God or men?

2nd Corinthians 4:4, in the King James Translation, refers to the gospel as the “glorious gospel of Christ”.  As you will see, the gospel is all about Jesus Christ, and it is indeed glorious, because He is glorious.

It was Jesus Christ Himself who first proclaimed the gospel in the New Testament. He said, “The time is fulfilled and the Kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel” (Mark 1:15).

The word gospel literally means “good news”. And, right at the beginning of the book of Romans, which is viewed by most theologians as a theological treatise on the gospel, the Apostle Paul states that the gospel of God is concerning His Son Jesus Christ (Romans 1:1-3).

The gospel begins with God’s glory. And, a major aspect of His glory is His character, which is revealed in Jesus Christ.

In Exodus 33:18-23, Moses asked the Lord to see His “glory”. The Lord told Moses that He would put him in the cleft of a rock and would cover him with His hand, as He passed by showing Moses His back. Then, in Exodus 34:6-8, the Lord passed by Moses and proclaimed: “The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, by no means clearing the guilty………..”

So, in response to Moses’ request to see the Lord’s glory, the Lord declared His character traits as He passed by Moses. In other words, a major aspect of His glory is His wonderful, glorious character. And, as the following scriptures demonstrate, the awesome character of God is revealed in Jesus Christ.

2nd Corinthians 4:6—To give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ

John 1:1,14,18—In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him. (Jesus Christ revealed God’s glorious character to us.)

John 14:9—Jesus said: He who has seen Me has seen the Father

Colossians 2:9—In Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.

(In other words, Jesus is a full, perfect manifestation of the glorious character and person of God.)

What is the “gospel”?

Paul describes it in 1st Corinthians 15:1-4. He states:

“Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.

Paul further describes the gospel in Romans 1:16-17, where he says:

“I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes………… For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”

The glorious “good news” about Jesus Christ, however, begins before His resurrection and death on the cross for our sins.  The Scriptures reveal that Jesus shared glory with His, and our, Heavenly Father before our world was created (John 17:5). Furthermore, all of the following texts demonstrate that the glory that Jesus shared with our Heavenly Father, was not a lesser glory of a lesser being, but rather an equal glory of an equal being; that is, as an equal member of the Godhead, with Jesus Christ being fully God to the same extent as our Heavenly Father.

Jesus Christ’s glorious, eternal, divine status

Titus 2:13—Looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ

Hebrews 1:8—But to the Son He says: “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever”

Matthew 1:23—They shall call His name Immanuel, God with us

1st Timothy 3:16—God was manifested in the flesh

Colossians 2:9—in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily

Romans 9:5—Christ came, who is over all, the eternally blessed God

John 1:1—In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God

Isaiah 9:6—For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; …….and His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace

John 8:58—Jesus said: “before Abraham was, I AM”

Philippians 2:5-6—Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God

John 5:18—Therefore the Jews sought to kill Him, because He……..said that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God

Isaiah 54:5—For your Maker is your Husband, the Lord of Hosts is His name; and your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel; He is called the God of the whole earth

We know that Jesus is our Redeemer and Husband in the New Testament, and the scriptures listed in the next section also reveal Him to be our Maker/Creator. Therefore, Jesus is the “God of the whole earth” spoken of in the previous passage in Isaiah 54:5.

Jesus Christ, our glorious Creator

John 1:1-3—In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.

Colossians 1:15-16—He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.

Isaiah 54:5—Your “Maker” is your Husband……..your Redeemer is the………God of the whole earth.

(As stated in the previous section, our Redeemer and Husband is Jesus Christ, and this verse says that He is also our Maker/Creator, which agrees with the two passages above from John and Colossians.)

His glorious and sinless creation

Genesis chapter one describes the six-day creation of the heavens and the earth, including the creation of mankind. And, in Genesis 1:31, we’re told that everything God (Jesus) had made was very good.

Nehemiah 9:6—Blessed be Your glorious name……You alone are Lord. You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship you.

Isaiah 6:3—Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of His glory

Psalm 8:1-4—O Lord…….who have set Your glory above the heavens…….When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars which You have ordained, what is man that You are mindful of Him?

Psalm 19:1—The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands

Sin and death entered the world through the fall of man

Genesis 2:16-17;—And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; “but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”

Gen 3:1-7, 22-24—Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, “Has God indeed said, You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?” And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.’” Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings. Then the Lord God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of Us, to know good and evil. And now, lest he put out his hand and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever—therefore the Lord God sent him out of the garden of Eden to till the ground from which he was taken. So He drove out the man; and He placed cherubim at the east of the garden of Eden, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life.

As Genesis chapter three reveals, man had become mortal after Adam’s sin, and access to the tree of life was denied him. Death was now his fate, as the following scriptures demonstrate.

Romans 6:23—The wages of sin is death.

Romans 5:12—Sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men.

Romans 5:17—By the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man.

Romans 5:18—The result of one trespass was condemnation for all men.

The following scriptures reveal that Adam’s sin passed on to all of his future offspring, polluting the human race, and separating man from God; his heart had become wicked, and he could not change his corrupt condition or his fate.

Romans 5:19—Through the disobedience of the one man, many were made sinners.

Rom 3:23—All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

Isaiah 59:2—Your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear.

Isaiah 64:6—We are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; we all fade as a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

Jeremiah 17:9—The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?

Romans 3:10—As it is written: “There is none righteous, no, not one”.

Jeremiah 13:23—Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard its spots? Then may you also do good who are accustomed to do evil?

Man exchanged the glory of God for images and lies and moral depravity

Romans 1:21-23—For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.

Romans 1:25—They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.

Romans 1:26—Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts.

Romans 1:24—Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another.

Romans 1:28–Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, He gave them over to a depraved mind; to do what ought not to be done.

God’s wrath is against us for exchanging His glory for godlessness and wickedness

Romans 1:18-20—The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—His eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.

God’s judgment will be against us for exchanging His glory for images and lies

Romans 14:10-12—For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat. It is written: “As surely as I live, says the Lord, every knee will bow before Me; every tongue will confess to God.” So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.  

Romans 2:5—Because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when His righteous judgment will be revealed.

2nd Thessalonians 1:8-9—He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the majesty of His power.

God wants us to recognize the weight of our condition

Romans 3:23—All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

1st John 1:8—If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.

1st John 1:10—If we claim we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar and His word has no place in our lives.

Romans 6:23—The wages of sin is death.

Hebrews 9:22—And, without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

God wants us to come to repentance and believe

Mark 1:14-15—Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God.  “The time has come,” He said. “The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!”

Acts 2:37-38—They said……..what shall we do? Then Peter said…….”Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins”. 

2nd Peter 3:9—He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

2nd Corinthians 7:10—Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation.

God demonstrated His love for us while we were still sinners

Rom 5:8—God  demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Rom 5:10—For if, when we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to Him through the death of His Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through His life.

Jesus Christ, our glorious Savior

Because God is a loving God, He sent His own Son in our place to absorb His wrath and judgment, to pay the price for our sin and offer us salvation, to “reconnect” us with God, and to make His righteousness available to us.

John 3:16—God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Romans 3:25-26—God presented Him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in His blood. He did this to demonstrate His justice, because in His forbearance He had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished; He did it to demonstrate His justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.

1st John 4:10—This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

1st Peter 2:24—Who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed.

1st Peter 1:18-19—You were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold…….but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.

2nd Corinthians 5:21—God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.

John 14:6—Jesus  said, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

Hebrews 7:24-25—Because Jesus lives forever, He has a permanent priesthood.  Therefore He is able to save completely those who come to God through Him, because He always lives to intercede for them.

Acts 4:12—Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”

Revelation 5:9-12—You are worthy……..for You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood…….Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing!

This salvation is a gift of God’s grace that we receive through faith, repentance, confession, and receiving Jesus

Ephesians 2:8-9—It is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.

Romans 6:23—The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

John 1:12—As  many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.

Acts 16:30-31—“Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” They said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved.”

Acts 2:37-38—They said……..”what shall we do?” Then Peter said…….”Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins.” 

Romans 10:9-10—If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.

Romans 10:13—Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

God has justified and made righteous those who have put their faith in Jesus

Galatians 2:16—Know that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified.

Romans 3:28—We maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from observing the law.

Romans 5:1—Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Romans 3:22-25—Righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

Romans 3:21-22—A righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.

Philippians 3:8-9—That I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.

When we receive Jesus and place our faith in Him we are “born again”, adopted by God as His children, and Jesus dwells inside of us

John 3:3—Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

John 1:12-13—As many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. (We are “born again” or “born of God” when we receive Jesus and place our faith in Him.)

Ephesians 1:5—He predestined us to be adopted as His sons through Jesus Christ.

Romans 8:15-17—You received the Spirit of adoption. And by Him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ.

Galatians 4:6-7—God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir.

1st John 3:1—Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called the children of God.

2nd Corinthians 13:5—Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?

Ephesians 3:17—Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.

Colossians 1:27—Christ in you, the hope of glory.

John 17:22-23—(Jesus said) The glory which You gave Me, I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me.

Revelation 3:20—I stand at the door and knock.  If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him. 

There is no condemnation to those who believe in Jesus. And, our sins are forgiven

Romans 8:1-2—Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.

John 3:17-18—God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.

1st John 1:9—If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

Psalm 103:2-3,12—Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities (sins)……….As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions (sins) from us.

God wants us to have assurance of our salvation in Jesus Christ

Romans 8:31-39—If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all—how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life-is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? ………No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

John 10:28—I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of My hand.

1st John 5:13—These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life.

God continues to work in the lives of those who have put their faith in Jesus, conforming them to the likeness of Jesus Christ

Philippians 2:12-13—It is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose.

Philippians 1:6—He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Romans 8:29—For those God foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brothers.

2nd Corinthians 3:16-18—Whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into His likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

In Jesus, you have now become part of God’s Church, which is the Body of Christ

Ephesians 5:25-27—Christ loved the Church and gave Himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to Himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.

1st Corinthians 12:27—Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.

Romans 12:4-6—Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.

1st Corinthians 12:12—The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ.

Ephesians 2:19-21—Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord.

Hebrews 10:24-25—And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Psalm 122:1—I rejoiced with those who said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord.”

Everything is received through faith

Ephesians 2:8—By grace you have been saved through faith.

Galatians 2:16—That we might be justified by faith in Christ.

Philippians 3:9—Righteousness………which is through faith in Christ.

1st John 5:4—This is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.

Hebrews 11:6—And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.

Romans 14:23—Everything that does not come from faith is sin.

Hebrews 11:1-2—Now, faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.

Romans 10:17—Faith comes by hearing………. the word of God.

(Reading God’s word, the Bible, is important, because it builds our faith; also, according to 1st Peter 2:2, it helps us grow spiritually, and Psalm 119:11 states that it helps us to avoid committing sin.)

Now, we put our hope in God who is the God of hope

1st Peter 1:3-5—Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.

Romans 15:13—May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Romans 5:1-2—Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.

Titus 3:5-7—He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by His grace, we might become heirs, having the hope of eternal life.

Romans 8:22-25—We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.

Titus 2:11-14—For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for Himself a people that are His very own, eager to do what is good.

Our glorious future in Christ

John 14:2-3—In My Father’s house are many mansions, if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.

1st Thessalonians 4:16-17—The Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.

