See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.
The belief of a lot of Christians makes sense to the human mind. The lost person has to confess he is a sinner, he has to choose Jesus and believe, he has to repent - THEN God saves him. It makes sense because that is the thinking of the world (no free lunch) and it is the tradition that the Catholic church teaches and holds. But in effect, that doctrine is “works.” The lost man must DO something before God saves him, i.e. believe and repent. That theory has a Sovereign God, the Creator, responding to the creature.
It makes no difference how much that makes sense in our mind, it contradicts the teaching of the Bible. Yes, God commands all men everywhere to repent and believe (Acts 17:30) but that is a command, not the CALL to salvation. No lost man will obey the command, nor is a lost man ABLE to do so, unless he is chosen and God works in his heart FIRST. And in those God chooses to do a work in - they WILL believe (John 6:29) and they WILL come to Christ (John 6:37). That Truth is Scriptural (God’s ways are not our ways - Isaiah 55:8-9) and flies in the face of the basic principle of the world. And isn’t that exactly what Paul is warning us against? Now read the verse again. “See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.”
The false belief one more time - a man believes and repents, then God saves him - that is a basic principle of the world.
Consider them both, Reformed Theology (Calvinism) or Arminianism - of the two, which follows the basic principles of this world? There is one thing upon which you should agree with me: Reformed Theology certainly doesn’t make sense to our earthly minds does it? Nor is it “fair” according to human standards of fairness.
“It’s ridiculous to even consider that God chose some to save and will let the rest burn in the Lake of Fire for Eternity.” If you won’t listen to me, please heed the words of Paul. Who are you, oh man, to talk back to God? (Romans 9:20) All I will say is that no one deserves anything BUT the Lake of Fire. God, in His love for the Elect, chose them to grant grace & mercy, the rest of humanity receives justice. Does anyone receive injustice? I’m sure you will agree the answer is no.
Reformed Theology certainly does NOT follow human tradition and the basic principles of this world, does it? However, I believe the idea we have to choose Christ and repent before God saves us does indeed follow the basic principles of the world. It is my contention that Reformed Theology, commonly known as Calvinism, IS the Apostles’ Doctrine (Acts 2:42) and the Reformers like Martin Luther and John Calvin were simply returning the Church to the Biblical Doctrine that the religion of man pulled it away from.
The same is true of the Southern Baptist Convention - she is returning to her roots, Reformed Theology.
We become children of God NOT by human decision. (John 1:13)
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.