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 The Cornerstone 

This is the Stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the Chief Conerstone." Acts 4:11

Pulbished to Support the Work of the West End Church of Christ, Richmond, Virginia

Volume 6 *   Number 10*   March 5,  2006

Looking for Good Ground

Christians are not to be ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. (Romans 1:16) The Gospel saves and therefore should be shared with all. (Matthew 28:19-20)

In Luke 8 Jesus taught a parable about the realities of sowing the Word of God. The man who went out sowing seed threw it every which way. Some of the seed never entered the soil. Some of the seed entered the soil but only took for a little while (kind of like my front yard and grass). Some of the seed landed on good ground. That good ground represented an honest and good heart. (Luke 8:15)

I know that we can not judge a person’s heart but we can be watching people’s actions. Do you have a good neighbor who is honest? Perhaps his heart is receptive to the Word of God.

Perhaps you have a friend who is always doing good things for other people. This is another indicator of the possibility for good soil that we can be mindful of as we seek to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Perhaps they are doing good because they believe they are serving God, but lack the hearing of the Word. Give them the Word, and if their heart is honest we can be prayerful that God will give the increase. If the Word takes to their heart, they may ver well keep the Word and bring forth fruit. (Luke 8:15)

With a Christian, the Word of God and an honest and good heart there is conversion. There is growth of the Lord’s church. Will we share the Gospel with someone this week?

Stacy Crim

CALVINISM

Bobby W. Schrimsher, Jr.

A system of belief practiced by most Evangelical faiths. The five major points are known by the acronym T.U.L.I.P. These five points cannot be found anywhere in Bible teaching. All five points stand or fall together as a unit. If one is refuted, they all come crashing down. Each of the five points is indeed easily refuted by looking at the Scriptures. An outgrowth of the Calvinistic doctrine is the "Sinner's Prayer." This prayer cannot be found in the Bible and will not save your soul. Only obedience to God's plan of salvation will save you!

T – Total Hereditary Depravity	We inherit the sin of Adam at birth and are totally depraved and therefore unable to respond to the Gospel message.
U - Unconditional Election (Predestination)	An unchangeable list kept by God from before creation. Only those on this list will be saved. Those not on the list will go to hell.
L - Limited Atonement	Christ died only for those on the saved list, not for all mankind
I - Infallible (Irresistible) Grace	The Holy Spirit is given to those on the saved list and removes their depraved nature which they inherited from Adam. A saving faith in Christ is created in them.
P - Perseverance Of The Saints	Once saved always saved.

Each point can be easily refuted by looking to the Scriptures.

TOTAL HEREDITARY DEPRAVITY - We inherit the sins of Adam or "Original Sin."

Genesis chapter three tells of the fall of man and we notice the fact that man had the ability to choose whether or not to obey God's command to not eat. They were free moral agents.

In Romans 5:12 notice that Paul says, "All sinned."

James 1:13-15 tells us the progression from temptation to sin. James tells us not to attribute the temptation to God (v. 13). James says that when we are tempted (by the way, How can a baby be tempted?) we are drawn away by our own desires and enticed (v. 14). Then he says that when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin and sin to death (v. 15).

Ezekiel 18:20 tells us "the soul that sins shall die."

Jesus admonishes in Matthew 18:3 to "become as little children." Why would Jesus tell us to become like children if they are sinful?

UNCONDITIONAL ELECTION (Predestination)

Election is in Christ (Eph. 1:4).

We elect or choose to be in Christ (Eph. 1:13-14).

God is no respecter of persons (Acts 10:34-35; Rom. 2:11).

LIMITED ATONEMENT (Christ died only for the elect).

Jesus tasted death for everyone (Heb. 2:9).

Christ died for us. The free gift came to all men (Rom. 5:8, 15, 18).

INFALLIBLE (Irresistible) GRACE

We trusted (chose) to be in Christ (Eph. 1:13-14).

In the parable of the Sower, The Devil takes away the seed before the ones of the wayside could believe. If they were one of the elect, how could this be? (LK. 8:12).

God chose the foolishness of preaching to persuade people to believe (1 Cor. 1:21).

The gospel is the power of God to save for everyone who believes. What if one of the non-elect believes? Paul's statement then becomes fasle! (Rom. 1:16).

PERSEVERANCE OF THE SAINTS - Once saved always saved.

Having once escaped the pollution of the world Paul says it is possible to become entangled again (2 Pet. 2:20-22).

Paul himself was fearful of becoming disqualified (1 Cor. 9:27).

"Let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall" (1 Cor. 10:1-12).

The examination of these passages gives sufficient evidence to the honest student of God's word that the doctrine of Calvinism is false teaching. One must hear the word of God, believe in Christ and obey Him in baptism. Then he will be saved. The baptized believer must remain faithful until death.

West View congregation in Youngstown, OH 2/9/2006

 

 

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