1st Corinthians 15:50-54—Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed—in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So, when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory”.

Philippians 3:20-21—Our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.

Revelation 21:1-4, 10-23; Revelation 22:1-5—The Apostle John describes the New Jerusalem, our heavenly home on earth, as follows: It’s a place with no death, sorrow, crying or pain, and where God the Father and Jesus Christ dwell with us forever. The city is 1500 miles wide, 1500 miles long and 1500 miles high, and it is made of pure transparent gold. Its wall is made of jasper, its foundation stones are twelve different, huge, precious jewels, and each of the twelve mammoth gates that enter the city are individual pearls. It has a pure river of water of life running through it that is clear as crystal, and the tree of life that bears twelve different types of fruit is also there. There is no night in the city, and the brightness of the Lamb of God, Jesus, is the light of the city.

1st Corinthians 2:9—No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him.

Ephesians 2:6-7—And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages He might show the incomparable riches of His grace, expressed in His kindness to us in Christ Jesus.

Jesus Christ’s glorious return

Titus 2:13—Looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.

Matthew 16:27—The Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.

Matthew 24:30-31—They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

1st Thessalonians 4:16-17—The Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.

John 14:2-3—In My Father’s house are many mansions, if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.

Revelation 22:7—Behold, I am coming quickly! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.

Jesus Christ’s glorious exaltation

Ephesians 1:20-22—Which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age, but also in that which is to come. And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the Church.

Philippians 2:9-11—God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Jesus Christ, our glorious “everything”

In addition to Jesus Christ being our Creator, Savior, Lord, God and our righteousness, He is also all of the following things, and much more.

1st John 2:1—Jesus Christ is our Advocate.

Hebrews 3:1—Jesus Christ is our High Priest.

Hebrews 7:25—Jesus Christ is our Intercessor.

1st Timothy 2:5—Jesus Christ is our Mediator.

John 15:15—Jesus Christ is our Friend.

John 10:11—Jesus Christ is our Shepherd.

Matthew 28:20—Jesus Christ is our Constant Companion.

Hebrews 2:11-12—Jesus Christ is our Brother.

2nd Corinthians 11:2—Jesus Christ is our Husband.

John 5:22—Jesus Christ is our Judge.

Ephesians 2:14—Jesus Christ is our peace.

1st Timothy 1:1—Jesus Christ is our hope.

2nd Corinthians 12:9 and Philippians 4:13—Jesus Christ is our strength.

1st Corinthians 1:30—Jesus Christ is our wisdom and sanctification.

Ephesians 1:22—Jesus Christ is our Head over all things.

Hebrews 12:2—Jesus Christ is the Author and Finisher of our faith, and He is the one we are to keep our eyes fixed upon.

Philippians 1:21—To live is Christ.

Colossians 3:4—Christ is our life.

Colossians 2:10—We are complete in Him.

Colossians 1:18—Jesus Christ is to have the preeminence in all things.

John 15:4-5—Jesus Christ is the one we are to abide in.

2nd Corinthians 10:5—Jesus Christ is the one to whom we are to bring all of our thoughts captive and obedient.

John 5:39—Jesus Christ is the one of whom the Scriptures testify.

Romans 8:29—Jesus Christ is the one whose image God predestined for us to become conformed or transformed into.

2nd Corinthians 3:18—Jesus Christ is the one whom, when we behold Him, we are transformed into His image.

Philippians 4:19—Jesus Christ is the one in whom all of our needs are met.

Ephesians 1:3—Jesus Christ is the one in whom we receive every spiritual blessing.

2nd Corinthians 1:19-20—Jesus Christ is the one in whom all of God’s promises receive their divine “Yes” and “Amen”. (In other words, all of God’s promises are fulfilled in Jesus Christ.)

In light of these things we are being called to live differently

Ephesians 6:10-18—Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

Hebrews 12:1-3—Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders, and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart

Ephesians 2:10—We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Titus 2:11-12—For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age.

Titus 3:3-8—At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by His grace, we might become heirs, having the hope of eternal life. This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.

1st Peter 1:13-16—Therefore, gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.” 

Galatians 2:20—I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

1st Peter 2:2-3—Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.

2nd Timothy 2:15—Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.

1st Peter 3:15—But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.

Philippians 4:8—Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

Romans 12:1-2—Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will.  

Romans 13:12-14—So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.

Galatians 5:22-24—But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires.

Psalm 37:3-6—Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him and He will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.

Proverbs 3:5-6—Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.

1st Timothy 6:11-12—But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

John 14:15—(Jesus said) If you love Me, keep My commandments.

John 15:14—(Jesus said) You are My friends if you do what I command you.

1st John 5:3—This is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.

1st John 2:3-4—Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, “I know Him”, and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

Luke 6:46—(Jesus said) Why call me Lord, and not do the things that I say?

2nd Corinthians 5:17—If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

What is the logical conclusion?

The Lord Jesus Christ Himself said that we can do nothing without Him (John 15:5). And, I personally can vouch for the truth of that statement, as can millions of others who have placed their faith in Jesus and surrendered their lives to Him. So, trust Him, love Him, seek Him, behold Him, obey Him, honor Him, praise Him and worship Him.

If you do, you too will have a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life within you (John 4:14), which will result in rivers of living water flowing forth from your heart to also refresh others (John 7:38).

 

Acknowledgement

I want to thank my friend and brother in Christ, Victor Johnson, who inspired me to post this article, and who also did much of the biblical research regarding many of the passages that have been used. Victor is a devoted student of the Bible who follows the Apostle Paul’s counsel to “rightly divide or correctly handle the word of truth”.

The reason that I have titled this article, “The Gospel for Sale”, will become obvious after you’ve finished reading it.  I will be discussing two subjects related to finances in the Christian Church in America, both of which should be a major concern for all sincere Christians in this nation.

 I will begin with the subject of mega churches and their income and assets. They have become commonplace in America; huge and extravagant church buildings, costing from $10 million to $100 million each, have arisen throughout our nation. Today’s Christian Church in America has become a gigantic commercial enterprise. Recent statistics from “The Yearbook of American and Canadian Churches” and “The National Center for Charitable Statistics“, reveal that Christian churches and ministries in America have an annual income of about $80 billion.

The amount of the Church’s income is not the concern, but rather how the funds are being spent. As mentioned, huge and extravagant church facilities with state-of-the-art equipment and luxurious furnishings are arising everywhere. More and more ministries are operating in expensive new buildings. Many of these ministries boast of flying to their meetings in their own private jets.  And, all of this is happening at a time when there is so much need in our nation, and even more so in other parts of the world.

There are currently more people unemployed in America than at any time in the past 25 years.  Millions of families have lost their homes, and millions of senior citizens have seen their retirement funds reduced drastically.  Moreover, the number of homeless and hungry Americans is rapidly increasing.  At such a time as this, when there is so much need all around us, wouldn’t it be a powerful witness for Christ if American Christian churches and ministries were willing and able to minister to these needs in a substantial way, by spending a significant portion of their massive income and assets to help those in need?  However, their vast expenditures on luxurious mega churches, large salaries, worldly investments and expensive toys are hogging most of their income and assets, while, by comparison, only a minimal percentage is spent on real ministry.  This is shameful, and it is not “what Jesus would do”!

Of course, those in the Church who are spending their donated funds on all of these “material things” are quick to justify their actions. They remind us that the Jewish temple in the Old Testament also was an extremely expensive and luxurious building. Unfortunately, their comparison and reasoning are both quite faulty. If they really want to compare their modern churches to the temple, the first thing that they should do is to close down all of their coffee shops, bookstores, arcade rooms and restaurants that they have included in their expensive church facilities. Why? Because Jesus cast the “sellers” and “money changers” out of the temple, and He said that we are not to make His Father’s house, a house of merchandise (John 2:16; Matthew 21:12). In other words, do not turn the temple into a shopping mall. Therefore, if today’s church leaders want to compare their buildings with the temple, their profitable bookstores, restaurants and amusement rooms need to be eliminated. However, it is highly unlikely that you will be seeing this occur anytime soon. You see, the contemporary Church does not want to conduct itself like the Old Testament temple when it comes to reverence and sanctity, but only when it comes to expensive and luxurious adornment.

It is also noteworthy, that the Jewish temple housed the Shekinah Glory, the Ark of the Covenant, the tablets of stone with the Ten Commandments written by God, the “mercy seat” and other divinely appointed furniture and utensils. It was so holy that only the priests and Levites could enter it. In fact, only the high priest could enter the revered Most Holy Place of the temple, and just once each year.

On the other hand, in Jesus’ day, there were numerous synagogues throughout the land, in which the common people worshipped on a regular basis; they were very ordinary structures. Those synagogues would be the equivalent of our churches today, and not the temple.

As previously stated, the leaders of today’s wealthy, worldly and selfish churches want to compare their structures to the temple, in order to justify their elaborate buildings. Thus we are ending up with tens of thousands of temples throughout America, while the commonplace synagogues (churches) of worship are quickly vanishing from the American landscape.

Christian leaders have conveniently forgotten that there was only one temple in all of Israel, while there were numerous modest synagogues throughout the land. God didn’t need thousands of temples in the land of Israel, and it is likely that He doesn’t need them in America either.

There is, of course, nothing wrong with having a nice building. However, with thousands of homeless people in our cities, due to a shortage of clean, safe shelters, and with millions of children starving to death each year throughout the world, it is appropriate to ask if today’s Christian Church in America has forgotten it’s real mission and purpose.

One of the most common slogans in Christianity is, “what would Jesus do”? It would be a good idea for today’s Church to ask itself this question. The Jesus we read about in the Bible spent His life ministering to people’s needs, not ministering to Himself. I think it is reasonable to assume that He would ask His Church to follow His personal example, by also ministering to those in need, instead of ministering to itself. After all, Jesus taught in Matthew 25:31-46, that true Christianity is manifested in feeding the hungry, clothing the naked and ministry in general to those in need.

It is both astonishing and disturbing to realize what America’s Christian churches and ministries could accomplish if they just dedicated a fraction of their annual income to real ministry. If they committed just ten percent of their annual revenue to ministering to people in need, the following accomplishments could all be achieved in just one year. Six-million starving children could be fed three meals a day throughout the year; concurrently, 3000 new homeless shelters could be built across our nation, with the capacity to house every homeless person in America; simultaneously, new Bibles could be printed and delivered to 250-million persecuted Christians worldwide, who are suffering for their faith without even having the comfort of having a Bible.

In view of all of these good things that could be accomplished in just one year, if our churches and ministries in America gave just ten percent of their income, can there be any legitimate reason for not doing so? Can they not afford to give only one out of every ten dollars to help those who are in such dire need?

Tens of billions of dollars are spent annually by America’s Christian organizations on elaborate renovation and expansion projects, and on new, large, luxurious buildings for our numerous, wealthy mega-churches. However, just ten percent of their income, only eight-billion dollars, would feed every starving child in the world three meals a day, house every homeless person in our nation, and provide Bibles for 250-million persecuted Christians who need them.

It literally sickens and angers me to see the selfishness, materialism and “luxurious living” within so much of the Christian Church in America, while millions of children die from starvation and the homeless live in cardboard boxes and eat out of garbage dumpsters. This is not what Jesus would do! This is not biblical Christianity! This is the conducting of a profitable, religious “business enterprise”, while masquerading it as Christian ministry.

