Explaining Calvinism (to a bunch of Methodists!)

Calvinism is a prominent and POPULAR form of theology, particularly among evangelicals: John Piper, John MacArthur, Voddie Baucham, Tim Keller, D.A. Carson, Ligon Duncan, R.C. Sproul, Louie Giglio, J.I. Packer, Michael Horton, Kevin DeYoung, Charles Stanley, Wayne Grudem, James White, and many, many other popular preachers, teachers, and authors today...as well as famous Christians throughout Church History such as John Calvin (duh!), Charles Spurgeon, George Whitfield, and Jonathan Edwards, just to name a few.
But what exactly IS Calvinism? That is the subject of this first in a 2-part series!
Stay tuned for the followup video in which JM discusses why he is not a Calvinist and what he believes to be a better theological approach to Scripture.
* John Wesley's Works (including those on Calvinism mentioned in this video) can be found at: tinyurl.com/2p89txm3
* For more info on Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary head over to www.gordonconwell.edu/
* For more on the UGA Wesley Foundation visit: www.ugawesley.org/
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[@markbarrett4482]

I was raised Catholic. Became a Calvinist 30 years ago. Thank you for your very fair assessment of the doctrines of grace. I'm still a Calvinist but appreciate your spirit of grace brother...thanks again!

[@DiscipleDojo]

Thanks for watching and commenting. Blessings to you.

[@christsavesreadromans1096]

You left the truth, Protestants removed 7 books from the official canon.

[@3BadBostons]

​@@DiscipleDojo I just found this, and would love to talk about why I am neither a Calvinist nor Wesleyan. Tulip is what they call it, but, tulip is really not thought through, I dunno. Look, you said something like , "no time soon ....." , Well, maybe.... You can call me predestinatarian if you'd like, I have easy believism people and lordship people accuse me of heresy. Anyway, honestly if I'm wrong in my thinking, I want to know, (but I'm sooo sure I'm not wrong, lol) Anyway, I think Calvinist don't quite getting what they are trying to to articulate, easy believism is not counting for the power of the Holy Spirit. Pray about it, maybe we could do batman vs superman duel

[@markyearty6717]

Excellent presentation! I was a calvinist for eight years. My wife and I attended a strong calvinist church. I've studied it in depth through my church and outside of my church. Over the eight years, I came to believe that calvinism is heresy, the theological reasoning I won't go into here. My pet peeve is that it seems to me the major response of calvinists to anyone who knowingly rejects calvinism is "Well, you just don't really understand it.' I can say that I fully underand it, both theologically and experiencially, and in that knowledge, I fully reject it as false theology.

[@TheWoodlandSeamstress]

So I don't think heresy is the right word choice here. "heresy" means an incorrect belief about God himself, meaning if you practice or believe in a heresy, you are literally worshiping a god that is different from the Christian faith. i.e., you are NOT a Christian. (Mormons, Jehovah's Witnesses, Nestorians, Arians, to name a few) A heterodoxy on the other hand is an incorrect way to worship or practice the faith, but it doesn't make you not a Christian. Do you mind if I ask what was it that finally made you turn away from that belief? I had the exact opposite experience, so I'm curious 😊

[@IronSharpensIron127]

​@@TheWoodlandSeamstress heresy is definitely the correct word. It is no different than JW's LDS. The Bible teaches grace through faith Calvinism teaches grace through an election that happened before the foundation of the world. 1st John 2:2 says that Jesus died for everyone Calvinism says limited attonment. Calvinism says God will make you believe irresistible grace The Bible says choose this day whom you will serve. These are two different gospels Gal 1:8 KJV But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. I do not say this to be mean, I say this because I am truly scared for Calvinist.

[@TheWoodlandSeamstress]

@@IronSharpensIron127 ah, well I as a calvinist am truly sorry you feel scared for us! 😉 I assure you, calvinists do not teach a gospel message that is contrary to the Biblical truth. We absolutely affirm salvation through grace by faith alone. We affirm the Nicene Creed, which states what one must believe to be a true Christian. 1 John 2:2 does not state that Jesus paid the price for every PERSON's sins, because if he paid for their sins then they would be in heaven. And we know that's not how it works. No sin is paid for twice, either Jesus pays for it or the unbeliever pays for it eternally in hell. That's how God's justice works. In the Bible, the word "world" is often used hyperbolically to symbolize the vast extent of something, even if it isn't *literally* every single thing in the world. That's just how the ancient Hebrew culture wrote and used language! Pretty much all the issues people have with Calvinism are based on misunderstandings of what they actually teach. No, we don't deny the essentials of Christian faith. We don't teach a different gospel, I would agree that that's heresy! I find calvinism extremely comforting and logical and biblical, but I understand why people balk at it. It's not the biggest issue in the world, but it saddens me to see how people attack it without understanding.

