Christ Gave Himself Up Only For the Church

MennoSota

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 24, 2017
Messages
7,102
Age
54
Gender
Male
Religious Affiliation
Christian
Political Affiliation
Moderate
Marital Status
Married
ID2 wrote:
I read something last night that addressed how one could respond to the gospel - believe the word - therefore making the conditions right to be granted faith ("repent and believe the gospel" as it were). The example used was of Peter. When Peter was called, he still had to leave his nets of his own volition. He was not dragged away. Was he 'saved' by his obedience? No. However, the conditions were made right for him to be granted faith by that action.

In your example do you see that God chose Peter. Jesus says to Peter "Follow me." There was no other response except to follow. Peter was chosen and he went.
Could Peter have walked away? Jesus tells us that all whom the Father has given him, he will not lose.
Peter was granted faith precisely because God chose Peter.
 

MennoSota

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 24, 2017
Messages
7,102
Age
54
Gender
Male
Religious Affiliation
Christian
Political Affiliation
Moderate
Marital Status
Married
ID2wrote:

That same 'call' goes to the whole world - "repent and believe the gospel". Will the "whole world" repent and believe, making the conditions right for them to be granted faith? No. However, it does not "prove" that the call has not gone to the whole world.

Here you are confused.
God tells us to go throughout the entire world and share the gospel. "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved." We share that message to all humanity (universally). The whole world will not believe. The whole world is, by nature, in rebellion against God. The whole world, by nature, hates God. The call goes out to the whole world. But, only those whom God chooses to make alive in Christ (Ephesians 2:4-6) will be given faith unto salvation. The rest never respond to the call. They remain dead in their trespasses and sins. They hate God and they hate that God is the King rather than themselves. They mock God's ambassadors of reconciliation. They cannot believe because God has not chosen to make them alive in Christ. (Please purposefully read Ephesians 2:1-10)
 

Andrew

Matt 18:15
Joined
Aug 25, 2017
Messages
6,645
Age
40
Gender
Male
Religious Affiliation
Christian
Political Affiliation
Conservative
Marital Status
Single
Acceptance of the Trinity & Nicene Creed
Yes
Menno what do you make of Mathew 24:24 btw?
 

MennoSota

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 24, 2017
Messages
7,102
Age
54
Gender
Male
Religious Affiliation
Christian
Political Affiliation
Moderate
Marital Status
Married
Menno what do you make of Mathew 24:24 btw?
What is the abomination of desolation in verse 15?
For*false christs and*false prophets will arise and*perform great signs and wonders,*so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.
To answer your question:
False messiah's and prophets will do such great wonders so that "if it were possible" (but it isn't) it could even cause the elect to wonder and be lead down a false path.
This just means that the delusion will be great so that rebels will be deluded.
I'm not sure what this has to do with the topic, Andrew.
 

Andrew

Matt 18:15
Joined
Aug 25, 2017
Messages
6,645
Age
40
Gender
Male
Religious Affiliation
Christian
Political Affiliation
Conservative
Marital Status
Single
Acceptance of the Trinity & Nicene Creed
Yes
What is the abomination of desolation in verse 15?

To answer your question:
False messiah's and prophets will do such great wonders so that "if it were possible" (but it isn't) it could even cause the elect to wonder and be lead down a false path.
This just means that the delusion will be great so that rebels will be deluded.
I'm not sure what this has to do with the topic, Andrew.
Are there any saved outside of the Elect?
I ponder why Paul didn't just say "you" instead of "the Elect". Is he talking about those to come or those who believe in general?
 

Josiah

simul justus et peccator
Valued Contributor
Joined
Jun 12, 2015
Messages
13,927
Gender
Male
Religious Affiliation
Lutheran
Political Affiliation
Conservative
Marital Status
Married
Acceptance of the Trinity & Nicene Creed
Yes
ID2wrote:

That same 'call' goes to the whole world - "repent and believe the gospel". Will the "whole world" repent and believe, making the conditions right for them to be granted faith? No. However, it does not "prove" that the call has not gone to the whole world.