I’m offering the ten percent challenge to all Christian churches and ministries in America. It’s time to find out which ones are truly ministering organizations, and which ones are actually just religious “business enterprises”. Anyone who has read the New Testament knows that Jesus loves and values people more than buildings and other material things. We’ve all heard the “talk” from America’s Christian organizations. Now, it’s about time to see the “walk“.

I challenge the Church in America to put a “moratorium” on all building and expansion projects, until they have set aside the eight-billion dollars to provide for the desperate needs that I have mentioned. I think that most unbiased and reasonable people would agree that such a suggestion is appropriate. After all, they claim to be ministering organizations.

Jesus spent His life ministering to those in need. And, the Bible states that if we see others in need, but do not help them, the love of God does not abide in us (1st John 3:17,18). It is time for the Church to practice what it preaches, or else to stop preaching.

This brings me to the second subject in this article, regarding a doctrine that is being preached throughout America.  That doctrine is the “prosperity gospel”, which promises Christians that, if they “sow a financial seed” (give an offering) into a church or ministry that proclaims the prosperity gospel, they will be guaranteed a “harvest” of good health and wealth from God. This teaching basically promises that, if you have strong faith, the devil cannot harm your health, finances or just about anything else. Therefore, according to the prosperity gospel, all Christians with strong faith will be healthy, wealthy and prosperous in every area of their lives.  This results in a selfish “giving money to get blessings” mentality, which I appropriately call, “The Gospel for Sale”.

It’s too bad that contemporary “prosperity preachers”, with their great faith, are not able to go to many of the third-world countries where impoverished Christians are being martyred daily for their faith. Evidently these poverty-stricken Christians, who are being maimed and killed for their faith in Jesus, must not have had the great faith of these American churches and ministries who proclaim this prosperity message. Also, the Apostle Paul, who wrote nearly half of the New Testament, must not have had as great of faith as these modern “prosperity preachers” either, because he said that he was hungry, homeless and poorly clothed in 1st Corinthians 4:11. In fact, even Jesus must not have had a faith as great as theirs, because He said in Matthew 8:20, that even foxes and birds had homes, but He had no place to lay His head. If only today’s prospering churches and ministries in America could have instructed Paul and Jesus about having strong faith, perhaps they could have lived their lives with greater faith and comfort. Of course, this is untrue and absurd, as is the prosperity gospel being preached today. However, this teaching is seductive, and churches and ministries who promote this doctrine are growing rapidly. With this teaching you can have the best of both worlds. Now you can be a Christian, but not have to deny self anymore. Now you can be a Christian, but still enjoy all the things of the world. In fact, now being a Christian will guarantee you wealth!

It used to be that Christianity was known for the “cross” of self-sacrifice. Jesus told His disciples in Matthew 16:24, that anyone who wanted to follow Him would have to deny himself and take up his cross. However, prosperity-preaching Christian churches have come up with a new and improved tactic for recruiting disciples. They have decided to allow prospective disciples to trade up from a “cross” to a “Cadillac”. Instead of asking for self-denial, as Jesus did, they promise the pampering of self with rewards of wealth for giving to God. Of course, the way that you give to God is by giving to their churches and ministries. Some even go so far as to promise a hundredfold return from God on the donations made to their ministries. And, they try to justify their unbiblical and worldly conduct by even suggesting that Jesus and the Apostle Paul were actually both wealthy themselves.

Well, what about this prosperity gospel? Does it square with Scripture? Were Jesus and Paul wealthy? As previously mentioned, Jesus said that foxes and birds had homes, but He Himself had nowhere to lay His head; Jesus was homeless (Matthew 8:20). The Bible states that Paul and the other apostles were hungry, thirsty, poorly clothed and homeless (1st Corinthians 4:9-11). And, Jesus said that His disciples would also live lives of self-denial and sacrifice, taking up their “cross” (Matthew 10:38; Matthew 16:24; Mark 8:34; Luke 9:23; Luke 14:27; Luke 14:33). He said that we are not to lay up treasures on this earth, but in heaven; moreover, that we cannot serve two masters, God and money (Matthew 6:19-21; Matthew 6:24). The Bible states that if we are attached to this world and love “its things”, we are enemies of God and do not have His love in us (James 4:4; 1st John 2:15).

Also, whereas “prosperity preachers” present their wealth as being proof of their strong faith, their closeness to God, and as being a blessing that God will bestow upon all Christians having strong faith; Jesus presents a completely opposite picture. He says that it is “hard” for rich people to enter heaven (Matthew 19:23; Mark 10:23; Luke 18:24). Furthermore, He stresses the “danger” of riches in His parable of the sower of the seed, when He states that God’s Word is “choked” by the deceitfulness of riches (Mark 4:19; Luke 8:14). Whereas “prosperity preachers” tell Christians to desire, strive for, and expect wealth to result from a strong faith, the Bible declares that those who hasten to be rich will not go unpunished (Proverbs 28:20). It says that people who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare; moreover, that they fall into foolish and harmful lusts that lead them to destruction and perdition (1st Timothy 6:9). Rather than proclaiming money to be a reward or a proof of strong faith, Scripture warns that the love of money is the root of all evil (1st Timothy 6:10). And, while prosperity preachers proudly speak of their luxurious homes, cars, yachts and personal jets as being proof of their status with God, Jesus states that it is “fools” who lay up treasures for themselves (Luke 12:16-21).

It is interesting that prosperity preachers tell Christians that a “rich faith” will result in their being rich, but that they will remain poor if they do not have a “rich” or strong faith, yet the Bible says that it is the “poor” who are rich in faith (James 2:5). The truth of the matter is that today’s popular “prosperity gospel” blatantly contradicts Scripture. Prosperity preachers are manipulating and twisting Scripture to keep the money coming in so that they can continue living lavishly. The Bible has warned us that false teachers would arise teaching heresies and exploiting Christians with deceptive words for covetous purposes, and that those who teach unscriptural things to use “godliness” (the things of God) as a means of personal gain, are proud and have corrupt minds that are destitute of the truth (2nd Peter 2:1-3; 1st Timothy 6:3-8). This passage also reminds us that we came into this world without any material possessions, and that we will not be able to take any with us when we leave, so we should be content with just having food and clothing.  Does that sound anything like today’s prosperity gospel? Absolutely not!

I hope that you are as alarmed as I am about the financial abuses being conducted within the American Christian Church, and I also hope that you will do what you can to get this message out in an effort to bring about the necessary changes in thinking and behavior within the Church.

 

As with my article on hell, I ask you to consider all of the evidence before making any decision, as to whether I’m right or wrong about Calvinism.  I will be presenting literally dozens of scriptures throughout this article, and I ask you to read through the end of it, before you cast your verdict.  I will begin with an illustration. 

What would you think of the ruler of a nation who made the arbitrary decree that all people with the AIDS disease must be killed; furthermore, he forced all the nurses, doctors and hospital staff throughout his nation to inject multitudes of predetermined babies with the AIDS virus? How would you view that ruler years later, as he put every child to death who developed AIDS from the injections that he had given them? I am sure that all would agree that he was a cruel and evil man. After all, how could he punish people for something he had caused, and which they could not change or avoid? There would certainly be unanimous agreement, that those who were killed for contracting AIDS were actually victims of a cruel experiment for the sadistic pleasure of an evil monarch.

It would be unthinkable for anyone to come to the defense of the depraved and wicked ruler in the previous illustration. No one would dare to suggest that he was a good, kind and loving leader. Such an assertion would be ridiculous and absurd.

Nevertheless, there is a large segment of the Christian Church that is actually portraying God in a similar manner and making similar assertions. How? It is happening through the teaching of the Calvinistic predestination “TULIP” doctrine.

What is this “TULIP” doctrine? It uses the five letters in the word tulip as an acronym to convey the following teaching:

T - Total Depravity of Man

U - Unconditional Election by God

L - Limited Atonement

I - Irresistible Grace

P - Perseverance

What does it all mean? Calvinism’s “T” in their tulip doctrine teaches that man is totally depraved, which is, in fact, biblically accurate. However, the “U” in their tulip declares that God predestines individuals for heaven or hell through an unconditional election process. In other words, God chooses to create some people who are predestined to go to heaven, and He chooses to create some people who are predestined to go to hell; moreover, the people themselves have no choice in the matter. This tenet of Calvinism is both offensive and unbiblical. Once again, I ask you to read through this entire article before you cast your verdict, because you don’t want to be saying that God does not offer salvation to everyone, if there are dozens of scriptures that say He does.  Likewise, you don’t want to be saying that God arbitrarily predestines people to heaven or hell, if there are dozens of scriptures that say He does not.  So, please research all of the scriptures that I will be presenting, and allow the weight of biblical evidence to make your decision.

The tulip doctrine’s ”L” teaches that Jesus only provided a limited atonement, because, according to Calvinists, He did not die for everyone, but only for those He had predestined for heaven. And, the “I” in Calvinism’s tulip professes that God has irresistible grace. Therefore, if God chose you for heaven, you are going whether you like it or not. Once again, you have no freedom of choice in the matter, because you are preprogrammed, so to speak. As with the “unconditional election” teaching, both of these tenets of Calvinism are also unbiblical. Finally, the ”P” in the Calvinist tulip says that you must persevere, which is biblically accurate.

So, the “T” and the “P” in their tulip are in accordance with Scripture, but the “U”,”L” and “I” contradict the overwhelming weight of biblical evidence, and also malign God’s character. It may be just a coincidence, but it is interesting that the three false tenets of Calvinism’s tulip that malign God’s character, ”ULI”, would be pronounced as, you lie. And, by the end of this article, you will know that Calvinism’s “tulip doctrine” is indeed lying about God’s loving and just character. 

Calvinism, in effect, turns God into an evil ruler similar to the one in my illustration. The evil ruler said that all with AIDS must die; then he injected chosen ones with the disease, and put them to death as they manifested the disease. Calvinism presents God as choosing to create most people, (I will explain the “most” reference later), with an unavoidable existence filled with hellish desires, interests, inclinations and behavior; then, to sentence them to the hell fire when they manifest these hellish characteristics and behavior. Why should we be surprised that so many reject God, when He is presented in such a manner?

Some Calvinists try to make their predestination doctrine seem less offensive by restating their position in a more tactful and palatable manner. They point out that all men are evil to begin with because of Adam’s original sin, and are, therefore, destined for hell already. Because of this, they then conclude that God does not actually predestine them for hell, because they are already going on their own. These “milder” and “gentler” Calvinists suggest that God simply chooses to intervene on behalf of certain chosen ones. They say that He arbitrarily chooses which ones He will save from their destiny in hell, and then supernaturally intervenes in their lives and opens their hearts to receive the gospel. These chosen ones are then predestined for heaven, while the rest of humanity continues on its path to hell, with no hope or opportunity to be saved.

Although this may sound slightly better than “hard core” Calvinism, the end result is still the same. God is still picking and choosing favorites. After all, He could choose to intervene on behalf of all people, open all of their hearts to the gospel, and then predestine all to be saved. Therefore, the bottom line is, God is still intentionally choosing to not allow multitudes of people to even have the option to be saved. And, when we consider that God knows “the end from the beginning”, that means that before He ever creates them, He is fully aware that multitudes of these “unchosen ones” will have no hope or opportunity to be saved; He knows in advance that He is creating these people with only one possible destiny, hell!

