Is Calvinism Biblical? The Answer may Surprise you! (With Greg Laurie)

[@greglaurie]

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[@jasonharkness2992]

Pastor Greg Laurie I reject hyper Calvinism . As well God choses his children as vessels of mercy . He actively works in the elects lives to bring them to repentance. He passively moves his hand away from the non elect to let them do what they love and that is sin u see the difference if u did a thorough investigation and didn’t go by what chuck smith and Dave hunt say u would know that u are misrepresenting reformed theology .... btw the reformers who fought against Rome all believed reformed theology to be the true biblical teaching take off the traditional lens and seek the truth. At the end of the day if we had something to do with our salvation we get the glory not God . But God is the author of salvation not man. Ur freewill theology is very man centered just as a lot of quote on quote evangelical Christianity today and most side w Rome rather then the church fathers . If I chose God that is a work sir but Ephesians 2:8-9 says we are saved by grace through faith THAT IS NOT OF yourselves lest anyman can boast it is a gift from God even our faith is a gift. Come to me all u are weary and heavy laden in its context is speaking to those who are weighed down by their sins , which would line up with other scriptures that refer to blessed are the poor in spirit for they shall see God . The point is someone can not come to genuine faith in Christ until they recognize they have sinned against a Holy God and that we deserve hell

[@Mark-oo3om]

@@jasonharkness2992 where does it say believing God is a work? If somebody knocks on my door, and I answer it, and he offers me a free gift, it is not a work to accept it. Works have to do with the law.

[@Mark-oo3om]

@@jasonharkness2992 how do we deserve Hell if Adam and Eve never had a free will to choose anything?

[@ReformedBaptistChurchDC]

I love you Greg. I am a former Calvary Chapel Elder. I used to believe as you. But now embrace the Doctrines of Grace. But brother, your clip here did a dis service to everyone. The applause of the audience just highlighted how emotion so often trumps exegesis. I pray you take this down. God bless you with wisdom and grace.

[@bobfree1226]

@@jasonharkness2992 THEN Jason how do you unpack -that GOD commands ALL MEN Everywhere to REPENT and Turn, why does Jesus Plead with people to turn? why did Paul say GOD appoints the times n places ALL should live so that We might Seek n find HIM. your premise is Wrong, your reading into calvanistic things that are NOT in scripture!!

[@davidtaylorjr1985]

I'm confused, he rejected Calvinism, then gave a caricature of Calvinism, then finishes the video affirming Calvinism....

[@mandymarshmallow6142]

Me too.

[@Mr.K316]

on their website they say God chooses who is saved

[@thorntoncromwelliii3323]

It’s a bit like the Blutarsky “when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor” speech. Accuracy didn’t matter. He was on a feel good roll…

[@zachbanzhaf7435]

He’s saying that those who are chosen are those that choose. Those that God saves are those who trust God to save them. It’s by our will that we surrender. I suppose that’s what I take his words to suggest!

[@sphilip99]

I believe he is saying both truths are affirmed in the bible - which is God's sovereignty and man's responsibility. God has not chosen to reveal to us how exactly these truths could be reconciled so we have to accept that fact and do our part - which is share the gospel and call people to repentence and to the saving knowledge of Christ.

[@annberg8655]

Ever one is destined for hell only by the Grace of God not every one will in up there.

[@ModernMozart1104]

Incorrect. God predestined many for salvation. Eph. 1

[@UnlimitedMercy]

@@ModernMozart1104 A multitude beyond number! Amen!

[@soupspoon9554]

@@annberg8655 Calvinism presents a subtly different gospel than the one presented in scripture, ultimately debasing the very character and holiness of God.

[@alakazoom87]

​@soupspoon9554 how so... it confirms that God saves

[@mandymarshmallow6142]

The thing that is predestined is the plan of salvation, which is faith "IN CHRIST." Also after you believe the gospel and have faith in Christ, God predestines you to become more like Christ and you are an adopted child of God. Read the scriptures carefully trying your BEST not to read with a lense of calvanism: "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places IN CHRIST: According as He hath chosen us IN HIM before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love: Having PREDESTINATED US UNTO the ADOPTION of CHILDREN BY JESUS CHRIST TO HIMSELF, according to the good pleasure of His will, To the praise of the glory of HIS GRACE, wherein He HATH MADE US ACCEPTED IN THE BELOVED. IN WHOM we have REDEMPTION THROUGH HIS BLOOD, the FORGIVENESS of SINS, according to the riches of HIS GRACE; Wherein He hath abounded toward us in all WISDOM and PRUDENCE; Having MADE KNOWN UNTO US the MYSTERY of HIS WILL, according to His good pleasure which HE hath PURPOSED IN HIMSELF: That in the DISPENSATION of the fulness of times He might gather together in one all things IN CHRIST, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even IN HIM: IN WHOM also WE have OBTAINED an INHERITANCE, being predestinated according to the purpose of Him who worketh all things after the counsel of His own will: That we should be to the praise of His glory, who first TRUSTED IN CHRIST. 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, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of His glory. Wherefore I also, after I heard of YOUR FAITH IN THE LORD JESUS, and LOVE unto all the saints," - Ephesians 1:3-15

[@Fireproof1313]

Greg is voicing his objection to hyper calvinism. I like Grace to Yous john macarthurs explanation

[@692MOM]

John is now Hyper-Calvinism...sad to say.

[@Croiseeman]

John 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

[@matthiasbates9660]

Calvinism is the Gospel.

[@kevinmorris7285]

And, I, when when I am lifted up, will draw all people to myself. -Jesus

[@jasonharkness2992]

Kevin Morris oh ok so no one is going to hell then if the way u are interpreting this scripture then no one will be damned ... and if Jesus Died for the sins for all mankind why do people still end up in hell? Oh ya that’s right he died a death so possiably people would be saved . Jesus said I pray for my sheep I do not pray for the world but for all that the Father has given me????? Jesus died perfectly to save all that it was intended for there will be not 1 drop of the saviors blood in vain

[@Mark-oo3om]

@@jasonharkness2992 , drawing all does not mean forcing all. Read Acts 7:51 and Acts 18:6

[@Spillers72]

John 12:32 balances John 6:44.

[@Reformed1]

“who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.” ‭‭John‬ ‭1:13‬ ‭NASB‬‬

[@sarahanne8415]

Why would Jesus need to die on the cross if he chose certain people whats the point then, that means there is no hope for anyone but the chosen.

[@inthespirit1278]

@@sarahanne8415 Jesus died on the cross to save the elect because they are sinners in need of salvation which God freely gives to them apart from works. If u believe in Jesus for the forgiveness of sins then u are one of the elect. If u believe the Gospel then you are truly blessed. :)

[@Anthony-945]

@@inthespirit1278 Jesus died to save everyone but not everyone will accept the gospel

[@inthespirit1213]

@@Anthony-945 He will save everyone who the Father has chosen for salvation(John 6:39; 2 Thess 2:13). So biblically, Jesus did not die for everyone, He died for the elect only and He will not loose a single one(John 18:9).

[@paul.etedder2439]

@@sarahanne8415 their sin debt still had to be paid . We didn’t put Christ on the cross God did for the elects sake . God chose before the foundation of the world Ephesians 1:4-11

[@NickIamaio-kf3rq]

Thanks, Pastor Gregg for your answer to the question regarding Calvinism. The Scriptures do teach that men are dead in trespasses and sin. A dead man can't believe or for that matter do anything. Why then does the call go out to believe in Christ? It is because those who are given life by the Holy Spirit are enabled to believe. Regeneration precedes faith. We were all on the road to hell but God in His sovereign grace chose to save some but not all. You quote God is not willing that any should perish but why then do some perish? It's not that God's will is impotent. The context is not talking about all mankind but any of us, those who are His by grace. II Pet 3:9 cf. II Tim. 2:25 Let me suggest reading John Gill's work "The Cause of God and Truth" hope this helps, Pastor Nichiolas

[@icandoallthings5326]

Predestination is so misunderstood. We must read the whole Bible so that we can get the context. We must not use a few Scriptures to make a doctrinal idea. No, we must study and let God show us the correct meaning of the Scriptures

[@tomtemple69]

Yes, reformed theology is what the Spirit reveals Unless you think Roman catholicism was correct and the reformation was wrong

[@TruLuan]

@@tomtemple69 Reformed theology comes from the traditions of men. Catholic theology can trace back to the first-century Christians (and further back to of course) who understood true worship via songs, incense, and the Eucharist as well as the other sacraments necessary for salvation.

[@tomtemple69]

"Reformed theology comes from the traditions of men. Catholic theology can trace back to the first-century Christians " lol "as well as the other sacraments necessary for salvation." 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@TruLuan]

@@tomtemple69 those obnoxious laughs after laughing at something biblical is actually hilarious and ironic.

[@tomtemple69]

@@TruLuan you think works are necessary for salvation... you're preaching a false gospel according to Galatians 1....

[@eddiebrown6035]

I dont think he is representing Calvinism accurately. I too had a hard time, but I cant deny scripture, which teaches that God had decreed what so ever comes to pass, and men make their own choices. Men will choose what they want, and all of us were born sinners, loving the things of the world. No one was seeking God, not one. So... This means it is up to God to save us.. so he can do two things: Send Jesus to die for all, and hope someone comes to him(which we wont, because we are sinners and love our sin) Paul clearly states that in Roman's 3. No one Righteous, no one who seeks God,. Or He send his son to die for a people he has known before time began, and when I say known, i mean intimately known them. At the end of the day we have to ask, why does God save us at all? He is not obligated to do so, but because of his great Love for us, God who is rich in mercy makes us alive with Christ even when we were dead in our sins. Praise be to God!!😁👏👏

[@Jgbeg]

This is such an inconsistency. If god decreed for people to deny him then they obviously aren’t making free choices. At least not “free” as most of us would define the word.

[@eddiebrown6035]

@@Jgbeg His decree is bought about by secondary means. So, men make there own choices, sinners are born not wanting God, we know this from scripture Brother, no one seeks after him. God desires to display the fulness of who he is to us, his Love, his justice, his mercy, his grace, his wrath and hatred toward sin. so if he saved all men, where can he display his justice and wrath against sin, if he send us all to hell, where can he display his Love and mercy. God does not forcing men to not believe in him, that is what they are doing. there is not one man who is truly crying out to God from their heart, and God will ignore them. He in fact he has already given him a new heart. God has predestined a people to salvation, His Love has been on them before time, and through the preaching of the gospel, they are called. We all deserve hell for all eternity brother, by nature we were children of wrath, but God.

[@Jgbeg]

Eddie Brown i agree with most of what you said, but if God has predestined individuals before the beginning of time to be saved then do those who are non elect really have a choice in the matter? You say god does not force men not to believe in him which I agree to that. But under your systematic that’s exactly what he does. If they are non elect then they cannot choose god therefore there is no choice to make. They are damned from the beginning. Am I wrong?

