Questions for the "New Calvinist"

These are not only questions for people who are recently Calvinists but for adherents to the newer Calvinistic theologies we might see from Van Til, Piper, White etc.


Apriori: A. If man has noetic effects of sin how do we know that we have properly collated the correct manuscripts?

B. If we have not properly collated the correct manuscripts could we be incorrect as to the correct canon?

C. If we do not know who the elect are then how do we know that we have chosen the correct pastors and theologians?

D.  Could the Noetic effects of sin ruin our ability to properly interpret the scriptures and ruin our ability to pick the correct theological interpretations?

1.  We see the Word "sovereign" used as a common motif in reformed theology both in theology and in worship. the 1828 websters dictionary defines it thusly...

SOVEREIGN, adjective suv'eran. [We retain this babarous orthography from the Norman sovereign The true spelling would be suveran from the Latin supernes, superus.]

1. Supreme in power; possessing supreme dominion; as a sovereign ruler of the universe.

2. Supreme; superior to all others; chief. God is the sovereign good of all who love and obey him.

3. Supremely efficacious; superior to all others; predominant; effectual; as a sovereign remedy.

4. Supreme; pertaining to the first magistrate of a nation; as sovereign authority.

SOVEREIGN, noun suv'eran.

1. A supreme lord or ruler; one who possesses the highest authority without control. Some earthly princes, kings and emperors are sovereigns in their dominions.

2. A supreme magistrate; a king.

3. A gold coin of England, value 20s or $4.44"

        Now it may come as a shock, but the word is never ever used in the King James Bible and it does not use the word sovereign a single time! Perhaps some may claim that the KJV is not reformed enough, however the majority of translators were openly Calvinistic. Plus even a scholarly critic of the KJV, Hank Hannengraff will complement the majestic language, which would welcome the term Sovereign.  But it does not stop there, the Geneva Bible the most "reformed" English translation of the Bible has no single reference to the word!  Even more astounding is the fact Youngs Literal Translation never employs the word either!

        Now many new translations use this word commonly but rarely do they agree as to when to employ it..  What was eye opening to me is the fact that the NIV will use the word "Sovereign" on several hundred occasions and yet it's NIrV for children uses zero references,

        The implications of this study is the fact that "Sovereign" is not directly found in the text and only employed as an adjective for the English reader.  More importantly it is a complex concept and thus easily misunderstood/.

        One doctrine of reformed theology is the "regulative principal" which says not add to or take away from scripture.

Proverbs 30:5 Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. 6 Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar."

Colossians 2:8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ."

Colossians 2: 18 Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,"

So the question is: Given the regulative principal, wouldn't making the term "Sovereign" the focal point of your theology and worship be adding to the scripture?

Perhaps we have to reconcile concepts of sovereignty with the gentleness and meekness of our Lord.

  Certainly we can use  Sovereignty as a limited concept if we feel that at the moment the listener is getting a biblical concept right from saying this, then that is well and good.  But exalting an alien concept upon the scripture can be unwise and open the door for a future false teaching.
 Psalm18: Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy right hand hath holden me up, and thy gentleness hath made me great.
Psalm 45:4And in thy majesty ride prosperously
because of truth and meekness and righteousness;"

1 Corinthians 10:1 Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence am base among you, but being absent am bold toward you:"

Thus God is not always exercising sovereign or supreme authority since he treats people with meekness and gentleness.

2.  Where in the Bible did God eternally decree everything?

Decree)6. In theology, predetermined purpose of God; the purpose or determination of an immutable Being, whose plan of operations is, like himself, unchangeable"
websters1828 dictionary

In the KJV God decrees the whether/nature Job 28:25-27,38:9-11, prov. 8:29 the return of Israel 10:22, the judgement of kings Daniel 4:23-25.  Yet the word Decree is not used of the heart.

The irrationality of eternal decree is that it adds to a history before the beginning of history, much like a "gap theory". How can there be a time before time?

Eternal decree sets up a scenario where the Father really has no activity after the beginning of time. Everything is determined and then God watches it play out as if He were sitting in a movie theater.  There is a lot of deistic presuppositions with this scenario and little attention paid to the Trinity or other biblical aspects of Jehovah.

b. Meanwhile the bible teaches that God does not tempt sin.

James 1:¹³ Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: ¹⁴ but every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. "

Ezekiel 18:1The word of the Lord came unto me again, saying, ² What mean ye, that ye use this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying, The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge? ³ As I live, saith the Lord God, ye shall not have occasion any more to use this proverb in Israel. ⁴ Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die."


c. Yet the Bible also Shows God reacting to creation.

Genesis 6:⁶ And it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. "
1 Samuel 15:¹¹ It repenteth me that I have set up Saul to be king: for he is turned back from following me, and hath not performed my commandments. And it grieved Samuel; and he cried unto the Lord all night. "

Exodus 32: ¹¹ And Moses besought the Lord his God, and said, Lord, why doth thy wrath wax hot against thy people, which thou hast brought forth out of the land of Egypt with great power, and with a mighty hand? ¹² Wherefore should the Egyptians speak, and say, For mischief did he bring them out, to slay them in the mountains, and to consume them from the face of the earth? Turn from thy fierce wrath, and repent of this evil against thy people. ¹³ Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, thy servants, to whom thou swarest by thine own self, and saidst unto them, I will multiply your seed as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have spoken of will I give unto your seed, and they shall inherit it for ever. ¹⁴ And the Lord repented of the evil which he thought to do unto his people."

