"To you it has been given..."
"To them it has not been given."
Again, there is a definite difference.
Then turn back to Matthew 10:
And whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy in it and stay there until you depart. As you enter the house, greet it. And if the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it, but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. And if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town. Truly, I say to you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that town.
-- Matthew 10:11-15 (ESV)
Once again, we find a definite difference. Some will receive Christ's ambassadors and listen to their words. Others will not. Why the difference? Consider Jesus' words in Matthew 16:
Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, Who do people say that the Son of Man is?
And they said, Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.
He said to them, But who do you say that I am?
Simon Peter replied, You are the Christ, the Son of the living God. Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.
-- Matthew 16:13-16 (ESV)
Some believe Jesus is the Christ the Son of the living God. Others do not believe.
Look at Jesus' words:
"For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven."
In the second chapter of First Corinthians, Paul explains that only those who have received the Spirit of God are able to understand the things of God, or, as Jesus put it, the secrets of the kingdom of heaven.
These things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God.
For who knows a person's thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.
Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God.
And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.
The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.
-- 1 Corinthians 2:10-14 (ESV)
So what implications does this have for evangelism? Should we just sit back and not really be concerned about proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ to everyone because God only reveals the secrets of the kingdom to some people but not to all? Should we just sit back and not be concerned about proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ because we presume God will eventually reveal the secrets of the kingdom to those He wills? No, certainly not. Hasn't Jesus told us His Gospel of "
repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations"? Hasn't Paul told us we are Christ's ambassadors who have been entrusted with God's message of reconciliation through the blood of Christ? (See II Cor. 5.)
In fact, Paul reminds us God is making His appeal to lost sinners through
us.
We are God's means to take the Gospel of Jesus Christ to lost souls. In other words, if we aren't taking the Gospel to lost people, who else will? By His rich mercies and great love we have been called out of darkness and translated into His marvelous light and made citizens of the Kingdom of His Son so we might be sent back as His ambassadors to those who are still in darkness. When we fail to do so we are not bringing Him the glory due His Name. Ought we not be following in the steps of the apostle Paul?
Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison--that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak. Conduct yourselves wisely toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.
-- Colossians 3:2-6 (ESV)
If you are Christ's you have freely received the Gospel of grace and are called freely give it out. Each one of us is to make the most of the time given to us. This is true not only for those who are gifted and called by God to be evangelists. We are to glorify God by proclaiming His praises and His Gospel to the ends of the earth. Some of you may be called to to do that right in your own city, while others may be called to cross-cultural missions thousands of miles away. But like the apostle Paul, we are all called to declare the mystery of Christ, to cast our bread upon the waters. We don't know those to whom God might choose to reveal the secrets of the kingdom. None of us knows into which dead and breathless souls the Spirit of God might choose to impart life and breath through our words.
I am sending you to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.
-- Acts 26:17b-18 (ESV)
As the Father sent His Son into the world, Jesus sends us into the world. As God spoke and created the heavens and the earth from nothing, so too as we proclaim His Gospel, the sovereign God might cause a once-born soul to be born again, to be made a new creation in Him.
Cast your bread upon the waters, for you will find it after many days. Give a portion to seven, or even to eight, for you know not what disaster may happen on earth. If the clouds are full of rain, they empty themselves on the earth, and if a tree falls to the south or to the north,in the place where the tree falls, there it will lie. He who observes the wind will not sow,and he who regards the clouds will not reap. As you do not know the way the spirit comes to the bones in the womb of a woman with child, so you do not know the work of God who makes everything. In the morning sow your seed, and at evening withhold not your hand, for you do not know which will prosper, this or that, or whether both alike will be good.
-- Ecclesiastes 11:1-6 (ESV)
I've continued reading (and rereading) in Matthew, and I've gotten so far off my scheduled reading of a chapter a day, but at this point God has got me on His schedule. Eventually I'll pick up again. 
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Comments (47)
Wow, has Revelife turned into Calvinistish?