[@eddiebrown6035]

@@Jgbeg It's still not a force brother. In the beginning he made Adam and Eve perfect with free will. Giving them one law to obey, not to eat from the fruit. We see he is not the creator of evil, though he do allow is for his Glory. Adam and Eve chose to sin against God, the sin committed by them. I had questions about election, but scripture is pretty clear, I can not deny it. Paul answers the objection that you and even I raised to election, the question that is raised is, Why does God still blames us? For who is able to resist his will? And Paul answers by saying, who are you a human being to talk back to God. That's a hard rebuke, knowing, that would be the rejection to election, he addressed it and settled it.

[@Jgbeg]

Eddie Brown Romans 9 is not a debate between a Calvinist and Arminian. God is saying he has the right to do with the hardened Jew what he pleases. What’s you’re saying is he is not the author of evil but he has decreed to bring evil to pass? And he’s not the one deciding for the reprobate but he’s the one who decided pre determined him to hell?

[@edmcfall3519]

I’m a Calvinist but I treat everyone like they are elect. God knows everything, I do not. My job is to be faithful and to preach the gospel in season and out of season

[@mattyoutubes]

Amen

[@OkieAllDay]

But if you did know you wouldn’t preach to them? And do you want everybody to be saved? If so, then why do you want something God doesn’t want? If not, then do you let friends know you don’t want everybody to go to heaven?

[@kurtgundy]

​@@OkieAllDay God takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked, Ezekiel said. So that is biblical and the appropriate attitude we should have. I know I am a wretched sinner saved by grace. Therefore, I want other undeserving sinners to know God's grace as well.

[@davidgcavada]

Amen, brother. I think Greg Laurie should have a discussion with a calvinist. But there might be "hyper calvinist" people who don't do evangelism, but I never met one.

[@DeXter_tainment]

​@@OkieAllDaythis is hypothetical argumentation and it's a waste of time

[@johnhorazy12notes]

It’s not Calvin or Luther….Its Jesus!…..

[@noahhawkins6170]

Well guess what Jesus said “no one can come to me unless the father who sent me draws Him, and I will raise him up on the last day” (John 6:44)

[@Cici_Dial]

@@johnhorazy12notes Jesus gave us teachers, of which Calvin and Luther are two.

[@Proverbs9v10]

@@Cici_Dial Buddy you should read 1 Corinthians 1:10-17.

[@abuelb]

​@@Proverbs9v10those who are called and believe are the elect/chosen from eternity past.

[@noahperez2786]

@@noahhawkins6170 once you know of jesus, you are thereby being drawn. if you want ALL scripture to be harmonious together, thats the only way to awknowledge the verse.

[@Sir_Gugharde_Wuglis]

The scriptures say people are ‘predestined’. I don’t get why this is such a hang up for people, just because you have a perception of choice does not mean God, who is all knowing and knows the future (because He transcends time and can exist in the past, future and the present simultaneously ) , wouldn’t know the outcome of your spirit or soul by judgement day. You are temporal. He is Eternal. He is all knowing. You don’t know everything, except maybe enough to have faith. Even if you and I are predestined, I didn’t know that when I was once an atheist, nor do I know the fate of anybody else for eternity; it’s too big for me to grasp, and so I believe and have faith, and you should too. You need faith to do the impossible (but possible only in Christ Jesus) of bridging the gap between the finite in the infinite, and you should choose to believe and have faith.

[@MovieMasquerade]

Despite not agreeing with you regarding "perception of choice" I do 100% agree with your last sentence

[@jcthomas3408]

Read the verses that use the word predestined. They are never about a nonbeliever being predestined to be a believer. They are about the believer being predestined to conform to the image of the Son, or the believer being predestined for the redemption of our bodies.

[@tomceman4451]

@@jcthomas3408 "They are about a nonbeliever being predestined to be a believer. They are about the believer being predestined to conform to the image of the Son, or the believer being predestined for the redemption of his body." Is there a case where a believer was not predestined to conform to the image of the Son? Is there a case where a believer is not predestined for the redemption of his body? Once a person has accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior, he should be predestined to conform to the image of the Son. I have seen one or two cases where this statement is not true. Of course, the tares and the goats are inside the church. Judas Iscariot was such a person. I can understand that some people interpret the verse to be conformed to the image of the Son. Every believer should be predestined for the redemption of his body. It is redundant for God to predestine every believer for the redemption of his body. Charles Templeton was a Christian. Then, he became anti-Christian. Bart D. Ehrman was a Christian. Now, Bart D. Ehrman is an anti-Christian. Michael Shermer was a Christian. Now, Michael Shermer is an anti-Christian. Dan Barker was a Christian. Now, Dan Barker is an anti-Christian. 1 John 2:19. "They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us." I find character flaws in these people. Would I be able to find character flaws in these people when they were Christians? I don’t know. Would I be able to find character flaws in Christians? Yes, I can. I am a Christian critic. If a person has character flaws, does it mean that he is not a Christian? I don’t know. Only God knows. If the Bible is the word of God, a Christian should love it. A Calvinist holds a high view of the Scriptures. Some Christian preachers said, “The bible is one of the books of antiquity.” “The Bible is a collection of ancient writings. It is not applicable for today living.” I saw a Christian preacher spoke words without content. The atheists attack the Bible with confidence. I am a Calvinist. I take all the bad Calvinist's beliefs out and keep all the good ones. The Calvinist's behavior and anti-Calvinist's behavior should be the same. I support all anti-Calvinists’ efforts to win all non-elect people to Christ. I reject all Calvinists with bad behavior. Bad Calvinists exist. If I know who they are, I would tell all people to avoid them at all costs. I have not met a bad Calvinist. I am probably blind to the Calvinist who behaves badly.

[@jcthomas3408]

@@tomceman4451 I am just going by what the Bible says. I.e. Romans 8:29 says those that God already knows (believers) He predestines to be conformed into the image of his Son. If someone changes their path (rejects God after accepting Him) they would no longer be conforming to the image of His Son. Definitely not a Calvinistic view, but it is Biblical.

[@tomceman4451]

@@jcthomas3408 Romans 8:29 says those that God already knows (believers) He predestines to be conformed into the image of his Son. No one will disagree with this statement. You have to put the time table on it to tie people's underwear in knots. When did God know the believers? Ephesians 1:4. "For He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless in His presence."

[@Puddycat00]

I believe in God, I believe in the trinity and the word of God, so honestly I trust in God and I believe there are some things, many things that are only known to God, and I am happy to let it be.. I have enough with working on my own growth and fighting off Satan.

[@pastorgreglaurie6844]

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[@nateboy123]

Ignore that Greg Laurie scam bot Edit: The scam bot thing that replied to your comment

[@Dexters.LaBOREatory]

What is trinity? Is that satanism or witchcraft, or both??

[@lightray9573]

@@Dexters.LaBOREatory trinity just means 3 in 1btw its neither and biblically it's called Godhead, you see it all throughout the old and new testament scriptures

[@ihatesnow1762]

@@lightray9573 i honestly got scared there, I thought you called the Trinity un Biblical.

[@theeclecticcollective8279]

10 And when he was alone, those around him with the twelve asked him about the parables. 11 And he said to them, “To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God, but for those outside everything is in parables, 12 so that “they may indeed see but not perceive,and may indeed hear but not understand, lest they should turn and be forgiven.” Mark 4:10-12 | ESV Why did Jesus speak in parables? Hint: vs12

[@ianrose5874]

Read further down in Mark. He taught them as much as they CD understand.

[@JDubbs740]

"It is no novelty, then, that I am preaching; no new doctrine. I love to proclaim these strong old doctrines, that are called by nickname Calvinism, but which are surely and verily the revealed truth of God as it is in Christ Jesus." -Charles Spurgeon

[@jesusweisbrod5783]

Ditto and Amen to that 👍!!!

[@Gablesman888]

Spurgeon also proclaimed that Calvinism is simply historical orthodox Christianity. It is what the original Christians believed. Read what they wrote. Arminianism, named after its "founder", Jacobus Arminius, did not come along until the 1500's. That's fifteen centuries after the Resurrection. You can connect the dots theologically from Jesus, to Paul and other apostles, to the early Church fathers like Irenaeus, Ambrose (and a large number of others), to St. Augustine, St. Thomas Acquinas, Martin Luther, John Calvin, into the 1600's with John Owen, 1700's with Jonathan Edwards, then Charles Haddon Spurgeon, Meacham, Piper, Sproul, to the present. There is no comparative All Star chain of theologians for Arminians. And in my list I have left out many many other superstars of the Christian faith who would today be called Calvinists. Including all of the great OT guys.

[@Gablesman888]

@@musikhal23 Never heard of a Christian believer who suffered fatigue and tiredness over sound Biblical teaching, especially that coming from one Charles Haddon Spurgeon. Spurgeon would have been the first to tell you that he was not infallible and certainly he and his contemporary Pope Pius IX did not see eye to eye on that much. With that said, if you seriously want exegeted Bible quotes properly contexted, one of the really great sources is--wait for it--the sermons of--wait again--Charles Haddon Spurgeon. Some 3000 Spurgeon sermons survive. They are a wealth of sound Bible teaching. And remember that Spurgeon was a pulpit preacher, not a "full time" theologian like an Augustine or Calvin. Growing up in the Arminian Oort Cloud, as a kid I was unaware of the Arminian/Augustinian (more accurate term than Calvinist) debate. My Arminian Baptist preacher quoted Spurgeon all the time in sermons but I still did not learn who he was until I became Reformed in my theology. Anyway, regardless of Spurgeon's orientation, he is very Bible all the time. You can actually listen to his sermons on KZbin read by more than one minister from Great Britain. You are welcome. God bless you.

[@Gablesman888]

@@martyroth2994 And neither did you or I. But we are commanded by the Great Commission to share the Word and Spurgeon does an enviable job of that as he faithfully adheres to the rightly divided Word of God. I speak of Spurgeon in the present tense as his Christian witness continuously shines forth after more than a century. This is where you and I should long to be a century from now.

[@Gablesman888]

@@martyroth2994 Nobody, including Spurgeon, you, or I would equate Arminianism or Calvinism with the Word of God. Systematic theologies, however, do expound on the truths found in Holy Scripture. Same with Bible teaching and preaching. One of the discoveries I made coming out of the Arminian cloud and into the daylight of Augustinianism (some call it Calvinism) is that Arminianism is nowhere to be found in the Bible while Reformed theology is seen on practically every page of Scripture. Today's Protestant churches especially are wrestling wih the Arminian/Augustinian debate. The more I hear both sides debate the more I realize that much of the problem is not the spiritual blindness of Arminians so much as their lack of education, especially when it comes to exegeting scripture. I speak from experience having been in the Arminian camp. Arminians bring a dose of humanism to interpreting the Bible. Again, I speak from experience. And one of the real fatal issues with Arminianism is that it did not exist until the time of Jacobus Arminius who lived some fifteen centuries after the Resurrection of our Lord. Early church fathers, and such giants of theology as Augustine and St. Thomas Aquinas do not speak of it. Another issue with Arminianism is that there are folks who claim the name of Christ and are saved I believe, but who just cannot stomach the fact that the God of Creation would be that much in charge of His universe. They want God to "behave" according to their humanist inclinations. Hopefully, that is not your proclivity. Btw, all of the verses you list are verses that support basic Reformed theology. Just learn exegesis, not eisegesis. Big difference.

