Before I post this...let me state without hesitation that I fall within the Reformed camp 95% of the time. This is one of several scriptures I have heard used to try to diffuse Calvinism...
"For God so loved the world (not just the elect) that He gave His only Son that whoever (not just the elect) should believe in Him should not perish but have eternal life."
I believe wholeheartedly that I was chosen by God from the beginning. I believe, via scripture, that the only reason I (or any Christian) believe is because God called me to be His.
I know many committed, well-studied Christians who have a difficult time believing that some are destined from the beginning to hell, considering scriptures like John 3:16.
Isn't there room to say that there may exist, in our limited vision, a paradox, mabey a mystery in this area that we will not understand until we are in heaven? This is not to take anything from the God's absolute sovereignty...God is undoubtedly the author and finisher of our faith, but can we also say that there are some issues we will never fully be able to grasp in our human state?
Just some thoughts I've been chewing on for a while.
"For God so loved the world (not just the elect) that He gave His only Son that whoever (not just the elect) should believe in Him should not perish but have eternal life."
I believe wholeheartedly that I was chosen by God from the beginning. I believe, via scripture, that the only reason I (or any Christian) believe is because God called me to be His.
I know many committed, well-studied Christians who have a difficult time believing that some are destined from the beginning to hell, considering scriptures like John 3:16.
Isn't there room to say that there may exist, in our limited vision, a paradox, mabey a mystery in this area that we will not understand until we are in heaven? This is not to take anything from the God's absolute sovereignty...God is undoubtedly the author and finisher of our faith, but can we also say that there are some issues we will never fully be able to grasp in our human state?
Just some thoughts I've been chewing on for a while.