by Lacy Enderson

Created on: February 05, 2008

Although Calvinists give good reasons for their beliefs and even valid scriptural arguments, it is difficult to accept the full Calvinists way of thinking. It is also not easy to accept everything that Arminians believe. Truth lies somewhere in the middle of these two schools of thought. Salvation begins with God, not with us. God chooses people and then they are given free will to choose Him. God chooses everyone and gives all people the same choice as to whether they will accept Him or deny Him. Believing that God has a hand full of chosen ones that will definitely go to heaven and others, who couldn't choose heaven even if they wanted to, is not an easy concept to grasp. 2 Peter 3:9 says that God would have that none should perish. God would never create men that are predestined to hell.

Romans 6:16 says we are slaves to sin and Satan. By nature humans cannot choose God. In order for man to choose God, God must choose Him first. God influences all men to come to Him. As God deals with a man's heart to enable Him to receive His message, men are drawn to God. As men turn their hearts towards God's influence they are then changed and transformed into a new creation. The difference between this teaching and the Calvinist is that all men are given the same chance to choose God. God is no respecter of persons, Acts 10:34, 35. Rev 22:17 says that whoever will, may come. If total depravity means that human beings are incapable of responding positively to God on their own, that means all human beings are equally incapable. And if all human beings are hopelessly doomed without God's grace, then all persons are offered the same grace, not just a few chosen ones.

The concept of limited atonement is contrary to scripture. In fact, it is astonishing that someone would state that Christ died for only a few. The sacrifice Christ made for fallen humanity was for everyone. Limiting what He did to the advantage of only a few is not Biblical. The Bible clearly says Christ died; for all (1 Timothy 2:6; Isaiah 53:6), For every man (Heb. 2:9), For the world (John 3:16), For the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:2), For the ungodly (Rom. 5:6), For false teachers (2 Peter 2:1), For many (Matthew 20:28), For Israel (John 11:50-51), For the Church (Eph. 5:25), For "me" (Gal. 2:20). If Christ only died for the elect, how can any one go out and fulfill the great commission to lead people to Christ. If in fact, Christ did not die for all men how can we tell anyone the good news of what

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