T.U.L.I.P. or W.E.E.D.S.?
 

SOURCE

TULIP

Total Depravity

Mankind is spiritually dead and
under the dominion of sin
(Ephesians 2:1-3; John 8:34).
None can of his own will come
to Christ for salvation (John
5:40; 6:65). None has faith
unless God graciously bestows
it (Ephesians 2:8).


Unconditional Election
God the Father has graciously
chosen and predestined to
salvation some of our fallen
(2 Thessalonians 2:13;
Ephesians 1:3-6). His choice
was in no way conditioned
upon foreseen good or merit in
the chosen ones. (John 15:16).

Limited Atonement
Jesus Christ died as the substitute
of God's elect, forever redeeming
and forgiving them (Isaiah 53:4-6,8b;
Ephesians 1:7). He did not die for any
who will die in unbelief
(John 10:11,26),

Irresistible Grace
God will not be thwarted in
His purpose of salvation
(Daniel 4:35). Every one of
His chosen and redeemed sinners
will be brought to saving faith in
Jesus Christ (John 6:37,45; Romans 8:29f).

Perseverance of the Saints*
God preserves in salvation all
believers in Christ, and none
will ever perish (John 3:16;
10:28f). And He enables them
to persevere to the end, so
none will be lost (Jeremiah 32.,40;
Romans 8:35-39)

WEEDS


Will of Man Is Free
Mankind is influenced by sin, but
not under its dominion, as all yet
have free will and the ability to
determine their own destiny.
Anyone can of his own free will
come to Christ for salvation. All
men have faith, but not all will to
exercise it.
Election Is Conditional
Election to salvation involves both
the sinner choosing God and God
choosing the sinner. God's choice
was conditioned upon man's
choice, as God chose in eternity
past those whom He foresaw in
time believing in Jesus Christ for
salvation.

Every Man Is Redeemed
Jesus Christ died for every one,
paying the price of redemption
for them all. But this does not
guarantee their forgiveness, as many
of His redeemed will be
eventually damned because of unbelief.


Denial Confounds Grace
The sovereignty of God does not
extend to His salvation, as man's
will can here thwart God's purpose.
God is trying to save every sinner,
but He is helpless to save any
sinner who will not let Him.

Some Will Lose Salvation
God cannot preserve in salvation
those who of their own free will
refuse to be preserved, Those
believers who do not remain
faithful to the very end will lose
their salvation, "fall from grace,"
and eventually perish.


*For the record, I believe that "salvation" in this context occurs at the point of the believer's "glorification" (being changed from corruptible to incorruptible, going home to be with the Lord) and, in that context, God does indeed preserve His saints.

Since weeds are less tolerable than tulips, I suppose that PROVES beyond the shadow of a doubt that predestination and election of the individual is the only true doctrine.

lol

G.A.R.B.A.G.E. or T.R.U.T.H.?
 

God chooses who will be saved and who will not before anyone is born.

All people are predetermined as to who will be saved despite their will or volition.

Redemption is a sham since God does not allow us to choose to be saved.

Because God does not allow us to choose salvation, He is a monster.

Anyone who is predestined to be saved alone can be saved.

God chooses that certain folks will go to hell without their input whatsoever.

Everyone is really only a robot, since we are programmed for damnation or salvation.

VERSUS....

The Word teaches that God will sthat all men be saved, making it impossible for there to be a predetermined election of the individual.

Redemption is offered to everyone, and anyone can be saved accordingto their own choice.

Under no circumstances can anyone continue in sin after salvation and maintain their salvation.

The Bible teaches that nations, and not individuals, were predestined. Any individuals noted were representative of their NATION or the progenitors of a nation that actually experienced controlled events by God. In Romans 9, Esau never served Jacob, but Esau's descendents served Jacob's descendents, showing the issue is NATIONAL. Pharaoh stood for Egypt, not for himself.

However many people decide to serve God can do so outside any thought that they were not allowed to choose it themselves.

Now, now, you know that weeds are nothing more than flowers someone doesn't want in his yard. :) I didn't come up with the acronyms or the explanations.

This would be great if it ACCURATELY represented the two doctrines.

Matters not, someone did.

Your statement might fly if you proved it. :)

Pretty witty today huh?!:nah

As witty as the dude who concocted weeds and tulips. :D

No, what Calvinism teaches is that God has chosen before the foundation of the world those who would be saved. Keep in mind that all humans are born dead in trespasses and sins - being bound for the lake of fire is the default condition of every human. If God did not choose to intervene on behalf of some, no one would be saved.

Humans will never, on their own, want to be saved. God changes the will of the elect and causes them to want to be saved.

Redemption is not a sham because redemption refers to the action of the redeemer and not the redeemed. God PURCHASED His elect. We are God's creation and, as such, we have NO RIGHTS in the matter. So-called "free will" cannot mean we have the RIGHT to choose because then God would have no right to punish us for exercising our right to choose against Him. Humans do indeed have the capacity (capability) to choose against God (we're all born doing exactly that) but not the right to choose. Further, if God did not specifically interfere with human will, no human would ever choose God.

Humans will NEVER, on their own, WANT to choose salvation. Who do you think you are to claim that you have the RIGHT to choose whether or not you want to ACCEPT (something a superior does to an inferior) God?

Only those predestined to be saved will even want to be saved. Jesus said that all those whom the Father has given to Him WILL come to Him. Those who do not come to Jesus are those whom the Father has not given to Jesus.

No, God only chooses those whom He is going to save and that choice has nothing to do with the particular individuals involved. All humans, if left to themselves, if God does not specifically interfere with their will, would go to that eternal lake of fire. NO HUMAN ON HIS OWN WILL EVER CHOOSE GOD.

Everyone is BORN bound for that eternal lake of fire, BORN dead in trespasses and sins. If God did not choose to interfere with the will of some humans, no one would ever be saved. In a sense, we are just robots because we're all born with a sinful nature and born slaves to sin. Because of Adam's sin, we're all born "programmed" to sin.

VERSUS....

Does He will that all men be saved or that all of His elect be saved? The "any" in that passage in Peter's epistle ("God is not willing that any should perish") applies only to the "you" in that passage. If it was God's WILL that all men be saved then all men WOULD be saved, since God said He would accomplish ALL His purpose. Since there are those who are going to be cast into the lake of fire, it is clear that God does not WILL that all men be saved. Also, if God WILLED all men to be saved, Jesus would have no basis for saying "All those whom the Father has given Me WILL come to Me" (emphasis mine). Then, of course, there are the vessels God has fitted for destruction.

God does indeed command all men everywhere to repent. But the only ones who will ever CHOOSE to be saved are the elect, those with whose wills God has specifically chosen to interfere so that they will want to be saved. Left to themselves, no human being will ever want to be saved.

The Calvinist would agree with this statement.

Are you so sure predestination is for nations and not individuals? Further, aren't WE a "holy nation" according to Peter?

No one will EVER decide to serve God on their own because it is their WILL to sin, their WILL to rebel against God.

Your doctrine makes man sovereign over God and says that man has the power to thwart God!