[@Tylerstrodtman]

no one responds when I ask this: if God isn’t sovereign over who is and isnt saved, read the New Testament and explain why all of the verbs regarding salvation are referencing Gods actions, not ours.

[@dudenotsoperfect9366]

True. God does what He wants. Jude 1 verse 4 is a good example.

[@indiaparalatin7707]

In proverbs it says He even created the wicked for the day of trouble, what do you think?

[@thomashart3487]

Creating people he knows will do wicked is not the same as creating people to do wicked.

[@karacole2304]

Read Romans 9 and tell me what you think. God says He hates the wicked in the Psalms. Whomever gets saved is saved by God's grace alone.

[@ricoparadiso]

@@thomashart3487 Pharaoh’s heart was purposefully hardened by the Will & purpose of God. What is your stance on this? This clearly speaks of double predestination. (Romans 9:15-23) “For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” 16 So then *it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy.* 17 For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” 18 So then *he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills.* 19 You will say to me then, “Why does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?” 20 But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, “Why have you made me like this?” 21 Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use? 22 What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, 23 in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory-“

[@janeline4936]

I used to believe in Calvinism and I honestly didn't grow to be more loving, graceful or merciful. I think I became more legalistic. I can easily identify a reformed church but now I'm so afraid to find a church I can be with outside the Calvinistic teachings. I don't believe in speaking in tongues so I don't want to go pentecostal churches. Are traditional independent baptist church non Calvinist? Or most evangelicals?

[@ciara78624]

well speaking in tongues is real because the Bible says so but churches who speak in tongues all the time with no interpretations are doing it wrong. U don’t have to know how to speak in tongues to be saved it’s one of the spiritual gifts. I would recommend a Calvary church because they are usually non-denominational and I agree with u that Calvinism is a false teaching because Gods will is that none should perish but that all should come to repentance

[@janeline4936]

@Micah Burns yes I'm already following him and listening to him. Thanks dear

[@stevec9095]

@@ciara78624 I wouldn't call Calvinism false. I think an extreme version of any belief is too much. I would say it's OK to be a soft Calvinist, meaning it could be true that we are predestined but we don't know who is in or out, so we must practice discipline and spread the gospel. The Shepherd is always testing his sheep 🐑

[@0vercast7]

@@stevec9095 Um, if you label yourself anything other than a Christian, you’re already on the wrong path. When God looks at a Christian/unbeliever, he’ll look at them as one of those two, not Calvinist or Arminianist. Christians today get too caught up in the, “early church fathers” where they begin to mention John Calvin and Augustine even more than the men who wrote you your inspired word. A soft Calvinist is none the less a Calvinist, and God doesn’t even look at you as such on a spiritual level; why even waste your time

[@protruth1]

@@ciara78624 what you said is incorrect. Speaking in tongues does not always require an interpreter. The Speaking in tongues you are referencing that requires an interpreter is the operation of the GIFT of tongues and the GIFT of interpretation. Not everyone has this GIFT. The other tongues that require no interpretation are tongues that are available to every believer to use in prayer. Praying in tongues is for every believer. This tongue is given to every believer who has been baptized with the Holy Spirit, which is a SEPARATE event from the born-again salvation experience. The Born again salvation experience is when God regenerates your spirit to come into relationship with Him through His Spirit. This is reconciliation as a result of redemption. Being baptized with the Holy Spirit is empowerment for ministry. Baptism with the Holy Spirit activates specific gifts that have distributed to you by the Holy Spirit. Word of wisdom, word of knowledge, prophecy, etc. The initial evidence of baptism with the Holy Spirit is speaking in an unknown tongue. Baptism with the Holy Spirit and the distribution and operation of tongues is for every believer. This is NOT the GIFT of tongues, this is a personal prayer language operated by the Holy Spirit through your spirit. There are many who confuse the two events and argue that they are the same. If they were the same event you would be able to operate in gifts of the Spirit and speak in tongues when you became born again, but we do not see this as a reality. Those that argue that they are the same event do not function in any of the gifts of the Spirit nor do they speak in tongues, and they confuse the GIFT of tongues with one's personal prayer language. The bible is clear that we can and should pray in tongues and pray for a personal interpretation. The Gift of tongues is a completely separate manifestation of a Gift. The Gift of tongues functions during a christian assembly and instead of one speaking TO God in an unknown tongue, God is speaking TO His people and then Interpreting what has been spoken through a different believer who has the GIFT of interpretation of tongues. The prayer language is going up to God, the Gift is coming down from God.

[@ceez315]

I was saved by the ministry and preaching of Chuck Smith of Calvary Chapel. I thank God for that man and i thank God for Greg Laurie for both helped me grow in my faith. I spent over 20 years at Costa Mesa under the teachings of Chuck Smith and i will always consider those times precious to me. Years after my theology changed to Calvinism but I continued going to Calvary because I loved the teachings of Chuck although I really didn't like the picture he painted of Calvinists I believe it was inaccurate. But for a long time I believed it because Chuck said it until i studied in depth the doctrine of salvation (soteriology) from both camps and the Holy Spirit led me to believe the reformed view though there was no need for me to condemn any of my brothers who viewed it differently nor there was a need to leave calvary yet. Whoever is save by grace through fait in Jesus apart from works i consider my brother and sister in the Lord. I would suggest that before you believe what any person says about any side, you go and study it for yourself and be convicted by the Holy Spirit where you should stand so He can use you. I hear it all the time in their program "Pastor's Perspective", they continue painting an ugly picture of Calvinism. Before you swallow all that Greg says in this sermon get the whole picture, study to show your self approve, read, pray and above all love one another so that the world may see who our Lord is.

[@JeffF-gc3df]

Yes. Amen.

[@soupspoon9554]

@@ceez315 Calvinism presents a subtly different gospel than the one presented in scripture, ultimately debasing the very character and holiness of God.

[@readmatthew1028]

No. If you were saved it was by the power of the Holy Spirit. No man can save. Only Jesus saves.

[@Milfordbeach]

I'm guessing that there is at least one other person out of the billions of people who have ever lived that has studied this issue and has been "led" by the Holy Spirit to a conclusion other then the one you have come to. It appears as though Greg Laurie is one such person. You are either implying that people like yourself who claim to be led by the Spirit are mistaken, or that the Holy Spirit leads people to two different, mutually exclusive (this appears to be the perspective that most agree on- that it is either or, but not both) conclusions. How do you know which one is wrong? Is it the person who studied and then was led by the Holy Spirit, or the other guy who studied and was led by the Holy Spirit?

[@paulbortolazzo2831]

Calvinism is a false gospel that doesn’t save anyone

[@philtheo]

So... 😊 As Greg Laurie notes with his Spurgeon quote - and by the way, Spurgeon was a committed Calvinist (e.g. see Spurgeon's autobiography where he has an entire chapter titled "A Defense of Calvinism") - Calvinists believe in free will AND predestination (or determinism). They're friends, not enemies, as Spurgeon put it. I don't know why non-Calvinists often make it seem like Calvinism is opposed to free will. The kind of free will that Calvinism does oppose is libertarian free will in which, say, ultimately humans have the ability to save themselves, rather than salvation being all of God's grace. But Calvinism isn't opposed to free will in general. Calvinism believes free will and determinism are compatible which is why Calvinism is considered to be a kind of theological compatibilism.

[@benjaminonlyway8051]

Spurgeon was a Calvinist and never hid that fact. Predestination is in the Bible and so is man’s responsibility. Preach to all to repent of sin and believe in the Lord Jesus and you shall be saved.

[@tremontilp]

Pastor Laurie, would love to hear your exegesis of Romans 8:30, Romans 9, John 17, Ephesians 1:3-14, Galatians 1:15, just to name a few.

[@jasonharkness2992]

Jordan Montgomery 😂😂😂

[@jasonharkness2992]

Amen

[@Mark-oo3om]

Would love to hear your exegesis on Acts 7:51

[@reynaldodavid4755]

@@jasonharkness2992, Calvinism is a mixture of Biblical Truth and man-made Lies....It is more dangerous than Lies alone.... For instance the the Statement below which is the base of Calvinism is evil, because it contradicts the Character of God and Cannot be Supported by the Scriptures..... ''God arranges all things by His sovereign counsel, in such a way that individuals are born, who are doomed from the womb to certain death, and are to glorify Him by their destruction.''

[@reynaldodavid4755]

@@Mark-oo3om, Calvinism is a mixture of Biblical Truth and man-made Lies....It is more dangerous than Lies alone.... For instance the the Statement below which is the base of Calvinism is evil, because it contradicts the Character of God and Cannot be Supported by the Scriptures..... ''God arranges all things by His sovereign counsel, in such a way that individuals are born, who are doomed from the womb to certain death, and are to glorify Him by their destruction.''

[@BigG99]

Nothing he just said describes Calvinism. He just presented abuses of theology but not calvinism. Calvanists believe all are going to hell without Salvation. And that yes you do choose but only after God has enabled you to do so. Whoever Christ has set free is free indeed.

[@JS-bk2jl]

Amen

[@colinlennox1043]

Absolute nonsense he gives men a choice look at Jerusalem he how often would I’ve gathered u but would not God word open men heart but they can choose calvism is destroyed the true gospel message should not be in through a church door All can come All won’t All could calvism destroy the gospel end of 1700 and John and Charles weseley started to preach the whosoever and became the greatest gospel movement that century now it’s back and true gospel preaching is fading out the only thing we need is Christ and him alone and calvism out in theology bin

[@claydoyle6649]

@@colinlennox1043 Hi Colin, I did not say that I, myself, am a Calvanist. I am simply saying that Greg did not describe Calvanism correctly. Nor does he, in every message present the law that condemns and the Gospel that saves I love listening to Wesley's sermons read on you tube. Though, Wesley and Greg are nothing alike. I do not think either would say they are alike. As far as Jesus saying 'you would not' this statement is simply saying just that I.e. they would not. It doesn't explain the reasoning of why they 'would not'. A Calvanist would say that they would not because they we're not predestined. I've listened to Greg over 40 years and I have never heard him say, as Paul said, that we are enemies of God until, through Christ, we make peace with God. He never presents the entire Gospel and he teams with heretics on occasion. Though, Greg has been. a super faithful man, I think his theology is a bit pop Christianity so, I think he is unaware of the heresy of some he gives the right hand of fellowship. All around, I wish I were as faithful and hard working as he. He is a good example in that manner. As well, he is an encouraging guy and such a good representative of Jesus. I agree with much of your comment. I'm not sure I completely recall this message, just doing the best I can. Please excuse my wordiness! God's Best To You

[@Mark-oo3om]

@J C do you read the old testament much? Do you think vessels of wrath or the potter and the clay are new terms introduced by Paul? You should seriously consider reading Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekial, especially Ezekial if you want to know who vessels of wrath are. When God said Jacob I loved and Esau I hated, what is meant by hate used here? Is this same Greek word for hate used anywhere else, like maybe Luke 14:26? Ezekial chapters 3 and 33 tie directly into Acts 18 starting in v5. Who's blood is on who's head? What's the main focus of Paul as he builds his message up to, and through, Romans 9? Israel and their unbelief. Romans 9:30-32 is key here.

