Calvinism have many distinctive doctrines but the main ones consist in 5 points known by the acronym T.U.L.I.P. and have to do with salvation. See them next explained by a former Calvinist:
"Total Inability: the teaching that humanity is spiritually dead from birth, as a result of the Fall. His will is not free; it is in bondage with his evil nature. Faith doesn’t contribute to his salvation since faith is a gift from God. [I was persuaded that free will is a myth by reading « The Bondage of the Will by Martin Luther ».]
Unconditional Election: Before the foundation of the world, God preselected certain individuals unto salvation by his own sovereign will. He did not foresee who would accept or reject Him through the corridors of time. Man’s will has no bearing on God’s sovereign will.
Limited Atonement: Christ bled only for the Elect. Not a drop of blood was spilled in vain on those who are not chosen. Christ’s redeeming work was intended to save only the elect (those for whom the Father had given his Son).
Irresistible Grace: The Spirit irresistibly draws sinners to Christ. He sweetly (and graciously) changes their will to be able to believe the gospel. They cannot resist His grace.
Perseverance of the Saints: All whom were chosen by God, purchased by Christ and given faith by the Spirit are saved forever. They will persevere. They will bear fruits unto salvation. They cannot lose their salvation. They are kept not by their own strength but by the triune God alone.
In conclusion, God in salvation will not fail. For whom salvation was intended for, for them it is secure and none can pluck them out from the hands of God." - Why I departed from Calvinism?
Some scriptures against Calvinism:
Deut. 30:19 'I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, ...'
Joshua 24:14-15 "And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve.."
Matt. 23:37 'O Jerusalem, Jerusalem,... how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!
John 5:40 'And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life'.
Ephesians 1:13 ' in whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise'.
Ephesians 1:13 ' in whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise'.
John 1:29 "The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world".
2 Peter 3:9 God is not willing that any should perish, but that all come to repentance.
Rev. 22:17 'Whosoever will, let him take water of life freely'.
1 John 2:2 'and he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world'
Rev. 22:17 'Whosoever will, let him take water of life freely'.
1 John 2:2 'and he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world'
Acts 7:51 "Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye".
1 Chr.28:9 'And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind:... if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever'.
Eze. 3:18-21 If the wicked man repents, he will live. If the righteous man apostatizes, he will die (Eze.33:11-20;18:23,32).
Luke 15:11-32 " And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him;.. and let us eat, and be merry: for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.
Rom. 11:22 "but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off".
Heb.3:1,12-14 Brethren can have an evil heart of unbelief and depart from God.
Heb.10:16-31 'For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation'.
Heb. 10:35-39 'but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition (damnation),
but of them who continue believing to the saving of the soul.
2 Peter 2:20-22 The end of those who escape the world through knowing the
Savior, then turn back and are overcome, is worse than it would be had
they never been saved.
Rev. 3:5-11 'He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life' (Rev.22:19).
There are many more verses in Scriptures that contradict Calvinism. See some more bible verses explained HERE, by David Cox, Independent Baptist pastor & missionary who was a Calvinist for 50 years.
And also :
- Frequent questions about Calvinism & Election
- More on Election.
“a little leaven leavens the whole lump.” Galatians 5:9
"The God of the Bible loves all eternally, the god of Calvin does not. The God of the Bible wants everyone to come to a knowledge of the truth, the god of Calvin does not. The God of the Bible died for all on the cross, the god of Calvin didn’t. The God of the Bible doesn’t take favoritism in His mercy or justice, the god of Calvin does take favoritism. These comparisons could go on and on. Are these the same God? No. We are talking about two different beings"
117 Contradictions from Calvinist
I thought Calvinism didn't exist any more, so I was really surprised a couple of years ago to find out that they not only exist, but that are everywhere today, and their teachings have made a way into ALL denominations.
The Presbyterian church are the Calvinist of today, but many Baptist are also Calvinist or Reformers (That is how they prefer to call themselves, also Monergist). About 30% of Southern Baptist pastors consider their churches Calvinist, according to a poll few years ago by SBC-affiliated LifeWay Research, but a much larger number - 60% of Baptist pastors- are concerned “about the impact of Calvinism in our convention". About a 50% of new Baptist pastors coming out from seminaries are Calvinist.