[@IronSharpensIron127]

@@TheWoodlandSeamstress I know what Calvinism teaches, I was a Calvinist. It is truly a shame that you deny Scripture. There isn't really much I can help you with if you deny God's word. Do you think I made up what 1st John 2:2 says? What you don't understand is that people will go to Hell for denial of Jesus's sacrifice.

[@TheWoodlandSeamstress]

@@IronSharpensIron127 we aren't denying Jesus's sacrifice. It doesn't say Jesus died for every person, he died for the whole world. Which could mean he died to redeem the literal planet and universe, or more likely, that his sacrifice is offered to the people of all the world! People from all cultures can come to him! That is not the same as saying every single person has had their sin paid for, because that doesn't make sense.

[@margreethakkerman4026]

I am not sure ( as you say) that others could do a better job on this topic. This is the best explanation that I have ever heard. So thank you very much, blessings to you and greetings from the Netherlands.

[@BillWalkerWarren]

Nice breakdown. I thought your video was pretty evenhanded. I am reformed tend to be on the Presbyterian or Dutch side of the tradition. I do like how you presented everything. Funny thing is you probably know more about reformed theology than half the folks in a reformed congregation . 😢 Keep up the good work . Blessings

[@DiscipleDojo]

Thanks! I really tried to present it as it has been presented to me by its best proponents, not a caricature.

[@BillWalkerWarren]

@@DiscipleDojo Your welcome brother. I believe that we all can learn from each other. For folks on my side of the aisle can learn much Wesleyan or Methodist folks especially concerning piety . The subjects prayer and Christian community are good examples . Good channel brother. Blessings

[@ponscardinal2862]

Why?

[@BillWalkerWarren]

@@ponscardinal2862 Why to what ?

[@johnenglish4652]

Thank, good video. Looking forward to the next part.

[@BatMite19]

I have been a Reformed theologian for 30 years. I teach Reformed theology at my OPC church. You presented it very accurately! Your understanding of the Calvinist take on free will is correct, which is rare. Usually, detractors of Calvinism see Reformed theology as being opposed to free will, rather than having a different understanding of free will. The question is often, "Do you believe in Calvinism or free will?" To which I answer, "Yes." :) The only thing you didn't mention was that the entire Protestant church, from Luther until Arminius, about 100 years, was Calvinistic. Arminius was the first Protestant to offer a semi-Pelagian view, and his followers, the Remonstrants, were deemed heretics at the Synod of Dort. The Remonstrants had brought five points before the Synod, and thus the Synod responded with five points of their own, which have since become known as "the Five Points of Calvinism." Calvin himself never made reference to five points, and he actually wrote more about church government than he did about soteriology. When time permits, I look forward to your video refuting Calvinism. I will go in with an open mind.

[@DiscipleDojo]

Thank you for this comment! It really means a lot and I really do love my Calvinist peeps! 😁 I'm also hazy on some of the details when it comes to the Reformation so I appreciate you sharing that info!

[@antoniopodesta8738]

It’s good to remember that Calvin wasn’t born when the scriptures were written. Just preach from the Bible whether it agrees with your theology or not.

[@fanman8102]

‘about 100 years, was Calvinistic.’ That’s interesting. What Calvinists never say is that from 100 to 1500 everyone was not Calvinist, or, no one was Calvinist. ;-)

[@BatMite19]

@@fanman8102 I'm not sure how to interpret your reply. Prior to the Reformation, Roman Catholic doctrines of salvation rules the western church. At the time of the Reformation, Luther, Calvin, Zwingli, et al., went back to the doctrines of Augustine, which were what we would call today, Calvinist. But the term "Calvinism" came much later, and obviously couldn't have been referred to as "Calvinist" before Calvin. Calvinism predated Calvin, and Arminianism predated Arminius, but couldn't have been referred to by those names until those gentlemen were alive and achieved notoriety.