Here you are confused.
God tells us to go throughout the entire world and share the gospel. "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved." We share that message to all humanity (universally). The whole world will not believe. The whole world is, by nature, in rebellion against God. The whole world, by nature, hates God. The call goes out to the whole world. But, only those whom God chooses to make alive in Christ (Ephesians 2:4-6) will be given faith unto salvation. The rest never respond to the call. They remain dead in their trespasses and sins. They hate God and they hate that God is the King rather than themselves. They mock God's ambassadors of reconciliation. They cannot believe because God has not chosen to make them alive in Christ. (Please purposefully read Ephesians 2:1-10)


And none of that have ANYTHING WHATSOEVER to do with this thread...


The issue is NOT whether all are saved, the issue is whether Christ died ONLY for the church, the elect, the few.


Try to stick to the topic, my friend. Playing "the shell game" (as what you are doing is called in debate) is an obvious sign that you have nothing to say at to the POINT.
 

MennoSota

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 24, 2017
Messages
7,102
Age
54
Gender
Male
Religious Affiliation
Christian
Political Affiliation
Moderate
Marital Status
Married
Are there any saved outside of the Elect?
I ponder why Paul didn't just say "you" instead of "the Elect". Is he talking about those to come or those who believe in general?
I don't understand. Paul is not a part of Matthew 24.
The elect are those whom God has chosen to redeem. It is particular redemption by God's act in saving a rebel from his/her sins.
If God did not choose to give the particular gift of salvation to those whom He chose to adopt, then no one would ever be saved. Romans 3 tells us that "No one seeks God, not even one."
Your question is answered by God.
 

Andrew

Matt 18:15
Joined
Aug 25, 2017
Messages
6,645
Age
40
Gender
Male
Religious Affiliation
Christian
Political Affiliation
Conservative
Marital Status
Single
Acceptance of the Trinity & Nicene Creed
Yes
I don't understand. Paul is not a part of Matthew 24.
The elect are those whom God has chosen to redeem. It is particular redemption by God's act in saving a rebel from his/her sins.
If God did not choose to give the particular gift of salvation to those whom He chose to adopt, then no one would ever be saved. Romans 3 tells us that "No one seeks God, not even one."
Your question is answered by God.
I agree
 

MennoSota

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 24, 2017
Messages
7,102
Age
54
Gender
Male
Religious Affiliation
Christian
Political Affiliation
Moderate
Marital Status
Married
And none of that have ANYTHING WHATSOEVER to do with this thread...


The issue is NOT whether all are saved, the issue is whether Christ died ONLY for the church, the elect, the few.


Try to stick to the topic, my friend. Playing "the shell game" (as what you are doing is called in debate) is an obvious sign that you have nothing to say at to the POINT.
Josiah, it is hand in glove. What ID2 brought up fits very well with this thread. You may not see it or even conceive of how it fits...but it does have a lot to do with this thread.
 

Andrew

Matt 18:15
Joined
Aug 25, 2017
Messages
6,645
Age
40
Gender
Male
Religious Affiliation
Christian
Political Affiliation
Conservative
Marital Status
Single
Acceptance of the Trinity & Nicene Creed
Yes
Christ's sacrifice is for the sinner... can we move on?
 

MennoSota

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 24, 2017
Messages
7,102
Age
54
Gender
Male
Religious Affiliation
Christian
Political Affiliation
Moderate
Marital Status
Married
Christ's sacrifice is for the sinner... can we move on?
Andrew, all humanity is sinners.
Christ only died for particular sinners whom He has chosen to save. The rest of sinful humanity is not atoned for. Christ's death was not for them.
However, since God never tells His ambassadors who the elect are, the message of salvation must be shared universally. But, only the elect will hear and believe. Not one drop of Jesus blood is spilled in vain.
 

Andrew

Matt 18:15
Joined
Aug 25, 2017
Messages
6,645
Age
40
Gender
Male
Religious Affiliation
Christian
Political Affiliation
Conservative
Marital Status
Single
Acceptance of the Trinity & Nicene Creed
Yes
Andrew, all humanity is sinners.
Christ only died for particular sinners whom He has chosen to save. The rest of sinful humanity is not atoned for. Christ's death was not for them.
However, since God never tells His ambassadors who the elect are, the message of salvation must be shared universally. But, only the elect will hear and believe. Not one drop of Jesus blood is spilled in vain.
Beautiful! I can't disagree with this :)
 

Andrew

Matt 18:15
Joined
Aug 25, 2017
Messages
6,645
Age
40
Gender
Male
Religious Affiliation
Christian
Political Affiliation
Conservative
Marital Status
Single
Acceptance of the Trinity & Nicene Creed
Yes
Every knee will bow
 

Josiah

simul justus et peccator
Valued Contributor
Joined
Jun 12, 2015
Messages
13,927
Gender
Male
Religious Affiliation
Lutheran
Political Affiliation
Conservative
Marital Status
Married
Acceptance of the Trinity & Nicene Creed
Yes
Christ only died for particular sinners whom He has chosen to save.