The Presbyterian church are the Calvinist of today, but many Baptist are also Calvinist or Reformers (That is how they prefer to call themselves, also Monergist). About 30% of Southern Baptist pastors consider their churches Calvinist, according to a poll few years ago by SBC-affiliated LifeWay Research, but a much larger number - 60% of Baptist pastors- are concerned “about the impact of Calvinism in our convention". About a 50% of new Baptist pastors coming out from seminaries are Calvinist.
There are 3 main streams in Calvinism : Hyper Calvinism, Neo Calvinism (John Piper, Paul Washer, Mark Driscoll, David Platt, Francis Chan, etc.), & there is also a Moderate Calvinism (Those that don't believe in the 5 points of the Tulip).
Lists of Calvinist teachers, from Calvinist web sites:
List of some Calvinist
Short list
Ligonier Ministries (Page of Calvinist C.R. Sproul)
From Wikipedia:
List of Reformed Baptist
Calvinist pastors, authors, etc.
Dr. Jay E. Adams
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Tom
Ascol
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Joel Beeke
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Louis
Berkhof--------------------------------
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John A. Broadus
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John Bunyan
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J. Oliver Buswell
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William Carey
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Francis Chan, Neo Calvinist. Graduated from Master’s College and Master’s Seminary campuses under Calvinist leadership for over 30 years , with president and professor of many years John McCarthur. See their Doctrinal Statement. In 2004 Chan founded 'Eternity Bible College' which Statement of Faith is also Calvinist.
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Matt Chandler, ----------------------------
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Stephen Charnock
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Gordon Clark
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John L. Dagg
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R.L. Dabny
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Mark Dever Council member of TGC (The Gospel Coalition). Invited by John MacArthur to be a keynote speaker at the GCC Pastors’ Conference ---------------------------
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Mark Driscoll pastor of Mars Hill Church, a very controversial pastor. See Driscoll case. Ex co-host of 'The Elephant Room' event hosted by the Calvinistic group 'The Gospel Colition'. Also some quotes from his book 'Vintage Jesus'
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Ligon Duncan Council member of TGC (The Gospel Coalition). Chancellor/CEO of the Reformed Theological Seminary system. Speaker at T4G. Together for the Gospel (T4G) is a pastors conference C.J Mahaney co-founded in 2006
with fellow evangelical Christian leaders Mark Dever, Albert Mohler and
Ligon Duncan.
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John Frame
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John Feingberg
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Paul Feingberg
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Paul Feingberg
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Sinclair Ferguson
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Andrew Fuller
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John Gertsner
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Louie Giglio, at TBN with ecumenical James Robinson--------------------------------
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John Gill
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Dr. W. Robert Godfrey
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Wayne Grudem
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Robert
Haldane
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Joshua
Harris
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Michael Haykin
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William
Hendricksen
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Charles Hodge--------------------------------
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Harold Hohener
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Michael Horton (URC)
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Patrick Hues Mell
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David Jeremiah , with ecumenic Paul Crouch of TBN
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David Jeremiah , with ecumenic Paul Crouch of TBN
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Benjamin
Keach
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Tim Keller -Presbyterian (also Emergent) co-founder of Gospel Coalition, the makers of The Elephant Room program.
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David King
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Greg Koukl
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Lacrae, Reformed Hip Hop artist
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Lacrae, Reformed Hip Hop artist
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Tremper H. Longman III
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C.J Mahaney Pastor of 'Sovereign Grace Ministries', '& member of TGC. There are lawsuits alleging he permitted and helped in several occasions to cover up child sex abuse in his congregation. (News). C.J Mahaney co-founded Together for the Gospel (T4G) in 2006
with Mark Dever, Albert Mohler and
Ligon Duncan. See C.J Blackmailing Pastor Larry, Doc. Part 3. 20 Churches leaving Sov. Grace Min. Attempt to silence.
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John Fullerton MacArthur, Pastor of 'Grace
Community
Church'. He founded the Master's Seminary, Wikipedia. Participated in a “Conference for Pastors and Leaders” at Greg Laurie’s church. He's "good friends" with James MacDonald, has attended his Straight Up Conference. To see MacArthur speaking and shaking hands with James MacDonald, then scroll down the pictures here. See testimonies. More information. Also check here. --------------------------------
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J. Gresham Machen
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Fred
Malone
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Basil Manly, Sr.
