Atheist saved by Jesus Christ!

Praise the Lord Jesus Christ!  Another lost soul has come home to God.  Another blind person now sees!  The angels rejoice in heaven!

http://ravingatheist.com/2008/12/christ-is-the-lord/

One of my problems with Calvinism

If you check the primer to my blog you'll see I hold pretty close to a Classical Arminian systematic theology.  Those of us who hold to this view specify the Classical (aka Reformed Arminianism) because what is labeled as Arminianism today quite often is only called that because it isn't Calvinism.  More often than not, however, many people (not all) who say they're Arminians would actually line up closer to semi-Pelagianism or full blown Pelagianism.  But I digress.

This is a comment I made on a post at teampyro.blogspot.com, which is a blog run by some Calvinists.  I actually like these guys and find their blog very informative (I think they all have PhD's in theology, so it should be).  I simply have to take slight umbrage when they rail on Arminianism.  Here is one of my problems with Calvinism:

My Calvinist brothers,

Man's biggest problem is sin. We all agree with that. But it's an even bigger problem for the Calvinist caste system because if God ordains all actions deterministically, then God has ordained sin, as opposed to simply allowing it. This makes God responsible for sin, and makes God a sinner. This is the logical conclusion. But God cannot sin!

Arminians rightly put the blame for sin on humanity. We are so dead in our sins that only the grace of God can awaken us to accept Jesus Christ. But we do have the responsibility to have faith. Before I get a hundred "that's semi-pelagian 99% God 1% you," faith is not a work of salvation. The work of salvation was done on the cross by Jesus Christ. Faith is the recognition and surrendering to that work, and it's described that way in Holy Scripture.

God bless!

Christmas is about the cross!

Two thousand years ago, the Creator of everything joined His creatures on the planet He created for us.  He became one of us, lived in one of the worst times of human history, and then died in the most terrible way imaginable.  But He is not dead!  Nay!  He had the power to lay down His life and the power to take it back up again!  He rose from the dead to defeat death for us.  He took His Father's wrath for the sins we have committed, and endured the penalty for those sins on the cross of Calvary.  Now, if we repent of our sins and trust Jesus for our salvation, we will join our Savior in an everlasting paradise, never to die, but to live for eternity praising the God who loved us so much!

 

While we reflect on the baby in the manger, Mary and Joseph, the wise men, the shepherds, the star, etc, let us remember that that little baby died from a Roman crucifixion for us.

 

Praise the Lord Jesus Christ!!!

What Christmas is not all about

• Presents
• Santa
• Reindeer
• Trees
• Stables
• Inns
• Magi
• Wise men
• Shepherds
• Sheep
• Stars
• Night
• Winter
• Snow
• Black Thursday

What Christmas is all about

Jesus Christ being born and 32 years later dying on a cross, then raising from the dead three days later. This paid for the sins of those who trust in Him.

I read Psalm 25 today

I was struck in my devotions today. In Psalm 25, David is begging and pleading with God for mercy. It struck me how little I do that. God doesn't have to show me mercy. David wrote in verses 6 and 7: Remember, O LORD, Your tender mercies and Your lovingkindnesses, For they are from of old. 7 Do not remember the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions; According to Your mercy remember me, For Your goodness’ sake, O LORD.

Do we remember that it's because of God's lovingkindness that He forgives us? It's not because He's obligated to. And it's only because of Christ's work on the cross that we are even able to come to God for forgiveness.

8 Good and upright is the LORD; Therefore He teaches sinners in the way. 9 The humble He guides in justice, And the humble He teaches His way. 10 All the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth, To such as keep His covenant and His testimonies. 11 For Your name’s sake, O LORD, Pardon my iniquity, for it is great.

Only God is good. He is the standard bearer for us to follow. We must be humble to follow Him, because the proud don't think they need forgiveness. And in verse 11 it's made clear that God does this, forgives the unforgivable, to display His glory, and mercy, and love. Praise be to God!

Arminianism is not semi-Pelagian

If anybody wants a good comparative examination of Arminianism and semi-Pelagianism, click right here. Great stuff.