From the perspective of someone who doesn't read the Bible with a Reformed mindset, there's a key to Matthew that isn't explained in this post: timing.
At the time that Jesus was talking to Peter, He hadn't yet been revealed as Christ. He hadn't died for the sins of the world and been resurrected. There are plenty of other references to this. The Jews were the only ones with any revelation, and even most of them hadn't had the revelation of Jesus as the Christ. Peter had personally been given a special revelation from God, as had the disciples. It wasn't time yet for Jesus to be revealed to the world.
John 12:31-33 Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself." He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die.
After Jesus' death, things changed. As He Himself said, His death and resurrection opened the way for Him to draw ALL MEN unto Himself. Some will refuse to come, but He draws them all. His message was thrown open to all Jews and Gentiles after He paid the penalty.
2 Thessalonians 2:10
"They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved"
THEY perish because THEY refused.
There is an alternative Scriptural view to the one Revelife's been emphasizing lately, a hopeful and positive one believed by millions of Christians around the world. If anyone wants information, please feel free to message me.
Yes.
naphtali_deer@xanga - I thought you said that you were not going to post any more of these Calvinist bent blogs?
God is there for all of us; whether or not we listen is a different question. The bible makes it clear that God wants us all. Revelife has strayed quite a bit from Christianity and its principles. What's so bad about Christianity that people have to make up stuff about a God who only has love for some, but not all? Is God shrinking?
@Pickwick12@xanga - I agree with most of what you said.
I think the point of this post is to reveal why some "see" the truth, and some don't.
When the original disciples walked with Jesus they thought as men, and so didn't fully grasp what was happening around them, in the words of Jesus, the actions of Jesus and the life of Jesus. Only when the Holy Spirit had come upon them on the day of Penticost, were their minds opened, and the Holy Spirit reminded them of what they had seen, heard and experienced, thus opening their eyes to the truth. The Spirit of truth reveals the truth of the Kingdom to those who are Born of that same Spirit, being that they are Spiritually discerned through the workings of the self same Holy Spirit, abiding within them.
Jesus taught exactly what we are to live. No seperation, no division. Denominations are divisions within the Body of Christ, and have no place there. Those who proclaim Christ Jesus as the Son of the Living God; those who proclaim that Jesus came in the flesh; those who believe and obey are the ones who truly Love HIM, and those who love Him are His disciples and friends. We, as Christians do not bring glory to Christ through our divisions, but only in unity and oneness of mind, body and Spirit.
What a blessing this post is. That beautiful truth that we can give all glory to God for the gift of faith. God through the Holy Spirit opening our eyes and ears so that we can hear His good news announcment!
Turn thou me and I shall be turned!
Grace and peace!
~Michael
What does one do then with the following
Romans 1:18-21 "18Forthe wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 19For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. 21For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened." (ESV)
Here, we have the Apostle Paul, saying that we are without excuse, because God has revealed himself, that what can be known about God has been made clear to the unrighteous, because God has shown it to them, and that his eternal power and divine nature has been clearly perceieved since the creation of the world. Certainly sounds like to me that God has revealed himself to all of mankind. If that is not enough for you, how about this verse?
9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 2 Peter 3:9 (ESV)
So, God is wishing that none of us perish, and has revealed himself to the unrightouess since creation so that we are without excuse. How can you then claim that he has only revealed himself to some?
@Pickwick12@xanga - @monobeam@xanga - I think Revelife editors just figured out that Calvinist debates bring more traffic. It'll bleed out soon, then we'll be back to evolution, abortion and homosexuality.
@mpwarren@xanga - Thanks for your thoughts, but I have a real, significant disagreement with the original poster's point of view. I do not agree with her view of why some people don't see the truth. We can be unified in Christ, but there are still significant disagreements.
@SirNickDon@xanga - Agreed.
@MC_Shann@xanga - AMEN!
@SirNickDon@xanga - I've been slowly working on a post about the problems with Calvinism...
Why oh why does this always have to turn into a "let's slam calvinism" debacle???????
