R
Reformed_Rob
Guest
Yeah Gottle, but at least it is taught that the elect do indeed receive grace. I’ve never heard that taught at any Baptist church I’ve gone to, at least I don’t remember it.
Has this thread veered off topic? I fear it has.
In fairness, maybe it should be understood that by the term “Calvinist” one refers to believing the “5 Points of Calvinism” drawn up at the Synod of Dort, but not necessarily the whole of Calvin’s beliefs. That would be a good stipulative definition. Not even my denomination, as Reformed as it is, is in line with all of Calvin’s teaching.
So, in response to the original question, here is a verse that perplexes me as a Calvinist:
Matthew 12:36-37:
And I say to you, that every careless word that men shall speak, they shall render account for it in the day of judgement. For by your words you shall be justified, and by your words you shall be condemned.
A good Calvinist, like my pastor when I asked him this, would apply the same interpretation to the text about not by faith alone in James 2. Our words reveal our character, whether or not we have true saving, justifying faith or not. And our faith will be judged on the basis of our words and works.
Ok, but why not say that our words and our works are PART of our justification (all encompassed in grace of course) since that is the way Christ explicitly speaks of it?
Has this thread veered off topic? I fear it has.
In fairness, maybe it should be understood that by the term “Calvinist” one refers to believing the “5 Points of Calvinism” drawn up at the Synod of Dort, but not necessarily the whole of Calvin’s beliefs. That would be a good stipulative definition. Not even my denomination, as Reformed as it is, is in line with all of Calvin’s teaching.
So, in response to the original question, here is a verse that perplexes me as a Calvinist:
Matthew 12:36-37:
And I say to you, that every careless word that men shall speak, they shall render account for it in the day of judgement. For by your words you shall be justified, and by your words you shall be condemned.
A good Calvinist, like my pastor when I asked him this, would apply the same interpretation to the text about not by faith alone in James 2. Our words reveal our character, whether or not we have true saving, justifying faith or not. And our faith will be judged on the basis of our words and works.
Ok, but why not say that our words and our works are PART of our justification (all encompassed in grace of course) since that is the way Christ explicitly speaks of it?