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Mr. Ratliff makes an appearance in our blog once again. He is a Calvinist (i.e., a Christian who believes the doctrines of John Calvin, a French theologian who lived in the 1500s), so he believes in a set of peculiar doctrines known as TULIP:
- Total Depravity
- Unconditional Election
- Limited Atonement
- Irresistible Grace
- Perseverance of the Saints
The underlying assumption in all these is predestination. The centerpiece of Calvinism is that God has chosen all those who will be saved, and who have been destined for hell, and there is nothing anyone can do about it, pro or con. So Mr. Ratliff's purpose is to explain our obligation to evangelize in light of predestination, even though evangelizing makes no difference at all.
Thankfully, he quotes several Scriptures, a welcome departure from the Scriptureless Calvinistic Bible teaching we are accustomed to seeing. But he will use terminology based on the assumption that we know what it means. For example, he will use the terms like "Arminian," "sovereign," and "Pelagian" without explanation. Thus he presumes his readers possess a deep existing knowledge while simultaneously teaching basic concepts to them. Odd indeed.
The irony of all this is that Calvinism doesn't matter. None of it comes to bear on any obligation or privilege we have as Christians. Possessing "correct" knowledge about predestination does not influence worship, generosity, holy living, repentance, or any other operational part of our faith. Thus Calvinism is a fruitless intellectual exercise.
Lastly, we note that Calvinists are always explaining Calvinism. Over and over again. They will never explain the Bible unless they can talk about Calvinism. We think this is cultic behavior.
14 I am that good shepherd, and know mine, and am known of mine.
15 As the Father knoweth me, so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for my sheep.
16 Other sheep I have also, which are not of this fold: them also must I bring, and they shall hear my voice: and there shall be one sheepfold, and one shepherd. John 10:14-16 (1599 Geneva Bible)
When those of us who came from an Arminian or Free Will background (Undefined terminology.)
One of the accusations against Reformed Theology from Arminians, Pelagians, and Semi-Pelagians (Undefined terminology. Mr. Ratliff appears to be using these terms as epithets.)
Carefully read the passage I placed at the top of this post (John 10:14-16) paying close attention to v16, which I have highlighted. Notice that the sheep are not yet redeemed when our Lord spoke this. He had yet to go to the Cross. Also, they were His sheep, but they had not yet believed. Also, “other sheep” belong to Him as well. Of course, He was speaking of the Gentiles who would make up the bulk of the Church in the years ahead. (?? Mr. Ratliff has just negated his argument. He admits that the "other sheep" speaks to the fact that salvation is not exclusive to Israel.
6 And when they resisted and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own head: I am clean: from henceforth will I go unto the Gentiles.
9 Then said the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Fear not, but speak, and hold not thy peace.
10 For I am with thee, and no man shall lay hands on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city.
Carefully read the passage above (Acts 18:5-11), paying close attention to vv9-10, which I have highlighted. Just as our Lord still had to die to redeem His sheep that had not yet believed, Paul was to go on speaking, preaching, and teaching because God said, for I have much people in this city.” (Oh, my.
44 And the next Sabbath day came almost the whole city together, to hear the word of God.
45 But when the Jews saw the people, they were full of envy, and spake against those things, which were spoken of Paul, contrarying them, and railing on them.
46 Then Paul and Barnabas spake boldly, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken unto you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.
47 For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have made thee a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be the salvation unto the end of the world.
48 And when the Gentiles heard it, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained unto eternal life, believed.
49 Thus the word of the Lord was published throughout the whole country. Acts 13:44-49 (1599 Geneva Bible)
Now, carefully read Acts 13:44-49 (above). Who is sovereign? (Undefined terminology. It appears that Mr. Ratliff confuses kingly reign with control.)
On the other hand, the vast majority of the visible Church appears to believe just the opposite. They stubbornly hold on to the fallacious notion that they are Christians because of something they did. All genuine Christians believed and repented, but even that comes via God’s grace through faith as a gift from God. No one can do one thing to earn or deserve it.