[@dw6528]

BatMite19: The question is often, "Do you believe in Calvinism or free will?" DW: The Calvinist answer to that question is - those two options represent CONTRARY options. And per the doctrine of decrees - CONTRARY options are not granted to creation and thus do not exist for humans to choose between. The doctrine of decrees stipulates a THEOS must make a decision about whatsoever will come to pass - for every human event, and for every human impulse and every human belief. Every divine decision at the foundation of the world for every human event and every human impulse and every human belief - entails a choice between CONTRARY options. It can be decreed that the human brain will Believe [X] and it can be decreed that the human brain will believe [NOT X]. Whatsoever belief comes to pass - was established by divine decree at the foundation of the world and cannot be other than what was decreed to infallibly be. At the foundation of the world - where belief [X] is the belief that is infallibly selected for you to believe - then belief [NOT X] was infallibly rejected as the belief that you will infallibly believe. In such case belief [X] is granted existence in your brain - and its existence is infallible. Belief [NOT X] is CONTRARY to the decree - is infallibly rejected and thus not granted existence within your brain. And its NON-existence is infallible. Thus we can see - for every human event - every human impulse, every human belief - there is never granted more than *ONE SINGLE PREDESTINED RENDERED-CERTAIN OPTION* If it is decreed that your brain will perceive [X] as TRUE - then the option of your brain perceiving [X] as FALSE is excluded by the decree.

[@brendaboykin3281]

Thank you, JM🌹🌹🌹🌹

[@1334cass]

Thank you so so much for this explanation! I am on to the next video part 2. Took a bunch of notes. Thank you!!!!

[@jimcasey1975]

Solid presentation that portrays the Biblical foundation of our faith. I can add nothing to this excellent talk and thank you for it. I understand you’re presenting one side of this great and ongoing debate. Well done.

[@MM-jf1me]

I really appreciated this presentation! I wasn't raised in a Calvinist denomination and so my understanding of it was a bit fuzzy: I was appalled and disgusted by the idea that God would create people specifically to be damned. I've tried researching Calvinism, but it's been difficult to wrap my mind around it between my inherent disgust (I say this only to emphasize that I understand my own bias and how it limits my thinking) and the different types of Calvinism (as you mentioned, the three or four point Calvinists). Your talk really helped clear things up for me: I've got a better grasp of what Calvinism is and isn't, could follow the arguments for it, and I'll allow that logically it is sound, but I still remain unconvinced. I'm looking forward to listening to the next part of your presentation.

[@DiscipleDojo]

So glad it was helpful. There are really good arguments for Calvinism, even though I don't find them persuasive or even necessary in the end.

[@dadysan]

God's sovereignty and man's free will are BOTH taught in scripture. It surprises you that the One who has a name that no man knows knows things you can't grasp? You can't really understand the fullness and depth of God's Hesed (faithful love) and yet by faith all the OT saints claim and appeal to it throughout Psalms and national/personal prayers. Quit trying to put God in a box and your understanding of him into a conception of something He isn't and instead walk by faith in HIM. If you know Christ as savior as you live your life on THIS side of the door practice "whosoever will" but know that as you enter through the door to eternity and you look back at the door you will be praising forever and ever the inscription upon that side of the door "from the foundation of the World". He who raised up Pharoah to show his power through his unbelief and rejection is the same One you are proclaiming to hopefully hundreds and thousands to drink freely. But you need to be warned, Jesus said not all that say to him Lord are his even when they proclaim that they did many mighty works and miracles in his name. A little less judging how God works out his will and some humble and grateful thankfulness that you know him is in order me thinks. We can know what He has revealed to us but the secret things belong to Him. Let God be God and walk by faith whether you understand or not what he proclaims in His word.

[@sydney.g.sloangammagee8181]

@@dadysan I read every word you said . . . I think I agree with you . . . All humans will stumble upon trying to clarify through words what they intend from their heart . . . THANK GOD that He knows the heart.

[@ArleneAdkinsZell]

Excellent presentation, best and most understandable explanation I have heard.

[@mikeconnor4736]

You have good background, are well read, and present the very biblical nature of Reformed soteriology.....showing how thoroughly biblical it is, and how it exalts the perfections of God and harmonizes scripture. You are on the right path and will confess the doctrines of Grace soon.....amen!

[@DiscipleDojo]

Thanks for the kind words. See the follow up video to this one on why I ultimately go in a different direction though. Perhaps you may end up joining me. ;-)

[@duranbailiff5337]

As a lifelong Bab-dis, I have had a strong fear of Methodists. Deep down, I know that there are good people that love God from many perspectives, and am trying to pry the scales from my eyes. Not only is this an excellent video, but I loved reading the thoughtful comments. I subscribed to your channel and look forward to more reasoned theology from your perspective. God bless you and yours. 🙏🏼

[@KalliBella1]

Wow! You did a great job at presenting “Calvinism.” I am reformed, so I’ve heard this topic many times. When I first heard it, I admit I was bit bit confused, but it made more sense to me than not. I commend you because you did NOT caricaturize the issue, so well done!!! Will make sure to watch the next video to hear your take on Calvinism! 👍😊

[@DiscipleDojo]

Thanks for the kind words. I love my Reformed/Calvinist brothers and sisters, so I never want to caricature or misrepresent their views, even if at the end of the day I don't find their position hermeneutically convincing. I have learned so much from them and am forever grateful.

