A common charge levelled against Calvinism, and a charge without any basis. Men are tormented in hell because they are sinners, by consequence of the Fall.
Babies are not sinners. Sin is an act of VOLITION. To state that God would send "non elect babies" to hell makes Him a monster and injust. Babies cannot sin because babies have no volition.
In fact, all of us deserve to be tormented in hell.
No. Only those who CHOOSE TO SIN deserve to be in hell. Choosing sin (i.e. "covenant breaking") separates us from the love of God and casts us out of His presence eternally.
But God has chosen, in love and mercy, to preserve a remnant from destruction.
Scripture says that God is not willing that ANY should perish. It also says that Jesus the Christ died FOR THE WORLD.
Yet, I cannot disagree with you, for the Catholic Faith does teach predestination -- just not the kind that John Calvin created. Are you familial with the teaching of St. Thomas Aquinas on predestination?
The subtle error perpetuated by the kind of theology promoted in the piece by Dr. Kalomiros is that we men ultimately hold the keys to heaven and to hell, and that if we so desire, we will may rightly or wrongly perceive God's love. We choose whether we are saved or damned.
Your terminology is imprecise. No man can choose salvation. That is all of grace. But eternal life, which is the inheritance of salvation, is entirely left to us and to whether or not we will A) enter into the covenant of God B) keep that covenant relationship faithfully. Covenant keepers recieve the inheritance of salvation, which the Bible says is "eternal life". Covenant breakers are disinherited. This is why Jesus states that at the Last Judgment, He will judge all mankind according to WHAT THEY HAVE DONE (John 5: 29 - 29)
St. Paul says the same thing in Romans 2: 5 - 10.
However, salvation is of the Lord, not of men.
Absolutely!!! No man could restore the broken covenant relationship between God and mankind. Only thge Cross does this. Only Jesus could do this. But salvation and eternal life are NOT THE SAME THING.
Scripture speaks of inheriting eternal life:
Mt 5:5; 19:29; 25:34; Mr 10:17; Lu 10:25; 18:18; 1Co 6:9-10; 15:50; Ga 5:21; Heb 6:12; 1Pe 3:9; Re 21:7
Eternal life is called "the inheritance"
Mt 21:38; Mr 12:7; Lu 12:13; 20:14; Ac 7:5; 20:32; 26:18; Ga 3:18; Eph 1:11,14,18; 5:5; Col 1:12; 3:24; Heb 1:4; 9:15; 11:8; 1Pe 1:4