If someone posts an entry that is decidely "Arminian" -- will it not bring comments and dissension as well? Do we have to do this people? Karen has already written much about how sorry she is that this is bringing further dissension. The wise, Christian and charitable thing to do would be to refrain from commenting here if you disagree. (there's also the possibility that Revelife posted this weeks after the OP submitted it)
The point of the blog was not to welcome another "calvinism vs arminianism" debate, or another "free will vs predestination" debate. The point was : EVANGELISM.
Some of you are getting so hung up on the doctrines of Calvinism that you are failing to see what the intent of the post is. And that shows division and disunity.
When you are faced with the grief that I am dealing with right now, then everything else pales in comparison. Including these kinds of debates. Friends of ours soon will have the task of laying to rest their son. A 2 year old boy, a much loved beautiful boy, died in a drowning accident on Saturday leaving behind two very distraught parents and 4 older sisters. They are devout, Bible believing, Jesus following Christians - even IF they are Reformed. And their only hope right now is in the promises of Jesus Christ their Saviour. Little Craig is with the Lord - they will never get to see him grow up as a warrior of the faith, and will always live their lives with this awful burden of the loss of a child. Let's focus on what really matters REVELIFE. Jesus Christ and Him crucified as our only HOPE.
I apologize for my outburst here. (though not enough to delete it) But it's just paining me all the time to read the back and forth, back and forth that has happened here in recent days. It's also hard to retain respect for some commenters here. Us Reformed believers deserve every bit of opportunity to speak our minds, and to believe what we believe ......just like the rest of you do. Let's not diss each other's beliefs, but learn to be respectful and understanding of where each other is coming from. (all this coming from a mind that is in a total fog of grief right now - so again, I apologize if it's not making sense entirely). These things perhaps could be discussed, but perhaps we should do so without words that equate a belief you don't agree with, with hopelessness and negativity, the idea that the Reformed ideas aren't even Christian and other not so nice ways.
With respect to all of you ..........
@Pickwick12@xanga - @musterion99@xanga - @monobeam@xanga - @SirNickDon@xanga - @subSacred@xanga -
@nicolevw@xanga - I am so sorry for you friends' loss.
2 things:
1. I was responding to the fact that over the past few days Revelife has had a theme of Calvinist posts, not just this one. I don't believe Revelife should constantly post heavily Arminian-doctrine posts either.
2. This post was about evangelism, but the foundation of it was a defense of Calvinism. I was responding to that foundation. I don't agree with the part about evangelism, because I don't agree with the foundation that she built her reasoning from, which is what I specifically responded to.
I feel extremely strongly about this issue, and I admit that when I wrote that, it concerned me that non-Christians might come onto Revelife and believe that this was the only possible belief system. I wanted them to know that there is an alternative. The title that Revelife gave the post was so opposite to what I believe that I wanted to say something. I would certainly not say that Calvinists are non-Christian, since I believe anyone who believes Christ for salvation is a Christian. I do, however, believe strongly that the belief system is in error. When I write posts about it, I am writing for those who are non-Christians and for those who are not 100% sure what they believe about it. I don't expect to persuade Calvinists to change their belief.I do reserve the right to comment on posts with a strong Calvinist bent, just as I would expect Calvinists to comment if I wrote a strongly Arminian post about evangelism
I respect Reformed believers' rights to critique my beliefs just as much as I critique theirs. That doesn't mean I'm going to back down on what I believe. Actually, though, I believe the tone of the ongoing discussions I've been having has been very civil and informative, especially with MC_Shann and leaderworshipper82. I believe the kind of discussion I've been having with them helps us all to hone our beliefs.
I am sorry that I offended you. I always mean to be strong in my beliefs, never to hurt others. I am praying for your friends during this difficult time.
@subSacred@xanga - I've been slowly working on a post about the problems with Calvinism...
Good, I want to read it. Are you going to submit it to Revelife? If not, send me a message when you post it on your site.