2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance."

    In the first two passages God is being moved in his heart.  Assuming God has determined all things by eternal decree, why would he have a reaction or emotion? Especially grief? Why does God give himself negative emotions? Would not this be God sinning against himself?

In the next passage not only does God react to the prayers of Moses but God had intended evil(meaning destruction) and thus we have counterfactual reality. This was really possible because God intended it.  But it did not happen because God has reacted to something other than his destructive intent.  Thus there is a will that we see from Moses that has enticed God's Favor.
   Finally in Second Peter we see that God is longsuffering.  But how can he be long-suffering, waiting upon the repentance of man, when he is the one who makes man repent? If it is God's will as this verse declares, then why is He being long-suffering towards himself and blaming it upon man?

D. Jesus understood the possibilities of repentance
Matthew 11: ²¹ Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. ²² But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you. ²³ And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. ²⁴ But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee."  The if's are counterfactuals.  Jesus understood the pagan nations as to how they would have reacted even though they did not do so.  Thus God has what is called middle knowledge.  This is important because it illustrates that God is not working mechanistically, but instead God has set up options of behavior  Thus God's Foreknowledge of events surpass just the reality of events but all the possibilities of these events.

3.How does the Bible reveal the definition of man's depravity?

a. Is it inability?

James 4:⁵ Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy? ⁶ But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. ⁷ Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. ⁸ Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded."

Romans 6:¹⁶ Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?" 

Joshua 24:  ¹⁵ And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

Isaiah 7: ¹⁵ Butter and honey shall he eat, that he may know to refuse the evil, and choose the good.

      Now most Calvinist believe in a form of free will, yet some believe that man that everything done is basically evil and the depravity means that man is not free to do a good choice.  Paul teaches that even when we serve sin or righteousness, we are yielding ourselves and thus using our wills in either direction. Joshua makes the decision of which God to serve a responsibility for the jews. Isaiah here referring to the messiah at a time where he will hit what is commonly called the age of accountability.  Accountability implies responsibility.

b. Is his guilt unmerited?

Ezekiel 18:¹⁹ Yet say ye, Why? doth not the son bear the iniquity of the father? When the son hath done that which is lawful and right, and hath kept all my statutes, and hath done them, he shall surely live. ²⁰ The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him."

Really the whole chapter rails against this doctrine.  Reformers think they can find solace in Romans 5:¹² Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:"
  They are spiritualizing the concept of death.  But if it is taken literally they have no case at all. And then there is the clause at the end...  "for that all have sinned"

c. What is left of Man's image?

John 1:⁴ In him was life; and the life was the light of men.⁹ That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world."

Romans 7:⁹ For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died. ¹⁰ And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death. ¹¹ For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me. "

James 3: 9 Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. "
Colossians 3:¹⁰ and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:
       Obviously the Colossians passage hints that the image deteriorates and figures of life and sin imply that Sin deteriorates the image.  Yet the image is never lost.

What does the image of God endow man with?  Genesis 1:²⁶ And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. ²⁷ So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them."      So we see the similarity to God and we also see dominion.

Dominion)1. Sovereign or supreme authority; the power of governing and controlling.

The dominion of the Most High is an everlasting dominion Daniel 4:3."

Websters 1828 dictionary

  If man has authority it would imply that man has a will to exercise that authority.
Genesis 5:² male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created.³ And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, after his image; and called his name Seth:"

     So we have the image of Adam, which would imply less dominion and yet would still imply the existence of the will.

D. Isn't the seared conscience a result of demons as opposed to the flesh?
1 Timothy 4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; 2 speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;

E. confusing spirit and soul.
 One of the biggest problems is that Calvin kept the catholic assumption that the soul and spirit are one and the same.
 Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. "
  The spirit is our life while the soul is our mind will and emotions.(it is more complicated but I am just summarizing)
Genesis 2: 7 And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul."
Zech.12:1 The burden of the word of the Lord for Israel, saith the Lord, which stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth the spirit of man within him."
  So basically, God puts the spirit into the flesh and the combination of spirit and brain will form the mind or soul.
  The will resides within the soul.  So how can the will be free, when the spirit is dead?  Because the soul is distinct from the spirit.
Ezekiel 18: ⁴ Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die."
  How can a soul die?  When the spirit and flesh are torn apart.
Ecclesiastes 12:5b "because man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets: ⁶ or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern. ⁷ Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it."

4. What is God's vote?

Acts 10:34Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:"
  God does not treat people differently. This could contradict the understanding that some people are forever hated while others are forever loved.

Matthew 5: ⁴³ Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. ⁴⁴ But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; ⁴⁵ that ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. ⁴⁶ For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?"

