Predestination vs Free Will in Scripture Ep.5

First we're going to talk about what it is , what they believe , what they hold to , and then we're going to break down in scripture why I believe that this perspective is completely wrong , and then we're going to wrap it up . So stick around . Before we get into today's video , I just wanted to say thank you to all of the new subscribers .

If you haven't yet consider subscribing , hit that bell notification so that you can see every time I put out a new video . A major portion of you that watch my videos haven't subscribed yet , so why not ? It's free . You can also find a PayPal link below if you want to give a one-time or give a monthly to support the channel .

Anything , great or small , is appreciated . Now let's get into the video . Video . So let's walk over what exactly is Calvinism ? Let's look at the kind of , the setup of what they use in their theology . So it's a system of theology that originated with the teachings of the reformer John Calvin . So hence , calvinism In the 16th century .

Now it's famously remembered by the acronym TULIP T-U-L-I-P . So the first , the T , is total depravity . The second is unconditional election . Number three is limited atonement . Four , irresistible grace . Five , perseverance of the saints . Now , as we go through this , there is no doubt some of these parts of this are biblical and accurate .

Parts of this are biblical and accurate , but we're going to break down a little bit of the very specific details of what they believe and why . I believe the word says different , but we're going to walk through it . So these points summarize a Calvinism perspective of salvation how we as humans come to know God and are saved from our sins .

So this is what they go back to , to say this , this , this and this . This is how you're saved , this is how you remain saved , this is what happens to get you to be saved . We're going to dive into that and get real deep on that . So we're going to break them down kind of briefly but I'll give you something to chew on .

Hopefully you at home and watching this , you will go search for yourself . I hope every episode makes you go search and dig for yourself . Do not take a guy on YouTube's opinion . You need to work out your own . Salvation with fear and trembling before the Lord . Salvation with fear and trembling before the Lord . So let's kind of dive into the tulip part .

So , total depravity . So the definition ? Now this is the Calvinist perspective . Humans are so fallen that they are completely incapable of choosing God or doing so incapable of choosing God or doing so or doing anything good on their own .

Common Calvinist claims is that because we are so depraved , if God does not choose us unconditionally , we can never come to him . Now , there's no question that humanity is sinful . We were born into sin . We have the fall of man In the very beginning , in Genesis , where God creates everything .

He creates man , then he creates woman from that man , and all this is well and good . But then they end up being lured or deceived by the promise of knowing what is beyond what they know , which , if you pay attention to today's world and that's kind of what we're tempted with all the time .

However , I believe Scripture shows that , although we are fallen , god grants every person enough grace to respond to him . Key word to respond . We'll look at specific verses here shortly . So , unconditional election . Okay , so this is the tulip , this is the you . The first one was total depravity . The second unconditional election .

So the definition and this is from a calvinist perspective before creation , god chose certain individuals to be saved and others to be passed over or effectively condemned without any conditions , meaning god's choice isn't based on anything we do or believe , it's purely His will .

Now , the problem with this is this view implies that God does not sincerely desire everyone to be saved , only the elect . So the third , the L limited atonement .

The definition sorry , it does not look like I'm , it says it's on my eye , we'll see the definition , the Calvinist perspective of limited atonement Jesus' atoning sacrifice on the cross was only for those whom God predestined to be saved .

Now the problem with this is this teaching conflicts and contradicts with multiple scriptures that speak of Christ dying for the world , not just a certain group of people or elect . That he actually died for the world . We're going to look at scripture in just a minute , so hold on .

So the I in TULIP irresistible grace by Calvinist perspective and definition if God has chosen to save you , his grace will ultimately overcome your resistance . So we have a problem , big problem . You can't say no to it . And what's the problem .

This teaching makes human will almost irrelevant in the salvation process , suggesting we don't really get to respond freely to god . So the p of tulip is perseverance of the saint . Now , I believe in part of this . If you persevere to the end and you remain faithful , you remain with God , you will make it to heaven . That's , to me , very biblical common sense .

Their definition is those who are truly elected and saved will persevere in faith until the end , that they cannot lose their salvation . Now , this is a setup . We've talked about this before . If you can lose your salvation , it's a setup .

No , I don't think someone can come in and rob you of your salvation , but I do believe , and based on Scripture watch that other video if you haven't seen it but based on Scripture , we have choices to stay with or to walk away . Based on scripture , we have choices to stay with or to walk away .