1 And ,you hath he quickened, that were dead in trespasses and sins,
2 Wherein, in times past ye walked, according to the course of this world, and after the prince that ruleth in the air, even the spirit, that now worketh in the children of disobedience,
3 Among whom we also had our conversation in time past in the lusts of our flesh, in fulfilling the will of the flesh, and of the mind, and were by nature the children of wrath, as well as others.
4 But God which is rich in mercy, through his great love wherewith he loved us,
5 Even when we were dead by sins, hath quickened us together in Christ, by whose grace ye are saved,
6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,
7 That he might show in the ages to come the exceeding riches of his grace through his kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God,
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast himself.
10 For we are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath ordained, that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:1-10 (1599 Geneva Bible)
Carefully read the passage above (Ephesians 2:1-10). What was the condition of all Christians prior to their justification? They were ALL dead in their trespasses and sins. They were by nature children of wrath like everyone else. However, God mercifully MADE THEM ALIVE. This comes only by His grace through faith. This faith comes as the result of God making them alive. Then they believe by faith. God did it this way that no one may boast. If anyone claims to be a Christian, by his or her own efforts then they do not understand grace nor do they believe what is clearly taught here. Our salvation is a gift of God, not a result of works. Therefore, this faith is part of the gift, which is given to each believer according to God’s grace.
All of the Good Shepherd’s sheep will believe and repent and be saved by Grace through faith. Those of us already in the sheep fold are responsible to preach the Gospel to everyone so that those who belong to our Lord and are appointed to eternal life will receive the gift of salvation by His grace through the faith that comes only to the regenerate heart.
Soli Deo Gloria!
15 As the Father knoweth me, so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for my sheep.
16 Other sheep I have also, which are not of this fold: them also must I bring, and they shall hear my voice: and there shall be one sheepfold, and one shepherd. John 10:14-16 (1599 Geneva Bible)
When those of us who came from an Arminian or Free Will background (Undefined terminology.)
come to grips with the reality of God’s Sovereignty, (Undefined terminology.)
it is amazing how we struggle with letting go of the responsibility to “earn” our salvation. Of course, part of that struggle is rooted in the misconception that “election” happens at salvation. Ephesians 1 makes it clear, however, that God chose His elect before the foundation of the world. An honest reading of that wonderful letter by the Apostle Paul (Yes, an honest reading. Mr. Ratliff is referring to these key verses:
Ep. 1:4-5 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will...Ep. 1:11 In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will...
A careful Bible student would ask, "To whom was Paul referring? Who are 'we' and 'us'?" Interestingly, Paul actually tells us who were predestined and chosen in the very next verse:
Ep. 1:12 ...in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory.
So, the chosen and predestined ones were those who were "the first to hope in Christ." That can only be the earliest believers. Contemporary Christians cannot be "the first to hope in Christ."
So if "we" and "us" are first century believers, what about everyone after? Well, surprise, Paul again tells us in the very next verse:
Ep. 1:13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation.
So there's the "honest reading" of Paul's letter as it pertains to predestination.)
shows us that God’s people are His in completion even though many of them have not yet believed and repented. They are our Lord’s sheep.
One of the accusations against Reformed Theology from Arminians, Pelagians, and Semi-Pelagians (Undefined terminology. Mr. Ratliff appears to be using these terms as epithets.)
is that Calvinism (Undefined terminology.)
kills evangelism. This is not true of course. Often when the proof of the veracity of Reformed Theology (Undefined terminology.)
is presented biblically to them, some Free Will proponents will say something like, “then why preach the Gospel if the elect will be saved regardless?” The answer to that is quite simple as is the case with most of God’s truths. We are commanded to preach the Gospel to all. We do not know who the elect are. Only God knows that. We are commanded to make disciples from all nations. Therefore, we preach the Gospel leaving the work of regeneration, justification, sanctification, adoption, and glorification in God’s capable hands. We pray for lost souls. We pray that God will draw them to Himself. (Mr. Ratliff did not answer the question. Certainly the Bible commands us to preach the Gospel. That fact is not in dispute, and not even relevant. The question is, why preach the Gospel if the Elect are already chosen?
Calvinists always dodge the implications of their doctrines, and predestination is one of them. Mr. Ratliff's "quite simple" rejoinder is a rhetorical diversion that begs the question. Apart from obedience to the command to evangelize, why do so if God has already chosen whom He will save and those whom He will send to hell?