   We are to love our enemies to be perfect like God is perfect. God is able to love His enemies. As we will see later "For God so love the world" He being perfect loved all his enemies.
   

A. Who is Elect?

Isaiah 42: 1  Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth;I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles."
  This is pretty obviously a messianic prophecy and it is identifying Jesus as Elect. But if election is those who are saved, why woud Jesus be elect since He is the sinless savior?  This equation completely destroys Christianity. If Calvinists ignore this issue they should be publicly ousted and excommunicated from all devout churches as the vilest of all heretics.
  Chosen and election are used in the OT as a term of service for instance
Exodus 14:7And he took six hundred chosen chariots, and all the chariots of Egypt, and captains over every one of them.

      Of course we have a lower level of election.  Reformed theology identifies the elect as the invisible church.  The invisible church at some point replaced the jewish people to become the true Israel.  When dispensationalism came on the seen, fundamentalist of all stripes especially fundamentalist Presbyterians like J. Vernon Mcghee embraced it's literal interpretations.  Yet after years of examination many soon realized that this eventually clashed with their core reformed teaching concerning election.   As a result many reformers would organize the "new evangelicalism" with the private aspiration of a repudiation of dispensationalism and it's literal interpretations.

Yet if the elect are the true believers in the invisible church...
           1.psalm 105:8 He hath remembered his covenant forever, the word which he commanded to a thousand generations.  Which covenant he made with Abraham, and his oath to Isaac; and confirmed the same unto Jacob for a law, and to Israel for a everlasting covenant: saying, unto thee I will give the land of Canaan, the lot of your inheritance."
 if the elect are spiritual Israel then they have rights to the land of Canaan.  But Christians tried and failed to keep Jerusalem. The Greatest victory was letting the Jewish people have access again to the land. As evangelical Christianity flourished as a result while the jews were finally freed from the holocaust and settled the sacred land.  In recent generations Christianity has withered as Israel's survival has been seriously challenged and the US backed off.

B. Who does God predestine?,

1 Peter 1:² elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied."
Romans 8:²⁹ 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. ³⁰ 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."

C. Did God predestine people for Hell?

Ezekiel 18:³² For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord God: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye.

Matthew 25:⁴¹ Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:"

    If men were predestined for Hell, then why was it prepared for the devil and his angels only, and why not also the reprobate?

John 12: ³² And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. "
     Calvinists often claim that "draw" means to "drag" by force.  If that be the case then this text speaks of universalism.  But it is obvious that draw is referring to pulling in the context.

Exodus 10:1 And the Lord said unto Moses, Go in unto Pharaoh: for I have hardened his heart, and the heart of his servants, that I might shew these my signs before him:"

Many Calvinists argue that God hardening hearts is proof of determinism. So this verse should be a test case. Is God determining to harden the hearts of pharaoh and his servants?

Exodus 10:7 And Pharaoh's servants said unto him, How long shall this man be a snare unto us? let the men go, that they may serve the Lord their God: knowest thou not yet that Egypt is destroyed?"

Well Hold one! Why are the pharoah's servants making willful decisions to abide by the LORD's commandments? Shouldn't the hardness of their hearts stopped them from changing their minds? They sure didn't have regeneration helping them!

D. Are the elect believers?

Romans 11:²⁸ As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers’ sakes. "
    So, if election is the believer and not physical Israel then how could Israel be elect and yet enemies of the gospel?  The context declares that they are not believers.
Romans 11:²⁰ Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:"

  Now the obvious retort would be that this is only speaking of the Jews who will repent later and be saved.

Romans 11:³¹ even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy. "

This sounds good.  The elect are automatically going to believe..... Except for a small three letter word.   "May"  It appears not as a guarantee, but as a possibility.  In fact we are brought back to the general universal concept.

Romans 11:³² For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all."

E. God's will for our prayers

1 timothy 2:1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; ² for kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. ³ For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; ⁴ who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. ⁵ For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; ⁶ who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. ^"

        Here the Word tells us to pray and intercede for all people even those in places of secular power and authority.  It is said to be good and acceptable in the sight of God and that his will is salvation for all.
  So now God is aiming the prayers of the believer.  What happens when we pray God's will?
John 14: ¹¹ Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake. ¹² Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. ¹³ And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. ¹⁴ If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it."       We have the power and authority from God to seek the salvation of those in our world!!!

5.Does All mean all?

Romans 5:1⁷ For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) ¹⁸ Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. "

1 John 2:² and he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world."
  The Calvinist have been quick to say that this is just to believers and whole world is just believers.  As if "our" is not referring to believers! But how does John use the phrase "whole world in this epistle?
1 John 5:¹⁹ And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness."    Is the body of Christ completely wicked?
1 john 5:¹⁴ And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world."
Only the believers right?
1 John 2:¹⁵ Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him."Only believers right?
How could God love a wicked world?
A: Romans 5: ⁸ But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. ⁹ Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. ¹⁰ For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life."

John 1:  ⁷ The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe."

2 Peter 3: ⁹ The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

but does that mean that Jesus died for unbelievers??

John 6: ⁵¹ I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.

