It is written: “Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. 14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. 15 Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin;... Continue Reading →
Calvinism-Total Hereditary Depravity (Eleven)
It is written: “among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.” (Ephesians 2:3) The Bible here says of the Ephesians that they were “children of wrath.” Does this... Continue Reading →
Calvinism-Total Hereditary Depravity (Eight)
It is written: “Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned—. 13 (For until the law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law. 14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over... Continue Reading →
Calvinism-Total Hereditary Depravity (Seven)
It is written: “As it is written: "THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NO, NOT ONE; 11 THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS; THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS AFTER GOD. 12 THEY HAVE ALL TURNED ASIDE; THEY HAVE TOGETHER BECOME UNPROFITABLE; THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD, NO, NOT ONE." 13 "THEIR THROAT IS AN OPEN TOMB; WITH THEIR TONGUES THEY... Continue Reading →
Calvinism-Total Hereditary Depravity (Six)
It is written: “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” (John 3:6) The Westminster Confession of Faith uses this passage of Scripture to claim that infants are born totally depraved. However, the text itself refutes such a notion. First, when Nicodemus discusses the... Continue Reading →
Calvinism-Total Hereditary Depravity (Five)
It is written: “For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.” (Matthew 15:9) Calvinists assert that Jesus here teaches that mankind is totally depraved. However, the passage actually excludes infants and small children from the list. First, Jesus here is explaining what He has been discussing previously. The... Continue Reading →
Calvinism-Total Hereditary Depravity (Four)
It is written: “Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me.” (Psalm 51:5) Some teach that David here is claiming that he was conceived as a sinner, and hence was born totally deprave with original sin. Is this the case? No. First, the context of the passage is extremely... Continue Reading →
Calvinism-Total Hereditary Depravity (Three)
It is written: Job 14:4-Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? No one! And: Job 15:14-"What is man, that he could be pure? And he who is born of a woman, that he could be righteous? It is argued that these passages teach the notion of total hereditary depravity. Is this the... Continue Reading →
Calvinism-Total Hereditary Depravity (Two)
It is written: Genesis 6:5-Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. This passage describes for us the conditions of mankind prior to the Flood. Calvinists maintain that it teaches that mankind is wicked from... Continue Reading →
Calvinism-Total Hereditary Depravity (One)
It is written: “We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.” (1 John 4:6) Let us now turn our attention to examining Calvinism. Do the teachings of John Calvin and... Continue Reading →