The Bible even describes in the end there will be a great outbreak of a revival type situation where people will be coming to God , coming to faith , coming to know Jesus , and then there will be a great falling away . Well , you can't fall away unless you are first next to .

So that is a literal description of being able to fall away , fall out of favor with God by turning away , but they , while scripture assures us God keeps us , it also warns us repeatedly about falling away , suggesting our ongoing faith matters .

So I agree partly with this , but the key part that they , the Calvinists , try to say is that there is not a choice , that once you are chosen , you are chosen and you can't stop it . So let's look at a few key Bible verses . We have one , two , three , four , five , six . I could do a lot more . Wait , did I accidentally do hold on ?

Yeah , I accidentally did . So we have five . I accidentally did the last one twice on accident . So we're going to first look over in 2 Timothy , 2 . I'm going to have it on your screen . So second , sorry . 1 Timothy , chapter 2 , verse 3 and 4 . 1 Timothy , chapter 2 , verse 3 and 4 .

This is good and pleases God , our Savior , who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth . Now , this passage directly states that God wants everyone it's right here in the text everyone to be saved and to understand the truth , to be saved and to come to know the truth .

If we pair this with the doctrine of unconditional election , it appears contradictory to say God only elects a specific group of people . Why would he desire that everyone become saved , yet only choose some ? So we have a conflict of nature and scripture defining God , and that is in direct conflict . God , he never changes .

He always , always stays the same and the way he was is the way that he is and the way he will always be . So let's go to our next text . In second Peter chapter , verse 3 and 9 , the Lord isn't really being slow about his promises , as some people think . No , he is being patient for our sake .

He does not want anyone to be destroyed , but wants everyone to repent . He doesn't want anyone to be destroyed , but everyone to repent . So again we see the inclusive language everyone . He desires everyone to come to know salvation . God's heart is for all to find repentance .

To me , this seems like a very no brainer argument against selection of God will only select a few and it takes away the free will of that . If you once said yes to God , well , now you're in and you can't resist him .

Now , I'm not saying that he isn't irresistible , but if we do this , then we are nothing but meat puppets , which sounds disgusting when I say it out loud , but it's like we don't have . We don't ever have a choice and we're predestined , which means that before you were ever born .

Now , god's knowledge of our choices and his implementation of his will over our choices are two separate things , which means God can know what you're going to choose . He is God , he is sovereign . My view on this and my view on salvation does not make God less powerful or less sovereign or less all-knowing or less omniscient and omnipresent .

He is all of the things that the characteristic of God . The Bible describes Him . All these things are true and they will remain true forever . But he is not going to force . Just for a good example , in Genesis he didn't force Adam and Eve . He gave them a choice . He gave them , he presented them with options and he said here's the options Don't do this .

Everything else is good , but this do not . And he said here's the options , don't do this . Everything else is good , but this do not .

And so if you are using Calvinism as a launching pad of understanding , you have confirmation bias , where you read the scripture and all look at the very basic thing of if it was already predestined , god would not have given the option to go against his word .

You're telling me that Adam and Eve , both directly created , not by other humans , created from the gift of God , gives us to be able to procreate , but he , literally with his own hand and his own breath , breathed and they came to life .

He took the rib from Adam and created the woman , and it was like all these things were good and God still gave them the option to opt out and to walk away from , and there was a price that they had to pay for that . They got kicked out of paradise .

They couldn't come back ever , and so we have a very early on description of how God says you have a choice , but yet Calvinism , whatever John Calvin pulled out of the scripture , and I don't know what scripture she's pulling from .

There's some that people pull from the once saved , always saved , theology , but it doesn't hold water when you read things about falling away , which is another video that I've already done . Please go look it up in my playlist . But anyways , this is good and pleases God . Let's see . We're on 2 Peter 3 , 9 .

The Lord isn't really being slow about his promise , as some people think . No , he is being patient for your sake . He does not want anyone to be destroyed , but wants everyone . Now why would ? Why he wants everyone to repent . Why would God be patient ? Because he's hoping that more will choose .

His desire is for us to choose him , but he is patient , he's loving and he is good and he is just , and so his desire is for us to come to him . But not all will come and some who have come will turn away . We see the inclusive language . Everyone God's heart is for all to find repentance .

Limited atonement teaches Christ only died for a specific few , but these verses show a consistent message God desires a universal invitation for salvation . So let's be simple and let's go to one of the probably the first verses . If you're a Christian that you learned was this verse right here ? Now think about how they think .