Revelation 22:¹⁷ And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. "
  If the atonement is limited then the bride would be all believers and the only recipient of it. So why would the bride be telling anyone to come?

Isn't that universalism?

2 Peter 3:2 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. "

Romans 3:² even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:

The atonement is universal "unto all" but effective for those who believe "upon all them that believe".

Are we supposed to teach this?

1 John 4:¹⁴ And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world. ¹⁵ Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God

1 Timothy 4:¹⁰ For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.¹¹ These things command and teach."

2 Corinthians 5:¹⁸ And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; ¹⁹ to wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. ²⁰ Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.

6. Goodness gracious

1. What is faith?

Faith is not a work) Ephesians 2:⁸ For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: ⁹ not of works, lest any man should boast."

Romans 3:²⁸ Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law."
Romans 4: ⁵ But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness."
Romans 3:²² even the righteousness of God which is
by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:"
Philippians 3:⁹ and be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: "

   Many new Calvinists like Sye Ten Bruggencate argue that faith is a work and therefore the condition of faith would be works based salvation.  Ironicly, Classic Calvinism, specifically John Calvin taught that Faith is passive and not a work in his doctrine of "imputed righteousness" which is the teaching of this author. He called faith an act but not a work.

   Is faith an act according to Jesus?

faith is seen outside Jews

Matthew 8:10 When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel."

Notice Jesus who is Deity is marveling, observing in an unexpected fashion the faith of a gentile in the power of Christ.

Matthew 8:26 And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm."
Jesus is speaking to theoretically elect apostles rebuking them and implying their responsibility to become more faithful

Mark 5:34 And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague."

Faith is said by our Lord Jesus to be the factor in his healing of her issues. He is definitely making her responsible for her faith.

Luke 17:⁵ And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith. ⁶ And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you.
Matthew 21:32For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.
Mark 9:23Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. ²⁴ And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief."
   This father recognized that his faith was present and yet not active.  Faith must be more than a tradition, but an act.  This does not mean it was a work because Jesus and not the father was the worker.
Mark13:21And then if any man shall say to you, Lo, here is Christ; or, lo, he is there; believe him not:"
    Man is not only held responsible to be believe but on a very important note, he is held responsible on certain occasions to not believe. Thus if he believes or not He is willful both ways.

2. Grace can be resisted.

Titus 2:¹¹ For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,"

2 Corinthians 6:1 We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. ² (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)

  Grace is a free gift, a free gift must be freely received.

Hebrews 10:²⁹ of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?  "

   As opposed to grace being dominating it being free is not violating the will.
^{Hebrews 11:6} But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him."
  The Holy Spirit will not cohabit a defiled temple, we must first be justified.

3. The new birth is later.

John 3:² the same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. ³ Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. ⁴ Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? ⁵ Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. ⁶ That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. ⁷ Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. ⁸ The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.⁹ Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be? ¹⁰ Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things? ¹¹ Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness. ¹² If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things? ¹³ And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven. ¹⁴ And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: ¹⁵ that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. ¹⁶ For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. ¹⁷ For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. ¹⁸ He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God."
The immediate question for this topic is when Jesus says we "must be born again" is it initiated by our reception, or is it mystical and followed by our reception? Are we responsible to be born again or not?

Let's go back further for context.  

John 1:¹² But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: ¹³ which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God."

  So the recievers gained power. This power was given even to the believers in Jesus name.  When it says not of blood and flesh that brings up the Jewish nature. So this power is alien to any birthright and it is given to the believer.

back to the text.....

Nicodemus sets the conversation as dealing with the identity of Christ, that he has deduced Jesus to be of God due to his power.  Christ seems to turn the conversation to a different topic.... but does he? let's look backward...

John 2:²³ Now when he was in Jerusalem at the passover, in the feast day, many believed in his name, when they saw the miracles which he did. ²⁴ But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men, ²⁵ and needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man." Jesus already perceived the misunderstanding of the Jews. They only understood Christ's miracles as pointing to the man Jesus  as opposed to pointing to their way of salvation.

John 3: ³ Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."
   Nicodemus was wrong to only estimate Jesus as a good teacher.  Because he was not born again He would not properly perceive this king of the kingdom of heaven.
(4) Nicodemus reply is sarcastic. making the answer out to be an impossible demand and shifting blame on the gatekeeper of the kingdom of Heaven.
(5) Christ reply is to nicodemus in the singular "thee"  "Verily,Verily" indicating the weight and importance Christ' message was for Nicodemus.  Now making a distinction between water and spirit.  Thus clarifying that the rebirth was a spiritual birth and that Nicodemus is not incoherent to this but he must on condition be aware of it.
(6) that which is born (flesh is flesh) (Spirit of Spirit) the flesh has nothing to do with the new birth but the new birth is spiritual.

  Therefore nicodemus is responsible to be aware of the spiritual birth.  But if regeneration is prior to faith then there would be no need to be aware of the New Birth.  It would happen regardless of our knowledge.

(7) "marvel not" it is inappropriate for nicodemus to misunderstand the message it is simple in nature. Then he makes the alteration from the singular "thee" to "Ye" plural.  Therefore it is our responsibility to be aware of our need to be born again.

