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November 04, 2007 The Apostle Paul was a Non-Calvinist
Topic Started: May 14 2009, 08:13 PM (54 Views)
lightninboy

by Rose

I know, I know, there was no such thing as "Calvinism" in the day of Paul, but the ideas espoused by those who today call themselves "Calvinists" or "Particular Redemptionist" or whatever .... I dare say the Apostle Paul was not one of them.


15 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. (1 Timothy 1)
Now if Paul held that there was a small group of people who, from before the foundation of the world, God had chosen to gift with faith and chose them ond only them to become believers...
if the Apostle Paul held to this view, how could he, with confidence, pen this saying and claim it was a faithful and worthy saying?

How could he know that he was one of those sinners for whom Christ died? If Paul did not mean "all sinners," then how could he know that he was the cheifest of them? If Paul believed in secret election, limited atonement and was using shrouded language and really meant "some sinners" and not "all sinners," then he wouldn't be able to say for a certainty that he was one of them. However, if Paul believed that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, then he could certainly know that he himself, Paul, the apostle, (being one of the world and being a sinner) therefore, was one for whom Jesus Christ had died.

I know that when I stand in church and I sing hymns and spirtual songs about God's provision that I never have to doubt whether or not God has done these things for me, because I know that He has done this for every man, woman and child. He, in His sovereign grace, has decided and chosen to make the reception of the results of His work - this gift of eternal life - only to those who believe. We enter this "saved" state that Paul refers to in the above mentioned verse through faith. This is God's choice.


...the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. (Romans 3)
This is the way He has chosen to do it. He is sovereign and He can do it this way if He wants.

This is a beautiful and true saying.
No I will not, No I will not
Not go quietly
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