The Highway Forums General Discussion Theology Discussion Forum Hyper-calvinist

Joe k,

You may not be sure what a hyper-Calvinist seminary cemetery is, but I DO. The one I attended flatly denies and focuses most of their attention upon:

1) The "Free Offer" of the Gospel, i.e., that the offer of salvation in Christ is to be indiscriminately to all, without discrimination. The crux of the matter is whether or not there is anyone who is exempt from the promise of salvation upon the prerequisites of repentance and faith. The "offer" is universal. But the aspect of universal "acceptance" is something which all Calvinists reject. Calvinism expects that whoever hears the Gospel must repent and believe. But it does not expect that all who hear will do so, for only those who are called can, i.e., are given the ability. The word may connotes permission, which is an entirely different thing. All men may repentant and believe and are thus commanded to do so in the Gospel.

(b) A subset of #1, That all, without discrimination are to repent and believe upon Christ. They insist that only the elect have warrant to believe upon Christ. Thus of necessity, one must first ascertain if one is an elect before the "right" is given to repentant and believe unto justification.

2) "Common Grace", i.e., that God extends benevolence to all men without discrimination. They categorically deny that God shows any benevolence whatsoever to the reprobate.

The overwhelming majority of Calvinists have rejected all of the above and thus the term "hyper-Calvinist", i.e., one who goes beyond historic Calvinism.

As to whether or not you are a "hyper", you decide. I don't know much of anything about you and therefore it would be silly for me to offer any judgment in your case.

In His grace,