This “TULIP” predestination doctrine becomes even more repulsive when you realize that, according to Jesus Himself, the vast majority of people will be going to hell. He said in Mathew 7:13-14 that only a few would go through the narrow gate leading to life, whereas many would go through the wide gate leading to destruction. Therefore, Calvinists are teaching that God predestines the vast majority of people that He creates, to go to hell, which, according to Calvinist theology, will be a place where these “unchosen ones” will eternally suffer such agony and torment that it causes people to wail and gnash their teeth.

Calvinist theologians tell us that God does this in order to demonstrate His justice, via punishing wickedness, to those “chosen ones” who will be saved. Isn’t that special! The Calvinists’ loving God tortures the vast majority of people, so that a small minority can see His justice. Anyone who tortures large numbers of people, who have no opportunity to avoid the torture, in order to demonstrate something to a small group of people, is not demonstrating justice, but rather injustice.

The Calvinist “TULIP” doctrine presents God as a Divine Ruler with attributes that we would denounce and condemn in any earthly monarch; yet, this doctrine is widely accepted in today’s Christian Church. This is illogical and unreasonable.

Even more important than the lack of logic and common sense, is the fact that the weight of biblical evidence contradicts this doctrine. There are references to predestination in the Bible, but not in the sense in which Calvinism portrays it.

God has predestined or predetermined the method of salvation. There is only one way to be saved and to enter heaven, and that is through faith in Jesus Christ. Jesus said that no one could come to the Father, except through Him (John 14:6). The Bible states that there is no other name under heaven (Jesus), given among men, whereby we can be saved (Acts 4:12). Jesus is the only way. That is the only method of salvation and entrance into heaven, and has been predestined or predetermined by God Himself. Therefore, all who will accept Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord, and put their faith in Him, are predestined to receive salvation, eternal life and entrance into heaven.

As you can see, there is a vast difference between this kind of predestination, and the kind presented in the Calvinist “TULIP” doctrine. In the predestination that I’ve just described, God still allows people the freedom of choice. They can choose whether or not they wish to accept God’s “predestined” method of salvation. Therefore, every individual has the free will to determine their eternal destiny, because they are allowed to make their own decision. They choose either to accept Jesus or reject Him; and, in so doing, have chosen heaven or hell. Remember, in Calvinist predestination, God makes the decisions for you before you are born, as to whether or not He will allow you to be one of the “chosen ones” to whom He offers His saving grace. Your eternal destiny has been arbitrarily decided for you by God Himself before you’ve taken your first breath. And, for the vast majority of people, their destiny is to be tormented in hell throughout the trillions of years of eternity, as Calvinists teach. Thankfully, the overwhelming weight of biblical evidence endorses my “method of salvation” version of predestination, which allows people the freedom of choice in this extremely important matter.

Many Calvinists suggest, however, that if people have the ability to “choose” to accept or deny God’s gift of salvation; then, the people themselves would be responsible for, and get the credit for, their own salvation. I must ask Calvinists a question. If someone comes to your door with an unexpected gift that they bought and paid for with their own money, and you choose to accept the gift; who is responsible for that gift and deserves credit for that gift? I’m sure you would agree that the person, who spent his own money to purchase your gift, is responsible for it and deserves the credit for it. You know that you would never take credit for that gift. It is certainly the same principle with Jesus’ gift of salvation. He has also bought and paid for that gift with His own blood, and your decision to accept the gift that He paid for does not make you responsible for it, or deserving of getting the credit for it, anymore than your having accepted the gift from the person at the door did. Jesus is obviously the one who is responsible for, and deserves the credit for, your gift of salvation. Whether or not people accept or reject Jesus’ gift, He is still the one who paid for it and He’s the one who gets the glory for it. If there are any Calvinists who still try to dispute this point, while simultaneously claiming to be honest and consistent; then, each Christmas they must publicly announce that they are responsible for, and are taking the credit for, all of the gifts that have been bought for them. And, if and when they do so, I’m sure that their friends and family members, who paid for the gifts with their own hard-earned money, will straighten them out on this issue.

Calvinists are quick to declare that God’s sovereignty must apply to every sphere of His dealings with mankind, including His grace. Are Calvinists suggesting that God’s sovereignty requires Him to only offer grace to a portion of His created children? Are Calvinists putting God “in a box,” by saying that He cannot offer grace to everyone if His grace is to be sovereign? I must tell my Calvinist friends that God does not need them to tell Him that His sovereignty requires Him to offer “selective grace” to only a chosen few. Our omnipotent and omniscient God is fully capable of offering grace to every person He has created, while still maintaining His sovereignty.

As with eternal torment advocates, TULIP predestination proponents point out that many of the respected church fathers down through the centuries also supported the TULIP doctrine. So what? The respected heroes and church fathers of the Old Testament era committed polygamy, but that did not make polygamy acceptable. Respected church fathers also committed various other sins: Abraham lied, Noah got drunk, David committed adultery and murder; but that does not make any of these sins acceptable either, just because “church fathers” practiced them. There has always been error within the Church, so we must not base our doctrines upon the church fathers, but solely upon the Bible.

Many Calvinists try to convince us that their TULIP predestination doctrine actually demonstrates God’s love in a more profound and perfect manner. They say that His act of choosing certain people to be saved before they were born, and without having deserved or earned their special selection by God, is a revelation of God’s infinite love that would not be seen without Calvinism’s TULIP doctrine. That sounds good if you’re one of those predestined for heaven. However, if you are one of those predestined for hell, you would certainly have a different opinion. Once again, we must remember that, according to Jesus Himself, many more people are going to hell than to heaven. He said the gate to heaven is narrow and only a few go through it, whereas the gate to hell is wide and many go through it. Therefore, according to the Calvinists, God will be demonstrating His love to the vast majority of people He creates by predestining them to an eternal existence of torment, suffering and agony. I’m sure those multitudes will appreciate that kind of love!

Where does this TULIP doctrine come from? Are there any scriptures that imply such a teaching?

In fact, there are several scriptures that Calvinists use to support this doctrine. And, to be fair, I do admit that a few isolated texts could be viewed as supporting this teaching, if it were not for the multitude of scriptures that clearly contradict this doctrine. And, as with the isolated verses used to support the eternal torment dogma, which I debunk in another article titled “Hell” on this website, there are also reasonable explanations for each verse used to promote the Calvinist “TULIP” doctrine. I will now list those texts most often cited by Calvinists, followed by a multitude of scriptures that clearly and unquestionably contradict their tulip dogma.

Calvinists point out that when Paul and Barnabas preached the gospel in Antioch, the Bible states that those who were “appointed” or “ordained” to eternal life were the ones who believed (Acts 13:46-48). They also refer to Romans 8:28-30, where Paul declares that those who God foreknew, He “predestined” to be conformed into the image of His Son; then He called those whom He had predestined. Calvinists remind us that Paul said God “chose us” in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and without blame, and also predestined us to be adopted to Himself by or through Jesus Christ; thereby also predestining us to obtain our inheritance (Ephesians 1:3-5,11).

Proponents of Calvinism direct our attention to 1st Thessalonians 1:4-5, where Paul states that he knew of the Thessalonians’ election by God, for he had presented a gospel message to them that was not in word only, but also in power. Calvinists also allude to Paul’s proclamation in 2nd Thessalonians 2:13, in which he declared that God, from the beginning, had chosen the Thessalonians for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth. Advocates of Calvinism usually refer to Isaiah 6:9-10 as well, where God tells Isaiah to make the people’s ears heavy, and also to shut their eyes.

Calvinists insist that their doctrine is additionally supported by the following passages that make reference to Jesus having chosen certain people. In Matthew’s gospel account, it is recorded that Jesus twice stated that, while many are called, only few are chosen (Matthew 22:14; Matthew 20:16). And, the Apostle John documents that Jesus stated that He had chosen His disciples (John 15:16; John 6:70).

Adherents to Calvinist predestination also assert that their doctrine is advanced in chapter six of John’s gospel. They remind us that Jesus said that it is the ones that the Father gives to Him, who will come to Him; moreover, that no one can come to Him unless the Father draws them (John 6:37; John 6:44).

To support their “limited atonement” claim, Calvinists refer to two statements made by Jesus, which are recorded in Mark’s gospel account. They point out that Jesus only shed His blood for many, and that He also only gave His life as a ransom for many (Mark: 14:24; Mark 10:45). Calvinists believe that these references offer proof that Jesus did not shed His blood and offer His life for all.

Before we examine the final major text used by Calvinists, we’ll take a closer look at the ones just mentioned. Upon close examination, and comparison with numerous others scriptures which refute Calvinism, it is apparent that these texts do not necessitate the kind of interpretation employed by the “TULIP” doctrine.

As previously stated, God has predestined the method of salvation, by predetermining that faith in Jesus Christ is the only way to come to God and be saved (John 14:6; Acts 4:12). The apostle Paul also declares that God has appointed the method of salvation to be through Jesus Christ (1st Thessalonians 5:9). Therefore, all who will choose to accept Jesus Christ have been predestined to obtain salvation and an inheritance in heaven.

Keeping this in mind, let’s review these supposed Calvinist scriptures that I have listed. The reference in the book of Acts simply stated that those who believed had been “appointed” or “ordained” to eternal life. And, the text in the book of Romans, merely said that God predestined those He foreknew, to be conformed into the image of Jesus, and then He called them.

These two texts do not need to be interpreted in accordance with the Calvinist “TULIP” doctrine. These scriptures simply reaffirm God’s chosen “method of salvation” form of predestination. God has predetermined that all who accept and believe in Jesus, will have eternal life. Therefore, in the book of Acts, as people chose to believe, they became part of God’s predetermined or appointed group. In the book of Romans, it said that God predestined and called those He foreknew. God has foreknowledge. He knows the end from the beginning. He knows beforehand who will accept Jesus Christ. Therefore, this text simply says that God predestines those that He knows will accept Jesus, to be changed into His image, and that He also calls these predestined ones that He knew beforehand. Neither of these scriptures actually say that people have no freedom of choice in the matter, or that God has preprogrammed them for heaven or hell.

The scripture used by Calvinists from the book of Ephesians also does not necessarily imply what they say it does. It merely states that God “chose” us “in Christ” before the world began, and predestined us to be adopted as His children through Jesus Christ, and to receive an inheritance. This is actually more in accordance with “method of salvation” predestination, than it is with the “TULIP” doctrine. Before the world began, God chose the method of salvation to be “in Christ”; He predetermined that all who would choose to accept Jesus would become part of His chosen group, and be adopted into God’s family. Therefore, all who are willing to choose Jesus are indeed predestined for adoption, salvation and a heavenly inheritance. Once again, this scripture does not literally say that people have no freedom of choice in this matter, or that God has preprogrammed them for heaven or hell.

The passage in 1st Thessalonians merely states that Paul knew of the Thessalonians’ election by God. It apparently was obvious from their noble lives that they had experienced salvation and were part of God’s elect group. This passage does not say that they had no freedom of choice in this process, nor does it state that God had preprogrammed them for heaven. In fact, it is clear in this text that their election was directly related to their having believed the powerful gospel that Paul had proclaimed.