[@jessejimenez1793]

J C But still, we need to give them the gospel. don't think you think? The doctrine comes later after they being served

[@NonsoVincent_]

He's countering "hyper-calvinism" while labeling it as Calvinism. Even his conclusive statement is what every Calvinist agrees with. At the end of the day, if we all stick to the scriptures, we'll all arrive at the same place - unity of the faith.

[@plumber1874]

There is no such thing as a hyper Calvinist it's like big foot no one has actually seen one. You are either a consistent Calvinist or an inconsistent Calvinist thankfully most people are inconsistent Calvinists.

[@NonsoVincent_]

@@plumber1874 Even a simple Google search could help you

[@4jgarner]

​@@plumber1874lol a literal no true Scotsman. Nice!

[@joelauretta4067]

Amen

[@Gericho49]

Who are we created in the image of, God or the devil? Who is *TOTALLY depraved,* God or the devil? Calvin had 56 dissenters executed in Geneva because they rejected his heresies. What more needs to be said?

[@youngsterjoey9038]

so you deny original sin and maintain that humanity has inherent righteousness? and who is the heretic?

[@cliffbailey6474]

@@youngsterjoey9038 Do you have to believe in Calvin to be saved?

[@youngsterjoey9038]

@@cliffbailey6474 you cannot be Pelagian and believe in Christ as your Savior.

[@cliffbailey6474]

@@youngsterjoey9038 what was my question?

[@youngsterjoey9038]

@@cliffbailey6474 do you have amnesia?

[@lethltruth]

DL Moody was an Arminianist but he taught against focusing on prophecy. Spurgeon stated that the Gospel is Calvinism and Calvinism is the Gospel.

[@stevenwalden2313]

A man centered Gospel will always replace the sovereignty of God with what seems fair to man.

[@warrensmith3070]

Man is not God's counsellor...sadly most these days do not place God highly enough...nor man lowly enough...in their arrogance they create a god that's a figment of their imagination, not the God of the Bible...they want their "god" as a genie in a bottle to serve them...Calvinism 100% biblical...

[@stephenblackwell5533]

@@busybody1474 wow all that from his post? He's a hypocrite? You don't know that and you don't know his heart and honestly from what I've seen on both sides there are very loving people like Greg and like others who teach the opposite view which is calvinism. Maybe let me see you unpack Romans 9 for me right now please.....

[@jacoblucken]

@@busybody1474 we don't know who God predestined so we need to proclaim the gospel to everyone

[@jimjones3370]

This is the problem with non-calvinist. They promote Man above God. Man's choice above God's choice. We are not neutrally moral creatures, our will is enslaved to sin. It is our master. A slave cannot choose their master. A man can not choose to be born again anymore than a baby chooses when to be birthed by the mother. Spirit gives birth to Spirit not flesh gives birth to spirit.

[@pkrockin3923]

calvinism is a man-centered gospel.

[@ToOpen6seven]

Most Calvinist appear arrogant and cold to me or is that just in my mind? They are very elitist and not humble much.

[@mickeyroggers3008]

I thought i was the only one who felt like that. I mean they are so learned with writings of the puritans until sometimes they just show some little ego

[@tommykaira8775]

Nope i just left a calvinist church.

[@johnmcphee9439]

They believe they're "special".

[@gabrielkinzel3389]

Yeah, that’s good to know. Hopefully I won’t be arrogant as a Calvinist. Hehe

[@miac1974]

@@gabrielkinzel3389 not everyone of us are arrogant. You decide how you want to be.

[@paulvail2850]

What a beautiful presentation of several "seemingly" contrary scriptures. I love it. P.V. retired Wesleyan Arminian pastor.

[@dougb170]

Fair enough. What does Pastor Greg Laurie say about assurance of salvation? Once saved, always saved, or could someone lose his or her salvation?

[@PPCalvinist]

How many Calvinist does it take to change a lightbulb? I don’t know, but it will NOT change itself...

[@paullee9355]

loooooooooooooooool. This wins

[@randyomatta4302]

It won't change itself, but God will give me the desire, by the new heart He has given me to change it for his Glory.

[@SerendipitousProvidence]

It only takes the specified amount as per the eternal decree of God. Next

[@pkrockin3923]

@@randyomatta4302 no.

[@pastorgreglaurie6844]

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[@jabswitthoft2057]

My greatest fear with the doctrine of Free will is that it somehow seems to give glory to men, for their so called "Response" to accepting Christ. It undoubtedly limits God within time. He is outside of time. The Gift of salvation is irresistible... The blood is significantly stronger than my feelings or emotions. "He who has ears, Let him hear".....leaves me wondering who gives ears to men.

[@uncasunga1800]

God deceidd evrythiong about man the moment He deceided there would be man. He just didnt tell us so now you have every cult wackjob human glorifying satan beiever claiming they have this made up free will when our will is CLEARLY enslaved. you dont need the bible to know that you just need honest common sense when facing yourself. The bible just explains obvious reality that weve bbeen blinded to.

[@uncasunga1800]

God could never be taught anything. Not about you not from you

[@walnoemispoyt5604]

There is nothing to fear about the doctrine of free will. The fear only happens because Calvinists over-complicate the bible. Humans have free will because we are made in the image of God. Perhaps it will help you to think that we have an image of free will. When we talk about free will we are talking about having the ability to choose otherwise to be able to make moral choices and to be moral by following Jesus Christ. God is not limited because God will have mercy on whom he will have mercy and compassion on whom he will have compassion. God is freely choosing to wait for his people to choose to follow him. God will act when he wants to act. God before the foundations of the world did not predetermine some people to be dammed and others to be saved.

[@an_nie_dyc1386]

No glory for responding…only glory for the One who died for a wretch like me and saved my life for eternity.

[@rosecarney4111]

@@walnoemispoyt5604GOD knew my destiny prior to forming ADAM.

[@jayceoneal]

Do you have any commentary recommendations that are similar to God's Word for you series or Christ Centered Exposition Commentary series that's not from a reformed influence?

[@tommytriumph9258]

This guy doesn't understand Calvinism. He misrepresented it.

[@beelzzebub]

Calvinism teaches that we are predestined to Heaven/Hell - do you disagree? If so, please show me how, as if calvinism doesn't say that, then I might be all for it! :D

[@ClickToPreview]

@@beelzzebub Read Paul's letter to the Romans carefully. If you don't believe Paul's writings, then you don't believe John's writings, which means you don't believe Jesus' DIRECT teachings to both of them and now you have a SERIOUS problem. Calvin is wrong here and there, NO DOUBT, unless you want to claim that he was taught directly by Jesus, as were John AND Paul. But to deny Paul's writings is to deny what Jesus taught him DIRECTLY, and if you believe that Jesus is the WORD then you will have a serious reconciliation problem if you decide to disregard Paul's writings. Calvin was indeed preaching his understanding of the crux of Jesus' teaching to Paul regarding predestination, and the Potter's (God the Father's) sovereignty over the clay to MAKE some vessels for honor, and some for dishonor. These are Jesus' teachings TO Paul. If you deny these teachings to Paul BY Jesus, you are denying that Jesus is THE WORD OF GOD. Tread carefully. This argument isn't about "Calvinism". It is about PAUL'S TESTIMONY of what JESUS TAUGHT HIM.

[@beelzzebub]

ClickToPreview you are going very deep into this, but my question was simple. Are we predestined to heaven/hell by God’s choice for our lives? I would say no, and that an answer of ‘yes’ makes us puppets of an unloving God - (but I believe God is loving and gives ALL people a chance but forces it on NOBODY)

[@JonathanGrandt]

If you understand Calvinism then your mind has been turned to mush.

[@JonathanGrandt]

Lymer he, like most Calvinists, is unable to answer a simple question.

[@ifesoks8447]

1:40 is called hyper Calvinism and it’s unbiblical

[@ethanhendricks3078]

Yes it is not what Calvinist teach nor even the people who actually teach total depravity.

[@tristen7085]

Calvanists are haters..if they don't see you as a calvanist they cut off relationshup with you. They judge your spirituality and count themselves above everyone else and look down on you. It's a cult

[@ifesoks8447]

@@tristen7085 wow, I’m so sorry you’ve met Calvinist who’ve made you feel this way, certainly it was the opposite for me. Nonetheless I’d ask you to read thickly into the doctrines of grace outside these sentiments and ask yourself if it’s biblical, which should be your priority, holding to biblical views regardless of your interaction with flawed humans just like me and you. Again, sorry you feel that way :( God bless you

[@tristen7085]

It's been my experience by my son inlaw and my daughter. He is afraid of spiritual gifts, holy spirit all freedom in the spirit. His whole family have cut us off.

[@Stirling_RC_Videos]

I've always said that God can do what He wants and since I'm not God, I can't reconcile these in my mind. So, yes, I am a free will AND predestined believer. God will tell us when we get to heaven how He reconciles it.

[@MichaelJMetz]

My two cents; Predestination is God reserving a place for each person in heaven. Free will give you the choice to accept or decline the reservation. Just sayin'.

[@0vercast7]

Yeah they’re both there

[@abundantharmony]

@@0vercast7 Yep. The middle path.

[@patiduran2438]

No free will in Salvation

[@goldenwestfarm]

You're saying there'll be a few empty seats in heaven??

[@stardas71]

So think about. 1) if it were truly up to us to choose God we would choose the world over God each time 2) saying we have the capability as His creation to resist and choose whether we want to believe put us at His level, which is ridiculous we can’t resist His will period. God can do whatever whenever to whomever He wants. He can even pick and choose who He wants to be in Heaven and he’ll, he is a sovereign God and we are nothing more than His creation.

[@deborahruthtrotter2154]

Some take the part of Jesus talking to His disciples totally out of context. God specifically chose them as apostles for a specific purpose. It is NOT about whether people are individually chosen for salvation or hell.

[@reynaldodavid4755]

Deborah Ruth Trotter, Calvinism is evil because it is a mixture of Biblical Truth and man-made Lies... But 'Election and predestination' is indeed Biblical, and God predestined some to be saved....and some to be cast to hell.... Jesus was indeed sent by the father Only for the Elect.....