Calvinists think that you can only come to Christ if you are chosen to come to Christ . Now read this , for this is how God loved the world . He gave His one and only Son so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life .

Notice it says God loved the world , not a small subset of humanity , not a select few , but he loved the world , the entire world . It then says everyone who believes in him will have eternal life Everyone . It's trying to cast the net as wide as possible , like a regular church .

Saying is like let's make heaven crowded , let's get as many people , let's try to save the world .

Jesus himself gave the mandate to the disciples go into all the world , preach the good news . What would be the point of them spreading ? Like , if you , if the Calvin , if you went by the Calvinist theology , what would be the point of preaching the gospel If God's already selected who's going to come and who's going to stay ? There would be literally no point .

The um , the uh acts two , where the Holy spirit came down . There would be no point For there needing to be power to give them authority over the demonic spirits , the oppression that was over the people , to literally be more bold , to have a leader into all truth . There would be no point if everyone who is going to come to Christ has already been selected .

The rest of the book is pointless . That's just the facts . So Calvinism doesn't . For some reason in his studies he did not see that common denominator of okay , well , if they're going to , if they're mandated to , spread the gospel , then there must be a wide net instead of a select few . It just doesn't make sense . Doesn't make sense at all .

Because , uh , even jesus , when he called out his disciples we just did this in our bible study on wednesday , last wednesday that he , I will make you fishers of men , he didn't say some men , he didn't say I'm going to go point out which men , but he said I'm going to make you a fisher of men .

And if you know how they fished back then , it was a wide net to catch as many as you can in one swoop . So it just seems like a no brainer . The invitation is not a restricted . The invitation is not a restricted . It's not restricted to a group , pre-selected or pre-chosen .

It's an offer made to all through jesus christ , so that every person has the opportunity to accept it . So let's go to romans um , chapter 6 , verse 23 , for the wages of sin is death , but the free gift of god is eternal life through christ jesus , our lord . Salvation is described as a gift . A gift can be received or it can be rejected .

If god's grace were truly irresistible , then it wouldn't really be a gift offered at all . It would be more like an imposed salvation for the elect . But the verse and many others portray eternal life as something lovingly given which must be freely received . And we're going to look at our last verse .

It's a little bit shorter today , but it's very intentional and direct to the point . Look over Ephesians 2 , verse 8 and 9 . God saved you by His grace when you believed , and you can't take credit for this . It is a gift from God . Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done , so none of us can boast about it .

Now , while this verse emphasizes we can't earn salvation by works , it also underscores that we are saved when we believe . There is nothing in the word of God that calls out a specific people that is allowed to be saved and another people that is not . This has zero hope attached to it .

The human response in this text says when you believe , which means there is something received and chosen people choose to come to the Lord , just as they can choose and this is the issue with the whole predestined and eternal security and all that stuff is yes , when we live for Christ , we are secure in salvation , we are secure in heavenly places , but we have

the option . Time and time and time again , you see examples of people who knew God but run from God , that came to God , but then they rejected God and there is consequences for rejecting God . To say that you don't have the option means you shouldn't have a consequence . If there's no choice , there should be no consequence .

There can't be a consequence because you didn't choose . Calvinism suggests that our belief is a result of God's decree and is irresistible . But scripture repeatedly calls us to choose to believe and place our faith in Christ .

So now , given the scriptures we've looked at today , here are a few reasons why I believe Calvinism in its strict form is not supported by the Bible . Number one Scripture teaches , as we just read , a universal invitation over and over and , over and over . The Bible uses specific language , like all or the whole world .

If atonement was truly limited , these passages could be misleading at best , and for them to say different means that they are saying scripture is wrong and that's not what it means , when it's very plainly written in the scripture .

And if somebody says that what the scripture means and they try to twist it up to mean something else , I would run for them because I would almost label them a heretic . God's will and human choice . The Bible shows that God desires everyone to repent and to be saved . That is the heart of the Father .

That is why he sent his son so that everyone could have the option to repent and to be saved and to turn from their wicked ways . If he unconditionally elected only some , this would seem to conflict with his stated desire in passages like 1 Timothy 2 and 2 Peter 3 . The third reason I think this is not accurate or biblical is the nature of God's love .