The words elect and election have been thoroughly distorted and abused by Calvinists. The apostle Peter plainly states that being considered as part of God’s elect is based upon God’s “foreknowledge” (1st Peter 1:1,2). The elect are those who God, through His omniscient foreknowledge, knows will place their faith in Christ. Once again, this is a prime example of method of salvation predestination. Furthermore, the Greek words, eklektos and ekloge, which are translated as elect, elect’s and election in the New Testament, are derivatives of the Greek word, eklegomai, which is translated as chose or chosen. Therefore, the New Testament words: chose, chosen, elect and election, all come from the same Greek root word. In other words, they all convey the same meaning; to be part of the elect or election is the same as being part of the ones whom God chose, the chosen, etc. Why am I pointing this out? I am doing so because there is a New Testament text that uses this Greek root word in such a manner that proves that Calvinists’ usage of these “elect”, “election” and “chosen” terms is unbiblical.

Calvinists tell us that to be part of the chosen or elect in the New Testament means that you have been unconditionally elected by God, and that you cannot and will not be lost. However, the same Greek root word that is repeatedly used for God’s chosen ones, and from which the other Greek words are derived that are translated as God’s elect or election; that same Greek root word, eklegomai, is used in Luke 6:13 to describe the twelve whom Jesus chose as His apostles. Why is that significant? One of those twelve chosen ones was Judas Iscariot. And, Judas, who is later referred to as the son of perdition (John 17:12), is certainly not part of the chosen anymore; thus proving that the New Testament words: chose, chosen, elect and election, do not endorse Calvinism’s “unconditional election” doctrine.

The text in 2nd Thessalonians simply declares that God, from the beginning, had chosen the Thessalonians for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth. As with all of the previous passages, this text does not proclaim that they had no freedom of choice in this operation. This scripture just states the required criteria that God had chosen for their (and our) salvation; that criteria being experiencing sanctification by God’s Spirit, and also believing in the truth, which the Bible defines as being Jesus Himself (John 14:6). This is, in fact, another classic example of method of salvation predestination. God has chosen or predestined that all who will place their faith in Jesus Christ and receive His sanctifying Spirit, will receive salvation.

The verses in Isaiah do appear to be more challenging and difficult on the surface. They stated that God instructed Isaiah to make the people’s ears heavy, and also to shut their eyes. This does, on the surface, seem to be saying that God had shut their eyes and ears for them, without allowing them the freedom of choice to decide whether or not to have them shut. However, when Jesus quotes this specific passage in Isaiah, He expounds and elaborates on its proper meaning and intent, by clarifying that it was the people themselves who had closed their eyes and ears (Matthew 13:14,15). According to Jesus, they were indeed allowed to exercise their freedom of choice in this matter. Jesus obviously did not believe that Isaiah was espousing a doctrine similar to Calvinism, and neither should we.

The passages in Matthew that recorded Jesus’ statement that many are called, but only few are chosen, actually offer no support for Calvinist predestination when examined closely. In Matthew chapter twenty-two, the call to attend the marriage feast went out to many, but only those few who responded to the invitation and dressed in the appropriate wedding garment, were chosen to participate in the feast. Their “chosen status” was based upon their decisions to respond and to wear the appropriate attire. This text actually contradicts Calvinism. The related statement in Matthew chapter twenty has nothing whatsoever to do with election to salvation. The context clearly deals with being called and chosen to work in God’s vineyard in various capacities, and receiving the appropriate rewards for that labor. It is an obvious manipulation of Scripture to attempt to use either of these passages to support Calvinism’s claim concerning unconditional election to salvation.

The two texts from John’s gospel, which stated that the disciples had been chosen by Jesus, also have nothing whatsoever to do with election to salvation. In John 15:16, Jesus did indeed state that He had chosen His disciples. The fact that Jesus chooses who will serve Him in various capacities is universally accepted in Christian doctrine, and has nothing to do with Calvinistic predestination to salvation. In fact, the second passage in John 6:70, actually proves that this choosing by Jesus is not related to salvation. Why? Because the twelve that Jesus stated that He had chosen included Judas, whom Jesus referred to as a devil. The Bible clearly reveals that Judas is not saved, and yet Jesus stated that He had chosen Judas, because Judas was one of the twelve. Therefore, Jesus’ choosing of His disciples obviously does not refer to salvation. Once again, Calvinists fail in their attempt to biblically justify their doctrine. And, as documented earlier, that same Greek word, used for the choosing of Judas, is the Greek root word from which the other fifty “chose”, “chosen”, “elect” and “election” words are derived. So, if it didn’t convey the meaning of Calvinistic unconditional election for Judas, then, to be consistent, it also does not convey that meaning in any of these passages.

Although the texts from John chapter six may appear at first glance to be supportive of Calvinism, upon closer scrutiny they also fail to advance the Calvinist dogma. In John 6:37, Jesus does say that the ones that come to Him are the ones that the Father gives to Him. Who are those ones that the Father gives to Him? John 6:39 states that they are the ones that Jesus will raise up at the last day. There is something else that is also true concerning these ones that Jesus will raise up at the last day. John 6:40 reveals that they are also the ones who believe in Jesus. Therefore, you could say that we have a biblical equation. We’ve all had a math teacher tell us that if “A” equals “B”, and “C” equals “B”, then “A” also equals “C”. As pertains to our biblical equation, if the ones who believe in Jesus equal the ones who He will raise up at the last day, and if the ones who the Father gives to Jesus equal the ones who He will raise up at the last day; then the ones who believe in Jesus also equal the ones who the Father gives to Jesus. In other words, the ones who choose to place their faith in Jesus are the ones that the Father gives to Jesus. This is not Calvinistic, unconditional election to salvation, but rather is simply salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. And, it also accords with numerous other scriptures regarding salvation via faith in Jesus.

There is additional biblical proof that the wording used by Jesus in John 6:37 does not imply what Calvinists teach. Calvinism teaches that Jesus’ statement that, “all who the Father gives to Him” will be raised up at the last day and receive everlasting life, supports their unconditional election doctrine. Calvinists say that those whom the Father gave to Jesus are the ones who were predestined to salvation, which, according to the doctrine of Calvinism, means that they cannot and will not be lost. However, in John 17:12, Jesus declares: “Those whom You gave Me I have kept; and none of them is lost except the son of perdition.”  So, Jesus plainly states that, out of the twelve apostles whom the Father had given Him, there was one who was not able to be kept, which was Judas Iscariot. According to the Scriptures, Judas was given to Jesus by the Father, yet he is called the “son of perdition”, and is certainly a lost soul. Therefore, it is obvious that when the Scriptures state that people are “given to Jesus”, it does not imply or support an unconditional election, such as is taught within Calvinism. The bottom line is that there is no support for Calvinism found in this text.

The other text mentioned in John chapter six stated that no one can come to Jesus unless the Father draws him (John 6:44). Does this passage support Calvinism? Does it say that God only draws a few elect ones? No! In fact, in John 12:32, Jesus clearly states that His being lifted up (on the cross), draws all people to Himself. Therefore, all are drawn, not just a few elect ones. Consequently, Calvinists again fail in their attempt to support their doctrine.

Finally, the two verses from Mark’s gospel account that Calvinists use to justify their “limited atonement” teaching, also fail to offer any true support for their dubious doctrine. Do Jesus’ statements that His blood and life were offered for many, automatically also mean that they were not offered for all? Although it is true that many may not always equal all, it is also true that all can and does often equal many. If Jesus did die for all of the people in our world, that would certainly be a number that could be accurately referred to as being many. Consequently, His statements about dying for many do not contradict Him also having died for all. Elsewhere in Scripture the words many and all are used synonymously or interchangeably. For example, in Romans 5:19 Paul states that Adam’s disobedience made many to become sinners. Of course, the Bible clearly teaches that all were made sinners as a result of Adam’s disobedience. Nonetheless, this text in Romans chooses to refer to the all as being many. The same usage is obviously intended in these two texts from Mark’s gospel, because otherwise it would contradict numerous other passages that plainly state that Jesus did indeed die for all. These scriptures will be listed later. However, for now, we can confidently say that Calvinism comes up empty once again.

The truth of the matter is, that the Calvinist “TULIP” predestination doctrine stands upon the foundation of only one, true, apparently supportive Bible text. And this text, if interpreted the way Calvinists do, clearly contradicts a multitude of other scriptures. First, we will examine this one individual text. Then, we will debunk the Calvinist interpretation of this text, through the use of numerous other scriptures. The weight of evidence will be overwhelming. It will make you wonder why the Christian Church even tolerates this hideous doctrine to be taught.

The Calvinist “ringer text” I am referring to is found in Romans 9:10-23. The first portion of this passage deals with Esau and Jacob. It states that God elected the older brother to serve the younger brother before they were born. It points out that neither child had committed good or evil when this election by God occurred. Calvinists frequently refer to these verses about Esau and Jacob as an example of TULIP predestination. However, they have committed a serious and obvious contextual error. Why? Because Jacob’s and Esau’s individual salvation and eternal destiny is not being discussed here. This reference is a direct quotation from Genesis 25:21-23. Proper biblical analysis requires the examination of the text in Genesis that has been quoted, before you can ascertain the correct biblical context in Romans. Genesis 25:23 clearly presents the context. The focus is not upon Esau and Jacob as individuals, but rather upon the nations of people that would descend from them. God told Rebecca that she had two nations in her womb and that two peoples would proceed from her body, with one being stronger than the other. After clarifying those points, God then told her that the older would serve the younger. In other words, the nation of the Edomite people, who descended from the older brother, Esau, would serve the nation of the stronger Israelite people who descended from Jacob. Therefore, the proper context in Romans concerning the election of Esau and Jacob is not dealing with their personal salvation, but rather with their callings related to the nations that would descend from them. God had elected to call Jacob to be the progenitor of His chosen people of Israel instead of Esau. Why? Because God’s omniscient foreknowledge allowed Him to know in advance who would be the better choice for this important calling. And, of course, Esau’s descendants did serve Jacob’s descendants because Israel did become the stronger nation. The prophecy in Genesis 25:21-23 was precisely fulfilled through the nations of Israel and Edom. It should also be noted, however, that if this text referred to Esau and Jacob individually, as many Calvinists suggest, then the prophecy would have been unfulfilled and untrue, because there is no biblical reference to Esau’s ever personally being in servitude to Jacob during his lifetime. Nevertheless, we know from the context established in Genesis that the focus was on their descendant nations, thereby fulfilling this prophecy. It should be obvious to any good Bible student that the first part of this Romans text does not offer any support for the Calvinist TULIP doctrine.

The second portion of this passage in Romans states that God “wills” or “chooses” to have mercy on some, and to harden some. The specific example used is of Pharaoh when he refused to listen to Moses and let Israel go.

It is interesting that the hardening of Pharaoh’s heart is referred to many times in the Exodus account, and several times the Bible says that God hardened his heart, and several times it says Pharaoh hardened his own heart. Which is it? One possibility is that they are being used interchangeably.