[@KalliBella1]

@@DiscipleDojo We do learn from each other. And thank you for sharing all the great information in your videos! :)

[@cecilly59]

I haven't finished listening to the full video, but would you explain specifically what a Methodist/Calvinist believes? I'm a Methodist with some Reformed leanings, so this peaked my interest.

[@Rashard_D]

Appreciate you doing that live with Elder Mike. Hope y’all do another one. This is a good breakdown to Calvinism views for some of us that not well versed in the philosophical beliefs. I also have a question about the Archeological Study 📖 Bible concerning KJV vs NIV. Is it just a word for word difference between the two? Seems hard to find also online. @Discipledojo

[@DiscipleDojo]

Yes, we'll definitely do it again! That study Bible is, sadly, out of print now. So the best place to find a copy is eBay or Alibris, I think. The notes in it should be the same, whether NIV or KJV.

[@realtaxsense1787]

Thanks for the awesome explanation! I too am from Georgia and have grown up methodist. I attended a church in south Georgia that said the Apostles Creed. Now the one I'm attending in North Georgia uses the United Church of Canada's Creed not sure that I'm okay with that

[@mw3beastbabyboy]

What are some easy to read books that talks about these differences

[@DiscipleDojo]

"For Calvinism" (Michael Horton) and "Against Calvinism" (Roger Olson) would be good places to start. Austin Fischer's "Young, Restless, and No Longer Reformed" would also be one worth reading, as he was a staunch Calvinist who later changed his views.

[@wesb211]

Excellent

[@Bgentllc]

Can you recommend a couple good non Calvinist study bibles?

[@DiscipleDojo]

See my Top 7 Study Bibles video on the Bible Reviews playlist here on the channel for a few of them.

[@wordassassinhebrews4125]

Excellent breakdown I did see you on Elder Mike KZbin channel and that's when I subscribe to your KZbin channel . I never really heard of Calvinism until a sister in Christ brought it to my attention, we both are not Calvinists , she purchased this book for me "Why am not a calvinist "by jerry L. walls and Joseph R. Dongell is this a good book to understand Calvinism .

[@davidrathbun1345]

Paul would say , “Reformed from what”?

[@obgy6scooterdr]

For one thing; Calvinism makes sense because some people never get to heaven; and then "Many go down the highway to hell" essentially. Then, we have a free will...so perhaps it's a combo of both. Some are predestined, many have a choice, and some choose hell. While certain ones are pre-destined. Created to choose heaven. But then that constitutes the question of "Does God serve self by force or by choice?"

[@DiscipleDojo]

The following video in this series attempts to offer a possible way through that seeming dilemma. :-)

[@obgy6scooterdr]

@@DiscipleDojo But then, what if someone ordained to eternal damnation wanted to be good? What if they were made evil and hated it the whole time. What if they craved the truth, and then "Seek ye first the kingdom of heaven" means nothing if it's hidden from them. How could they seek what was put right in front of them? "for by creation we have evidence of the work of God" or something like that.

[@matthaeusprime6343]

I am not a protestant. I am a Traditional Roman Catholic. If Catholicism was false, I would be a Calvinist.

[@Kens1966]

My understanding by my own belief is that God knows all out comes. God knows all

[@Kens1966]

I attend a Baptist church but with all churches I don't hold any churches full beliefs

[@jaybird8142]

The words represented by the acronym TULIP are part scripture part man. It’s the man part that is the problem. Election AND choice are in the scripture. Predestination AND freewill are both in the scripture. Reprobate AND repentance available to ALL are in the scripture. Broad way to death AND the narrow way to life few there be that FIND it. Faithless and faith….thy faith hath saved thee. Thy faith hath made thee whole. Blessings and curses of Deut 28. God pleaded w Israel not to make Saul their King. God pleaded w Israel to repent. There is none good no not one but we are also created in His image. Two sides to a coin….scripture addresses both sides not just one.

