS escape the beheadings & the persecutions & are able to LIVE OFF THE GRID …
… those who ENDURE to the END …
… will be SAVED out of it by JESUS’ RETURN …
SO the question really is do the SAINTS have to PERSEVERE in order to be SAVED?
… or will GOD PRESERVE the SAINTS NO MATTER WHAT?
2 Timothy 2:13 says: “If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.”
& So While we’re not ARMINIAN in our DOCTRINE …
… we even differ from the CALVINIST on ETERNAL SECURITY …
NOW IRONICALLY, it was the ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH —
… who stood up to CALVIN’S HERESY —
… in regards to FREE WILL & REGENERATION.
… because, REMEMBER, CALVIN was a PROTESTANT …
… & the ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH, responded …
… with their own DOCTRINAL DECLARATIONS about FREE WILL …
… @ the COUNCIL OF TRENT in the 1500s.
& This is what they said: “The holy Synod [which means a counsel who gathers to decide doctrine] declares first, that, for the correct and sound understanding of the doctrine of Justification [so here they’re talking about salvation], it is necessary that each one recognise and confess, that, whereas all men had lost their innocence in the prevarication of Adam [which means the transgresion of ADAM] having become unclean, and, as the apostle says, by nature children of wrath, as (this Synod) has set forth in the decree on original sin,-they were so far the servants of sin, and under the power of the devil and of death, that not the Gentiles only by the force of nature, but not even the Jews by the very letter itself of the law of Moses, were able to be liberated, or to arise, therefrom; although free will, attenuated as it was in its powers, and bent down, was by no means extinguished in them.”
So in other words, what they declared as official CHURCH DOCTRINE …
… was that WHILE ORIGINAL SIN TAINED or ATTENUATED (which means weakened) FREE WILL …
… FREE ITSELF was NOT altogether EXTINGUISHED.
The COUNCIL OF TRENT also directly condemened the doctrine of LIMITED ATONEMENT: “Him God hath proposed as a propitiator, through faith in his blood, for our sins, and not for our sins only, but also for those of the whole world.”
This was a DIRECT RESPONSE by the ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH …
… to CALVIN’S HERESY of LIMITED ATONEMENT.
>> They addressed it & they were RIGHT (at least in this matter).
THE RCC also said: If any one saith, that, since Adam’s sin, the free will of man is lost and extinguished; or, that it is a thing with only a name, yea a name without a reality, a figment, in fine, introduced into the Church by Satan; let him be anathema.
Again, this was in direct response to CALVIN’S HERESY of TOTAL DEPRAVITY.
They continue: … If any one saith, that it is not in man’s power to make his ways evil, but that the works that are evil God worketh as well as those that are good, not permissively only, but properly, and of Himself, in such wise that the treason of Judas is no less His own proper work than the vocation of Paul; let him be anathema.
In other words, when CALVINISTS claim that GOD causes both GOOD & EVIL —
… that that goes against the grain of SCRIPTURE & of GOD’S CHARACTER …
… The Roman church here said that God will ALLOW EVIL to exist (He is permissive of EVIL in this present world) …
… but to say that He is the CAUSE of EVIL …
… is utterly heretical & blasphemous.
I’M GONNA STIR PEOPLE UP —
… but the CATHOLIC CHURCH is RIGHT about some things —
… they’re right about ORIGINAL SIN
… they’re right about FREE WILL
… they’re right about the VIRGIN BIRTH —
… they’re right about the TRINITY —
… they’re right when they affirm that JESUS is the SON OF GOD —
… they’re right when they AFFIRM that JESUS died, was buried & rose again!
Now they’re WRONG & BLASPHEMOUS & HERETICAL about MANY other things …
& today’s RCC is ECUMENICAL in NATURE —
& on the FOREFRONT of PREPARING the WORLD for a 1-WORLD RELIGION headed by the FALSE PROPHET & the BEAST …
… but it’s like when I’m debating these ONENESS HERETICS —
… who deny the TRINITY —
… they’re like, “OH the TRINITY’S ROMAN CATHOLIC!”
… yeah, but so is ORIGINAL SIN & FREE WILL & the VIRGIN BIRTH!
>>> Because these AREN’T ROMAN CATHOLIC DOCTRINES …
… they’re BIBLICAL DOCTRINES!
You know, Jesus said in Matthew 22:37: “… Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.”
How can we do that if we can’t decide to do that?
If we have no power to do it?
I’ll conclude w/ this:
EVERY TIME GOD’S WORD admonishes US TO DO GOOD …
… to LOVE OUR NEIGHBOR …
… to LOVE GOD …
… to SERVE HIM & OBEY HIM …
…. ALL THESE THINGS require ACTION on the PART of OUR WILL …
The fact that 1 DAY we will ALL be JUDGED & held accountable for our ACTIONS —
… that there is a JUDGMENT …
… means that we MUST HAVE FREE WILL …
… otherwise GOD would not be JUST to PUNISH US for what He Himself caused in us —
ROMANS 1 says that UNBELIEVERS are WITHOUT EXCUSE.
>> How could they be w/out excuse if they don’t get to EVEN DECIDE …
… whether they can believe in God or not?
God is NEITHER the DETERMINIST MATERIALIST notion of the universe …
… nor is HE the CALVINISTIC PUPPET-MASTER GOD …
… who causes both GOOD & EVIL …
& Since we are MADE in GOD’S IMAGE —
… (that doesn’t just include our physical appearances
… it includes our traits & characteristics) –
… we have FREE WILL, because HE has FREE WILL —
GOD didn’t want to create the ROBOTS that CALVINISTIC DOCTRINE DEMANDS—
… or the PROGRAMMABLE BIOLOGICAL MACHINES that ATHEIST DETERMINISTS describe.
>> So GOD instituted 1 COMMANDMENT in the GARDEN of EDEN!
Genesis 2:16-17:
16 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:
17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
By giving ADAM & EVE the MERE POSSIBILITY of DISOBEYING HIM —
… GOD BIRTHS FREE WILL inside of them.
THEY NOW HAVE A CHOICE TO MAKE …
… OBEY GOD or NOT OBEY GOD.
… CHOOSE whether to LOVE HIM or to HATE HIM.
God won’t VIOLATE our WILL …
… but we can voluntarily SUBMIT our WILL to HIS …
… just like Jesus did when He prayed: “not my will, but thine, be done.” —
… setting the example for us to follow.