.... as you and a very, very few hyper-Calvinists claim.

But in 30 pages of posts, you have yet to present even one Scripture that remotely so indicates, and yet to show why all the many Scriptures that state the exact opposite are wrong.





.
 

MennoSota

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 24, 2017
Messages
7,102
Age
54
Gender
Male
Religious Affiliation
Christian
Political Affiliation
Moderate
Marital Status
Married
.... as you and a very, very few hyper-Calvinists claim.

But in 30 pages of posts, you have yet to present even one Scripture that remotely so indicates, and yet to show why all the many Scriptures that state the exact opposite are wrong.





.
Every Reformed person believes in particular redemption, Josiah. There is nothing "hyper" about it. CH Spurgeon was a Particular Baptist.
Josiah, scripture has been shared. You simply demand a very specific word so you can dismiss truth in order to keep your contradiction in tact.
 

Josiah

simul justus et peccator
Valued Contributor
Joined
Jun 12, 2015
Messages
13,927
Gender
Male
Religious Affiliation
Lutheran
Political Affiliation
Conservative
Marital Status
Married
Acceptance of the Trinity & Nicene Creed
Yes
Let's assume you are correct.
1) Christ's sacrifice is effective for the whole world.
If that is correct, then all are saved. It is effective.



Wrong. Absurd.


Such could ONLY be the case if faith is entirely, wholly irrelevant. You'd have to eliminate the Protestant doctrine of Justification: Sola Gratia - Solus Christus - Sola Fide and replace it with Limited Atonement.




The will of humans to not believe, beats the will of God to effectively atone for all human sin.


In debate, this is known as "the shell game." When a debater has nothing to offer, no argument - then he tries to change the subject. Friend, this thread is not about whether all have faith. It's not whether all are saved. It's whether Christ died ONLY for the church, the elect, the FEW. It's about the "L" in TULIP, the part nearly all Calvinists long ago repudiated and now regard as errant "hyper" Calvinism. It is as you said, "that Christ died ONLY for the elect, the church, the few." It's NOT "Limited Distribution of Faith" it's "Christ did NOT die for the whole world but for a small minority of such, Christ died for ONLY a few." It's about Christ, it's about the Cross.

You have documented that you know how to ask a question, but of course questions aren't apologetics nor substantiation and do nothing but document you know how to ask a question (we all do). And you play the shell game EXCEEDINGLY well - always changing the subject, here and then there and then somewhere else, always dodging the subject. For 30 pages of posts now! That's amazing.... Few play the shell game longer than you.

Where does Scripture state that Jesus died for ONLY a few? Why are all the many Scriptures others have offered that flat-out contradict your stance all wrong, all of them? You've had 30 pages to present this.... but..... nothing so far.





Let me try this AGAIN:

Let's say I buy one-year annual passes to all the Disneyland resorts to all here. It's about $2,500 each (and hard to get) but I pay it. $2500.00 times however many there are at CH. I have them, they just need to receive it (doesn't matter here how that faith comes about - SAME POINT, they now have apprehended, embraced, trusted it, the exact definition of the word "faith"). Now, let's say not all accept their pass.... not all go to any of the Resorts next year. Do they thus benefit from it? No. Obviously. But does that mean I lied? The passes most have are FAKES and FRAUDS? Does it mean that lots will show up at the gates and discover - at the last minute - they were given a fake because actually it's not effective FOR THEM? No. It simply means a valuable, effective, good pass was not embraced and used. The variable here is not the passes (they're all good, all fully paid for) but the lack faith of the people since all not embrace and use those passes. TRUE, not all are blessed by Disneyland but that's not because most of the passes are fakes, empty, worthless.