[@uncasunga1800]

@@reynaldodavid4755 you clearly have no idea what calvinsim is becuase you went on to describe its outcome hahahahahha

[@uncasunga1800]

@@reynaldodavid4755 you are not old enough to drink in america are you hahaha

[@reynaldodavid4755]

@@uncasunga1800, Sorry, I never been in America, and I never desire to go there...

[@reynaldodavid4755]

@@uncasunga1800, Really ??? So explain to me what do you know about Calvinism....

[@robertbeaumont790]

What about the passage in the Bible where God says "For Jacob I have always loved but Esau I have always hated." This verse I can't connect... if that makes sense?

[@Mr.K316]

Esau and Jacob are also nations (edomites and Israel) Edomites were wicked and evil

[@markchavez738]

Im a bit confused now. I thought I did believe in the Calvinism doctrine. I Do Not believe some are predestined to hell and some to Heaven. However I do believe we are so depraved that we can’t even come to God unless he puts it in our hearts to do so. So is Calvinism biblical or not Greg? Help me out here.

[@ElementMaster22]

I consider myself a Calvinist, so I will help you out. You don't have to adhere to all 5 points of calvinism as a lot of people don't. Some people are 4 pointers, others 3, others 2 etc. I myself am a 4 point Calvinist with the only doctrine I reject is limited atonement. People have a freewill and yet God is sovereign and nothing is outside his plan (including who gets saved). It is a mystery that we won't resolve with our finite brains as there are verses that clearly state God predestines people (see Ephesians 1:1-11) yet it says he desires all to come to repentance (see 1 Timothy 2:4). I would say Calvinism is pretty Biblical.

[@markchavez738]

Michael Bryant Thanks Michael for your comment. :)

[@stephenblackwell5533]

Whosoever will is stated and also He desires all to come to repentance so I don't see anyone destined to hell. I see that in this world even all that happens isn't God's will. So those who reject Christ do so outside His will. At the same time He chooses and wills all to be saved but that doesn't always happen. I don't believe it was God's will for Adam and Eve to sin but in the beginning He already had a plan to redeem us.

[@jcthomas3408]

Calvinism is a man made filter to read the Bible through. Eph 1 is not saying God predestined nonbelievers to be believers. It is a list of blessings that God prepared ahead of time for those who are in Him (believers). Believers are predestined to the future redemption of our bodies. Romans 8:23 makes it clear that the adoption = the redemption of our bodies. Predestination in the Bibke is never referring to God predestining a nonbeliever to be a believer.

[@stephenblackwell5533]

Jc Thomas I agree with you Romans 9 does seem to confuse people some...

[@sampowellmusic]

It sounds nice but 2:42 simply isn’t enough time to fully refute the error of Calvinism. You need at least 3 more minutes.

[@TruthHurts58]

Calvinism is merely a Christ-centered view of scripture where God gets all the glory for every act of eternal good ever done on this planet and rightfully so!

[@hbarwickjr]

Amen! Hallelujah! God is not willing that any should parrish but that all come to repentance. Jesus tasted death for every man. Years ago a Calvinist believer gave me a TULIP tract. I didn't know anything about Calvinism. God's Spirit raised the red flag for me when I read, "Christ died to save 'certain' sinners!"

[@JerynToney]

Yes, 'certain' sinners. Namely: repentant sinners. Sinners whom never would have had the notion to repent had they not been made conscious of their sin by conviction, after recognizing they had been elected to follow Christ.

[@hbarwickjr]

@@JerynToney My point was to imply Christ died for all sinners. He is not willing that any should perish but that all come to repentance. In light of the scriptures literally, I'm in full agreement with Greg Laurie on this.

[@hbarwickjr]

What I meant to imply was that Christ died for all sinners. As it is written God is not willing that any should perish but that all would come to repentance. He tasted death for every man. In light of the scriptures literally, I agree with Greg Laurie completely on this.

[@JerynToney]

@@hbarwickjr He cherry picked 316, but neglected to draw attention to 317 which tells us Christ did not come to judge. If he did not come to judge, salvation was not the purpose of the crucifixion. Atonement was. That atonement was limited to 'whomesoever believed', and only those elected would believe, because man is totally depraved, as easily pointed out by various scriptures. John 318 explains that judgement has already been passed, which means predestination. John 316 doesn't mean anything on its own until it is illuminated by it's context, no matter how many bumpers it gets stuck to.

[@warrenbuyer]

You've mis-represented that verse. Here's the clue - when the author of 2 Peter says "you", who is he referring to? Who's the audience? Context, friend

[@JesusChristISTHEONETRUEGOD]

God knew who would and who will reject the gospel...that’s not the same as predetermined. God uses all for His glory nonetheless.

[@5ivepoints18]

It sounds like you are saying that some men freely choose to crawl out of the pit of their sin on their own & then seek after God to choose Him. Yet that is totally refuted by the bible which tells us that we are DEAD in our trespasses, slaves to sin, that none of us are good or seek after God. It tells us that we must rely on the Father to draw us to Christ. I think the predestination issue is being used by satan to divide the church. I see more hatred & animosity between true believers in Christ on this topic then any other. If you and I both rely on Jesus Christ for salvation by grace through faith then we should embrace each other & agree to disagree on how we both got there! Welcome brother in Christ!

[@Red_Sector_7]

I used to believe that too, many years ago when I was an ignorant Christian, and did not understand God's Word in the Bible. The problem with that is it is not scriptural in the least. God 'Declares the end from the beginning, and the things not yet done, saying my counsel shall stand and I will do all my pleasure - Isaiah 46:10. In other words, it is God who has chosen the things that will happen upon His creation the Earth and the people in it, not man himself. Once I started studying the Bible in earnest and the Spirit began showing me what the scriptures mean, the Bible unfolded before me and I began to have understanding, to rightly divide the word of truth [2 Timothy 2:15]. Some of the most powerful verses about predestination according to God's will in salvation are found in Ephesians 1. He knew our names before the foundation of the world and predestined us to salvation by His own will. Not our will, but His. Remember what God told Moses which Paul quotes in Romans 9: Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth - Romans 9:18 Romans 9:15-23 shows us clearly by who's will we are saved, and it is also clearly written it is not by our own will, for Romans 3:11 states there are none that seek after God. The word 'none' means 'no one.' Therefore none of us can be the exception to that. This is extremely powerful scripture and once a person begins to understand it is not by our own will but by God's mercy upon us that we are saved, we then realize it is not about us at all, but about the will of the Almighty God and Father of us all.

[@ClickToPreview]

God IS wisdom and knowledge. He doesn't "know" a thing. HE is the progenitor of it. HE is the CREATOR of it. He is the PANTOKRATOR, the ALL-FATHER-CREATOR. To lower Him down to the level of someone who can "see the future" is to truly not understand God's PREEMINENCE.

[@ClickToPreview]

@@Red_Sector_7 Absolutely. Isn't it truly amazing what God does to His chosen ones when he calls them into salvific faith? I have heard the "word of God" preached throughout my entire life in various "churches" with ZERO understanding of ANY OF IT. It wasn't until HE, HIM ALONE, opened my eyes and GAVE ME SUPERNATURAL UNDERSTANDING of the writings that seem SO OBVIOUS now as to the TRUTH of His WEDDING ARRANGEMENTS for His Son.

[@uncasunga1800]

@@ClickToPreview The moment God decided to make man He decieded every single puny humans fate every movement of molecules and every moment and instance that has and will ever happen in mans or angels history. Everything comes from Him. He cannot possibly leanr anything from us, and He cannot possibly learn anything ABOUT us.

[@ryanmossman3842]

Terrible misrepresentation of Calvinism by Greg Laurie... “You just better hope you haven’t been predestined to hell”?!?! 1:20 Hell is the destination of EVERY sinner, men don’t have to be predestined to it. Election is the MERCY of God to save whom He wills from this dreadful end, while leaving others to themselves (Rom. 9:16,18). When people understand what we really deserve as sinners - nothing less than eternal wrath - the objection of “unfairness” will be silenced. The scriptures that appeal to mans will to “choose God” is understood with the confidence that Gods elect (HIS sheep) will hear HIS voice (John 10:27). Any mans “coming to Christ” is a result - not initial cause - of The Father FIRST “drawing” them (John 6:44).

[@uncasunga1800]

the goats on as if they can force themselves on God cause "he cant force himself on me" that means He aint with you morons. LOl

[@martinheatingcoolingmartin4693]

God does not wish any to perish but for all to come to faith in Christ! Amen. Just keep sharing and preaching the word. In season and out of season. Thank you for the Gospel. Let’s share it, they many might respond.

[@marisolmagana6862]

I like so much how he preaches, but I totally reject what he states here!! Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor? - Romans 9.21

[@beelzzebub]

I know he didn't fully answer the question - but I still love his answer! I have been struggling a lot with calvinism lately - I just can't accept it, specifically the predestination to Heaven/Hell. Greg gave some great points why predestination to Heaven/Hell just doesn't work! Really helpful thanks!

[@ryangallmeier6647]

Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. 4 For certain people have crept in unnoticed WHO LONG AGO WERE DESIGNATED FOR THIS CONDEMNATION, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ. [Jude 3-4]. Need more Scriptural proof that God has "long ago designated" the wicked for condemnation? Your main problem, of course, is that you don't know how to biblically define "human libertarian free will"; in fact, no synergist does (even many Reformed/Calvinists unfortunately do not either). Questions? Let me know. *Soli Deo Gloria*

[@uncasunga1800]

God doesnt owe you or any puny human anything. Especially when you cannot accept Him becuase you are obsessed with yourself. Good luck forcing yourself on Him.

[@katierucker2870]

Lymer ignore the hateful Calvinistic comments. People do have free will and the choice to reject God and His Word.

[@katierucker2870]

Ryan Gallmeier they were not chosen to go to hell, but in context, God knows beforehand who believes and who doesn’t believe. Those who choose to reject Jesus Christ have brought condemnation on themeselves

[@katierucker2870]

Ryan Gallmeier context is important. How many times does God say He wants no one to perish but have everlasting life? Jesus says in John 3 that people are already condemned because of their unbelief in Him.

[@zyx7478]

Thank you Brother Laurie Thank you in Jesus Holy Name.

[@miraclesforus2]

Deepest gratitude for setting this straight! *****WHOMEVER is reading this please pray for my only son's SALVATION. His name is DANIEL. He survived unimaginable trauma and is in a DIRE state. Please pray The Lord set him free and deliver him from strongholds, addictions and forms of bondage. Sending a 💝💝💝💝full of love to ALL. May the live of God, the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit be with you all.

[@ToOpen6seven]

Lord please deliver and set free this young man Lord. Please let me see that YOU are the ONLY way for him. I pray this same prayer for my children, family, friends and strangers that are lost Father God, in the Name of Jesus Christ, our Savior and God.

[@thomasj5332]

Do you think a person needs to turn from sins in order to be saved?