The Calvinist is faced with the utter futility of obeying Scriptural commands which make absolutely no difference. The Calvinist obediently shares the Gospel, but all the while is cognizant that his activities are irrelevant.
Thus he is forced into an irrational equation, which requires him to maneuver around his cognitive dissonance. Many of the doctrines of Calvin necessitate this.)
Carefully read the passage I placed at the top of this post (John 10:14-16) paying close attention to v16, which I have highlighted. Notice that the sheep are not yet redeemed when our Lord spoke this. He had yet to go to the Cross. Also, they were His sheep, but they had not yet believed. Also, “other sheep” belong to Him as well. Of course, He was speaking of the Gentiles who would make up the bulk of the Church in the years ahead. (?? Mr. Ratliff has just negated his argument. He admits that the "other sheep" speaks to the fact that salvation is not exclusive to Israel.
Also, we note that herds do not speak to the nature of individual sheep.)
5 Now when Silas and Timothy were come from Macedonia, Paul, forced in spirit, testified to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ.
6 And when they resisted and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own head: I am clean: from henceforth will I go unto the Gentiles.
7 So he departed thence, and entered into a certain man’s house, named Justus, a worshipper of God, whose house joined hard to the Synagogue.
8 And Crispus the chief ruler of the Synagogue, believed in the Lord with all his household: and many of the Corinthians hearing it, believed and were baptized.9 Then said the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Fear not, but speak, and hold not thy peace.
10 For I am with thee, and no man shall lay hands on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city.
11 So he continued there a year and six months, and taught the word of God among them. Acts 18:5-11 (1599 Geneva Bible)
Carefully read the passage above (Acts 18:5-11), paying close attention to vv9-10, which I have highlighted. Just as our Lord still had to die to redeem His sheep that had not yet believed, Paul was to go on speaking, preaching, and teaching because God said, for I have much people in this city.” (Oh, my.
"God has people" is not synonymous with "God has people He Elected to save." Mr. Ratliff is reaching for something, anything that will bolster his false doctrines.
Let's look at the Greek:
| 1360 [e] dioti διότι because Conj |
| 2992 [e] laos λαός people N-NMS |
| 1510 [e] esti ἐστί there are V-PIA-3S |
| 1473 [e] moi μοι to me PPro-D1S |
| 4183 [e] polys πολὺς many Adj-NMS |
| 1722 [e] en ἐν in Prep |
| 3588 [e] tē τῇ the Art-DFS |
| 4172 [e] polei πόλει city N-DFS |
| 3778 [e] tautē ταύτῃ . this DPro-DFS |
The Greek here is rather simple. It doesn't even imply election. Plainly, this verse means that God knows that there are many people in this city who will not harm Paul, or they will even protect him.
Mr. Ratliff is attempting to force his doctrine into this verse.)
These people were God’s people already, but they had to hear the Gospel in order to believe and repent so God could justify them.
The devotional below is from Charles Spurgeon pertaining to Acts 18:9-10.
This should be a great encouragement to try to do good, since God has among the vilest of the vile, the most reprobate, the most debauched and drunken, an elect people who must be saved. When you take the Word to them, you do so because God has ordained you to be the messenger of life to their souls, and they must receive it, for so the decree of predestination runs. They are as much redeemed by blood as the saints before the eternal throne. They are Christ’s property, and yet perhaps they are lovers of the ale-house, and haters of holiness; but if Jesus Christ purchased them He will have them. God is not unfaithful to forget the price which His Son has paid. He will not suffer His substitution to be in any case an ineffectual, dead thing. Tens of thousands of redeemed ones are not regenerated yet, but regenerated they must be; and this is our comfort when we go forth to them with the quickening Word of God.