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Thomas
Manton
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James McDonald (3.8 points Calvinist), signed ecumenical document The Manhattan Declaration. Ex co-host of 'The Elephant Room' event hosted by The Gospel Colition. More here.
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Al
Mohler, (Neo Calvinist, also ecumenical)--------------------------------
R. Albert Mohler Jr a Council member of TGC. Ecumenic. Every year John MacArthur invites Dr. R. Albert Mohler to be a keynote speaker at the GCC Pastors’ Conference.
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James Montgomery Boice
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Douglas Moo,
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John Murray
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Thomas Nettles (Baptist)
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David Platt (Neo Calvinist), Has the support of Rick Warren. Signed the ecumenical Manhattan Declaration.--------------------------------
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John Owen
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John Piper, A council member of The Gospel Coalition. Supports and signed the ecumenical Lausanne Movement of Billy Graham. Piper hosted Rick Warren as a keynote speaker at his
2010 Desiring God conference (both graduated at Fullers Seminary). He stated, "at root, I think he [Rick Warren] is theologically and doctrinally sound,". Piper spoke at John MacArthur's European Bible Training Center.
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Vern Poythress
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Vern Poythress
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Robert
L. Reymond
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Thomas Schriener
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John Skilton
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W.G.T. Shedd
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R.C. Sproul (Presbyterian)- Speaker at MacArthur's 'Strange Fire Conference'--------------------------------
W.G.T. Shedd
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R. C. Sproul, Jr. (Presbyterian)
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Augustus H. Strong (moderate Calvinist concerning
election)
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Del Tackett, 'Architect' of The Truth Project. An Elder of a Presbyterian church
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Tullian Tchividjian, Billy Graham grandson, 5 point Calvinist, senior pastor of Former Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church now 'Truth in Action'. He is the pastor of elder Del Tackett creator of The Truth Project. Tullian Tchividjian is a former member of The Gospel Coalition
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Francis Turreten
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Francis Turreten
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B.B. Warfiel
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Rick Warren : video, Min.12,28 & 49-51, 57-58, Warren is a Monergist and believes in unconditional election.(he is an Emergent & Ecumenical ) , also read here.
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Paul
Washer---------------------------
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Thomas Watson
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Isaac Watts
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James White
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Douglas James Wilson
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Famous Calvinist of the past:
- Arthur W. Pink (Bible teacher and theologian)
- Benjamin Keach (1689 Baptist Confession)
- Charles Spurgeon (famous Baptist preacher)
- George Whitefield (evangelist & preacher)
- John Calvin (preacher & Bible scholar)
- John Foxe (Foxe's Book Of Martyrs)
- John Gill (theologian)
- John Knox (founder of Presbyterianism)
- Jonathan Edwards (evangelist)
- Martin Luther (Protestant Reformer)
- Matthew Henry (bible commentator)
- William Carey (missionary)
- James Kennedy, Pastor and founder of Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church
James 3:1 "My brethren, be not many masters (teachers G1320), knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation"
The primary requirement of a teacher of the Word, is to be steadfast in the doctrine taught initially by Jesus
then by the apostles. Acts 2:42 "And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. "
See also: 2 Tim. 1:13; 1 Timothy 6:3-5; 1 Tim 4:16; 1 Cor.15:1-2 ; 2 John 1:9-11, Galatians 1:6-10, Romans 16:17, 2 Tim.4:3-4, 2 John 1:9, 2 Thess.3:6, 2 Cor.6, Luke 12:5, Col.2:8, etc.
Romans 16:17 "Now I beseech you, brethren, mark (#G4648 consider) them which cause divisions and offenses (#G4625 stumbling blocks) contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
We are strongly commanded not to teach any other doctrine (1 Timothy 1:3), so that way also we'll be careful that the name of God and His doctrine won't be blasphemed (1 Timothy 6:1).
We'll do good if we take in consideration that any major false doctrine could well be a doctrine of a demon (1 Tim. 4:1).
