Tag: unbelief
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Universal Justification But Not Universal Final Salvation
I was recently asked a series of excellent questions about universalism. The questions arise from a real tension. The Bible teaches that Jesus died for the sins of the whole world. God genuinely reconciled the world to himself through the blood of Christ. He sincerely desires the salvation of every person. Does that mean that…
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Calvin’s Confusion about Predestination: 8 The Olive Tree
God genuinely wants all people to hear the Gospel. He genuinely gives salvation to all who believe the Gospel, so the Gospel is the Christian’s certain and only basis for confidence. All who believe the Gospel do so only because of God’s grace in electing them. All who don’t believe it do so only because…
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Calvin’s Confusion about Predestination: 6 The Potter
God is all powerful. But that does not mean he is pleased with all things that happen, nor that he gets all that he desires. That is a logical leap made by the influential Reformed theologian John Calvin that led to him being confused about what the Bible says about God’s power. Calvin claimed that…
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Calvin’s Confusion about Predestination: 3 Summary of Romans 9-11
John Calvin, and so many who later followed him, was confused about predestination, thinking that God chose some people to be damned. But God wants all people to be saved and takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked. This is the third in a series of posts responding to Calvin’s explanation of predestination…
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Calvin’s Confusion about Predestination: 2 What Calvin Said
John Calvin, the most influential theologian of the Reformed tradition, was confused about predestination. Because he thought God wills (which means wants) some people to be damned. God has never willed the damnation of anyone. He wants all people to be saved. That’s what he tells us (1 Timothy 2:4)—and we believe him. This is…
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Forgiven—Yet Still in Hell??
On the cross, God reconciled the world to himself in Christ (2 Cor 5:19). Jesus took away the sin of the world (John 1:29). And he bore God’s wrath—his legal condemnation of sin—as the atoning sacrifice for the whole world (1 John 2:2). In other words: on AD 33, at the cross, God forgave everyone…