[@dalecassleman]

I think that you did a great job explaining. I was always and still for limited atonement. But I found myself stuck in between, Christ only paying the wages for the sins of His elect, or if He did do this for everyone, and it is their disbelief that they are punished for. I for some reason cannot wrap my mind around the second one. Maybe someone on here can reconcile these for me. I find that the idea of unbelief is questionable, but, not only are we all sinners. We are also unbelievers, until God intervenes, and in either way, it still requires irresistible grace to draw us to Christ Jesus. I cannot believe that the precious blood of God's Son, could be wasted, on those who remain lost. It would make one ask if God failed.

[@oracleoftroy]

Agree. Over and over again the Bible says the wages of sin is death. It seems weird to say that's not true, that all are forgiven and made legally innocent by Christ's blood, but the Father will send legally innocent people to the second death, the lake of fire, for not acknowledging what his son did in a jealous rage. Or you have to say that salvation is based on what we do on top of what God does, namely believe. Yet scripture says that even our belief is a gift from God and God's work.

[@ericwalters5382]

The disgusting ad for Duck Plumpers was a nice touch.

[@kman8628]

So it seems that if one is a calvinist, you can never be certain of your salvation. Because if they believe that people who genuinely thought they were following Jesus and then fall away (for whatever reason) were never truly saved, how can anyone be sure?

[@DiscipleDojo]

Exactly. You can't have present assurance, and consistent 5-Point Calvinists readily admit this.

[@elizabethhankins6973]

I asked a reformed pastor once how I could know whether I was part of the elect and wouldn’t eventually fall way from Christ (the thought terrified me), and his response was something along the lines of, “The fact that this concerns you at all is evidence that the Holy Spirit is at work in your life. If he weren’t, the question wouldn’t bother you.” He then encouraged me to study 1 John. I also read Grudem’s systematic on the topic around that time. I remember coming away with the understanding that, if I have present faith in Christ for salvation, I can be confident that that is a gift from God and that He will preserve me through His indwelling Spirit and word. No one can pluck me from His hand. He will complete the good work that He has begun. I don’t think this means we can just live however we want but that we will continue to work out our salvation with fear and trembling because God is at work in us. How can one who is born again, united to Christ, and sealed by the Spirit be separated from His love? I’ve never understood how salvation could be lost… I’ve been studying 1 Peter lately, and was struck afresh by 1:4-5 which seems to teach security of salvation…that our inheritance is kept secure for us and that we are guarded by God’s power through faith. Similarly, Eph. 1:13-14 speaks of being sealed with the Spirit who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it. Doesn’t sealing have to do with us not being tampered with? I thought Arminians believe that you can lose your salvation, and I’m curious about that because where is the assurance of salvation in that and how could you sleep at night knowing that maybe you’ll fall away? Your response makes it sound like maybe you ask yourself the same question, “Do I have present faith in Christ for salvation?” If God isn’t keeping believers by His power, how can we have any assurance that we will continue in the faith for the unforeseeable future? (I’m genuinely trying to wrap my mind around Arminian understanding of these types of texts and ideas, but I have a long way to go.)

[@BonyT2768]

Outstanding presentation! One quibble though: You at least implied that Sourhern Baptists are almost entirely Calvinist; but as a Southern Baptist for decades, I don’t believe that’s correct. I realize Calvinism was present in the roots of the denomination; but historically Southern Baptists are not even majority Calvinist, nor are we currently-although Calvinism is at its highest level in the SBC in a long time, that’s estimated to be between 30% and 40%. So I think your characterization is off base. Although the SB history with Calvinism is nuanced, I think it would be fair to characterize the “traditional Southern Baptist” soteriology as what is today often labeled Provisionism-with, as you mentioned the “once saved always saved” proviso. I hope this doesn’t seem antagonistic-it truly was not intended in that spirit. As a Southern Baptist, I just felt a correction was perhaps in order. 😊 I’m so impressed with your work! THANK YOU from someone who really appreciates your channel!

[@robwagnon6578]

I get less angry at Catholic and the treatment of Mary than I do sometimes at Calvinism and the so called TULIP teachings. Why assume that I am destined to be saved, why don't most if they believe in Limited atonement, believe they are destined to be hardened?!!

[@karenh727]

The question that always comes to my mind for Calvinists is "why do you witness to others if they do not have a choice to have faith and believe in Jesus?".

[@MultipleGrievance]

​@@HaroldZwingley conversion is meaningless Under unconditional election.

[@oracleoftroy]

​@@MultipleGrievance Why would it be?