(8) "The wind" "so is everyone" people are not born again based upon no family or sectarian geneology.  The movement of the Spirits quickening is from God.

(9) Nicodemus gives protest.  He assumes Christ telling him his responsibility.  Though he does not know how he can be responsible.

(10) Jesus chides Him harder. "Art thou a master of Israel"? Nicodemus should know and be seeking especially as a disciple of Jehovah.
If the regeneration were passive then Jesus would be harsh to condemn him.  but he is held especially responsible. Jesus was not as harsh to the woman at the well. He simply told her salvation was of the Jews. The key to the responsibility appears to be the word of God.
Deut. 30:¹¹ For this commandment which I command thee this day, it is not hidden from thee, neither is it far off. ¹² It is not in heaven, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go up for us to heaven, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it? ¹³ Neither is it beyond the sea, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go over the sea for us, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it? ¹⁴ But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it."

And Paul plays on this...

Romans 10: ⁶ But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:) ⁷ or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.) ⁸ But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; ⁹ that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. ¹⁰ For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

(11) "We speak that we do know" this message of regeneration is logical and not simply a mystical experience.  The gospel and it's Commission are composed rationally.  It is not a random mystical experience, but a message we are responsible to receive and therefore regeneration is a promise we are responsible to receive.

(12) Jesus is making his message understandable with earthly things.  But nicodemus wants to distort the clear message to avoid responsibility. But Jesus reiterates that the burden is on nicodemus.

(13) Jesus has identified himself as the son of man on dozens of occasions.  So He is reiterating His authority to Nicodemus, so that he will listen.

(14) The story that Jesus brings up is reminiscent of the rebellion of the "Sons of Korah" against Moses challenging His prophetic authority.  The people were cursed for rebelling and would only be cured of the curse when they looked unto the snake on the pole.  Just as they would need to look to the cross for which Christ would hang.

(15) "That whosoever" seems to refer equally to "as many as received him"(1:12) anyone who believes receives the power of being born again becoming children of God..  SO the born again is the believer who receives eternal life.

(16) "For" the message of Being born again is based upon this doctrine "God so loved the World that he gave His only begotton Son, that" The new birth is God's work of redemption out of love. it is the "whosoever" that God loves.  Those who potentially and eventually believe.

(17) The rebirth is potentially universal but effectively exclusive.  This is a counterfactual.

"For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world" God is willing for a potential universalism. "the world through him might be saved" The only problem with this statement is presuppositional and Scripture is not accountable to man's presuppositions.
(18)¹⁸ He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God."
The act of God in redemption is complete we are simply choosing the underserved grace wich does not require rocket science to understand.
(19)¹⁹ And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. "
The condemnation is a response to a evil free choice and thus being born again is a responsibility according to John.

The scriptures also point this interpretation out.

Acts 2:³⁸ Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. ³⁹ For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. ⁴⁰ And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.⁴¹ Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls."

Ephesians 1:¹² that we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. ¹³ 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, ¹⁴ which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

Faith is a necessary condition.
Hebrews 4: ² For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.

7. What is natural?

Matthew 26:41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."  

1 Cor. 3:1 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.

Romans 7: 14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. 15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. 16 If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. 17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. 18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not."

Some of the newer Calvinists argue that we no longer have a fleshly nature.  This is a very dishonest and immoral position based upon pride as opposed to scripture.

philippians 2:12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus."
  While it is good to persue perfection. It is a lie to think that our flesh will ever get there without glorification.
 
8. Is the great commission synergistic or monergistic?

I don't disagree with Calvinist in stating that salvation is monergistic.  A person needs a gospel to believe, the conviction of the holy Spirit to realize there need of the gospel. Their belief in that gospel is an act and yet not a merit. They need the historical fact of the gospel for Jesus to provide the righteousness of God and therefore it is all of God.

But the distribution of that gospel is indeed synergistic.

John Macarthur has even admitted that Calvinism is not logically consistent with the great commission.
https://youtu.be/rHeAPdzQUNI

It is the disciple  who is responsible for the getting the word out.


Ezekiel 3:¹⁸ When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand."

Matthew 22: ² The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, ³ and sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come. ⁴ Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage. ⁵ But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise: ⁶ and the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them. ⁷ But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. ⁸ Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy. ⁹ Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage. ¹⁰ So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests"
   The elect servants were not necessarily in the wedding while the unwelcomed were now welcomed in the wedding.

Matthew 23:¹³ But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in. "

Romans 10: ¹⁴ How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?

¹⁵ and how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

   The drawing of God's people is rational as opposed to mystical.  God's people MUST provide the gospel of salvation.