[@miraclesforus2]

Mark and I Don't Know..I'm so grateful for your prayers. Be blessed in Jesus' name.🎁💝

[@mannygonzalez5009]

@@thomasj5332 Can you not set aside your question and just lift epiphany of veritas and his son Daniel in your prayers? Smh...

[@mercedesreynoso4318]

If he is predetermined to be saved he will be. If not, God already knew what he would choose and all the prayers in the works won't change his outcome.

[@kiddodiddo3506]

As a pastor myself, I have wrestled with this for many years, until one day I read Romans 1:17 and it all fell into place: “The righteous live by faith”. Let that incredible truth resonate.

[@markboe4570]

None of the verses Greg read mentioned anything about free will.

[@kenallen2256]

Well said Pastor Greg

[@andyheller2691]

There are verses that seem to support both views. So, which is it?

[@brainchopper]

I think you have to go with the passages proclaiming that Gods power is supreme and absolute - that he is omniscient and omnipotent, and then ponder if lesser states of being (like free will) are compatible with those supreme and dominant powers that God possesses.

[@andyheller2691]

@@brainchopper Thank you and very good thoughts and words and I agree. I do have a friend who is Arminian and he always says that within God's sovereignty He allowed free will. He says Calvinism cannot require moral transformation and that under Calvinism is doctrine over relationship.

[@brainchopper]

@@andyheller2691 Nothing exists that an all power and all knowing supreme being is not responsible for, nothing exists that he did not create, and nothing happens that he does not want to happen. If you want to start fireworks in any Christian discussion, then make a statement like " God is the creator evil" If they say "No God did not create evil" then you have to ask them "does evil exist?" If they say "evil exists but God did not cause or create it" then you can ask them again "is god the creator of all existent things". If they continue to say "evil exists but god did not create it" then you have to posit the statement " so you say something exists outside of Gods creation, if we can find one thing that god did not create then there is the possibility that other things exist that God did not create either". As uncomfortable as it is for some to acknowledge, an all powerful creator being is responsible for everything, and all that transpires in his presence is about fulfilling his purpose. His power over "all" is sovereign and total. Gods "will" for gods own purpose, god needs nothing from us, he is already complete in all ways........John Brain

[@andyheller2691]

@@brainchopper Thank you and very good words. I wrote these thoughts down. I'm having to challenge what I learned several years ago and it's not easy. I've struggled with it and even let a few people down because I'm not agreeing anymore with what I was taught. It's been not easy on many levels but I want the truth, God's truth.

[@brainchopper]

@@andyheller2691 One of the best things I ever heard many years ago - about who was a likely example of someone heading towards a good end. The following was a comment that went as follows " Good deeds do not make a man good, but a good man ( a blessed man) does good deeds" So what we do then is just be our good natural selves. Say to ourselves "yes I think I am a good person, and I just naturally want to continue being a good friend and neighbor to others....I want to be the kind of person that others look up to ..... and I think this is the real me, walking down a path set out for me as part of a greater purpose, I will continue to be the good person that I am, because that is what I am". Cheers.

[@kevinbarton1661]

Proverbs 3:5&6 Acts 1:8 Psalms 130 . Rocks Every word of God is for loving us to Himself. He asked kids to come talk to him and befriend Him . Jesus never complicated HIS Love . He wants us to draw from Him . To get refreshed. I am thankful for Greg Laurie . I am thankful that he denounces Calvinism . Jesus said - get up and walk to the man by the pool. .- And don’t be defeated by the Pharisees and The peddlers of the gospel . Jesus did overthrow the peddlers . Jesus said - be wise as serpents & harmless as Doves .

[@reynaldodavid2913Jo]

Pastor Greg Laurie, Predestination is Biblical: Acts 13:48 (NLT) ''When the Gentiles heard this, they were very glad and thanked the Lord for his message; and all who were chosen for eternal life became believers.''=>>> NOTE: These Gentiles who heard the gospel for the first time were already chosen(predestined) for Salvation, even before they became believers...

[@Gablesman888]

You are so right. Those Gentiles were already chosen for salvation before they ate their Cheerios for breakfast before heading out to hear Paul preach. LOL.

[@reynaldodavid2913Jo]

@@Gablesman888, Right brother...

[@musiciandeborah1854]

This is arguably the most concise and yet BEST articulation I've heard on this entire matter. I wish some would be more careful on this topic so as not to leave people thinking incorrect thoughts about God, like Job's friends did. Thank you, sir. Much respect.

[@010Bsanders]

John 3:16 "pas ho pisteuo" = "all the believing ones"

[@johnmyers3450]

That's the root, yes, πᾶς ὁ πιστεύων, but it is "pas ho pisteuon" transliterated from the manuscripts. Soli Deo Gloria.

[@HKFromAbove]

Can you provide the source for that. As Strongs does not reflect that interpretation

[@mustang8206]

Calvinists can't seem to understand that being non-Calvinist doesn't mean we are denying sinful human nature. It means we believe in a God who loves us enough that he lets us choose whether we want to love Him back or not

[@Mark-oo3om]

@@johnalbent Read the book of Ezekial. It's not inability it is rebellion.

[@abikinebi6235]

theyre really arrogant and think they are the "christian supremacists"

[@Tigerex966]

Amen. They think free will means will our savingbour selves and makes God a servant to us and weak. When the opposite is true.

[@Tigerex966]

@@johnalbent the Holy spirit draws all men to him and free will a gift from God allows us to accept God's offer of salvation through faith another gift not of ourselves so we do not boast, or we stay in sin through unbelief and reject it and will be rewarded or cursed justly based on our decision. So God is not predetermining any one goes to help or heaven. But he knows the beginning from the end even do.

[@robinl6659]

@@johnalbent correct!

[@MelissaFoxSee]

Read an article that pulled it all together for me.. Said there are three things you see in the Bible.. 1) free will 2) God influencing people to choose the right thing, but it’s still their decision 3) God overriding free will, making that choice for someone. God, in his sovereignty, gave us free will, but as Creator He can do whatever he wishes with his own creation. He desires all to be saved so He doesn’t make the reverse decision, condemning someone who doesn’t have a choice.. but at times He will make that choice in the affirmative for someone. This then gives us a new way to pray.. if it’s in the Bible, we can pray that God influences someone to choose Him.. or that He would make that decision 2:42 for them. Doesn’t hurt to ask.. Article: Our Payers Can Get God To Override Free-will by Mark Broadbent

[@leekellettjr441]

This man is full of God's wisdom. Adrian Rogers has a longer sermon on free will. Dr McGee also has a good one. Regards and God bless you all.

[@busybody1474]

For the calvinist, the only good news is that they are among the elect .. and if they are not among the elect, Jesus' death on the cross is not good news at all, it does not affect them in any way whatsoever .. To embrace Calvinism is to absolutely obliterate the gospel of Jesus Christ

[@proudrosemom]

Totally agree! We must really dig deep to see the fallacy of it

[@zaazazza6555]

But how do you know if you’re elect? If you aren’t saved yet, I have good new: you might be elect!! If done correctly, Calvinism doesn’t ruin the gospel because it doesn’t actually contradict choice. According to my understanding of Calvinism, anyone can turn to God at any time if they so choose. From human perspectives, this is completely unaffected, even though God planned it. Just because God predestined it, doesn’t mean our choice has been hindered, because we don’t know what God predestined yet.

[@thlipsislamont1352]

Would you be willing to do a zoom discussion to discuss your stance on Arminianism and the alternative?

[@u2popmark]

So how do you explain? Ephesian 1:4 That God chose some before the foundation of the world …

[@coachmarc2002]

It's a logical contradiction to say God predestined who would be saved before we were born and add later that we had a choice in the matter.

[@45Nasman]

Man’s finite logic can’t fully reconcile the mind of God. He’s not at all like us limited, unholy sinners. It must therefore be both realities at work. How does work ? Don’t know. I can see His Will, His mercy and grace and my sin as I fall on my knees at the cross.

[@sandramerimee6957]

Predestination and mans responsibility are both taught in scripture. You can't throw out one teaching and keep the other.

[@coachmarc2002]

@@45Nasman logic comes from the mind of God. He has made us in a way that we can understand His logic and worship (love) Him with our minds. He is not the author of confusion. If our thoughts on His character or actions violate sound logical truth we can be sure we have something wrong with our thinking.

[@coachmarc2002]

@@sandramerimee6957 you are correct that they are both taught in scripture. But to understand those terms in a way that makes them completely contradictory is just lazy. We must first assume that God doesn't contradict Himself. We must not think that God predetermined some people to sin, without any ability to refrain from doing so, but also acknowledge that the Bible teaches that God doesn't even tempt man to sin. Both cannot be true.

[@bobbymichaels]

God is sovereign over all things, or he is not God at all. Or at best he is a puny God. Man is responsible for all his choices and decisions in life. God has given man the ability to make choices, in that since we are free, even in our fallen state. We are not robots. So we have a will that makes choices. BUT God is infinitely more free, and if God chooses to interfere, or interrupt, or meddle with the will of man, he is free to do so. Lots of examples in scripture. The conversion of Saul the Pharisee is perhaps the best. Saul, known as Paul, he was on a a mission to destroy Christianity and Christians. That is the devil’s will, and that was Paul’s will. But Gods will smashed Paul’s free will and in an instant Paul is a Jesus follower, no longer a Jesus persecutor. God’s sovereign will trumps man’s will. once again, God is sovereign and man is responsible

[@fisherhoward562]

“Those whom he called he also predestined”, how can you reject that God predestines people’s eternal destination

[@michaeltorah4002]

So True

[@walnoemispoyt5604]

@@michaeltorah4002 God foreknows some people to be dammed. With the term predestination there is an aspect of causation hence why we use the term "cause and effect". If you are using the English bible of course you are going to be misled but the Koine Greek understanding is not what you are thinking but what I am saying. Humanity has free will.

[@faithpearland]

The Bible teaches predestination since the word is used in the Bible to describe those who are or will be saved. People are born in sin and are naturally depraved. Their will is fallen so they do not have the ability to choose God (Eph. 2:1-3; Rom. 3:11). This view was not only taught by John Calvin but also by Martin Luther as well as the great evangelist George Whitefield and C.H. Spurgeon. So, the Holy Spirit is sent by God the Father to regenerate the fallen nature of some unbelievers. When this work of God is carried out, the regenerate soul is enabled to believe. Therefore, when such a regenerated soul hears the Gospel, they will freely choose to repent of their sins and then believe in Jesus for their salvation. This process is taught in Romans 8:28-30. Jesus talks about this process in John 3 when He teaches about the necessity of the New Birth. The unregenerate, on the other hand, do not have the ability to believe because of their fallen will. They need the work of the Holy Spirit to make them alive to God which is the work of regeneration. Once that work is done, they are enabled to believe. ~ Dr. Don Robertson

[@proudrosemom]

Amen! Thank you pastor Greg. Listening to this theology today from a popular Calvinist bible teacher made me so upset and I was saying the same things you did God os not willing that ANY should perish but that ALL Would be saved.