Now, I know, you hold that if you absurdly accuse someone of being a synergistic, Pelagian, Arminianist - ergo you are correct. (How illogical!). But there's NOTHING above that is synergistic, it is WHOLLY monergistic, proclaimed by those who were monergists before Calvin was and long before these few later-day hyper-Calvinists were. I gave 100% of everything to God alone. It's just I don't delete faith from the doctrine of Sola Gratia - Solus Christus - Sola Fide..... I don't contradict Scripture. Synergists may reject this extremely rare, late, 'hyper-Calvinist" invention because it contradicts Scripture and it eliminates faith (which people choose), Nearly all monergists reject this extremely rare, late, 'hyper-Calvinist' invention because it contradicts Scripture and eliminates faith (which God gives) but either way, it contradicts Scripture and eliminates faith.

It seems that perhaps the "L" is a backward way of addressing why some aren't justified. But the issue here is NOT why some aren't justified, and if you wanted to make THAT your issue, you would have make THAT the issue here. But many have addressed THAT issue. Not all have faith. It ain't that complicated. Now, stop the shell game. The "L" in TULIP is not "Limited Giving of Faith" it's "Christ died for ONLY a few."




.
 
Last edited:

ImaginaryDay2

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 11, 2015
Messages
3,967
Gender
Male
Religious Affiliation
Lutheran
Political Affiliation
Moderate
Acceptance of the Trinity & Nicene Creed
Yes
ID2wrote:

That same 'call' goes to the whole world - "repent and believe the gospel". Will the "whole world" repent and believe, making the conditions right for them to be granted faith? No. However, it does not "prove" that the call has not gone to the whole world.

Here you are confused.
God tells us to go throughout the entire world and share the gospel. "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved." We share that message to all humanity (universally). The whole world will not believe. The whole world is, by nature, in rebellion against God. The whole world, by nature, hates God. The call goes out to the whole world. But, only those whom God chooses to make alive in Christ (Ephesians 2:4-6) will be given faith unto salvation. The rest never respond to the call. They remain dead in their trespasses and sins. They hate God and they hate that God is the King rather than themselves. They mock God's ambassadors of reconciliation. They cannot believe because God has not chosen to make them alive in Christ. (Please purposefully read Ephesians 2:1-10)

I'm not so sure we are so far off, actually, with the exception of how 'election' is viewed. I've no objections to the Ephesians passage - it is utterly true. We are saved by the Sovereign choice of a gracious God. Where we disagree (and this is the stuck point) is in how election looks in action. Since the gospel goes out to the whole world, and it is God's sovereign choice, we cannot know with certainty who the elect are or will be. Hence, the sacrifice of Christ was effectual for the whole world, however the whole world will not come to Christ (repent and believe)
 

Josiah

simul justus et peccator
Valued Contributor
Joined
Jun 12, 2015
Messages
13,927
Gender
Male
Religious Affiliation
Lutheran
Political Affiliation
Conservative
Marital Status
Married
Acceptance of the Trinity & Nicene Creed
Yes
I'm not so sure we are so far off, actually, with the exception of how 'election' is viewed. I've no objections to the Ephesians passage - it is utterly true. We are saved by the Sovereign choice of a gracious God. Where we disagree (and this is the stuck point) is in how election looks in action. Since the gospel goes out to the whole world, and it is God's sovereign choice, we cannot know with certainty who the elect are or will be. Hence, the sacrifice of Christ was effectual for the whole world, however the whole world will not come to Christ (repent and believe)


Actually, you are directly contradicting "Limited Atonement"


See the post above yours.




.
 

MennoSota

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 24, 2017
Messages
7,102
Age
54
Gender
Male
Religious Affiliation
Christian
Political Affiliation
Moderate
Marital Status
Married
Wrong. Absurd.


Such could ONLY be the case if faith is entirely, wholly irrelevant. You'd have to eliminate the Protestant doctrine of Justification: Sola Gratia - Solus Christus - Sola Fide and replace it with Limited Atonement.







In debate, this is known as "the shell game." When a debater has nothing to offer, no argument - then he tries to change the subject. Friend, this thread is not about whether all have faith. It's not whether all are saved. It's whether Christ died ONLY for the church, the elect, the FEW. It's about the "L" in TULIP, the part nearly all Calvinists long ago repudiated and now regard as errant "hyper" Calvinism. It is as you said, "that Christ died ONLY for the elect, the church, the few." It's NOT "Limited Distribution of Faith" it's "Christ did NOT die for the whole world but for a small minority of such, Christ died for ONLY a few." It's about Christ, it's about the Cross.

You have documented that you know how to ask a question, but of course questions aren't apologetics nor substantiation and do nothing but document you know how to ask a question (we all do). And you play the shell game EXCEEDINGLY well - always changing the subject, here and then there and then somewhere else, always dodging the subject. For 30 pages of posts now! That's amazing.... Few play the shell game longer than you.