But, but, but.....!
Matthew 13:²⁴ Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: ²⁵ but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. ²⁶ But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. ²⁷ So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares? ²⁸ He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? ²⁹ But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. ³⁰ Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn."
⁶ Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field. ³⁷ He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man; ³⁸ the field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; ³⁹ the enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. ⁴⁰ As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world."   Until very recently, I assumed a very Calvinistic interpretation of the wheat and tares. Assuming
that the wheat were the elect and the tares were the reprobate/  But then I noticed that the wheat were planted by the Son of man/Jesus, typically we think of election as the work of the father.  The good seed is the gospel and thus his work in atonement.  Then I finally noticed that the field was the world.  And this is consistent with the neighboring parable about the sower and the seeds.
Thus the wheat and tares  are limited groups. The wheat are true converts and the tares are antichrist false converts. Perhaps it is even a smaller group.  The messianic Jews vs the unbelieving Jews.
  
2 Thessalonians 2:¹³ But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:"
   This is the biggest and most obvious objection.However looks can be deceiving.  The greek word for chosen here is haireomai which just means a choice.  Versus the other "chosen" eklektos, which is the usual term that brings theological types of the doctrine of election.
Here it is in another passage..
Hebrews 11:25choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;" 
Now the context of this "choice" is a specific group of believers.
2 thess. 2:¹⁴ whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. ¹⁵ Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle."  "You" is the specific Thessalonian Christians who Paul discipled.
Some manuscripts note that they were his firstfruits.  So that Paul is saying God decided to save them through the work of the spirit in regeneration/sanctification and their belief in the gospel, like everyone in that dispensation.


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. "
Let's look at the context.  These were jews rejecting Jesus and Jesus has declared that their loyalty to God the Father is linked to their response to him.
John 5:  ⁴³ I am come in my Father’s name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive. ⁴⁴ How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only? ⁴⁵ Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust.⁶ For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me. ⁴⁷ But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?"
The discipleship of the Jews is mosaic discipleship from the father.

John 6: ²⁷ Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed. ²⁸ Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? ²⁹ Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent. ³⁰ They said therefore unto him, What sign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work? ³¹ Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat. ³² Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. ³³ For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world."

  If they were correctly following Moses they would be drawn by God to Jesus Christ.

Acts 13:  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."
  The gentiles are given the universal offer of salvation, which is a paradox to jewish philosophy. how would they distinguish the saints from wicked?  The Ones whom⁴ And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it. ⁵ Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying,  God has granted eternal life are the one's who believed.

Romans 9:¹⁹ Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will? ²⁰ Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? ²¹ Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour? ²² What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: ²³ and that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,"
 This is a popular passage that sounds convincingly deterministic at first.  But in reality Paul is using this rhetoric as a form of reverse psychology.
   The Jew is pouting as his physical inheritance does not guarantee eternal salvation while the dirty gentiles can just walk through the pearly gates.  This argument reminds us of the silly temper tantrum of the prophet Jonah when the city of Ninevah was saved from destruction.  "who art thou that repliest" implies a rebellious attitude excercising free will.
But lets look the passage in Jeremiah where Paul is getting the figure.
Jeremiah 18:⁶ O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the Lord. Behold, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel. ⁷ At what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, and to pull down, and to destroy it; ⁸ if that nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them. "
We see responsibility is clearly taught in the passage incurring God repenting of future destruction in reply to obedience. Also the concern of nations brings back this OT understanding of election.

Historical Overview ( I am not going try to argue these facts though I may later in later paper. Most historians should basically agree, though having there spin of course.)
1.  Monergistic determinism in salvation is virtually unheard in the early church and introduced by Augustine in the 4th century.
2. Augustine was a professor of platonic philosophy prior to His conversion which was not done the way New Testament Christianity teaches.  Augustine had trusted in his infant baptism even though he was afterwards a practicing pagan.
3. Augustine pushed catholic ideas such as the apocrypha, theocracy, Catholic postmillennialism, sacramentalism and a ransom atonement.
4.Augustine punished the Donatist.  The donatist were having catholic bishops forced upon them who had denied Christ publicly.  Augustine got them punished with imprisonments and banishment, to force them in the catholic church.
5.Martin Luther was an Augustinian monk prior to his conversion. Luther kept his augustian understanding of determinism.  Alongside His Augustinian catholic view of sacraments.
6. Luther was also a theocrat who sought protection from the prince of Germany and had helped several state churches form.
7. Luther persecuted Anabaptists rebuked them in His Augsberg confession.  He also had more overtly heretical Anabaptist killed in the peasants rebellion.
8. Calvin and Zwingli were both roman catholic training in the priesthood before their conversions.
9. Both relied upon theocracy and persecuted the Anabaptists even killing many of them.
10. Reformed churches were all uniform as being state churches.
11.  There are no surviving protestant state churches holding to evangelical theology.
12. The Puritans, pilgrims congregationalists and other Calvinists Encouraged the state church system and were publicly critical of democracy.
13.  The church of England progressed from Calvinism to deism which is also deterministic.
14. The reformed churches by and large supported slavery, while the Anabaptists did not.  Even Albert Mohler recently lamented that even the sbc hierarchy were uniformly slave owners and supporting the slave system in the confederacy.
15.  To be fair northern churches and even northern Presbyterians eventually gave in to Abolition.  Ultimately the theological debate was only won in the south among Calvinist due to the force of war.
16. Dispensationalism became the poplar view and racialist views eventually faded as it became more popular.
17. The theonomist views of the south allowed for the racialism by Levitical law allowing for slavery and infant baptism implying that Christianity is an ethnic culture.  Blacks naturally wanted to separate from the white Calvinist churches because they were treated as spiritual inferiors because they were legal inferiors.
18.  Presbyterianism has lost it's historic place over time as well as descended into liberalism.
19. Calvinistic Baptist have contradicted themselves as their greatest evangelists and missionaries (Carey and Spurgeon) were often criticized and attacked  and criticized by other Calvinists.
20.  The southern Baptist population was enlarged mostly by the separate Baptist churches(converts of Wycliffe who decided to be Baptist) while the reformed Baptist took control of the Seminaries.
21. The Baptist conservative resurgence was performed largely by the work of large dispensational preachers and congrgations even though the reformers were given power over the seminaries.
22. The conservative Presbyterians were not as successful in growth with the exception of some like D. James Kennedy  Much of their success has been in part to Baptist proselytes. As many Baptist in the seminary system have become Presbyterian.

