Comments on What Did Jesus Do: Dispensationlism: Arminian or Calvinist?

Hello Christian Friends, I am a huge fan of Luther...

2009-05-09T15:31:00.000-04:00

Hello Christian Friends,
I am a huge fan of Luther - esp. his sacramental theology - even though I'm a born and bred reformed boy. I should correct one small misinterpretation of yours in connection with Calvin and "his" so-called "limited atonement". You apply the term "Calvinism" to the religious heirs of the Dutch "Canons of Dort" churches. I thinks it is fair to say that Calvin believed in unlimited atonement; I'll let you judge for yourself after reading the following quotes. There is an infinitely small group of sacramental Calvinists who are so called four-pointers, i.e. they believe in unlimited atonement. They're called Amyraldians. Thought you might find it interesting. Here are the quotes:
John Calvin writes: "He has employed the universal term whosoever, both to invite all indiscriminately to partake of life, and to cut off every excuse from unbelievers. Such is also the import of the term world which He formerly used [God so loved the world]; for though nothing will be found in the world that is worthy of the favor of God, yet He shows Himself to be reconciled to the whole world, when He invites all men without exception -not merely 'without distinction'- to the faith of Christ, which is nothing else than an entrance into life."

Regarding Roman 5:18 ("Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men.") Calvin says: "He makes this favor common to all, because it is propoundable to all, and not because it is in reality extended to all; for though Christ suffered for the sins of the whole world, and is offered through God's benignity indiscriminately to all, yet all do not receive Him."

John 3:17 "For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him."
Regarding this verse John Calvin says: "God is unwilling that we should be overwhelmed with everlasting destruction, because He has appointed His Son to be the salvation of the world." also, "The word 'world' is again repeated, that no man may think himself wholly excluded, if he only keeps the road of faith." We are not to conclude that "the world" that is convicted of unbelief is the world of the elect, are we? (If so, then Satan, the "prince of this world" [v. 11, same context], must be the "prince of the elect.")
Calvin says of this passage that "under the term world are, I think, included not only those who would be truly converted to Christ, but hypocrites and reprobate." CL:the Canons consider this an impossibility:CL

One must keep in mind that earlier in Matthew Jesus had said that few find eternal life (Matt. 7:14) and few are chosen (22:14). But Christ did not say His blood was poured out for a few, but for many. Calvin thus declares of this verse: "By the word 'many' He means not a part of the world only, but the whole human race."
Grace and Peace of God the Father through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ,
Crypto-Lutheran (in the name of fairness).

Not sure you understand the five points. The way ...

2008-06-18T21:20:00.000-04:00

Not sure you understand the five points. The way you describe unconditional election is not the way it was taught to me.

JK

Funny, I've had the same thought. It seems, accor...

2008-05-04T17:58:00.000-04:00

Funny, I've had the same thought. It seems, according to the dispensational narrative, that national Israel does absolutely nothing in the future to deserve "salvation." Therefore they are just predestined elect...they don't even have to "believe." This would fit well with Calvinism. But traditionally the Calvinists, like most of Christianity, were postmillennial...and somehow they held on to that tradition without buying into Darby's dispensational schtick. But Calvinism and postmillennialism make for odd bedfellows, as do Arminianism and premillennial dispensationalism.

The merger seems mostly to be in Arminianism which...

2008-05-03T20:56:00.000-04:00

The merger seems mostly to be in Arminianism which appeals directly to the will of man and “Calvinist” per se and in a broad since who are mostly Baptist who on the one hand are closet arminians coming BACK around in the Sacraments. Dispensationalism plays well with the idea of faith that is “ginned” up and “proving itself”, like a mobster to the mob boss proving and gaining his boss’s affirmation/love (faith as a work). Because its heavy on being faithful from within myself as opposed to having faith rise into being from being GIVEN Christ first. Dispensationalism steers very hard away from true suffering and that now not yet suffering tension of true saving faith that both is in tension and rests on the naked Gospel in a passive way. Theirs is an ‘active faith’ as opposed to a ‘passive faith’. Passive faith sees more clearly that things will indeed get worse but the hope and power for faith lay not in ‘ginning up’ something from within me, active faith, but that Word of the Cross (Word, Sacraments) where Christ is GIVEN to you AND THAT is ALL you have.

The appeal to the will by naked Arminians and non-sacramental Calvinist, particularly Baptist IS the driving force behind Dispensationalism, even if the drive is by the “law”, “don’t loose faith or else”, driven by fear of punishment or hope of reward – that’s the ROOT of dispensationalism. Amil. Says, “You may have NOTHING else in the future to hold on to, not even your active faith, in fact it will appear God is gone and abandoned you at the most basic level – YET, HERE IS CHRIST GIVEN TO YOU WORD, WATER, BREAD AND WINE, it may seem to be nothing but it is in fact the Gospel TO and FOR you no matter what all the hell else is breaking loose all around you.

Blessings,

Larry