Nay, more, these ungodly ones are prayed for by Christ before the throne. “Neither pray I for these alone,” saith the great Intercessor, “but for them also which shall believe on Me through their word.” Poor, ignorant souls, they know nothing about prayer for themselves, but Jesus prays for them. Their names are on His breastplate, and ere long they must bow their stubborn knee, breathing the penitential sigh before the throne of grace. “The time of figs is not yet.” The predestinated moment has not struck; but, when it comes, they shall obey, for God will have His own; they must, for the Spirit is not to be withstood when He cometh forth with fulness of power-they must become the willing servants of the living God. “My people shall be willing in the day of my power.” “He shall justify many.” “He shall see of the travail of His soul.” “I will divide him a portion with the great, and He shall divide the spoil with the strong.” – C.H. Spurgeon
44 And the next Sabbath day came almost the whole city together, to hear the word of God.
45 But when the Jews saw the people, they were full of envy, and spake against those things, which were spoken of Paul, contrarying them, and railing on them.
46 Then Paul and Barnabas spake boldly, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken unto you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.
47 For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have made thee a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be the salvation unto the end of the world.
48 And when the Gentiles heard it, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained unto eternal life, believed.
49 Thus the word of the Lord was published throughout the whole country. Acts 13:44-49 (1599 Geneva Bible)
Now, carefully read Acts 13:44-49 (above). Who is sovereign? (Undefined terminology. It appears that Mr. Ratliff confuses kingly reign with control.)
Is it man and his Free Will or is it God? God saves those whom He has given to the Son (John 6). (Sigh. Let's quote the verse:
Jn. 6:39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day.
Too many Christians want to insert themselves into every verse. but Jesus was talking to Jews about Jews:
Jn. 6:31 Our forefathers ate the manna in the desert; as it is written: "He gave them bread from heaven to eat."
These are the forefathers of the Jews, they are not our forefathers. We need to keep in mind Jesus' audience and purpose. He was making statements about the Elect, specifically, the remnant of Jews [Romans 9:27] who were preserved as firstfruits [Romans 11:16]. They are the children of the promise [Romans 9:8], because not all who are Israel are Israel [Romans 9:6].
We gentile believers were previously preordained for destruction [Romans 9:22], but are now grafted in to the promise [Romans 11:17]. We are included when we believe [Ephesians 1:13].
Our commentary ends here.)
My brethren, the doctrine of election is humbling. No one has any deeds or merit that raises them up in God’s eyes as deserving of grace. No, God elected sinners who actually have nothing to offer God whatsoever. God elected and will save each one. They will bring Him glory as they learn to humbly submit to His will in all things. They will learn that they can only do good by the grace of God. They are nothing without their Lord and can do nothing without His joy.
On the other hand, the vast majority of the visible Church appears to believe just the opposite. They stubbornly hold on to the fallacious notion that they are Christians because of something they did. All genuine Christians believed and repented, but even that comes via God’s grace through faith as a gift from God. No one can do one thing to earn or deserve it.
1 And ,you hath he quickened, that were dead in trespasses and sins,
2 Wherein, in times past ye walked, according to the course of this world, and after the prince that ruleth in the air, even the spirit, that now worketh in the children of disobedience,
3 Among whom we also had our conversation in time past in the lusts of our flesh, in fulfilling the will of the flesh, and of the mind, and were by nature the children of wrath, as well as others.
4 But God which is rich in mercy, through his great love wherewith he loved us,
5 Even when we were dead by sins, hath quickened us together in Christ, by whose grace ye are saved,
6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,
7 That he might show in the ages to come the exceeding riches of his grace through his kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God,
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast himself.
10 For we are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath ordained, that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:1-10 (1599 Geneva Bible)
Carefully read the passage above (Ephesians 2:1-10). What was the condition of all Christians prior to their justification? They were ALL dead in their trespasses and sins. They were by nature children of wrath like everyone else. However, God mercifully MADE THEM ALIVE. This comes only by His grace through faith. This faith comes as the result of God making them alive. Then they believe by faith. God did it this way that no one may boast. If anyone claims to be a Christian, by his or her own efforts then they do not understand grace nor do they believe what is clearly taught here. Our salvation is a gift of God, not a result of works. Therefore, this faith is part of the gift, which is given to each believer according to God’s grace.
All of the Good Shepherd’s sheep will believe and repent and be saved by Grace through faith. Those of us already in the sheep fold are responsible to preach the Gospel to everyone so that those who belong to our Lord and are appointed to eternal life will receive the gift of salvation by His grace through the faith that comes only to the regenerate heart.
Soli Deo Gloria!
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