Why are some people saved and others damned? The Calvinist
would say: "God chose whom He would save before the
foundation of the world." They would add: "He therefore, chose
who would be damned for eternity."
That's the reason they would give as to why some are saved and
others reject God's provisions. They claim that mankind is totally
depraved and is unable to choose God's Grace. In Romans 10:17
we are told: "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the
word of God." Most people would admit, this is how they came to
a saving knowledge of the Grace of God.
They heard the Grace Gospel and either accepted the message
or rejected it. The non-Calvinist, those who believe in free-will choice
would admit they heard the Gospel, believed it, and placed
their faith in Christ as their Lord and Savior. Calvinists believe that the
missing piece of the puzzle is, God's sovereign will to choose whom He will
save and whom He will damn for eternity.
The non-Calvinist would say: "The missing piece of the puzzle (why
some become saved and others not.) is based upon man's free-will
choice and the work of the Holy Spirit drawing men to Christ." As I've
testified a number of times, I asked my Mom if we were going to Hell?
The year was 1962 and I was twelve years old. My family weren't
church goers, we went maybe twice a year, Christmas and Easter.
We usually attended a Lutheran or Methodist church as I recall. I
believe the Holy Spirit led me to ask that question about Hell. Right
after I asked that question, a week or so went by and we moved to
an apartment in Garden Grove California. My Sister befriended a
neighbor girl, her Dad happened to be an assistant Pastor at a local
non-denominational church.
They preached the Grace Gospel to our family and we all placed our
faith in Christ as our Savior. I believe that the Holy Spirit placed our
family in a position of hearing the true Gospel and hence, we believed.
When Christ ascended into Heaven to sit on the throne beside His
Father, the Holy Spirit was sent into the world.
During His earthly ministry, Christ preached the Kingdom Message to
His chosen people. (The House of Israel) When the Holy Spirit was sent
into this world, His ministry was/is to draw all men to Christ,
and the message of God's Grace. I believe the Holy Spirit draws all
men. However, not all men will be willing to place their faith in Christ
and become a member of the Body of Christ.
I believe the missing piece of the puzzle, of why some receive the
Gospel and some reject it is, God created man with a free-will as
He did the angels. (Including Lucifer) The Holy Spirit is in the world
to persuade, not force God's Grace on anyone. There may come a
time in a persons life when they have hardened their heart/mind
to such an extent that, the Holy Spirit may discontinue to strive with
that individual? Perhaps that individual may be unable to be reached?
1 Timothy 2:4 "who wants everyone to be saved and to come to the
knowledge of the truth." This verse is speaking about God's desire.
would say: "God chose whom He would save before the
foundation of the world." They would add: "He therefore, chose
who would be damned for eternity."
That's the reason they would give as to why some are saved and
others reject God's provisions. They claim that mankind is totally
depraved and is unable to choose God's Grace. In Romans 10:17
we are told: "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the
word of God." Most people would admit, this is how they came to
a saving knowledge of the Grace of God.
They heard the Grace Gospel and either accepted the message
or rejected it. The non-Calvinist, those who believe in free-will choice
would admit they heard the Gospel, believed it, and placed
their faith in Christ as their Lord and Savior. Calvinists believe that the
missing piece of the puzzle is, God's sovereign will to choose whom He will
save and whom He will damn for eternity.
The non-Calvinist would say: "The missing piece of the puzzle (why
some become saved and others not.) is based upon man's free-will
choice and the work of the Holy Spirit drawing men to Christ." As I've
testified a number of times, I asked my Mom if we were going to Hell?
The year was 1962 and I was twelve years old. My family weren't
church goers, we went maybe twice a year, Christmas and Easter.
We usually attended a Lutheran or Methodist church as I recall. I
believe the Holy Spirit led me to ask that question about Hell. Right
after I asked that question, a week or so went by and we moved to
an apartment in Garden Grove California. My Sister befriended a
neighbor girl, her Dad happened to be an assistant Pastor at a local
non-denominational church.
They preached the Grace Gospel to our family and we all placed our
faith in Christ as our Savior. I believe that the Holy Spirit placed our
family in a position of hearing the true Gospel and hence, we believed.
When Christ ascended into Heaven to sit on the throne beside His
Father, the Holy Spirit was sent into the world.
During His earthly ministry, Christ preached the Kingdom Message to
His chosen people. (The House of Israel) When the Holy Spirit was sent
into this world, His ministry was/is to draw all men to Christ,
and the message of God's Grace. I believe the Holy Spirit draws all
men. However, not all men will be willing to place their faith in Christ
and become a member of the Body of Christ.
I believe the missing piece of the puzzle, of why some receive the
Gospel and some reject it is, God created man with a free-will as
He did the angels. (Including Lucifer) The Holy Spirit is in the world
to persuade, not force God's Grace on anyone. There may come a
time in a persons life when they have hardened their heart/mind
to such an extent that, the Holy Spirit may discontinue to strive with
that individual? Perhaps that individual may be unable to be reached?
1 Timothy 2:4 "who wants everyone to be saved and to come to the
knowledge of the truth." This verse is speaking about God's desire.
