Reformed Theology-predestination

After reading R.C. Sproul, the question came up, If God knew you before the foundation of the Earth, and therefore the place of your eternal destiny was settled before time began, how is your decision to accept Christ really your decision? It cannot be settled then and both not be settled at the same time.

My head started to hurt and I quit reading. Tongue Tied

Find more posts tagged with

Comments

Alex Scott

God knows the end from the beginning. Now I'm not as omnipotent as God, but I do know that if I give a child the choice between a chocolate and an onion, I'm pretty sure he'll choose the chocolate. The fact that I know the choice he'll make in no way takes away the child's decision.

Matthew C Jones

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/496683#Comment_496683

but I do know that if I give a child the choice between a chocolate and an onion, I'm pretty sure he'll choose the chocolate.

Many people go for a chocolate-covered onion. [+o(]

George Somsel

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/496687#Comment_496687

but I do know that if I give a child the choice between a chocolate and an onion, I'm pretty sure he'll choose the chocolate.

Many people go for a chocolate-covered onion.

Matthew, you should listen to Lucy. After all, she does charge 5¢. [;)]

Lee

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/496700#Comment_496700

If your head hurts, try this for a change. Your head might clear up, or hurt even more!

Hopefully we'll be able to see this in Logos eventually.

Paul-C

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/496701#Comment_496701

Kent, if you want to explore this further, I can recommend http://www.logos.com/product/26686/for-calvinism-and-against-calvinism

It does go on sale now and again if you can wait.

Lee

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/496706#Comment_496706

@Paul-C

Fascinating. Thanks for recommending this.

Paul-C

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/496708#Comment_496708

My pleasure, Lee. [:)]

Kent

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/496709#Comment_496709

Thank you for the perspectives. I am currently diving into Spurgeon's Sermons. He certainly had a lot to say on the issue and you have to love his passion. Though I have found that unlike Spurgeon, who was a calvanist and very evangelistic calling sinners to repent and put their faith in Christ, many modern calvanist say the reason they don't is because of predestination.

abondservant

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/496916#Comment_496916

Thank you for the perspectives. I am currently diving into Spurgeon's Sermons. He certainly had a lot to say on the issue and you have to love his passion. Though I have found that unlike Spurgeon, who was a calvanist and very evangelistic calling sinners to repent and put their faith in Christ, many modern calvanist say the reason they don't is because of predestination.

Then such are not "Calvinists" per se but instead hyper-(or overbalanced) calvinists.

Limited Atonement and the great commission are not mutually exclusive. Instead they dovetail together nicely. We are commanded to find the elect.

Evan Boardman

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/496927#Comment_496927

Well said

Ben Hein

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/496931#Comment_496931

God sovereignly ordains the ends as well as the means.

Kent

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/496706#Comment_496706

Thank you I do want to explore this further. Being in a somewhat anti-Calvin, though not fully arminian school, I would like to see some more well thought out viewpoints.

abondservant

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/496964#Comment_496964

For my undergraduate program I attended a school founded by the Christian and Missionary Alliance (arminian), and in fact was administered by CMA parishioners. However the teaching staff were mostly Southern Baptist (and reformed in their soteriology) and Presbyterian.

Officially they are non-denominational.

I consider myself soteriologicaly reformed.

Thanks for the compliment Evan!

Matthew C Jones

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/496964#Comment_496964

I would like to see some more well thought out viewpoints.

Are you aware of these?:

Perspectives on Election: Five Views
For Calvinism & Against Calvinism (2 vols) (Olson/Horton)
The Case for Calvinism (Van Til)
The Reformed Doctrine of Predestination (Boettner)
The Doctrine of Absolute Predestination Stated and Asserted (Zanchius/Toplady)
Chosen By God (RC Sproul)
Can a Christian Fall from Grace?
Grace, Faith, Free Will: Contrasting Views of Salvation
The Works of Arminius (4 vols.)
Four Views on Eternal Security
Arminianism v. Hyper-Calvinism
Classical Arminianism: The Theology of Salvation

I do not have nor have I read all of these. Several are classics on the subject, others are introductory. I hope you find some that help.