Quote
“We must stand together in rejecting any form of hyper-Calvinism that denies the mandate to present the offer of the Gospel to all sinners or that denies the necessity of a human response to the Gospel that involves the human will. Similarly, we must reject any form of Arminianism that elevates the human will above the divine will or that denies that those who come to faith in Christ are kept by the power of God. …”

I have a problem already with this statement and I hope I am not wrong. The Apostels preached the Gospel in public ("to all sinners"), eg. in

Acts 13.

Quote
44 And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God.

45 But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming.

46 Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.

47 For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth.

48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.

and Acts 18:

Quote
9 Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace:

10 For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city.

11 And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.

I simply don't understand why so many people believe or have the perception that Calvinists are not really working to obey or to be enthusiastic about the great commission and all others are. Is the Calvinist view on evangelization not exactly as in the above two qoutes from Scripture, ie. the Gospel should be preached to all , which is the outward call, but it is the Holy Spirit who regenerates and with the inward call, calls the elect to faith and repentance.

Reading further here makes me think that the issue is nothing else than Calvinism vs Arminianism. Can one really have both in one denomination and have a confession of faith that includes both? Our fathers at Dordt clearly didn't think so.


Or am I missing the point?




Last edited by Johan; Thu Jul 04, 2013 4:38 AM.