{"id":2265,"date":"2016-04-13T14:39:01","date_gmt":"2016-04-13T18:39:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/cristolaverdad.com\/?p=2265"},"modified":"2026-03-17T09:40:31","modified_gmt":"2026-03-17T13:40:31","slug":"examining-calvinism-pt-3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cristolaverdad.com\/?p=2265","title":{"rendered":"Examining Calvinism, Pt. 3 – Sovereignty & Hyper-Calvinism"},"content":{"rendered":"
This entry is part 3 of 4 in the series Calvinism<\/a><\/div>

i. Our first parents, being seduced by the subtlety and temptation of Satan, sinned in eating the forbidden fruit. This their sin, God was pleased<\/span>,<\/strong> according to His wise and holy counsel, to permit, having purposed to order it to His own glory.<\/strong><\/p>\n

II. By this sin they fell from their original righteousness and communion with God, and so became dead in sin<\/strong>, and wholly defiled in all the faculties and parts of soul and body.\u00a0\u00a0 – Westminster Confession of Faith, Chapter 6 (Calvinist Catechism).<\/p>\n

John Calvin regarding the lost : \u201cit was his<\/strong> good pleasure<\/span> to doom to destruction<\/strong>” (Institutes of the Christian Religion, III:xxi,7.)<\/i><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

But the Word of God says:<\/p>\n

\u201cFor I have no<\/span> pleasure<\/span><\/strong> in the death<\/span> of him that dieth, saith the Lord GOD<\/strong>: wherefore turn<\/span> yourselves<\/em>, and live<\/span><\/strong> ye<\/span>.\u201d Eze. 18:32,<\/a>–\u00a0 Ezekiel 33:11<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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R.C. Sproul wrote in his book ‘Chosen by God’ pg. 15, that anyone who doesn’t agree with his Calvinistic belief (as expressed in the Westminster Confession of Faith) about predestination –God’s determination of ALL events<\/strong>– then he should be a ‘convinced atheist<\/span><\/em>‘<\/span>. To Calvinists God’s determination<\/span> is God’s sovereignty<\/strong>. But Sproul doesn’t seem to understand that many ‘Christians’ agree with him that God’s Sovereignty (supreme Power & Authority) is an essential part of God’s Attributes, but at the same time we completely disagree with his interpretation<\/strong><\/span> of that sovereignty. We don’t question God (like some of them like to point out), we just question the Calvinistic interpretation.\u00a0 In pg. 26 he states \u201cIf He decides to allow something, then in a sense <\/em>he is foreordaining it<\/em>.<\/span>\u201d\u00a0 Sproul also repeats the words of Jonathan Edwards, by saying “What God permits, he decrees<\/span> <\/strong>to permit<\/em>” including sin. In other words God’s permission is willing.<\/p>\n

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R.C. Sproul Sr.<\/p><\/div>\n

Also, his son<\/a>, wrote that is God himself, who \u201cintroduced evil<\/strong><\/span> into this world<\/em>\u201d (Almighty Over All, p. 51).\u00a0 Regarding the origin of evil in the garden he stated: ‘In fact, God acted according his strongest inclination; he acted on what he most wished<\/strong> to come to pass\u2014as he always does. <\/em>God wills all things<\/strong> that come to pass…God desired<\/span> <\/strong>for man to fall into sin<\/strong><\/span>…God created sin<\/span><\/strong><\/em>.\u201d (R.C. Sproul, Jr<\/a>., Almighty Over All<\/em> , p. 54).<\/p>\n

Edwin Palmer: \u201cAll things that happen in all the world<\/strong> at any time and in all history\u2014whether inorganic matter, vegetation, animal, man or angels (both good and evil ones– come to pass because God ordained them<\/strong><\/span>, Even sin<\/strong><\/span>– the fall of the devil from heaven, the fall of Adam, and every evil thought, word, and deed<\/strong> in all of history<\/em>.\u201d The Five Points of Calvinism, 1999<\/p>\n

Writings from Christians of the early church<\/strong>, before Calvinism existed, contradict their view:<\/p>\n