     My hypothesis is that deterministic Christianity is a form of Catholicism.  It reproduces mostly by breeding, politics and proselytizing.  The work of evangelists have a shelf life. Most are Baptist proseylites who are gifted to do their jobs.  But their flocks will fall prey to the usual Calvinistic pitfalls and apostasy abounds.
If you apostasize from a reformed church you have had years of being taught that if you do not believe then Jesus never died on the cross for you.  So unlike wesleyanism which gives you a chance to come back, you are by implication not destined to come back and whatever grace you thought you had was never there to begin with.

   I thank God that many Calvinist families will be inconsistent when face to face in the lives of their children. But for many the logic let's the cat out of the bag. one of the greatest atheist debaters Anthony Flew complained about predestination often from his Anglican upbringing. Flew eventually believed in God but never accepted Christ to be saved.

   Meanwhile many Calvinist preachers are not nearly as orthodox as they claim to be. Celebrated Calvinist Tim Keller teaches the heresy of theistic evolution.  While Calvinist hero John Piper has been turning the reformation backwards to accept legalism.

    Finally, I want to reiterate that I do not blame Calvinists for the errors of several of their doctrines in the sense that it should be granted that this is a level of teaching that requires a  mastery of the Word of God.  I do think that Baptists should look upon the doctrine of limited atonement the same way we look at the Wesleyan doctrine of "losing salvation"  while it is consistent with their systematic theology it is not scriptural and therefore be discouraged.  The issue is that the reformed theological system has take too much power and influence over evangelicalism and it's darker fruits are impairing the ability for our communities to accomplish revival.

"When the Old Testament says that covenant keeping is the condition for receiving God's lovingkindness, that's what it meant ... All the covenants of God are conditional covenants of grace-both the old and the new covenant. They offer all sufficient Future Grace for those who keep the covenant. But what it does say is that all future blessings of the Christian life are conditional on our keeping." Future Grace pg. 249

   Is it that I believe all Calvinist are heretics and false Christians? No.
I have many friends, colleagues and teachers that over the years that I recognize as having been able to live godly lives and evangelize etc. But at the end of the day they all contribute to the problem they all breed hypercalvinism and then liberalism and apostasy.  Why is this so? because as Calvinists they can not repudiate hypercalvinism.  Because the only way to refute hypercalvinism is to prove Calvinism wrong.
    Now this is not to run in the opposite direction to embrace the extremes on the side of the free will spectrum.
1. Pelagianism is heresy because all mankind are sinful.
2. Open theism is heresy Because God is all knowing.
3. Word of faith teaching is heresy in that it assumes that God is not active and in control of the world through his providence.
4. perfectionism is dishonest. So long as a Christian has mortal flesh he has a sinful carnal nature to contend with.
5.To "lose your salvation" is false teaching. Jesus is not building you a mansion in heaven and then tearing back down throughout your entire life!
6. blood atonement is substitutionary and is the vehical by which we are imputed righteousness.  Jesus bore the wrath of God for our sins and we were given his righteousness upon faith.
7.  Saving grace is contingent upon the proclamation of the gospel of Christ to the accountable listener.

I have had to live this out by experience. I seen the massive revivals in the early 2000's and I watched Calvinist gain power at that time and I watched not only the heresies outside of the reformed movement but then self destruction within.

I have seen every major form of evangelism criticized, whether it be alter calls, door to door, mass evangelism, gospel tracts even street evangelism(ironic since there are Calvinist street evangelists).  I have seen Calvinist stop non-Calvinist ministries, I have seen them make complaints and spread gossip about non-Calvinist professors. I have heard them claim that a Pastor should not be allowed ordination and I have heard them claim that they would doubt the salvation of a non-5 point Calvinist.  Now this was not what the professors  saying this so it is not supposed to be bothersome..
This was made more obvious by recent attacks mohlar made to dispensationalist Paige amidst allegations of poor counsel to woman alledging rape. Since mohlar had absolutely no clue exacty what happened it was not his place to condemn him in front of the media to spread gossip.  But it helped to get Patterson fired and one of Mohler's students took his place at the southwestern theological seminary.
Once Mohler did a special convocation on the campus of Boyce college/ He read a newspaper asking what his agenda was(referring to the conservative resurgeance) Mohler responded "Complete and total world domination!"
  The guys all responded with laughs hooting and hollering.  We can assume he was just jesting, but sometimes you wonder.

