Calvinism refers to those whom God has chosen, through "unconditional election," to be saved, as "the elect," or the chosen. They are going to be saved, even if against their own will (in fact, as later shall be explained, in every case it is against their own will). In his teaching series titled "The Doctrines of Grace," John MacArthur in effect acknowledged that God "overrules" the will of those whom he has chosen to save; where MacArthur wrote:
"If anyone is ever saved, it is because God overrules all the normal natural inabilities. That’s why we say salvation is all of God. It’s not just all of grace, it’s all of God." (emphasis and highlight added)In its doctrine of "total depravity" (discussed in part 1 of this series), Calvinism insists that man's nature is, well, totally depraved. Therefore, among man's "normal natural inabilities" must be reckoned his "totally depraved" will. Thus, where MacArthur stated, above, that God "overrules all the normal natural inabilities," (in order to save the 'elect'), MacArthur in effect is saying that God "overrules" the will of those (sinners) whom he has chosen to save.
MacArthur of course recognizes that his statements mean that God saves the 'elect' by means of "overruling" their will. But MacArthur has no compunction about violating the rules of logic and of reason; as I exhibited from his own writings, in part 1 of this series. So, he simply inserted the following disclaimer in the midst of his argument:
"If anyone is ever saved, it is because God overrules all the normal natural inabilities. That’s why we say salvation is all of God. It’s not just all of grace, it’s all of God. Now that is never apart from human will, it is never in violation of human will." (emphasis added)MacArthur's disclaimer is illogical, given his own statements in context. But his disclaimer is not a mere logical fallacy, or a simple mistake in his reasoning. MacArthur is intelligent enough to understand the meaning and implications of his own words. Yet, evidently, his own faculty of 'reason' does not "rage against" the logical inconsistencies of his own arguments; which, MacArthur did say, that is a "mystery."
Here is another excerpt from MacArthur's same text, and in the same context, as I have been discussing:
"You can’t come, you won’t come, unless God grants you the understanding, the repentance and the faith."In the first place, has "repentance" nothing to do with man's will? Repentance not only means a change of heart but a change of habit: stop living like that, and start living like this. MacArthur insists that man is incapable to repent, but that God must do that for man, in man; yet, somehow, "mysteriously," without "overruling" man's will~according to MacArthur, and according to Calvinism.
And what is "repentance," if it is not a condition of salvation? Oh, but Calvinism does not teach that "salvation" is "unconditional," only, that "election" is unconditional; right? Wrong. For, if it were true (but it is not) that "the elect" have been appointed to salvation, and that their "election" by God is "unconditional," then, it follows that their "salvation" is also "unconditional." Logic dictates that "election" must come before "salvation" (a soul must first exist, before that soul can then be saved). And if "election" is "unconditional," therefore, salvation is also "unconditional." But if "election" (and by logical necessity, salvation) is "unconditional," then, why must a sinner "understand," or "believe," or "repent," in order to be "saved?" Are those not all "conditions" antecedent to salvation?
Above, I asked the question, Why did Christ have to die? Was it not because that was a necessary condition to man's salvation? But if individuals are chosen and appointed to salvation "unconditionally," then, Christ's death was worse than meaningless and vain: it was an act of senseless brutality on the part of God, and foolishness on the part of Christ, to have surrendered himself to that.
The Apostle Paul wrote the following, to the church at Corinth:
"It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father’s wife. And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you. For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, to deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us" (1 Corinthians 5:1-7)Why was the sinless Christ sacrificed? It was so that God might have a holy People. But the people at Corinth were conducting themselves in some very unholy ways. Were they perhaps not saints, but "sinners?" Then, Paul evidently mistook them for "the church of God which is at Corinth" (1 Corinthians 1:2). No, but they were Christians who were offending the Spirit of God, by not dealing with sin in the church, in themselves. But Calvinism insists that man is not responsible for his own will or conduct; that "salvation is all of God." But if that were true, then, why were "the elect" at Corinth sinning? And why did God (through Paul) command them to stop sinning?
Calvinism puts the full weight of responsibility for man's salvation over onto God: thus, relieving man of all personal responsibility. For, you see, "responsibility" implies "conditionality." And Calvinism will have none of that. Calvinism, by attributing to God all responsibility for man's salvation, thus makes God guilty for the sins which are committed by "the elect." For, if God must "overrule" man's fallen will, in order for man to be saved; yet, even "the elect" will nevertheless (sometimes) commit sinful acts; then, God's ability to "overrule" man's fallen will were thus found to be imperfect; moreover, God were thus also found to be unfaithful in his (supposed) responsibility to "save his people" (the 'elect') "from their sins" (Matthew 1:21).
Therein is the deadly venom which flows from the Serpent's bite in the teachings of Calvinism: man can have NO RESPONSIBILITY, with respect to his own salvation; it is "all of God."
What a damnable lie. I have seen its effects in the lives of multitudes of people ~ not a few of whom are very close to me. They have been taught that they "came to God" because they are among God's "elect." How do they know they are among God's chosen? Because, they said the "Sinner's Prayer" and they go to church from time to time. And being one of "the elect," they are guaranteed to be saved ~ "unconditionally." "Backsliding" is therefore a meaningless term. "Revival" is also meaningless. Who needs to be "revived," who cannot be lost ~ once "saved?" "Once saved, always saved," is the fruit of Calvinism.
But there is another side to Calvinism's doctrine of "unconditional election," namely: not only has God chosen certain individuals to be saved, but God has also chosen that everyone else shall be damned~not matter what. There is absolutely nothing they can do to be saved. Though they may cry unto God for mercy, until they have no more tears, yet, God will not hear them. For, you see, God never created them for heaven, but for hell. That is what MacArthur alluded to when he acknowledged that there are "many people who feel [that Calvinism] turns God into a monster."
Indeed, it does. And that is why I stated, in my closing sentence in part 1 of this series: "There is no common ground between Calvinism and Biblical Christianity."
The Reader is admonished to consider well the implications of that statement. I do not mean to suggest that no one, who may be part of a group (e.g., a church) which embraces some or all of Calvinism's teachings, can be a genuine Christian. I believe it is possible for someone ~ who does not well understand the doctrines of Calvinism to which he or she may be exposed, to be a real Christian, one who loves the Lord Jesus Christ in truth. But I do not believe it is possible for one to be a genuine Christian, who both understands and believes the teachings of Calvinism. For, Calvinism represents "another Jesus, whom we have not preached" (2 Corinthians 11:4). What kind of Savior condemns men to hell without any possibility of ever having had any recourse to God's mercy? Surely, not the Savior of Scripture. And we are warned, in 2 John 10:
"If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine [the truth of Christ], receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: for he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds."It's not a game, people.
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