@nicolevw@xanga - I respect what you wrote and am very sorry to hear about your friends 2 year old son. I agree with @Pickwick12@xanga - where she said - "I do reserve the right to comment on posts
with a strong Calvinist bent, just as I would expect Calvinists to
comment if I wrote a strongly Arminian post about evangelism." Revelife is a public site and people have the right to disagree. As Pickwick pointed out, there has been a slew of Calvinist posts on here lately. Again, I appreciate your feelings and hope you respect our right to disagree. God bless.
@musterion99@xanga - I respect your right to disagree. I don't have a problem with commenting for the purpose of discussion. The fact that Revelife editors decided to post 3 posts about Calvinism in a row, does not mean that there should be snide remarks like "I think Revelife editors just figured out
that Calvinist debates bring more traffic. It'll bleed out soon, then
we'll be back to evolution, abortion and homosexuality." (as if this is not worthy of any debate at all) or "I thought you said that you were not going to post any more of these Calvinist bent blogs?" (in other words, why are YOU here AGAIN?) or "Revelife has strayed quite a bit from Christianity and its principles. " (meaning that any discusson about calvinism is decidedly unchristian).
It's the attitude. As seen again in this comment: "f calvanism is false we need to slam it, and
we have ample evidence it is. If it deals with facts we have to correct
and rebuke. But not preferences, the gray areas. II Tim. 4:2-3.
Evangelism is thwarted by calvanism."
That kind of comment does NOTHING regarding the purity and truth of Holy Scripture. This gets me extremely upset and leads me to have difficulty respecting the commenter. The underlying assumption is that people who believe the doctrines of grace (as "calvinism" is known) are heretics. That's a very strong statement to make towards fellow Christians.
What bothers me is that there is this assumption that the beleifs we hold to, and how we see evangelism (by the way, the churches I belong to have been sending out missionaries for decades, seeking to make disciples of our Lord - and quite successfully I might add), is based on nothing but opinion. What bothers me is the attitude that seems to pervade some of the people here that those of us who believe these doctrines haven't given it much thought. Like maybe we're un-educated or refuse to look at the other side.
On the contrary, many highly respected theologians who have studied Scripture and theology for longer than any of us here -- who have Masters of Divinty and PhD's --- they come to these conclusions too. They feel just as convicted that these are TRUTHS OF SCRIPTURE. These people go back to the ancient writings, study the ancient Greek and Hebrew - and don't come to their conclusions lightly. I myself, though brought up in the Reformed faith, have been brought to my knees studying these issues. I've read both sides, and like it or not people, the Holy Spirit has convicted me that these are the Truths of the Word! You may not like it, but please don't tell me it's not the Holy Spirit's leading. When someone states that Revelife has strayed from CHRISTIANITY by posting these posts -- my ire gets up.
Sure - have your beliefs. Believe the "arminian" way if you want. But "slamming calvinism", or making snide remarks is not the way to defend your beliefs. Do a post on why you believe you do, but don't make it an "Anti calvinism" post. I detest it when people further their own "agendas" and "beliefs" by slamming others. It's kind of the like the mentality of a bully. Bullies need to hurt others to make themselves feel better. Surely we've all grown up and left the playground??
@gmx0@xanga -
@subSacred@xanga -
@Pickwick12@xanga - thank you for the reply and for your apology. I accept it - and thankyou for it. I went to bed last night very upset, and your reply calmed me this morning.
I agree that your discussions with others have been very above board. It was just the tone and attitude that seemed to be emanating from the responses that got me. I explained it a bit further in my response to musterion@xanga. Of course, my emotional-ness right now (is that even a word???) is probably making me more sensitive than otherwise would.
But remember, that just as you feel very strongly about your beliefs and feel very strongly that your beliefs are right, so does Karen - so do I and others. So Revelife decides to post it? Oh well. I can remember times where there have been some decidely "protestant only" posts or "catholic only" posts in a row ......... I gues SirNickdon is right, whatever brings in the comments. I just hate to see stuff like this always bring division, and to see it encourage others to slam anothers belief. There's no respect when others are encouraging others to "write a post about the problems with Calvinism" " as soon as you do let me know so we can submit it to revelief". Ya, that's very helpful and definitely unites us as believers in Christ. Keep the fire burning people!