\u201cLet some suppose<\/strong>, from what has been said by us, that we say that whatever occurs happens by a fatal necessity,<\/strong> because it is foretold as known beforehand, this too we explain. We have learned from the prophets, and we hold it to be true, that punishments, chastisements, and good rewards, are rendered according to the merit of each man\u2019s actions<\/strong>. Now, if this is not<\/strong> so, but all things happen by fate<\/strong>, then neither is anything at all in our own power. For if<\/strong> it is predetermined<\/span> that this man will be good, and this other man will be evil, neither is the first one meritorious nor the latter man to be blamed.<\/span> And again, unless<\/span> the human race has the power of <\/b>avoiding evil and choosing good by<\/strong> free choice<\/span><\/span>, they are not accountable for their actions<\/b>.\u201d -Justin Martyr, <\/strong>First Apology, XLIII (100-165<\/span> A.D.) –
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“But man<\/strong>, from the fact of his possessing a capacity of self-determination,<\/strong> brings forth what is evil, that is, accidentally; which evil is not consummated except you actually commit some piece of wickedness. For it is in regard of our desiring anything that is wicked, or our meditating upon it, that what is evil is so denominated. Evil had no existence from the beginning<\/strong><\/span>,<\/span> but came into being subsequently<\/span>. Since man has<\/strong> free will<\/span>, a law has been defined for his guidance by the Deity, not without answering a good purpose. For if man did not possess the power to will and not to will<\/strong>, why should a law be established?<\/span><\/span> For a law will not be laid down for an animal devoid of reason, but a bridle and a whip; whereas to man has been given a precept and penalty to perform, or for not carrying into execution what has been enjoined. For man thus constituted has a law been enacted by just men in primitive ages.” (Hippolytus, ( 170-236<\/strong> AD) Against all Heresies, Bk. X, ch. xxix)<\/p>\n

More here: Early Church vs. Calvinism<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Under God\u2019s sovereign rule<\/strong> and within his sovereign will, he allows man to make free choices<\/span>. . . .
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Free choice does not mean that God allows us to do whatever we freely choose without him intervening, nor does it mean that God allows us to do <\/strong>whatever we choose without consequences<\/strong><\/span>. Pastor Ron Jones, D.D. \u00a9 Titus Institute 2003<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Hyper Calvinism:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Many Christian theologians & pastors consider Hyper-Calvinism<\/a><\/strong> (Extreme Calvinism) the Calvinist that believe in the 5 points<\/span><\/strong><\/span> of the Synod of Dort or TULIP<\/a>, & the Westminster Confession of Faith<\/a>. And consider that a Moderate Calvinist is the one who holds to 4 points or don’t believe in selective election.\u00a0 Also see: Calvinism vs. Hyper-Calvinism<\/a>.<\/p>\n

However Calvinist themselves consider that Hyper-Calvinism ‘is the belief that God saves the elect through<\/strong> His sovereign will with little or no use<\/strong> of the methods<\/span> of bringing about salvation (such as evangelism, preaching, and prayer for the lost). To an unbiblical<\/strong> fault<\/span>, the hyper-Calvinist over-emphasizes God’s sovereignty<\/strong><\/span> and under-emphasizes man’s responsibility in the work of salvation<\/span><\/em>“. Quote from Calvinist page, Got a Question?<\/p>\n

I don’t know of anyone who considers himself a Hyper-Calvinist. No Calvinist like to be called extreme, so they evangelize<\/a><\/strong>, but while omitting their believe that the offer is limited only to a few (that when they say Jesus died for your sins they only mean the elect,). But they call Hyper or extreme, their Calvinist brother that is honest or consistent about their Calvinistic view on election<\/a><\/strong>.\u00a0 See more: Why Hyper-Calvinism Is Consistent Calvinism.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Next are some examples of how some Calvinists over emphasize God’s Sovereignty but neglects God’s other attributes, His wisdom, His justice, His love and also His command to love others. 1 John 4:7-9<\/a>.\u00a0 None of these men are called Hyper-Calvinist<\/strong> by other Reformers because they evangelize, but if this\u00a0 is not extreme<\/strong> I don’t know what else could be . .\u00a0 decide for yourself.<\/p>\n

Calvinist Gordon H. Clark. -“Religion, Reason & Revelation’ pg. 221:
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Also see : John Piper, God’s Sovereignty & Sin<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Calvinist Mark Talbot stated (Book ‘Suffering & The Sovereignty of God’, editors<\/strong> John Piper<\/a><\/strong> (1<\/a>) & Justin Taylor, pg. 42, 47: <\/span><\/p>\n

(The above 2 graphics are taken from ‘ Jeremiah 32:35<\/a>‘, March 2016, and used by permission).<\/p><\/div>\n

Calvinist theologian James White<\/a> <\/strong><\/strong>teaches the same thing. The rape of a child ordained by God?\u00a0<\/strong> They say because everything happens according to His plan<\/span>, for His glory!<\/span> How can God be glorified by that deprave & demonic act? &\u00a0 how is then God different from Satan in terms of character?\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Calvinism distorts the character of our Holy and loving Father<\/strong> & make Him look like the god of this world. How can we as Christians stay silent about this matter or promote these teachers & their theology?<\/p>\n

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