I am a Christian Universalist but I agree with Calvinists on many things. God is Holy. God is Love. God is just. God hates all who do iniquity. None seek God. All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. All humans died in Adam. All humans are dead in trespasses and sin. God reveals His wrath against all ungodliness. I believe the Bible is Holy Scripture.
The human will is in bondage to sin. God will always do what is right. It is impossible for God to be cruel. Cruelty involves inflicting a punishment that is more severe or harsh than the crime. Cruelty in this sense is unjust. God is incapable of inflicting an unjust punishment. The Judge of all the earth will surely do what is right. No innocent person will ever suffer at His hand. Atonement is applied to the sinner by the power of the Holy Spirit according to the will of God. God chooses us. We do not choose Him. Sheep and goats will be separated. Jesus is the Son Of God.
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day, He rose again. He ascended to Heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting.
As a result of Adam and Eve's disobedience to God -- the Fall of Man -- sin has extended to all parts of every person's being: "his thinking, his emotions and his will." It is impossible for the ordinary "natural" human to understand the Gospel's message. They are spiritually helpless. First, God must first decide to intervene by his Spirit. Otherwise, the person remains lost.
Romans 5:12: "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned." (KJV) Mark 4:11: "And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables." Salvation is apart from works, so no one can boast. I believe in Unconditional Election. Irresistible Grace; the belief that every human whom God has elected will inevitably come to a knowledge of God. The elect cannot resist the call of God. John 6:44: "No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day." Romans 8:14: "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God." 1 Peter 5:10: "But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, establish, strengthen, settle you." Perseverance of the saints.
This is the "Once saved, always saved" belief -- that everyone who has been saved will remain in that state. God will begin and continue a process of sanctification which will continue until they are completely conformed to the image of Christ. None are lost; it is impossible for them to lose their salvation. Romans 8:28-39: "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified....Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?...For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
I agree with Calvinists that God could save every person if He wanted to. I disagree with Calvinists in that: I believe God wants to save all people. I believe God has the power to save all people and He has the desire to save all people.
God is the Savior of all people. Jesus is the Savior of the world. All people will be made alive in Christ. Jesus is the Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world.
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