Here are a list links to other important articles dealing with aspects of reformed theology if you want to go further.
my own confession of faith feel free to take it on.
http://www.biblesmack.net/about-matt/my-beliefs-freedom-baptist-church-confession-of-faith-3rd-edit
my first critique not long after graduating
http://biblesmack.blogspot.com/2007/01/critical-analysis-of-calvinism-from.html
Some Calvinist argue babies are predestined for hell
http://biblesmack.blogspot.com/2007/01/babies-chosen-for-salvation.html
Against popular reformed plural elder model

http://biblesmack.blogspot.com/2007/03/goal-of-this-paper-is-give-biblical.html
Against the sinful alcoholism which they want to relax.
http://biblesmack.blogspot.com/2007/05/letter-to-john-piper-about-drinking.html
Often spiritual warfare is downplayed to just focus on the flesh.
http://biblesmack.blogspot.com/2007/05/sympathy-for-doctrine-of-devil.html
Some people loose the liberating aspects of Christianity
http://biblesmack.blogspot.com/2007/08/case-for-biblical-freedom.html
Soul winning
http://biblesmack.blogspot.com/2008/01/biblical-case-for-soul-winning.html
Ecumenicism is a common disease
http://biblesmack.blogspot.com/2008/02/why-ecumenicist-are-evil-bigots.html
This stems from the unbiblical teaching of the invisible church
http://biblesmack.blogspot.com/2008/04/little-c-catholicism-true-flaw-of.html
new Calvinism has opened it's arms to the catholic church
http://biblesmack.blogspot.com/2009/03/who-is-great-whore-of-babylon.html
one major confusion solved
http://biblesmack.blogspot.com/2009/05/kingdom-and-church.html
Some of these apply
http://biblesmack.blogspot.com/2009/09/satanic-myths-within-church.html
important lesson about the true church
http://biblesmack.blogspot.com/2010/03/who-is-new-testament-church.html
Core to the false teachings in New Calvinism is the writings of John Piper.

http://biblesmack.blogspot.com/2010/04/when-music-fades-tuning-out-john-pipers.html
confessional Calvinists can struggle with these issues
http://biblesmack.blogspot.com/2010/08/new-testament-trinity-verses-catholic.html
Many new Calvinists attack church democracy
http://biblesmack.blogspot.com/2010/11/biblical-case-for-church-democracy.html
The most obviously false teaching in Calvinism
http://biblesmack.blogspot.com/2011/04/why-limited-atonement-is-indeed.html
The most important study dealing with election
http://biblesmack.blogspot.com/2011/04/biblical-doctrine-of-election.html
Important issues regarding foreknowledge
http://biblesmack.blogspot.com/2011/04/questions-about-middle-knowledge-by.html
A thesis regarding election
http://biblesmack.blogspot.com/2011/10/biblical-election-summary.html
Many new Calvinist are seduced into the philosophy of Cornelius van til without knowing the man was a heretic.  A fun experiment to play with Calvinist is to show a young Calvinist these van tillian quotes and claim they are from TD Jakes, see if they will admit they are heretical! ;)
http://biblesmack.blogspot.com/2011/11/van-tillian-heresy.html
Thanks to Piper and Driscol many Calvinist are seduced into pagan worship.
http://biblesmack.blogspot.com/2011/12/mysticism-alternative-evangelical.html
Many SBC Calvinists have forgotten the ways of new testament religion
http://biblesmack.blogspot.com/2011/12/new-testament-paradigm-baptist.html
The stupidity of false teacher Hank Hannengraaf was popular among new Calvinist concerning eschatology.
http://biblesmack.blogspot.com/2011/12/the-holocaust-code-decoding-unbiblical.html
One of the first Calvinists I have met at Boyce has become popular since he became an apostate I properly refute his contentions before he altogether denied Christ.
http://biblesmack.blogspot.com/2012/01/why-when-leaving-redux-he-should-have.html
briefly refuting replacement theology
http://biblesmack.blogspot.com/2012/04/is-this-supposed-to-be-church.html
refuting Keller's theistic evolution
http://biblesmack.blogspot.com/2013/03/the-spirit-of-evolution-theistic.html
proving Calvin was not a "new Calvinist"
http://biblesmack.blogspot.com/2014/02/when-calvinism-stops-following-calvin.html
refuting the replacement theology more.
http://biblesmack.blogspot.com/2014/03/a-few-of-scriptures-which-indicate-that.html
debating a new Calvinist
http://biblesmack.blogspot.com/2014/04/witness-to-hypercalvinist.html
refuting lordship salvation
http://biblesmack.blogspot.com/2015/08/keys-to-understanding-grace-and-proper.html
dialogue with another Calvinist
http://biblesmack.blogspot.com/2016/02/reasoning-with-calvinist.html