Where does the teachings of Calvinism come from? From John Calvin, but Calvin got them from St Augustine. Please check Free will before St. Augustine
Notes
Was Spurgeon a Calvinist? "Absolutely, and anyone who says differently has not studied the man’s teachings in full. Every Calvinist that is alive today and from yesteryear upholds Spurgeon as being a Calvinist – they can’t all be wrong now can they? No. The problem with Spurgeon is he spoke out of both sides of his mouth, his spoke a double gospel message to entrap the masses to Calvinism. If you want to know the real Spurgeon, read this article: Charles Haddon Spurgeon: The Prince of Preachers" Discerning The World.com
Was Charles H. Spurgeon a Calvinist?
C.H. Spurgeon, by a Calvinist. Note what he thinks of non-Calvinist & their gospel.
Important Note:
There is not much difference between Baptist's Assurance of Salvation (Once Saved, Always Saved) and Calvinism's Perseverance of the Saints (Once Chosen, Always Chosen), the only difference is the first ones believe in exercising free will when saved. But if you leave aside men teachings or preconceive ideas, you will notice that the Bible teaches that eternal life comes from Jesus Christ, and that we need to abide (remain) in Christ while on earth because only in Him we find & have eternal life (not in us). John 15:6
It is not done by the self-effort of the person on the contrary it's a continue dependence on Christ, our security is in Christ.
" It is indeed eternal salvation imputed to us when we receive Christ, but we have it only as long as we abide in Him. Eternal life is not vested in us but in Jesus Christ, who ever calls His disciples to faithfulness. What happens if we backslide into a life of willful sinning, no longer walking in the light and turning back to a life of unbelief? What about those who “have forsaken the right way and gone astray” (2 Pet. 2:15), having again become entangled in the pollutions of the world after their salvation? (2 Pet. 2:20). What they lose is not temporal but eternal salvation." Prof. Johan Malan, formerly of the University of the North in the Limpopo Province of South Africa.
Some say because we become sons, or are adopted into God’s family we will never be kicked out, that someone who is born again cannot be “unborn”, or that "once a son, always a son". Some even teach that there is nothing we can do - blasphemy, murder, adultery, lying, etc. - that will ever make us lose our son-ship status. But remember there is a free will, like the sheep that leaves the shepherd and wonders around and as a consequence gets lost, also a son may choose to leave the Father and could get completely separated from Him (or be spiritually dead):
Luke 15:11-32 " And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him;.. and let us eat, and be merry: for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.
Romans 11:17-24 "And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree; boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee. Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in. Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: for if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee. Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again. For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be graffed into their own olive tree?"
To be in Christ, means to be so under his influence, as not to walk after the flesh, but after the Spirit; that is, to receive constant divine influence from Him, as the branches receive nourishment from the vine in order to live & give fruit. This close relationship with Christ, and subjection to His guide, are taught throughout the Scriptures. We need to remain, persevere in this close relationship, living according to His Word.
Excellent free e-Book:
Basic Reformed Theology Explained & Expose
Book - A Cultish Side of Calvinism, check Chapt.3
Articles on:
Reformed Theology
Free will before St. Augustine
Hitler & Calvinism, and other articles
It is well known that many pastors & leaders in the Reformed & Southern Baptist Churches are practicing Masons:
"May I once more quote the following source, which
I believe sums up the sheer apostasy today:
"Freemasonry, far from declining, has been spreading.
Most alarming, perhaps, is its penetration deep and wide into the established 'reformed'
churches and the new ground it is breaking in the Evangelical fellowships of this
and other lands" (2 p. 16).
"The most wonderful thing of all is that the distinguished
Lutheran and Calvinist theologians who belong to our order really believe that they
see in it (Illuminati) the true and genuine sense of Christian religion. Oh, mortal
man, is there anything you cannot be made to believe?"
May I suggest that those who are in reformed churches start asking their pastors and elders whether any of them are practicing masons or members of the Illuminati? If the answer comes back yes, may I suggest they run to the nearest exit. And this would have to include all denominations for that matter, for we know that the Vineyard and Southern Baptists have masonic pastors and elders too." Freemansory & their ecumenical friends
Calvinism: Will history repeat itself?