Where does Scripture state that Jesus died for ONLY a few? Why are all the many Scriptures others have offered that flat-out contradict your stance all wrong, all of them? You've had 30 pages to present this.... but..... nothing so far.





Let me try this AGAIN:

Let's say I buy one-year annual passes to all the Disneyland resorts to all here. It's about $2,500 each (and hard to get) but I pay it. $2500.00 times however many there are at CH. I have them, they just need to receive it (doesn't matter here how that faith comes about - SAME POINT, they now have apprehended, embraced, trusted it, the exact definition of the word "faith"). Now, let's say not all accept their pass.... not all go to any of the Resorts next year. Do they thus benefit from it? No. Obviously. But does that mean I lied? The passes most have are FAKES and FRAUDS? Does it mean that lots will show up at the gates and discover - at the last minute - they were given a fake because actually it's not effective FOR THEM? No. It simply means a valuable, effective, good pass was not embraced and used. The variable here is not the passes (they're all good, all fully paid for) but the lack faith of the people since all not embrace and use those passes. TRUE, not all are blessed by Disneyland but that's not because most of the passes are fakes, empty, worthless.

Now, I know, you hold that if you absurdly accuse someone of being a synergistic, Pelagian, Arminianist - ergo you are correct. (How illogical!). But there's NOTHING above that is synergistic, it is WHOLLY monergistic, proclaimed by those who were monergists before Calvin was and long before these few later-day hyper-Calvinists were. I gave 100% of everything to God alone. It's just I don't delete faith from the doctrine of Sola Gratia - Solus Christus - Sola Fide..... I don't contradict Scripture. Synergists may reject this extremely rare, late, 'hyper-Calvinist" invention because it contradicts Scripture and it eliminates faith (which people choose), Nearly all monergists reject this extremely rare, late, 'hyper-Calvinist' invention because it contradicts Scripture and eliminates faith (which God gives) but either way, it contradicts Scripture and eliminates faith.

It seems that perhaps the "L" is a backward way of addressing why some aren't justified. But the issue here is NOT why some aren't justified, and if you wanted to make THAT your issue, you would have make THAT the issue here. But many have addressed THAT issue. Not all have faith. It ain't that complicated. Now, stop the shell game. The "L" in TULIP is not "Limited Giving of Faith" it's "Christ died for ONLY a few."




.
Josiah, in the past you have agreed that faith is a gift given by God. Do you now retract that view? Do you now say that faith is generated by the human will?
If you agree that God gives the gift of faith to those whom He makes alive in Christ, you will also agree that faith is only given to the elect, not to all humanity.
Faith is a gift, given by God's grace so that no one can boast.
Josiah, is faith limited to those whom God particularly chooses to redeem or is faith given to all humanity?
 

MennoSota

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 24, 2017
Messages
7,102
Age
54
Gender
Male
Religious Affiliation
Christian
Political Affiliation
Moderate
Marital Status
Married
I'm not so sure we are so far off, actually, with the exception of how 'election' is viewed. I've no objections to the Ephesians passage - it is utterly true. We are saved by the Sovereign choice of a gracious God. Where we disagree (and this is the stuck point) is in how election looks in action. Since the gospel goes out to the whole world, and it is God's sovereign choice, we cannot know with certainty who the elect are or will be. Hence, the sacrifice of Christ was effectual for the whole world, however the whole world will not come to Christ (repent and believe)
The gospel message does go out to all. The positive response will only be from the elect. The call is universal.
However, the atoning work is particular only to those who are quickened, enabled by God, to believe.
If the atonement were universal for all humanity, then all humanity would be atoned for and thus all would be saved.
God has never given us his list regarding whom He has chosen to save. He never intended for us to know. He simply expects us to preach reconciliation to the whole world and when humans hear the message, the elect (for whom atonement has been made) will respond and believe.
Can those who don't respond complain? Paul says... no.
18So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills.

19You will say to me then, “Why does he still find fault? For*who can resist his will?”*20But 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?”*21Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump*one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use?*22What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience*vessels of wrath*prepared for destruction,*23in order to make known*the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he*has prepared beforehand for glory—*24even us whom he*has called,*not from the Jews only but also from the Gentiles?*
 
Top Bottom