Looking for His glorious appearing! Titus 2:13

Ironside on Calvinism
Nov 9th, 2016
CommentaryH.A. Ironside
Categories: Commentary;Bible Salvation

"Turn to your Bible and read for yourself in the only two chapters in which this word predestinate or predestinated is found. The first is Romans 8:29-30, the other chapter is Ephesians 1:5 and 11. You will note that there is no reference in these four verses to either heaven or hell but to Christ-likeness eventually. Nowhere are we told in scripture that God predestinated one man to be saved and another to be lost. Men are to be saved or lost eternally because of their attitude towards the Lord Jesus Christ. Predestination means that someday all the redeemed shall become just like the Lord Jesus"

"D.L. Moody used to put it very simply the elect are the 'whosoever wills' the non-elect 'whosoever wont's'. This is exactly what scripture teaches, the invitation is to all, those who accept it are the elect. Remember, we are never told that Christ died for the elect".

"Whosoever means, whosoever." Only a biased theologian, with an axe to grind, could ever think that it meant only the elect."

Calvinism is often described by the letters T U L I P:

T- Total Depravity (so depraved as to not be able to even make a choice, total inability to believe.  This ends up in teaching that man must be born again BEFORE he believes.)

U- Unconditional Election (they teach that God has chosen who will be saved and who will go to hell, because these latter have not been gifted to believe.  This is supposedly to the glory of God.  Faith gifted to the elect by the Spirit is said to bring true conversions while personal faith is considered a “work” that produces false conversions.)

L- Limited Atonement (Many Calvinists teach that Christ died only for those He chose to be saved, and that the Gospel is not for all.)

I- Irresistible Grace (God calls only some to be saved, and they cannot resist.  They will be saved automatically regardless of whether they want to be or not while those whom He ‘reprobates’ have no chance of salvation.)

P- Perseverance of the Saints (those whom God chose will not be lost.  However since they do not know who the elect are, there is the torment of uncertainty, which may result in a works/Lordship salvation in an attempt to prove to themselves they are indeed elect.  Biblical Christianity teaches the Preservation of the saints, not the persevering--hanging on for dear life to convince yourself you are elect).