@nicolevw@xanga - Thanks for the kind words. I did want to add something. I went a college that leaned Calvinist, so I am extremely familiar with Calvinist beliefs and with many wonderful Calvinist believers. However, had I not gone there, I would probably have a much harder time understanding where Reformed believers are coming from.
Calvinism is the opposite of what I was taught growing up, so much so that had I not had a lot of experience with honest Calvinists, it would probably be extremely hard for me to understand it. I think that's where some on xanga are coming from. Having been taught from Scripture that God's character and actions are completely different from what Reformed theology teaches, it's hard for us to understand how others can arrive at Reformed principles. As I said, I have had enough experience to realize that it's very possible to be a Christian and a Calvinist, but some people have had fewer encounters with it.
I feel equally convicted by the Holy Spirit that God is not willing that any perish, but that all have the chance to repent. I don't believe I'll ever quite understand believing otherwise, but I definitely respect the right of my Christian brothers and sisters to disagree on this issue.
@monobeam@xanga - @Pickwick12@xanga - @SirNickDon@xanga - Revelife doesn't have much in the way of staff writers (at this point, I'm the one and only), so what you see on Revelife is submitted mostly by its readers. It happened that a lot of people submitted posts about Calvinism simultaneously, including some of you, and we felt that, if these are subjects you want to discuss, we'll give you the chance to do so. The content is, ultimately, driven by those who submit content, so my only advice to those who think Revelife needs to focus on other subjects is to submit well written content about other subjects.I hope that clarifies the situation, and I hope you will continue to read posts, comment on them, and write your own.
@modernmelody - I was a staff writer (miss poppy) and my understanding was that Revelife basically said, "We don't want you guys any more" so I pretty much gave up writing here, except for submitting the occasional post. I'm happy to write more if that's what they actually want.
@Pickwick12@xanga - yes, please write more. I went to seminary, but even in our theology
and church history classes, we didn't go too deeply into the different
theologians in the reformation (go figure). I grew up Presbyterian,
but never really came to know Jesus while there. All I really know
about Calvin was that he was nuts and rightfully run out of town.
Also,I notice this comment forum has also become a criticism forum. I don't think you shouldn't have to feel the need to defend yourself.
I think everybody posted some good points. In seminary, the reason we read about theologians and philosophers is so that when their thoughts should again arise (and they do continue to do so), we can recognize them as such which were already debated. So when some saw this post, they said, "ah, Calvinism". I think it's good that this was mentioned, for now it tells the author that what she's wondering about her studies has already been suggested and debated. Then the rest of the comments added will help her in her continued studies and understanding about the Bible.
Maybe it was the way it was presented is what created the conflict?
@musterion99@xanga - I thought you said that you were not going to post any more of these Calvinist bent blogs?
If you look at my post you can see I didn't say that. (FYI: I submitted this post since I thought it did a good job at explaining how Calvinism is evangelistic, but then I asked Revelife not to consider it (as well as another post) but it was published anyhow.)
I did say I regretted I caused division and apologized for that. However, as several people have pointed out to me since that time, though I said I caused division, in fact, what's happened is that what I had written has uncovered division that was already there. The problem is far, far deeper.
For now, I invite and encourage all who have a heart to pray for unity in the Body of Christ to come and read my last several posts on my blog addressing this issue and to seek His face together so we might truly be the one Body He has intended us to be.
In Christ's love,
Karen
My message to Revelife (re: the Calvinism blow-up)
May the mind and word of Christ dwell in us so we might arise as one man
forgive us for dividing Your Son, our Lord
Letter 27 on assurance and fighting for joy (I'm not laughing today, but Satan is)
ALL God's people singing, "He reigns" (Letter 28 on assurance & joy)