God's love is portrayed as self-giving and available to all , for this is how God loved the world . John 3.16 . He extends God's invitation universally , not selectively . Number four he consistently calls for repentance and for us to believe . The New Testament is full of invitations to repent , believe and receive Christ .

If grace were irresistible , such appeals would be unnecessary . The calls imply a human response , and this is a genuine need and a possibility . So I want you to think about this . Maybe you believe this way and you've never heard this argument on this side before , or maybe you have never heard of Calvinism , but you are . This is your first dive into it .

What you need to do as a responsible Christian is not believe a YouTuber or a channel or a reel or a TikTok , and you need to dive in yourself and say Lord , what are you leading me to what ? And not only opinions of people , but what is biblical .

That should be , as a Christian , your number one thing Does it align with what the Bible says or does it contradict what the Bible says ? If a belief or a theology contradicts in any way what the Bible says , run from it .

Now , that doesn't mean all denominations are perfect and this and that I get that , but all denominations and I'm a part of one , all denominations are 100% man-made . It's not biblical .

Matter of fact in the Acts Church , where the Lord was doing a new thing and breaking out , it was a spirit-filled movement and I believe that's what I'm a part of right now as the Church of God from Cleveland , tennessee .

But I do not look down on others for what they believe , because I understand that understanding sometimes can be limited , especially if you're taught in a way that excludes or runs from hard conversations about biblical truths , acts 2 being one of those .

So you , as a Christian , you have a responsibility to know what your church believes , what they teach , like if they exclude certain books of the Bible and don't teach out of them or ever talk about them or say that , oh , because of this little one sentence right here nullifies everything that happens after that , like , for instance , there are some that believe

that the gifts of the spirit died out with the apostles , when actually there was a obvious continuation in Corinthian , the church of Corinth . That were not the disciples , they were not the apostles , they were not . They were church people , different churches that Paul was writing letters to , and these people had gifts of the spirit .

They were perverting them and making them about themselves , but it was obvious that they still existed and still was around . It wasn't dying out , it was around . It wasn't dying out , it was continuing . So , that being said , most of Calvinists that I know of believe they're cessationists .

They believe that all the gifts have died down when there is no scripture to back that up . And so that's what I want you , as a believer in Christ . I want you to not take a person who sounds good , who sounds charismatic , who sounds you know they keep your attention , that you like the way they speak , you like the way they preach .

You need to work out your salvation between you and God according to scripture , not denomination according to scripture , not according to what a man says , but according to the word of God . This is where you will find a good , healthy , solid place to where you can really begin to grow and you begin to flourish . That's what our whole goal should be .

Is spiritual maturity that we need to stop making it about our preference and making it more about God's presence . Is God even here ? Are we gathering ? Are we worshiping ? Are we learning the word ? Are we being able to apply the word in our lives ? If not , then you're at the wrong church and don't go there because your family's been there for 50 years .

Sometimes some of the hardest things you have to do is to cut off enjoyable things for the health and benefit of your spirit and your mind and your family . So I hope today this was a little bit insightful .

I hope this spurs a hunger for you to dive deep and really dissect and know what you believe , because it's important to know what you believe because if not , you'll believe anything , and I don't want that for you . I want you to be a person who who , if their church was to blow up today , everybody in it died .

You could start your own church because your foundation was on Christ , the solid rock , not built on man , not built on a church , not built on an organization , not built on on a denomination , but built on Christ , the solid rock , and then you build from there , from the scriptures up .

Okay , I think it's very healthy for a person who loves God to deconstruct their faith , and what I mean by deconstruct is start seeing , start asking , start looking is what I believe , what scripture says , and if it doesn't , you need to change your belief and don't keep it that way , because you enjoy your life right now and you don't want anything to mess what

you got going on up , which is very , very easy to do , because we like what we like and we like to do what we like to do

. I don't want to change the way I speak , even though the Bible says that even slander is against the way we should be acting as Christians , or what comes out of my mouth Like these are biblical examples . That may be a good one is cursing wrong . That may be the good next video .

Anyways , if you have an idea for a video , comment down below , below this video , and or , if you will , that'd be so awesome . If you would rate whatever platform you listen , whether it's Spotify , Apple or Android podcast . If you would rate this and share this , that would be awesome .

Download it and just give a thumbs up on YouTube or subscribe to the channel , and you can also find me on Instagram my personal is Stephen Tillman but also at Faith and Failures and on Facebook . So thank y'all . I love y'all , I'm praying for you and I hope you have an amazing week .