As an example of this “interchangeable concept”, note the account of Job. The Bible makes it clear that Satan is the one who attacked Job’s property, livestock and family, and finally Job’s own body as well, after receiving permission from God to do so (Job chapter 1 and 2). And yet, in Job 2:3 it says that God Himself had been incited against Job to destroy him. The verse-by-verse account makes it clear that Satan was the one who did it, after God chose to allow it, but God is still given credit for it, as if He had done it Himself. This is one unquestionable example in Scripture where God is given credit for doing things which He simply allowed to happen, or did not prevent from happening. This could be why the Scriptures state that Pharaoh hardened his own heart in one verse, and then say God hardened Pharaoh’s heart a few verses later; because God was “said to have done” those things which He allowed, or did not prevent from happening. When Pharaoh chose to harden his heart and reject God, he was allowed to do so. God did not force Pharaoh to obey Him. However, because God is omnipotent and could have forced Pharaoh to obey, and yet chose not to do so; God was given credit for having done it. This is one possible explanation to the second part of this Romans text, which would also accord with the text I cited in Job.

However, although the previous “possible explanation” is biblically plausible, there is another more probable explanation. What is it? Paul has already established a context that deals with callings in life, not with personal salvation. Therefore, it is probable that he is continuing with the same “callings context” that he began with when discussing Jacob and Esau. Even as Jacob had been chosen or called to be the progenitor of God’s people, Pharaoh had also been called and chosen by God to rule over Egypt at this point in history, as part of God’s sovereign plan. Then, once Pharaoh was on the throne of Egypt, God used him as His own tool to accomplish His purposes for Israel, by hardening his heart at times regarding decisions he would make as to whether or not to release Israel from slavery. The hardening referred to in this passage in Romans has nothing whatsoever to do with Pharaoh’s personal salvation. Any good and honest Bible student who has read the actual biblical account in Exodus knows that this hardening specifically referred to Pharaoh’s decisions concerning Israel, not concerning his personal salvation. When reading through Exodus, it is obvious that Pharaoh had already totally rejected any and all principles of righteousness and holiness, and had made his decision to thoroughly entrench himself in wickedness. We must remember that he and his predecessors had been murdering the Israelite baby boys by drowning them in the Nile River for many decades before Moses had his interactions with Pharaoh. He was already a “lost” and totally wicked man when it came to his spiritual condition. That’s why the Exodus account also mentions on several occasions that Pharaoh also hardened his own heart, thus showing that he continued to personally and continually choose wickedness over righteousness.

The bottom line is, once again, that the Exodus account clearly and undeniably reveals that God’s hardening of Pharaoh’s heart was regarding his decisions to continue to enslave Israel, not his personal salvation. This fact is so obvious that it is mind boggling that Calvinist theologians continue to apply this Romans text to personal salvation.

The third portion of this passage in Romans compares God to a potter who makes clay vessels. It states that some vessels are made for honor, while some are made for dishonor. The vessels made for dishonor are referred to as vessels of wrath prepared for destruction. As always, thoughtful consideration of the biblical context is essential.

Paul, as he often does, is referring back to an Old Testament scripture in Jeremiah 18:1-11, which compares God’s dealings with people to a potter making clay vessels. This is important to remember because the previous passage in Jeremiah helps to establish the proper context for Paul’s related reference in Romans chapter nine, because Paul would not be contradicting Jeremiah. What was Jeremiah’s context regarding the comparison of a potter making clay vessels, and God’s dealings with people? Does Jeremiah imply that people are predestined by God to be obedient or disobedient, and that they cannot change because the Divine Potter predestined them? Absolutely not! In fact, Jeremiah teaches us the complete opposite. According to Jeremiah, the “human vessels” have the capability to turn from disobedience to obedience, or from obedience to disobedience; he also states that their decision will cause God to refrain either from punishing them or blessing them. In other words, the future of the vessels depends upon their obedience or disobedience. It is not an arbitrary, predetermined choice by God. Having this proper contextual understanding as a foundation for correctly comprehending Paul’s related reference to the Divine Potter in Romans chapter nine is essential. As previously stated, Paul would not be contradicting Jeremiah. Paul was a Bible scholar and was certainly aware of Jeremiah’s previous usage of this concept. Therefore, we can be sure that Paul’s message is consistent with Jeremiah 18:1-11. Some human vessels are indeed made for honor, while some are made for dishonor. However, as clearly stated in Jeremiah, it is the choices of the human vessels to obey or disobey that determines their destiny and valuation as being honorable or dishonorable. It is true that, because of God’s omniscient foreknowledge, He knows in advance who will be obedient and disobedient, and therefore, who will be an honorable or dishonorable vessel. However, God’s foreknowledge of His vessels’ choices does not force them to make those choices! He simply knows what they are going to do before they do it. With this proper understanding, which also accords with Jeremiah 18:1-11, we can now correctly comprehend Paul’s statement concerning the potter in Romans. As previously stated, because of God’s foreknowledge, He is already aware of the entire lifetime of choices and the final destiny of every human vessel He creates at the very moment He creates them. Therefore, He is aware at the instant of creation whether He is creating an honorable or dishonorable vessel. That is why Paul can state, from God’s omniscient perspective, that He is creating vessels for honor or dishonor. God knows in advance which vessels are going to heaven and which ones are going to hell, but that does not mean He has preprogrammed them to go to heaven or hell. Nevertheless, because He knows in advance before He creates each vessel, the Bible can correctly state that He is making an “honorable heaven-bound vessel,” or a “dishonorable hell-bound vessel of wrath prepared for destruction”, without indicating that God arbitrarily predestined them for their final destination, and without suggesting that the vessels had no freedom of choice pertaining to their destiny. When studied in this proper biblical context with the similar passage in Jeremiah, we simply have another revelation of God’s omniscient foreknowledge. There is no need to interpret this text in Romans as the Calvinists do. Their interpretation maligns the character of God and contradicts numerous other scriptures that plainly teach that we have “free will.” However, as you can see, the proper biblical contextual understanding requires us to reject the Calvinist interpretation of this passage in Romans. Consequently, even the one supposed “ringer text” used by Calvinists has been debunked.

The Bible does not contradict itself. There is a reasonable and biblical explanation for each one of the Calvinist texts used to support their false TULIP doctrine. However, Calvinists do not have reasonable and biblical explanations for the numerous scriptures that contradict their doctrine, such as the ones that I shall now present.

At this point I will remind you that Calvinism’s “TULIP” doctrine teaches unconditional election by God. How can Calvinist theologians teach this when it directly contradicts several statements by Jesus recorded throughout the Gospels where Jesus clearly proclaimed specific conditions for anyone and everyone before they could be chosen or elected as His followers? Jesus frequently and directly states that “anyone” who wants to be accepted and chosen to follow Him must deny himself, take up and bear his cross, and forsake all that he has (Matthew 10:38; Matthew 16:24; Mark 8:34; Luke 9:23; Luke 14:27; Luke 14:33). These are clear and unquestionable conditions established and spoken by Jesus Christ Himself. Calvinism’s unconditional election doctrine blatantly and indisputably contradicts Jesus’ own words.

Also, as previously mentioned, Calvinists’ unconditional election teaching means that God predestines and preprograms everyone, and there is no “free will” or freedom of choice. However, this contradicts many Bible verses, such as the following texts.

The prophets Ezekiel and Joel told the Israelites to repent, turn away from idols, and to return to the Lord (Ezekiel 14:6; Joel 2:13). The prophets Jeremiah, Zechariah and Malachi also told the people to return to God, and that He would take them back and likewise return to them (Jeremiah 3:14; Jeremiah 18:11; Zechariah 1:3,4; Malachi 3:7). They were telling the people to “make choices” to repent and return to God. Why would they do that if they had no freedom of choice?

The prophets Hosea, Nehemiah, Zechariah, Ezekiel and Jeremiah accused the people of refusing to repent, obey and heed God’s judgments, words and correction (Hosea 11:5; Nehemiah 9:17; Zechariah 7:11; Ezekiel 5:6; Jeremiah 13:10; Jeremiah 5:23). Why would they chide them for refusing if they had no freedom of choice?

The apostle Paul admonished the people to “turn” from their old ways, and also said that God commands men to repent (Acts 14:15; Acts 17:30). Ezekiel, John the Baptist, Jesus and Peter also told the people that they needed to repent (Ezekiel 18:30; Matthew 3:2; Matthew 4:17; Acts 2:38). Why would God command people to make choices to turn and repent, if they had no free will to do so?

Both Joshua and the prophet Elijah challenged the Israelites to choose between serving the God of heaven or false idol-gods such as Baal (Joshua 24:15; 1st Kings 18:21). Moses told the people to choose life so that they and their descendants could live (Deuteronomy 30:19). Why would they have told them to make these choices, if it were not possible to do so?

The deacon Stephen accused the religious leaders of his day, and their ancestors, of always “resisting” the Holy Spirit (Acts 7:51). If they were rebuked for resisting the Holy Spirit, they obviously had the power of choice to do so. Also, the Bible instructs all people to resist the devil (James 4:7). Therefore, it is apparent that we all have the freedom of choice to do so! Furthermore, Luke states that the Pharisees and lawyers had rejected the will of God for themselves because they had not been baptized by John the Baptist (Luke 7:30). Once again, the Scriptures clearly state that people have the freedom and ability to reject or resist God’s will for them.  This directly contradicts Calvinism’s assertion that no one can resist God’s will.  Shall we believe Calvinism or the Bible?

In Ezekiel 33:11 God tells the wicked that He doesn’t want them to die, and asks them to “turn” from their evil ways. Why would God ask them to do something they were not able to do?

The prophet Joel stated that multitudes are in the valley of decision (Joel 3:14). And, the book of Acts says that the people on the island of Malta changed their minds (Acts 28:6). If we do not have a “free will” with the power to choose, how did these people change their minds; furthermore, how can multitudes be in the valley of decision if they have no “free will” to choose or decide with?

The Lord Jesus Christ told the Jews of His day that He had wanted to gather them to Him as a mother hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but they “were not willing” (Matthew 23:37). According to Jesus Himself, these people obviously had free will, and chose not to come to Him.

Also, note all of the following texts that unquestionably teach that people have free will. Hosea proclaimed that the people of Ephraim were oppressed because they had willingly walked by human precept (Hosea 5:11). Nehemiah recorded that the people blessed all of the men who had willingly offered to dwell at Jerusalem (Nehemiah 11:2). In Judges 5:9, the Bible states that there were rulers in Israel who offered themselves willingly to the Lord. The Bible records in Exodus 35:29, and in numerous other passages, that the children of Israel brought “free will” offerings to the Lord. The Apostle Paul declared that the Macedonian believers had been freely willing to minister to the needs of the saints (2nd Corinthians 8:3-4). In Hebrews 10:26, the Bible states that if we sin willfully after we’ve received knowledge of the truth, then there no longer remains a sacrifice for our sins. The Apostle Peter proclaimed that scoffers willfully forget that God is the Creator (2nd Peter 3:5). All of these texts, as well as many others that could also be cited, clearly and unequivocally teach that people have a free will with the ability to make their own choices.

There is truly a massive amount of biblical evidence that totally refutes Calvinism’s “unconditional election” doctrine. But, remember, the “TULIP” predestination doctrine also teaches that Jesus only provided a “limited atonement” that was not meant for everyone, but only for those whom He had predestined for heaven. Once again, this contradicts numerous scriptures.