[@datchet11]

Read the verse again.... The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that (any should perish,) but that (all) should reach repentance. 2 Peter 3:9 ESV Question: who is the (any) that God is not wishing to perish? Is it every human being in the world? Or the elect? Who is the (all) in the verse? Is it all people in the world or all the elect?

[@redeemedadventures]

If the Lord is not will that any should perish and that all come to repentance mens every person on the planet … what is stopping HIS WILL from being accomplished? In light of an abundance of other scripture & also common sense … it clearly is speaking of God’s elect. None of the elect to perish and that all of the elect should come to repentance. Some of them have not even been born yet?

[@datchet11]

@@redeemedadventures exactly

[@denilson17music]

@@datchet11 Your argument doesn't make any sense, because, there is no reason for the NOT WISHING, because if They are already the elect, they are going to be saved according to calvinism, there is no reason to wish, or not wish something, if it's already determined.

[@datchet11]

@@denilson17music if God is wishing to save all people but not able to then it questions his sovereignty, and if Jesus died for all people but some perish he failed and his blood was shed in vain.

[@GordonA-Jr]

For him to quote Spurgeon is laughable since Spurgeon was clearly a Calvinist and unashamedly so and Greg clearly is not!!!

[@Mark-oo3om]

Both Calvinists and non Calvinists claim Spurgeon.

[@ReformedBaptistChurchDC]

He misquoted Spurgeon. The quote from Spurgeon is on sovereignty and responsibility. Similar but different.

[@firestrike123]

DLR 1 if you think Spurgeon was an inconsistent Calvinist you have obviously never read any of his work.

[@brandonr7560]

Classical reformed theology doesn't assert that God doesn't love all. Thats a common misunderstanding of Calvinism, many times by those who claim to be calvinists. Now, it's not the same love that is extended to the children of God but yes, he loves them. (Psalm 145:8-9, 15-16; Matt.5:44-45; Mark 10:21)

[@GordonA-Jr]

Dennis Parsons you have no credibility whatsoever, I don’t believe you have read what you claim, if you did you obviously paid no attention at all to what was said. You are blinded by willful ignorance. It is no novelty, then, that I am preaching; no new doctrine. I love to proclaim these strong old doctrines that are called by nickname Calvinism, but which are truly and verily the revealed truth of God as it is in Christ Jesus. By this truth I make my pilgrimage into the past, and as I go, I see father after father, confessor after confessor, martyr after martyr, standing up to shake hands with me . . . Taking these things to be the standard of my faith, I see the land of the ancients peopled with my brethren; I behold multitudes who confess the same as I do, and acknowledge that this is the religion of God's own church. (Spurgeon's Sovereign Grace Sermons, Still Waters Revival Books, p. 170). These are only 2 of many quotes by Spurgeon himself. Next time you decide to respond to something, please do your homework!!! I have my own opinion that there is no such thing as preaching Christ and Him crucified, unless we preach what nowadays is called Calvinism. It is a nickname to call it Calvinism; Calvinism is the gospel, and nothing else. I do not believe we can preach the gospel if we do not preach justification by faith without works; nor unless we preach the sovereignty of God in His dispensation of grace; nor unless we exalt the electing unchangeable eternal, immutable, conquering love of Jehovah; nor do I think we can preach the gospel unless we base it upon the special and particular redemption of His elect and chosen people which Christ wrought out upon the cross. (Charles Spurgeon, The New Park Street Pulpit, Vol. 1, 1856).

[@araemodrummer7676]

The Almighty answered this age-old argument in the complete chapter of Ezekiel 18. Let's be of one mind in Jesus, my friends. God bless.

[@TheDrummaBen]

Look at the end of the day which doctrine gives the most Glory to God revealed through Christ? Because that is God's chief concern...his own glory.

[@kristiwalls9585]

AMEN!🙏

[@jaikee9477]

It wouldn't give any glory to God if he created little robots whose love for him was decided by him.

[@TheDrummaBen]

@@jaikee9477 I think that's a misrepresentation. We aren't robots, but the bible is clear that we are chosen. I would really encourage you to explore that tension with scripture.

[@jonathanmather6897]

Universalism would give Christ the most glory, honestly.

[@TheDrummaBen]

@@jonathanmather6897 How so?

[@nealwright5630]

A great two-minute sermon!! "Those He foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of His son". Predestination is the extension of foreknowledge. God knew in advance those who would be saved, and therefore predestined those (who would be saved) to be conformed to the image of Jesus. In other words, we are predestined to become like Christ as children of God.

[@briansnow8980]

So your saying Gods will was based on our choice? Wouldn’t that violate Gods Soverignty?

[@leekellettjr441]

Which man did you get that from? I would be very carefull of getting my wisdom from man. Do you really know what God said? Did you not hear it. 🙉

[@stadler72]

This is circular. He knew we would accept him, so he sets it in stone, so I guess we don't have free will now because it's been set in stone. So when exactly did we have this free will?

[@williamloree905]

Jhn 17:12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled. Satan has been judged to the lake of fire. There are free will - with the altar calls. And than there is Gods elect. No altar call - did not have a chose. I waited all my life to be chosen and when He did I immediately followed Him- no questioning of faith - just thank you Father.

[@anthonyg5055]

“As it is written, "Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated."” ‭‭Romans‬ ‭9:13‬ ‭ESV‬‬ Noah preached for 120 years and only 8 were saved. Sad to hear Greg say that.

[@SpotterVideo]

Gen_25:23 And the LORD said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger.

[@skafan89]

do you hate your mom and dad , brother and sister ?

[@uncasunga1800]

@@skafan89 your father is satan when you gonna start hating him

[@tristen7085]

Amen amen amen!!! Thankyou!!

[@vkhiev]

Amen I believe in GRACE AND FREE WILL

[@onelife2live972]

My God is sovereign over my free will...! Preach the gospel and God sorts it out.

[@johngodsey5327]

You have not chosen me, I’ve chosen you Jesus choosing the apostles from the disciples He wasn’t choosing who is saved and who is condemned Clavinism sucks

[@rawbingham]

True, But CALvinism is wonderful.

[@walnoemispoyt5604]

@@rawbingham There is nothing wonderful about Calvinism. Read The Institutes of the Christian Religion Book Three. There must be free will.

[@rawbingham]

@@walnoemispoyt5604 I reply. But my experience is it would get nasty when you read returned the reply.

[@walnoemispoyt5604]

@@rawbingham So you are rejecting Calvinism?

[@rawbingham]

@@walnoemispoyt5604 sorry. I wrote that in a hurry while waiting for an appointment. No, Christianity IS inherently Calvinism and intellectualizing over dogma is… evil. Thinking that we need to make free will “work” is idolatry. We don’t have original thoughts. Nor do we have original “will.” It (will) is either from God or, by golly, the opposite.

[@mikezieg80]

He heard His people crying in Egypt. It was foretold in scripture 400yrs in captivity. He waited til the exact day to deliver them. It was foretold. God was giving the Amorites 400 yrs to repent. Right? Did He keep them from repenting? Or had He known before hand? He knows who are His because He foresees everything ahead of Him. Why would a loving God force us to believe? Love? What love us that?

[@YerPope]

Acts 13:48 Now when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord. And as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed.

[@MrBazinthenow]

That's out of context . 46Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles. 47For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth. 48¶And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed. This is not about the Gentiles not individuals who were saved before they were born.

[@YerPope]

@@MrBazinthenow "as many as were ordained to eternal life believed." "as many" , as many who? As many of the gentiles, is most certainly in reference, in context, to individual gentile persons, not gentiles as a whole or the whole of gentiles were ordained to eternal life, which would be absurd. Please learn to read objectively instead of through the lens of greek/Aristotelian human philosophy and forcing that greek/pagan philosophy on the text to try to make it fit a pagan philosophy. Sadly, you preach a different jesus that did not truly, definitely, with absolute surety redeem anyone in particular, but is merely a potential redeemer provided you do your part to make the atonement effective.....Wrong jesus! John 10 ruly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. 2 But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep BY NAME(individuals) and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. 5 A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” 6 This figure of speech Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them. 11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. 24 So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” 25 Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father's name bear witness about me, 26 but you do not believe because you are not among my sheep. 27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me,[a] is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. The Jesus of the Bible knows His sheep, BY NAME, as individual sheep, who hear His voice when He calls them and they follow Him without fail. You have been deceived by pagan philosophy.

[@MrBazinthenow]

@@YerPope That's great but what has that got to do with anything I said ?

[@MrBazinthenow]

@@YerPope 46Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you,( HOW CAN THEY PUT IT FROM THEMSELVES and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life ( IF THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO DO SO ) , lo, we turn to the Gentiles. 47For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth. 48¶And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained( DISPOSED) to eternal life believed.

[@MrBazinthenow]

@@YerPope appointed τεταγμένοι (tetagmenoi) Verb - Perfect Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Masculine Plural Strong's Greek 5021: A prolonged form of a primary verb; to arrange in an orderly manner, i.e. Assign or dispose.

[@heathwoodruff6975]

Thank you, pastor. Thank you.

[@lisafries1715]

Love pastor Greg Laurie.

[@flashrug_]

Sounds like someone doesn't really understand the difference between the doctrines of Grace and Hyper Calvinism

[@CBALLEN]

God doesn't need any of us to help him in salvation,He let's us be part of it by bringing His Gospel to the world.Some plant and some water,but IT'S GOD WHO GIVES THE INCREASE.If Arminianism were true the verse would read,SOME plant and some water,but it's God who GETS the increase.

[@uncasunga1800]

God doesmt revolve around us! You have to be willfully ignorant to believe anything like that!

[@uncasunga1800]

@@CBALLEN He made humans and the world for His own glory from befor e time. He is not affected by us at all He is immutable His heart is for us from the start or not. Those people have their reward.

[@CBALLEN]

@@uncasunga1800 I agree.

[@Mark-oo3om]

Is irrisistable grace hyper Calvinism? Because that's BS.

[@chrisjjimenez1098]

Clearly Pastor Greg doesn’t understand reform doctrine . Need s to read the potters freedom

[@Mark-oo3om]

you need to quit reading books, and read the bible

[@howdy2496]

@@Mark-oo3om That's like saying don't listen to sermons and read the bible. Don't listen to Laurie and read the bible. Its good to read Chosen but Free and the response to that book The Potter's Freedom to get both perspectives.

[@jasonkritz3055]

@@Mark-oo3om What an empty meaningless comment and jab at someone to take. Just because someone disagrees with you, you assume they do not hold to scripture as their final authority? I'm sure he agrees that books are great supplements to better help explain certain concepts, but never replace the Bible. The Potter's Freedom is an excellent book from someone who holds to Sola scriptura, responding to An arminian's view (Norman Geisler) on human autonomous freewill. Whenever people laugh at other people for reading books and studying, it's usually because they are lacking in that department. Yes God gave us the Bible, but we are not an island of knowledge as he also gave us the church and spiritually wise men and women of God who can teach. I say read The Potter's freedom, then test it with scripture to see if what he is saying is true.