[@MultipleGrievance]

@@oracleoftroy Sorry dude. My post was clearly deleted.So I have no idear what you're talking about. What did I say?

[@oracleoftroy]

​@@MultipleGrievance Your post is still visible to me. You claim conversion is meaningless under unconditional election. I am wondering why it would be meaningless?

[@MultipleGrievance]

@oracleoftroy Still can't see it. Is it in this thread? Unconditional election and conversion are mutually exclusive. It's obvious but I'll explain it anyway. In sovereign election, The God of the Bible predestines some people to receive salvation. It is done through no conscious choice of their own. Hell, It's done before they are even born 🤷‍♂️ Conversion on the other hand is defined as the process of causing something to change from one thing to another. With regards to faith, you are becoming Christian & that puts you in line for salvation. According to unconditional election you've already BEEN saved. The choice was never yours to begin with, making conversion pointless.

[@padenvan]

The idea of God creating people for the purpose of damning them exists, with the opposing view that God’s grace only passed over the reprobate, but that He didn’t will their damnation, exists in Calvinism and is still open for debate today, with the former idea being called “supralapsarianism” and the latter being “infralapsarianism.” Also, for context, as a Presbyterian, while there are some believers who claim to be “three or four point Calvinists,” most believers of the Reformed Faith in traditionally Calvinist denominations will tell you that there is no such thing as anything less than a 5-point Calvinism because the system of theology doesn’t work without it being a full system; there is so much to the Reformed Faith and its history and tradition beyond the five points of the doctrines of Grace, and it doesn’t work or make sense without its full foundation. The Westminster Confession, Heidelberg Catechism, Canons of Dort, Belgic Confession, Scots Confession, and the Confession of 1961 depends on a full foundation. Those who claim to be less than 5-point Calvinists may have taken Calvinistic ideas, but they are not truly Reformed. That being said, the Reformed do not claim a monopoly on election or salvation, there is salvation outside of Calvinism, and being Reformed doesn’t affect or shrink the size of the Universal Church. It mostly just affects the lens through which we understand God, metaphysics, cosmology, theology, Scripture, eschatology, and worldview. A Reformed Christian is not more saved than an Arminian or a Catholic or an Orthodox. All are saved, all embrace the tenets of Christianity, all are Christian. The only gatekeeping I encourage to the Christian Religion is that we must deny, as heretics, all non-Nicene, non-Trinitarian sects, as well as highly critique those who use the Gospel in a profane way like the Prosperity Gospel.

[@NickensCharles]

I would love to see a video about the 3rd branch of belief that is growing these days, which is Open Theism/Moral Government. For me, I have studied this deeply and am strongly against it, even thou it is widely accepted in the m*ss*on*ry organization I am in. My struggle is to be lovingly tender in my disapproval, or does it always need to be tender, etc...?

[@MM-jf1me]

Why the asterisks in that word?

[@lonerface8257]

I am reform calvinist.

[@DiscipleDojo]

I am not. :-)

[@SibleySteve]

I take the bad with the good in Reformed religion because it has given us the great theological accomplishments we all enjoy from seminaries to publishers to systematics to renewed cognitive mental disciplines like learning Scripture’s hardest bits. I also appreciate how folk religion deserves the scrutiny of rigorous analysis, in a legal manner, with graduate level linguistic exegesis. Having said all this, I do not trust Augustine’s exegesis and his departure from the eastern orthodox pathways of anthropology. I think that the Greek language, theology and history has been neglected in favor of the Augusto-Latin origins of Lutheran bondage of the will. We hear that Luther was so curious of Hebrew and Greek but in fact he relied on both Erasmus and Augustine for much of the reformational bibliology. Wesley was brilliant for trying to peel back the Latin layers to find the Greek bedrock. In so doing, Wesley reformed the reformers. I was raised in 3 Baptist schools that became more calvinist by degree, feeding the pride of the budding theologian as if to imply that to be a “smart” Baptist you have to get closer to Calvin and further from folk religion’s uninformed populist individualism. I have become an Episcopalian to leave these intramural debates in the rear view mirror.

[@duranbailiff5337]

Thank you for your thoughtful comments. I find your story very interesting. I would be happy to learn more from you. Blessings. 🙏🏼

[@IronSharpensIron127]

The rest are doomed from the womb John Calvin

[@davidrathbun1345]

The gospel is Paul’s exchanged life gospel.