Jesus Christ said that He would draw “all people” to Himself, and “whoever” believed in Him would have eternal life (John 12:32; John 3:16). He stated that He had come to seek and to save the “lost”, period, not just some of the lost (Matthew 18:11; Luke 19:10). He invited all to come onto Him for rest, not just a few special ones (Matthew 11:28-30). Also, the apostle John declared that Jesus offered Himself for the sins of the whole world, and is Savior of the “world” (1st John 2:2; 1st John 4:14).

The apostle Paul clearly states that God wants “all” to be saved, and that Jesus gave Himself as a ransom for “all” (1st Timothy 2:3-6). The apostle Peter agrees by saying that God wants “all” to come to repentance, because He is not willing for “any” to perish (2nd Peter 3:9). Also, in Matthew 18:14, Jesus set a little child before His disciples and stated that it is not God’s will that even one of these little ones should perish. And, Hebrews 2:9 tells us that Jesus tasted death for “everyone”. Finally, the Apostle Paul leaves no doubt when he admonishes Christians not to put a stumbling block in front of a “weak brother” causing him to violate his conscience and to perish or be destroyed; moreover, Paul states that Christ has also died for that weak brother who is caused to perish or be destroyed (1st Corinthians 8:9-11; Romans 14:13-15). These two passages clearly and unequivocally state that Christ has “also died” for people who violate their conscience and are destroyed.

Although, we’ve already presented many indisputable scriptures which prove that Calvinism’s “limited atonement” doctrine contradicts the Bible, we’ll add one final text from the book of Romans, Calvinists’ favorite Bible book.  In Romans 5:12-19, Paul explains why and how Jesus’ “one death” can pay the price for the sins of “multitudes” of people, and, in so doing, also demonstrates God’s character trait of equitable fairness and justice.  He states that, if sin and death could come upon “all men” because of the disobedience of one man (Adam), then, righteousness and life can also come to “all men” because of the obedience of one Man (Jesus).  Paul clearly and unequivocally states, in Romans 5:18, “Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life” (New King James Version).  So, according to the author of the book of Romans, the Apostle Paul, Jesus offers justification and life to all, thus rejecting Calvinism’s limited atonement doctrine.  And, within this same passage, we also see the “free will” of man portrayed.  How?  Because, although Paul clearly states that justification and life are available to all men in Romans 5:18, yet, only “many” are made righteous, according to Romans 5:19.  Why would only “many” be made righteous, when justification and life are available to “all”?  The answer is found in Romans 5:17, where Paul states that, although one man’s (Adam’s) sin had brought death upon us all, life from Jesus Christ will only come upon “those who receive” the abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness. In other words, it is up to each individual person to decide whether or not they will choose to accept God’s gracious offer of righteousness and life in Jesus Christ.  And, as Scripture repeatedly testifies, many people choose to resist and reject God’s gracious offer, which results in only “many” being made righteous (Romans 5:19), although justification and life were offered to all (Romans 5:18).  As you can see, this passage contradicts and refutes both of Calvinism’s teachings regarding “free will” and “limited atonement”.

Have any of these verses described a limited atonement, where the benefits and rewards from Jesus’ sacrifice are only for a select few who were chosen beforehand by God? Absolutely not! In fact, you have to intentionally choose to totally ignore all of these scriptures in order to believe in Calvinism’s limited atonement. Why would you want to do that? Why would any sincere Christian who truly loves Jesus want to “downsize” the scope and offering of Christ’s precious sacrifice in defiance of so many clear and indisputable texts, in order to cling to the unbiblical teachings of mere men, John Calvin and his adherents?

It would seem much wiser to reject Calvinism’s insulting “TULIP” doctrine, rather than a multitude of other scriptures. The Bible clearly teaches that God loves all of us and that Jesus died for all of us; furthermore, that He doesn’t want any to perish, but rather that all would be saved. Additionally, there are the numerous references where God encourages us to choose Him so that we can be saved. The case against Calvinism is truly overwhelming. However, remember that the tulip doctrine also teaches that God has “irresistible grace”. This contradicts many scriptures as well. For the sake of brevity and avoiding scriptural “overkill” I will just mention a few. In Matthew 23:37, Jesus stated that He had wanted to gather Jerusalem under His wings, but they were not willing. In other words, they had resisted His “gracious will” for them to be gathered to Him. Obviously His gracious will was not “irresistible”. In Luke 7:30, the Bible states that the Pharisees and lawyers had rejected the will of God for themselves, by not being baptized by John the Baptist. They also had resisted God’s will for them. Once again, His will clearly was not “irresistible”. And, in Acts 7:51, the Bible declares that the Jewish leaders in Stephen’s day, and also their fathers, had always resisted the Holy Spirit, the Divine Member in the Godhead who draws us and convicts us to respond to God’s grace. These three texts unquestionably reveal that the gracious will of Jesus, God the Father and the Holy Spirit can be resisted. And, therefore, we need to resist Calvinism’s false doctrine of “irresistible grace”.

Furthermore, if God’s grace was truly irresistible, and if God had unconditionally elected people for salvation, as Calvinists maintain; then, it would be impossible for people to depart from God and be lost, once they had experienced that irresistible grace and unconditional election for salvation.  Yet, numerous scriptures clearly state that people can indeed wander away from their salvation and be lost.  For a detailed and overwhelming list of scriptures that prove this point beyond the shadow of a doubt, read my article titled “Once Saved Always Saved”, which is also on this website. 

However, for our purpose here, I will just list a few of these texts.  James 5:19-20 states that it is possible for you to “wander away” from the truth, and that if you do, you need someone to turn you back from your error in order to save your soul from death.  We’re told, in 1st Corinthians 8:8-11, that it’s possible for a “brother”, which means a fellow believer, to violate his conscience and perish.  The Apostle Paul said that some depart or stray from the faith, and you cannot depart or stray from the faith unless you had been part of the faith in the first place (1st Timothy 4:1; 1st Timothy 6:9-10).  Ezekiel 33:18 warns that when a “righteous man” turns to iniquity, he will die.  And, in Hebrews 10:26-29, the Bible says that it is possible for someone who “was sanctified” to turn away from Jesus and to turn back to a life of sin, thus resulting in that person being devoured by the fire.  These scriptures, and many others I list in my “Once Saved Always Saved” article, clearly teach that “brothers”, “righteous people” and “sanctified people” can wander, depart or stray from “the truth” and “the faith”; thereby resulting in them perishing and being devoured by the hell fire.  Therefore, these scriptures also provide even more biblical evidence contradicting Calvinism’s “irresistible grace” and “unconditional election” doctrines.  Although, there are still more biblical texts that could be presented, we are certainly reaching a point of scriptural saturation and overkill.  Simply said, Calvinism is contradicted by an overwhelming number of scriptures.

The “TULIP” doctrine contradicts the Bible and maligns God’s character by making Him the author of evil, because the end-result of Calvinism’s theology is that God is the one responsible for people’s evil deeds. This “TULIP” is not a pretty flower. It is also a very dangerous doctrine. Why?

According to this doctrine everything is decided ahead of time, and we have no “free will” or choice in the matter. God has already predestined who goes to heaven and hell. Therefore, we can’t change anything. Certain people are going to heaven or hell regardless of what we do. Consequently, this teaching discourages evangelism because our evangelistic efforts are indeed meaningless. Every case is predetermined and we can’t change it.

This teaching requires us to change the name of our message. How can we call it the gospel or good news, when it is actually bad news for the majority of people in the world, because it tells them that they have a one-way ticket to hell?

This teaching diminishes the beauty and importance of Christ’s sacrifice, because He is no longer unselfishly dying for sins that we chose to commit, and which He had nothing to do with, but rather, He’s simply dying for the very sins that He Himself is responsible for. Remember, when you trace Calvinism back to the beginning, God would have predestined Adam and Eve’s sin in the Garden of Eden, and, therefore, would ultimately be responsible for sin itself.  And, you will soon see that this is exactly what the founder of Calvinism teaches.

If any of my Calvinist friends think that I am exaggerating or unfairly describing their Calvinist predestination doctrine, I ask them to read and consider the following statements made by the father of Calvinism, John Calvin. I forewarn you that the following statements made by John Calvin are both alarming and repulsive.

“By predestination we mean the eternal decree of God, by which he determined with himself whatever he wished to happen with regard to every man. All men are not created on equal terms, but some are preordained to eternal life, others to eternal damnation; and, accordingly, as each has been created for one or other of those ends, we say that he has been predestined to life or death.” (John Calvin, “Institutes of the Christian Religion”, iii, xxi, sec. 5, p. 1030-1031) (Emphasis added)

“…Since the arrangement of all things is in the hand of God, since to him belongs the disposal of life and death, he arranges all things by his sovereign counsel, in such a way that individuals are born, who are doomed from the womb to certain death, and are to glorify him by their destruction.” (John Calvin, “Institutes of the Christian Religion”, iii, xxiii, sec. 6, p. 231) (Emphasis added)

“There is no random power, or agency, or motion in the creatures, who are so governed by the secret counsel of God, that nothing happens but what he has knowingly and willingly decreed … the counsels and wills of men are so governed as to move exactly in the course which he has destined.” (John Calvin, “Institutes of the Christian Religion”, iii, xxiii, secs. 3 & 8, p. 175 & 179) (Emphasis added)

“God not only foresaw the fall of the first man, and in him the ruin of his posterity; but also at his own pleasure arranged it”. (John Calvin, “Institutes of the Christian Religion”, iii, xxiii, sec. 7, p. 1063) (Emphasis added)

“The word hardens, when applied to God in Scripture, means not only permission (as some washy moderators would have it), but also the operation of the wrath of God: for all those external things, which lead to the blinding of the reprobate, are the instruments of his wrath; and Satan himself, who works inwardly with great power, is so far his minister, that he acts not, but by his (God’s) command. … Paul teaches us, that the ruin of the wicked is not only foreseen by the Lord, but also ordained by his counsel and his will … not only the destruction of the wicked is foreknown, but that the wicked themselves have been created for this very end; that they may perish.” (John Calvin, “Calvin’s New Testament Commentaries”, Romans 9:18) (Emphasis added)

Because John Calvin’s teachings about predestination are often so blunt, abrasive, unjust and downright sadistic, many modern Calvinists go to great lengths to “explain them away”. However, Calvin’s own personal statements speak for themselves.

Calvin specifically stated that we are not all created on equal terms. He plainly declared that some are preordained for eternal life, and others for eternal damnation. John Calvin does not need “contemporary translators” to try to soften his cruel doctrine. Calvin made certain that all could clearly understand the intent and extent of his teaching when he declared that individuals were doomed from the womb; furthermore, that God was glorified by their destruction! I must remind you that the majority of people are going to hell, according to Scripture. Therefore, the inevitable “bottom line” is that John Calvin taught that God is glorified by eternally torturing the majority of people that He creates, in hell. And, remember that Calvin also taught that these eternally tormented multitudes had been arbitrarily doomed from the womb, with no ability or opportunity to avoid their horrid fate! That is true, original and authentic Calvinism straight from the horse’s mouth, before having been “doctored up” by modern Calvinist proponents who attempt to soften the blow of hardcore, genuine Calvinism.