[@johnstewart4350]

"They shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, and shall not find it." (Amos 8:12)

[@jasonkritz3055]

If you start with man and reason upward, believing that the Bible is primarily about the redemption of man, then you are an arminian. If you start with God and reason downward, believing that the Bible is primarily about the glory of God, then you are a calvinist. Knowing that we are fallen already in Adam and under the just wrath of God, is it unjust for God to allow us to continue in our sinful desires and ways and send us to hell, or does God owe us?

[@DavidRSexton]

Amen! very well said.

[@jasonkritz3055]

@Gabriel S I believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, the unbeliever is blind. I love the Word of God, the unbeliever does not accept/CANNOT understand the things of God because they spiritually discerned, and they are foolishness to them (1 Cor 2:14). Since we are all fallen in Adam and no one seeks after God, If you believe and Christ is your Lord, you are chosen. Examine yourself --- do not trust in a "sinner's prayer," a "decision for Christ" or some other emotionally-driven tradition. Do you bear the fruit of a believer? Is God working in your life to better love the things God loves and hate the things He hates?......

[@jasonkritz3055]

@Gabriel S I think the better question to ask is did God choose you or did you have enough goodness in yourself to choose Him? When you repented and believed, after hearing the same Gospel message as your friends and others, what caused you to believe? Was it your own intuition? Were you smarter than those who didn't believe? 7. "because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for IT IS NOT EVEN ABLE TO DO SO, 8. and those who are in the flesh cannot please God." Romans 8:7‭-‬8 Would turning to Christ in repentance and faith be pleasing to God? If so, how can the unbeliever do that in light of Romans 8:8?

[@jasonkritz3055]

@Gabriel S Thanks for the verse brother! I have many arminian friends (I used to hold to all of the same views). I will never be divisive when speaking about "things too wonderful for me," but your view of how God saves his people really does affect almost every area of the Christian Life and is worth studying deeply to better appreciate the issues and power of God to save. When I explain why I pulled to the reformed view of salvation, I usually tell my friends it has to do with the glory of God. If you are sitting there believing that you deserved to have a chance, then you are boasting, as there are many people who have never heard or will never hear the name of Christ. What makes you more deserving? That's why we are to go out and preach the gospel, the means by which God chooses to use to draw His elect unto Himself, because we know what we really deserve as sinners. What is so amazing about a God who saves "pretty good" people? If you are truly in Christ, the bottom line is that you need to appreciate the fact that God called you out of the grave when you were dead in your trespasses and sins, did not have ears to hear or eyes to see, removed your heart of Stone and gave you a heart of flesh, raising you to spiritual life. He did it all from start to finish (He 12:2) and gets ALL of the glory. Sorry for the long winded response! But if you are truly in Christ, then I hope it is edifying brother!

[@brotherderek]

Without debating the whole doctrine, I find a few issues with your logic. For starters, why does it take goodness to choose Him? Actually, He came for sinners and the most lost sinner would never say their goodness chose Christ? Secondly, I don't think that same sinner would believe they were more intuitive or smarter than their friends. The Word pierced their heart and they responded. Grace does that, right? Some don't respond, but they could. If God desires us "all" to be saved, yet we aren't all saved, then there must be something in man that must cooperate with The Word that produces faith and receives grace. This is pleasing to God. It doesn't make man special to receive a free gift. Love without a will to choose is not really love, is it?

[@masongilbert6197]

What true calvinist has ever said they don’t want to share the gospel because it will give false assurance to the non elect? If anyone claims this then they don’t have a clear understanding of calvinism.

[@TinkerPrepper]

With all of the writing done on reformed theology it amazes me how few understand what Calvinism teaches. The traditions and presuppositions are always the same from the Arminian view point

[@JasonWeaver-qx5nx]

@@TinkerPrepper we know VERY well what calcal teaches

[@TinkerPrepper]

@@JasonWeaver-qx5nx Why do you ArmArm's explain it it incorrectly EVERY time?

[@tsapp2831]

Can you tell someone that Christ died for them was buried, and rose from the dead, as a Calvinist knowing you believe most are predestined for hell??

[@TinkerPrepper]

@@tsapp2831 My statement to anyone is, if you trust in the saving work of Christ on the cross for your sinful acts to be washed away because of His sacrifice, then you will be saved. If you trust in your own works to get to heaven, you will be lost and cast into hell

[@johniii8400]

Very good! We all need a wake up call and ponder the value of Jesus!

[@ItsFinished]

I'm a Christian, not a calvinist...

[@Arabian_Abomination]

"just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will" - Ephesians 1:4-5 NKJV

[@Rood67]

*Absolutely the best I’ve ever heard this put*

[@jaikee9477]

If Calvinism was true and God predestined us to love him, it wouldn't be actual love, it wouldn't glorify him and eventually it would turn God into the author of POINTLESS suffering. God decided that it is worth the suffering because this kind of creation is the only way to create creatures who would FREELY love him. Otherwise we would be nothing but robots in a sadistic show. That's why Calvinism is blasphemy.

[@ciphercipher8196]

That's why Calvinism is blasphemy.

[@walnoemispoyt5604]

Well said! Calvinism is fatally wrong!

[@stadler72]

I've never heard proof of what you're saying. It makes sense on an emotional level, but if I try to prove that when God calls me, and I'm awakened to fall in love with his irresistible Grace, that that's not true love. Is there a logical argument we can put behind what you're saying?

[@walnoemispoyt5604]

@@stadler72 That is the thing and you just said the answer because Love is an emotional thing that necessarily requires Free Will. You believe that love is a choice made by the free will of people rather than something that is predetermined regardless of the neuroscience. You believe Love is a choice because homosexuals are freely choosing to enter foolish relationships. What makes the argument for free will logical is the fact relationships are fundamentally built on the free will of cognitive agents. You cannot have a relationship with an inanimate object that has no will of its own. You cannot have a relationship with a computer or a tv or a cup. You cannot have God choosing some people (elect) to give the irresistible grace because that would contradiction God's Omnibenevolence because Jesus explains that he even loves his enemies. There is no way that God is going to commit partiality to give some people the gift of salvation and others damnation. It is the calvinistic understanding of systematic theology that is completely wrong.

[@stadler72]

@@walnoemispoyt5604 thanks for the explanation. On my reading of scripture, Free Will contradict scripture directly. I don't trust my emotions over scripture. And I don't think the only two analogies are either a rock or free will. It seems reasonable and logical and biblical for God to awaken us to a genuine love for him that has to be triggered by him himself. But like you said, emotion is not always subject to reason. But that's exactly why I look for truth first. Because I don't believe that truth and love understood correctly have any contradictions. And I've had a lot of people talk about love at the expense of Truth only to find out they were just trying to sell me something.

[@uofa82]

One verse shoots Calvinism down: John 3:16! Whosoever will! Everyone is a whosoever! Thanks for speaking the truth!!!

[@JonnoFly]

Correct. But this does not mean that “whosoever” was not regenerate and called by God first. This only describes the action by the individual who is called.

[@jeonesevenv9]

If Jesus was already prepared before the foundation of the earth, and Jesus was manifested to save us from sin, [1Peter1:19,20] how was God expecting Adam and Eve not to sin?

[@abuelb]

Ok Universalist.

[@warrenbuyer]

Not quite right. Again, scripture needs to be interpreted using scripture

[@HiThereHeyThere]

No. Watch James White video on Whosoever.

[@Believe_the_Bible]

The confusion goes away once you understand what predestination means. And what we are predestined to. We are predestined to be adopted. That adoption is explained in Romans chapter 8 verse 23 that is the redemption of our body. Once we are saved we are predestined to be raptured, to be in heaven. Never is someone predestined to go to hell. Understanding what predestination is is to understand how it is explained in scripture. Keep in mind that there are only two passages in scripture that talks about predestination. And both passages are talking to people who already are believers. Rom 8:29 KJV For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Rom 8:30 KJV Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. Eph 1:5 KJV Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, Eph 1:11 KJV In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: Rom 8:23 KJV And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

[@igworldofcomix5956]

"So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy." Romans 9: 16

[@Anthony-945]

That verse doesn’t support Calvinism

[@Anthony-945]

@MMM no it doesn’t 🤦‍♂️ surrender your doctrine to God, don’t rely on John Calvin for your doctrine.

[@contextforchrist2395]

@@Anthony-945 No one said it did. All he did was quote a verse, and it appears you don't like what it says.

[@obkook7205]

For anybody reading this, looking to dig deeper into scripture on this, Soteriology 101 with Dr. Leighton Flowers is incredible. Very fair and balanced stuff

[@jchan810]

LoL Flowers' ministry isn't even worth a hill of beans. He's not competent enough when it comes to reformed theology

[@neoturfmasterMVS]

Nah skip anything from Leighton. He's bitter and his positions are born from this disposition. Not very fair and off balance.

[@davidochiengbuoga7165]

​@@jchan810Very true

[@walnoemispoyt5604]

@@jchan810 If you are really Christian who knows the formal definition of love then you shouldn't say this because you would be contradicting the 2nd Greatest Commandment. I don't support provisionism. Leighton Flowers emerged because of the heretical views of Calvinism. Humanity has free will. Calvinist and atheists share the commonality of rejecting free will. Hence a consistent Calvinist is consequently someone who accepts Fatalism. I am against Calvinism but I recognise that I must hear the other side to dismantle their arguments.

[@jimzoumas2255]

YES YES YES,You are upsolutely right brother.God bless you

[@abuelb]

The gospel is preached to all so the elect may be drawn and come to faith because no one knows the elect until they come to believe.

[@brettschlee7090]

Greg Laurie: "The idea that God has freedom to "have mercy on whomever He wills, and harden whomever He wills" (Rom 9:18)? I reject that completely!"

[@gabrielkinzel3389]

Hahaha, right on point

[@MrNocaster]

@SIPPIN ON THIS AC DONT KNOW HOW TO ACT maybe read all of Romans 9.

[@Mark-oo3om]

@@MrNocaster like Romans 9:30-32? Read just the beginning verses of Romans 9,10, and 11. Who's the focus?

[@letstalkbiblewithshun.s]

Wasn't that to israel

[@simplefit93]

God is sovereign and in His sovereignty He has decided that sinners must choose the savior in order to receive the gift of everlasting life..Gods sovereignty and mans free will working together..difficult to grasp yet the scriptures teach both. Gods love and mercy! To good to keep to ourselves..Acts 4:20

[@pastorgreglaurie6844]

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[@Brandonw55]

The church has long been distracted by one man’s systematic theology (Calvin’s Institutes) that too many neglect THE Book it seeks to systematize!

[@AmayzinOne]

Hi Pastor, I’m confused how you can be so sure people are not predestined to hell. Is God not all knowing? He didn’t determine it for you, but how can it not be true that people are destined to go to hell from God’s perspective if He is all knowing?