[@PastorwithoutaPulpit]

Either you believe and do your best to live by God's Word, write it in your heart, because when you love Him you strive to do everything you can to please Him knowing full well it isn't by your works that you are saved or you don't. You follow the Bible or you don't there's nothing you can not find the answer to in Scripture as it was written, other than the exact date and time of His return. As far as Bibles either you use a word for word or you don't. You follow the teaching of our Lord and Savior Christ Jesus that He and His Apostles taught or you don't. Either your His or your of this world there is no debate and no changing His Word for the times. You can do nothing without the Holy Spirit in you and the salvation paid for with the Blood of Christ Jesus. Without that precious Blood none of us could be saved and without the Holy Spirit we wouldn't even understand what that means. I don't care what it's labeled by man there's only His Faith that His Scripture, His Gospel, teaches us. To be clear I am not a Calvinist or at least I don't think I am. I believe in God because of His Word and do my best to live by it but I know I will fail without Him, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit to carry and forgive me via His Love when I fail. God Bless...

[@lonnieclemens8028]

I'm not a Calvinist. But I wouldn't mind having a Calvinist Realtor.

[@Mark3ABE]

The Council of Trent spent about sixteen years giving very careful consideration to the teachings of the Protestant Reformers, including Calvin. The Council concluded that the Reformers were drifting dangerously close to the Pelagian heresy. This taught that man, by his own effort and intellect, has the ability to attain “saving faith”. The Council made it clear that salvation is always entirely by grace and that faith itself is a gift from God and not something which the very clever can discover and appropriate for themselves, by their own efforts. This distinction remains. The Catholic Church continues to teach salvation by grace alone (from which everything else, including faith, follows) and that strict Protestants, continue to teach salvation by works, that is to say, that if you can “work up” enough faith, by your own efforts, this, alone, can save you, without the grace of God. Of course, I am aware that most Protestants no longer accept this very extreme view and, if they study the Scriptures carefully and fully, they do, very often, arrive at an understanding fully in accordance with that of the Catholic Church. Studying the Word of God with an open and unprejudiced mind will always lead to the discovery of the fullness of Truth.

[@terryhumberd7546]

Once saved is not a Southern Baptist doctrine read the articles of faith. We believe in the perseverance of the saints

[@DiscipleDojo]

Some do. Others don't. Baptists like Charles Stanley and Norm Geisler popularized the once saved always saved idea.

[@kaltech04]

If a person becomes a Christian, and after a decade of seemingly faithful service they fall away, meaning they were never saved and had a false conversion: how were they capable of seeking Jesus and striving to follow Him in the first place if they didn’t have the Holy Spirit and were stuck in their total depravity? Maybe I misunderstood the stance of total depravity?

[@DiscipleDojo]

A Calvinist might say they weren't truly seeking Him, but were just attempting to be religious through their own effort, and Jesus will say to them, "Depary from me. I never knew you" (Matt. 7:24).

[@williamconour1778]

I believe the Reformed Faith is the most accurate, but not perfect, understanding of God's Word and that Pelagianism/Arminianism is Christian heresy as i believe 7 Ecumenical Councils/Synods have so declared it to be. Nevertheless, correct systematic theology is not a criteria for faith or salvation. Whether a Christian is correct in his systematic theological understanding of the Bible is simply not relevant to his salvation. My Christian Brothers who believe the "error" of Arminianism, of which I have many, are still my Christian Brothers as I am theirs in spite of their opinion of my "error" of being Reformed. Salvation is a matter of heart based love and belief in Jesus Christ as the Son of God and our Lord and Savior and that God sent him to us for instruction and for the atonement of sin for the ultimate salvation of people, at least some.

[@Kens1966]

Is Baptist Calvinism

[@DiscipleDojo]

No, there are Baptists who are Calvinist, Baptists who are Arminian, and Baptists who are just once-saved-always-saved rather than either Calvinist or Arminian.

[@dw6528]

A question about assurance in Calvinism: John Calvin - concerning the *SECRET* election and *INVISIBLE* church -quote We are *NOT* bidden to distinguish between reprobate and elect - that is for God alone, not for us, to do . (Institutes IV. 1. 3.) -quote We must thus consider both God’s *SECRET* election and his INNER call. For *HE ALONE* knows who are his” (Institutes. IV. 1. 2.) John Calvin - concerning Calvinists who are created as CHAFF -quote But the Lord....instills into their minds such *A SENSE* of his goodness as can be felt *WITHOUT* the Spirit of adoption. (Institutes 3.2.11) -quote he *ILLUMINES ONLY FOR A TIME* to partake of it; then he justly forsakes them.....and strikes them with even greater blindness (Institutes 3.24.8) QUESTION: Since the Calvinist's election status is a *SECRET* that no man knows - and since select Calvinists are divinely deceived with a *FALSE SENSE* of salvation - then what exactly does the Calvinist have ASSURANCE of?