As you read these quotes from John Calvin, I’m sure you noticed that Calvin stated that nothing happens without God having knowingly and willingly decreed its occurrence. I ask you to consider the ramifications of that statement. According to John Calvin, everything that has happened in our world has been decreed to occur in accordance with God’s knowledge and will. God has willed every event that has taken place, according to Calvin. Therefore, God is responsible for the 9-11 terrorist attack on America. God willed for thousands of people to die in that inferno. God also willed every human genocide that has been conducted by men like Hitler, Stalin, and Saddam Hussein. God has also willed every child abduction, molestation, rape and murder. All of the evil men that committed these horrific acts were mere pawns or stooges whom the God of Christianity used and manipulated to accomplish His will. They were mere puppets helplessly and totally controlled and directed in accordance with the specific will of the “Divine Puppeteer”. This is the “bottom line” and end result of true, original Calvinism as taught by John Calvin himself.

Calvinism results in God being ultimately responsible for every evil deed throughout human history. In fact, God is not only responsible, but it actually was His will for sin and evil to exist, according to Calvin. John Calvin stated that God not only foresaw the “fall of man”, but that He actually found pleasure in arranging it! In fact, according to Calvin, even Satan’s despicable actions are commanded by God! Thus, the devil himself is also just a helpless puppet whose detestable deeds have been totally controlled by the “Divine Puppeteer”. True, original Calvinism, as taught by its founder, literally turns God into the devil. The doctrine of Calvinistic predestination is an indictment of our God, and should be an offense to all sincere Christians.

Finally, as previously stated, Calvinism maligns the character of our gracious and loving God by portraying Him as someone who is biased and practices favoritism, because He arbitrarily chooses favorites to be saved, while allowing everyone else to go to hell. This clearly contradicts numerous Bible texts, and also results in Calvinists portraying their God as being a hypocrite and a liar. Why? The Bible repeatedly states that God is not a “respecter of persons” and does not practice partiality or favoritism (Deuteronomy 10:17; 2nd Chronicles 19:7; Acts 10:34; Romans 2:11; Ephesians 6:9). Scripture also declares that God’s wisdom comes from above and is without partiality (James 3:17). Therefore, if Calvinists’ teaching is correct, that God does favor only certain individuals to be saved from hell, then God would have lied in all of the passages where He stated that He does not practice favoritism or partiality. Calvinists are portraying God as being a liar. They also depict Him as being a hypocrite. Why? The Bible instructs us that we (God’s people) must not practice partiality or favoritism; moreover, that showing “respect of persons” and practicing partiality or favoritism is not good; furthermore, that such conduct is sin (1st Timothy 5:21; Proverbs 28:21; James 2:9). Therefore, when Calvinists state that God only saves certain favored individuals from hell, while He simultaneously tells us that we must not practice such favoritism ourselves, because it is not good to do so and it is sinful; then, Calvinists are certainly depicting their God as being a hypocrite! The Calvinist God says, “Do as I say, not as I do”. The God of Christianity is not a liar or a hypocrite! Calvinists must stop this outrageous slandering of Jesus Christ and our Heavenly Father. It is time for the Christian Church to rise up and denounce this Calvinist “TULIP” predestination doctrine.

I ask you to ponder the following scenario. The owner of a large youth recreation center located in a remote and picturesque country area was widely proclaimed to be a kind, just and loving man by those who knew him. He offered his center to be used by a large group of “troubled teens”, numbering about two hundred. The teens ignored the numerous signs that forbid smoking, and started a fire that quickly engulfed the building and blocked all of the exits. The building was several stories high, and had a door that led to the roof, but due to the height of the building and the concrete parking lot that surrounded it, any attempt to jump from the roof would lead to certain death. As the two hundred teens gathered on the roof to avoid the heat and smoke as long as possible, their only hope was an air rescue by this reportedly kind and loving man. The remote country location made it impossible for the nearest city’s fire department to arrive in time, but this wealthy owner had a fleet of five helicopters that he used for another “scenic tour” business, and he kept these helicopters in a hanger just blocks from the youth center. The owner and his four sons were all qualified pilots who lived on the property. As soon as the fire alarms sounded and it was apparent that they would not be able to rescue the teens via the fire exits, the owner and his sons prepared the helicopters to perform an airlift rescue from the roof. Because the helicopters were located just minutes away and were each capable of carrying ten passengers, there was plenty of time to make the four trips to the rooftop necessary to safely rescue all of the two hundred teens. However, after the first trip had been completed and fifty of the teens were safely on the ground, the owner and his sons parked the helicopters and ceased all rescue operations, leaving the remaining 150 teens to suffer and perish in the fire. When asked why he had only rescued fifty when he was fully capable of rescuing them all, the owner gave the following reasons. First, he said that the teens that perished got what they deserved for being disobedient to his signs that forbid smoking. Second, he said that by choosing to save just a small elect group he would be more profoundly demonstrating his love to the teens whom he had saved, than if he had saved everyone. This way the rescued teens would feel even more loved, chosen and special. Third, he said that intentionally leaving the 150 teens to perish enabled him to demonstrate his justice to the ones that he had saved. After all, the doomed teens had received their just punishment for their disobedience, and, in the process, the saved teens were allowed to behold the righteous justice of the owner.

Would there be any reasonable and sane person who would agree with this owner’s tactics, and who would still declare him to be a kind, just and loving man? Absolutely not! In fact, most people would proclaim him to be a sadistic, unjust and evil tyrant.

However, the scenario that I’ve just presented is an accurate representation of how Calvinism presents the God of Christianity. Yet, Calvinists expect us to view their God as being kind, just and loving, in spite of His unjust, unloving and sadistic behavior, which actually dwarfs the evil conduct of the owner in my illustration. The owner in my story was leaving the teens to die in the smoke and fire, which would only take a period of several minutes. The Calvinist God tortures them relentlessly throughout the trillions of years of eternity. The teens in my illustration had chosen to smoke and endanger themselves, but the Calvinist God causes them to smoke, according to John Calvin. The Calvinist God, in effect, was the one who started the fire, because, as John Calvin taught, everything that happens was decreed by God in accordance with His will. Therefore, if the owner in my story is evil, unjust and sadistic, then the Calvinist God is far more evil, unjust and sadistic. It is completely disingenuous, dishonest and hypocritical to condemn the actions of the owner in my illustration, while simultaneously approving of the actions of the Calvinist God. Hopefully this illustration will have helped to demonstrate and accentuate the injustice and sadistic cruelty that permeates the Calvinist predestination dogma.

I would like to ask a TULIP Calvinist to look at one of his precious children or grandchildren and ponder their destiny. What if that precious young child is one of those predestined for “eternal torture”, as Calvinist doctrine teaches, in hell? Keep in mind, there will be many more people going to hell than to heaven, as stated in Matthew 7:13-14. Therefore, there is actually a better chance that your precious little one is predestined for hell. Remember, you believe that God has decided their destiny before they were born, and there is nothing, including your prayers, that can be done to change that destiny. If you have a family with five children, there is a good chance that three or four of them are predestined for hell. Can you picture them tormented and tortured throughout eternity without having had any opportunity to avoid their horrid fate? Can you feel the warm love taught by the TULIP doctrine as you ponder your children’s future in hell? If the TULIP doctrine was correct, most loving parents would not bring any more children into this sinful world, because the majority of them would be predestined to “eternal torture”, as Calvinists teach, in hell. Any reasonable Christian who knows Jesus intimately should be fully aware that He is not the author of the TULIP doctrine. This teaching comes straight from the pit of hell and slanders the character of our kind and loving God.

 I am concluding this article by sharing a different and more appropriate definition for the Calvinists’ “TULIP” acronym.

T - Teaching that

U - Undermines the character of a

L - Loving God,

I - Indicting Him for the

P- Problems in this sinful world, because He would be guilty of predestining everything, including all of the evil that was ever done by wicked sinners. And, indicting God for the agonizing “eternal torment”, as Calvinists believe, of billions of people whom He had created and predestined for hell.

After analyzing the evidence, it is obvious to any unbiased reader that this “Calvinistic predestination” teaching is not in harmony with the overwhelming weight of biblical evidence. Those who teach this despicable dogma are clearly slandering God! When Calvinistic predestination is combined with the eternal torment doctrine, the God of Christianity is being presented as being more cruel, unjust and sadistic than the gods of all other religions; moreover, than any earthly tyrant such as Hitler or Stalin. This dubious dogma should be renounced and denounced as heresy by all sincere Christians. Slandering the character of our gracious Heavenly Father and our glorious Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, must not be viewed as acceptable doctrine within the Body of Christ.

 

PART ONE

 

In Matthew chapter 25, Jesus spoke of a “midnight cry” that exclaims that He, the Bridegroom, is coming.  Most of us have heard the expression, “it’s the eleventh hour”, which conveys the message that it is getting late and time is beginning to run out.  And, many of us have also heard the expression, “it’s ten minutes to midnight”, which means that it is very late and time is almost gone.

I honestly believe that neither of these expressions is adequate to describe how extremely late it is in earth’s history right now.  I would say that it is “one minute” before midnight.  We need to get ready to proclaim that “the Bridegroom, Jesus Christ, is coming”.

I’m not going to discuss the “traditional” end-time signs that we’ve talked about for generations in this article, such as earthquakes, famines, pestilence and wars.  My focus is on the unique signs and events of this high-tech, contemporary age that immediately precede the arrival of antichrist and his one-world government.  The one “key ingredient” that separates us from previous generations of Christians who thought that Jesus might return in their day, is the recent exponential increase in knowledge reflected in today’s global satellite and radically, high-speed computer technology, which makes the implementation and enforcement of the antichrist’s worldwide buying and selling restrictions, as well as his constant monitoring of earth’s global population, an accomplishable goal at this time; this was not possible in past generations.  Daniel’s prophecy that knowledge would be increased in the “time of the end”, has truly reached a dramatic fulfillment in our day (Daniel 12:4).    

The signs of a coming one-world government are all around us.  And, America’s continued practice of abominations will shortly bring judgments from God upon our nation that will help to prepare the way for antichrist’s worldwide rule.

Before I go any further, however, I need to say some things in advance, concerning a couple of topics that this article discusses.  When I speak of the practice of homosexuality as being an abomination, which the Bible says that it is, I am not referring to individual homosexuals as being abominations.  God loves every homosexual person just as much as He loves me or anyone else.  And, Jesus died to save them from their sin, just as He died to save me from my sin.  However, the Bible is clear that we all must confess our sins and repent of them, rather than make excuses for continuing to practice them.  Homosexuality is just one particular type of sin among many that can enslave us, such as dishonesty, adultery, fornication, murder, idolatry, thievery, covetousness, selfishness, anger, lust and pride.  Now it is true that only a few sins are called abominations, as is the case with homosexuality.  However, lest the rest of us sinners become “proud” and deceive ourselves, there are a couple of common sins that most of us have struggled with at some time or other that are also called abominations; those sins are pride and deceit or dishonesty (Proverbs 16:5; Proverbs 6:16-19).  So, I do not sit in judgment of the sin of homosexuality, as though my past sins of pride and deceit were less offensive to God.  What I do rightly address concerning homosexuality, however, is the attitude of so many homosexuals today regarding their sin.  They hold “gay pride” marches and rallies, as though their sin is something to be proud of.  And, many of them proclaim that it was God’s will for them to be homosexual, because He intentionally created them that way.  I do not see groups of “proud people” and liars holding “