Professing Christians should follow the example of 17th century philosopher René Descartes, who subjected all his beliefs to radical doubt so that he could build a bedrock belief and build his cognitive life back up on firm principles. Since no denomination has a monopoly on biblical truth, and they all engage in proof text methodology, eisegesis, and Scripture twisting, spiritually mature Christians should subject what they have been told about the Scriptures, or what they think they know about them, to radical doubt so that they can build a bedrock foundation and build their faith back up on firm truth. They should be following the example of the Bereans and applying 2 Timothy 2:15: "Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth."
In the days of the early Christians (the first three centuries), there was a religious group who strongly disputed the Congregation's ("Church's") stance on salvation and works. This religious group taught
- that man is totally depraved,
- that we are saved solely by grace,
- that works play no role in our salvation, and
- that we cannot forfeit our salvation once we obtain it.
This religious group was labeled as heretics by the early Christians.
You might be thinking, "This group of 'heretics' were the real Christians while these 'orthodox' Christians were really heretics." However, such a conclusion is impossible. Who was this religious group, you ask?
The Gnostics!
If you think the Gnostics were "true Christians," observe what the apostle John said about them: "Many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist" (2 John 7).
If our Evangelical doctrine of salvation is true, we are faced with the uncomfortable reality that this doctrine was first taught by "deceivers and antichrists" before it was taught by Augustine, Luther, Calvin, and others.
Ponder that point promptly.
Scholars have noted that Calvinism (a.k.a. 'TULIP' or 'The Doctrines of Grace') has risen up in popularity four times over the past 500 years. Every single time, it always dies back down. Why is this? Well, either God ordained it to be such, or else the system just does not hold any water theologically and/or logically. Professing believers who hold to Reformed theology, especially Calvinism, like to think, or outright declare, that the early Christians were ignorant, knew nothing, did not have or understand the Scriptures, and became corrupted within 50 years. But none of that is true.
The early Christians were taught directly by one or more of the apostles, or by one or more of the disciples of the apostles. They were using the same Scriptures that we possess and use, and yet (because of the apostles' teachings, as well as what they read in the Scriptures) they taught differently (and contrary) to the teachings of Calvinism. That should be enough to give us pause and to reconsider our beliefs. When Christians actually hold Scripture as their authority rather than what some preacher has told them to believe (or what their creed, confession, catechism, constitution, statement of faith, or system of theology told them to believe), they inevitably come to a conclusion that is opposed to these beliefs.
Reject any interpretation that would render some of the Scriptures void or unreasonable! When we write, we intend for everything to have meaning. We do not intend for some of our statements to be totally ignored. Neither do we intend for part of what we write to be interpreted in such a way as to totally nullify the other things we have written. The belief that Scripture is like this is utterly nonsensical. "Let the clear passages interpret the unclear," "Let the many interpret the few," and "Go to the root of the words" are systems that do not work. They render some of the Scriptures void or unreasonable, telling us to completely ignore them. They teach us to use a black highlighter on Scripture that does not align with our theology. Does Jesus want us to ignore statements He made, or to understand what they truly meant?
According to Calvinism, if a parent verbally, physically, and emotionally abuses their children, and/or sexually assaults them, they are only doing so because God preordained, predestined, determined, and decreed that they should do so. They are merely fulfilling God's will for their life. The spouse or children should accept it as it is God's will for their life. God preordained all our sins. God determined that we would fall here, here, and here. God decreed for us to desire to sin and disobey Him. Our sins are God's fault! Why would God's plan involve us being outside of His will? Why would God's plan involve us disobeying Him? That makes zero sense and violates numerous passages of Scripture. If your character is trash, it is the result of your theology being trash. You behave according to what you truly believe.
Three hundred years after the death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus, orthodox Christians were still of one mind, one united Body. Three hundred years after the Reformation, evangelical Christianity had splintered into thousands of denominations, groups, and sects. When put to the test, Calvinism has no legs to stand on.
Verses that show election is conditional:
Matthew 11:28-30 – Salvation is an invite to those who will come.
John 3:16
John 4:42
John 6:40
John 6:51 – Must eat of the bread of life to receive benefit.
Acts 13:39
Romans 1:16-17
Romans 5:1-2 – It is through faith that we are made a part of Christ.
Romans 9:30
Ephesians 1:13
1 Timothy 4:10 – Jesus died for all, but there is a specific subset that receives the benefits, namely those who believe.
1 Peter 1:1-2 – Election is according to God’s foreknowing who shall believe.
Verses that show the atonement is available for all:
Isaiah 53:6 – The iniquity of us all was put on Christ.
Matthew 11:28-30 – Any who come to Christ are welcome.
Matthew 18:14 – The Father does not wish that any should perish (anti predestined-reprobation).
John 1:7 – Jesus intended for all, wants all to believe.
John 1:29
John 3:16-17
John 6:33, 51
John 12:47
Romans 3:23-24 – All have sinned and all have access to justification in Christ Jesus.
Romans 5:6 – Christ died for the ungodly. Since all are ungodly, Christ died for all.
Romans 5:15 – Since sin spread to all, Christ’s atonement is meant for all.
Romans 10:13 – Whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
2 Corinthians 5:14-15 – All died, yet Christ died for all.
1 Timothy 2:3-6 – God desires all men to be saved, and gave Himself for all
1 Timothy 4:10
Titus 2:11 – God’s necessary grace that leads to repentance appears to all.
Hebrews 2:9 – Jesus tasted death for everyone.
Hebrews 10:10 – Christ offered once for all.
2 Peter 3:9
1 John 4:14
1 John 2:2 – Jesus is the propitiation, not just for believers, but for the whole world.
John 4:42
Revelation 22:17
Verses that show grace is resistible:
Jeremiah 7:24
Luke 7:30
Acts 7:51 – Blatant resistance of the Holy Spirit. It is proper to infer that if they didn’t resist, they would have been led to repentance.
Romans 10:16 – Not all who hear will believe.
2 Corinthians 6:1 – One can receive God’s grace, yet not appropriate it in their lives.
Verses that show we must remain in Christ to be secure:
Romans 11:17-24
1 Corinthians 15:2
Ephesians 5:3-7
Colossians 1:21-23
2 Peter 1:10
2 Peter 2:20-22
Hebrews 6:4-6
Hebrews 10:26
James 1:12; 5:19-20
Verses that show man has libertarian free will
Free will offering verses
Exodus 35:29; 36:3
Leviticus 7:16; 22:18, 21, 23; 23:38
Numbers 15:3; 29:39
Deuteronomy 12:6, 17; 16:10
2 Chronicles 31:14; 35:8
Ezra 1:4, 6; 3:5; 7:16; 8:28
Psalm 119:108
Ezekiel 46:12
Amos 4:5
Isaiah 1:19-20 – Can choose to be obedient or rebel.
Ezekiel 33:11 – Have the ability to choose from different options.
Luke 7:30 – Pharisees rejected what God wanted for them.
John 7:17 – A person must want to do what God is giving them the grace to do. This verse shows that God allows things He doesn’t want to happen.
1 Corinthians 7:37 – Power over own will–not necessitated–that’s the definition of LFW.
1 Corinthians 10:13
Verses demonstrating God’s prevenient grace
Jeremiah 31:3
John 16:7-11
Romans 2:4 – It is God’s grace that leads us to repentance.
Romans 10:14-17 – One must hear God’s word to come to faith.
Titus 2:11 – God’s grace leads to repentance.
Verses showing sin is not from God
Jeremiah 7:24
James 1:13-15
1 John 2:16