[@de629]

I would say that no man is to be considered a Reprobate, simply because he could repent and come to faith on his deathbed. Assurance itself, comes in an on going faith, compared to on that fades away. (See the parable of the soils/sower)

[@dw6528]

@@de629 DW: Hello Richard. Consider Calvinist_X who has the perception within his mind that he is elect and has an assurance of salvation. 10 years later Calvinist_X becomes a devout Atheist - and on his death bed adamantly rejects Christ. The foundational core of Calvinism is the doctrine of decrees which is what defines divine sovereignty over all things which come to pass within creation. Whatsoever comes to pass was established by divine decree at the foundation of the world and cannot be other than what was decreed to infallibly be. Was Calvinist_X assurance of salvation a TRUE assurance established by divine decree? Or was Calvinist_X assurance of salvation a FALSE assurance established by divine decree? Where the divine decree establishes a FALSE perception to infallibly come to pass within the human mind - it does not grant the human mind the ability to discern that perception as FALSE.

[@naiman4535]

Please forgive me if I'm being too frank, honest and outspoken here, but my basic assessment of Calvinism is basically the same as Calvinism's assessment of the human condition: Totally Depraved! Anyway, you cannot be faulted for not being prolific enough in your video production - must be your Protestant work ethic!

[@Wren_Farthing]

Go Dawgs! (Sorry, had to. Not a football fan, but I work at UGA 😉).

[@Kens1966]

I just trust the bible only.

[@ksteak27]

Oops I deleted my comment! Sorry! We can both agree that one of us will have the last laugh in Heaven and a high-five where we both serve, eternally, the God who saved us both!

[@Terrylb285]

I consider myself a Calminian lol

[@tp5401]

Havnt listened yet... But careful brother... so I don't unsubscribe... Then again... Maybe I was predestined to unsubscribe anyway.

[@fanman8102]

Excellent! I’m not a Calvinist or “Reformed” (aren’t all Protestants reformed?) and I appreciate it. I’m not a pastor but I am a trained minister and I absolutely agree that most Wesleyan/Methodist/Nazarene theologians are crap. Can’t find their way out of a paper sack with two hands and a flashlight. My training is civil engineering and, like it or not, the training level I encountered was about 8th grade. Not joking, dead serious, I had a pastor with a Masters Degree and 20 years experience tell me there are no themes in the Bible. But that is my experience. Others may vary.

[@DiscipleDojo]

All Protestants are "reformed" in the sense that they are heirs of the Reformation. But not in the sense of Reformed Theology, as put forth in the various catechisms, synods, confessions, etc. There's a wide array. And sadly, yes, much theological training out there is woefully lacking.

[@Kens1966]

I don't understand Calvinism

[@johnortiz566]

When there’s no power of God in a congregation and it’s been replaced with secular theology, young people end up following Calvinist pastors and apologists.

[@fanman8102]

That’s an excellent point!

[@eucharistenjoyer]

Calvinism is the combination of the most desperation inducing protestant heresies.

[@Terrylb285]

Total depravity was achieved in Genesis which warranted God to destroy humanity , I think if we lived several hundred years we could easily show we are capable of proving total depravity.

[@teawithjesus3235]

Calvinism is Heresy.

[@DiscipleDojo]

No, heresy has an actual meaning and Calvinism doesn't fall into that category. Even though I strongly disagree with it, Calvinism isn't heretical.

[@christsavesreadromans1096]

@@DiscipleDojo Further the idea that grace cannot be rejected, as Calvin believed, significantly contradicts verses such as Hebrews 10:26-31 which suggest that if you continue to sin without repentance, no sacrifice of sins is remaining for you.

[@israelrivera3009]

@@christsavesreadromans1096 You are being the heretical one, since youre damning your Calvinistic brothers in Christ. It doesnt contradict since JESUS DIED FOR ALL, BUT NOT ALL WILL DO WHAT ROMANS 10:9 SAYS: "Confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead and you will be saved"

[@israelrivera3009]

You are being the heretical one, since youre damning your Calvinistic brothers in Christ who believe the same Primary fundamentals for Salvation, .....the secondary issues like this arent Salvation issues.

[@christsavesreadromans1096]

@@israelrivera3009 I’m not damning anyone, calvinists removed books from the Bible.