Calvinists: Can they honestly present the gospel message?
In presenting the gospel message to people, isn’t an essential part of that to tell them God provided a way of salvation for them so they could spend eternity in a wonderful place called Heaven? Isn’t the content of these verses that follow essential for doing that?
1 Corinthians 15:1-4
1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
Please note that the apostle Paul was preaching to ALL of them, telling them ALL they could be saved by accepting his message, not just some of them.
2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
He says all this the way he does because since the time he was first there with them in Corinth some false teachers had come in saying there was no resurrection. Here he’s telling them that if what they’re saying is true, there can be no salvation for anyone.
3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
Even though there’s no evidence in the Bible that those Scriptures were understood in Old Testament times for exactly what they promised, the prophecy for this coming was nevertheless given then.
4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: [Emphasis added]
If all these things that Christ accomplished through His crucifixion and resurrection aren’t included, the gospel message hasn’t been presented.
As you may know, those who are often called five-point Calvinists don’t believe Christ died for the sins of all mankind, even though Scripture clearly tells us He did.
2 Corinthians 5:21
21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. [Emphasis added]
Calvinists are quick to tell us that Paul is here talking only about “the elect,” meaning that this only refers to those God preselected for salvation. But note what is stated in the same paragraph just two verses before verse twenty-one.
2 Corinthians 5:19
19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling THE WORLD unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them [they were not imputed to them because they were all imputed to Christ on the cross]; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. [Emphasis added]
Doesn’t that word “world” refer to ALL mankind or do we need make up our own definitions for certain words to make this consistent with our theology? This verse consists of what is OUR commission message today! How much plainer could this be written? Numerous other passages affirm what is said here about what Christ did to provide a way of salvation FOR ALL.
1 Timothy 2:3-6
3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
4 Who will have [THELO = desires] ALL men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
Do we need to redefine “all” too to make this fit with Calvinistic theology?
5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
6 Who gave himself a ransom for ALL, to be testified in due time. [Emphasis added]
The apostle John tells us the same thing only in other words.
1 John 2:1-2
1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if [EAN = if] any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
2 And he is the propitiation [HILASKOMAI = the one who satisfied the justice of God with His payment of death] for our sins: and not for ours only, but also FOR THE SINS OF THE WHOLE WORLD. [Emphasis added]
As I’ve noted, one thing you’ll find about Calvinists or Reformed Theology people is that they’re famous for taking words out of context and even changing the meaning of certain words to make them appear to be consistent with their beliefs. For instance, to them the word “WORLD” doesn’t refer to the whole world of all mankind; it means the world of the elect, the ones God preselected for salvation. Also, “ALL” doesn’t mean all to them. Instead, it refers only to all the ones God preselected for salvation or all kinds of people. In other words, you have to change your vocabulary to become a Calvinist. How ridiculous is that!
Doesn’t the word gospel mean good news? The word for it in the Greek text of the Bible is EUAGGELION which literally means good message or good news. How is it good news if Christ may not have died for you or for all? How is it that it’s good news that Christ didn’t even die for MOST people since we know that something probably much less than one in ten people get saved? Also, what if your own spouse, children, or grandchildren aren’t “preselected” for salvation? Does that appear to be fair to you or to them? Can’t we give everyone the good news that Christ died for their sins, making salvation readily available to them and everyone just as Scripture clearly tells us it is? Must we also assume that people who reject the gospel do so only because it was God who predetermined that they would do that?
I’m afraid there are many who identify themselves as Calvinists or “reformed” in their theology who aren’t even aware of what that system of belief is. I’ve learned that teachers of it often tend to be quite subtle about it. We’re not just a bunch of divinely preprogrammed robots as these people would have us believe. Man DOES have “free will” that enables him to either accept or reject the gospel message. Are you aware that these people don’t believe this?
Furthermore, if God preselected who would get saved, doesn’t that affect our enthusiasm for presenting the gospel to anyone and everyone? Couldn’t we then just assume that somehow those God preselected will somehow get saved whether we present the gospel to them or not? Can’t we also then just presume that most people are doomed from the womb because they have no say at all concerning where they’ll spend eternity? In other words, are most people headed to Hell and the Lake of Fire with no opportunity at all for salvation? Does that sound to you like these people who believe or teach this are representing a just and loving God? Because He is sovereign there should be no doubt that God could have done things that way. But was such the thinking of the apostle Paul as he went everywhere he could to faithfully present the gospel message?
1 Corinthians 9:22-23
22 To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to ALL men, that I might by all means save some.
23 And this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you. [Emphasis added]
Paul was not one to “let grass grow under his feet” so to speak. He was constantly on the move presenting the good news gospel message with the hope that he “might by all means save some.” Isn’t this the attitude we should all have? Isn’t his thinking a good example for us all? Please note his words.
1 Corinthians 11:1
1 Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ. [Emphasis added]
What a marvelous piece of information we have to share! There’s nothing you can name that is more important. But where is it in the Bible that Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection was only done for some and not all? And how can one honestly refute the clear teaching of passages like those we’ve already noted in this article?
But some may ask about passages like this one—
Romans 9:13-14
13 As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.
14 What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid. [Emphasis added]
What so many fail to understand about this passage is that it is not about these two individuals but the NATIONS they represent. Overall Esau’s progeny has been a people of unbelief. Such is true today even of Jacob’s. But in times past it was the Israelites who were God’s people of faith. All that’s a story for another article at another time. But just know, anyone, Jew or Gentile, can be saved today. The offer is open to ALL because Christ made the way for ALL through His death, burial, and resurrection. When ANYONE accepts Christ as their Savior they can immediately be saved forever.
Will you experience opposition if you start presenting the true gospel message that is addressed to all? Haven’t Paul and many others since his time had to deal with opposition in presenting this wonderful message? Paul even gives us some details about the opposition he faced.
2 Corinthians 11:24-28
24 Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.
25 Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;
26 In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;
27 In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.
28 Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches. [Emphasis added]
In what ways have you suffered because of your stand for Christ? I feel fortunate that my own suffering has been minimal. Ostracism and loss of professed “friends” has been my greatest loss. But I also realize that such could get much worse quickly. If things keep going as they are in America, a lot more suffering is coming for those who identify themselves with Christ and His teachings. Are you prepared for this? Will you stand firm or be quick to deny your affiliation with such? Don’t we need to think about this? In every generation there are people who die for their country. Are you prepared to die for your Christian beliefs? Many have! The apostle Paul was one who did.
2 Timothy 4:6-7
6 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.
7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: [Emphasis added]
One very important belief needs to be that salvation is available to anyone and everyone, not just some preselected or predetermined group as some people claim. How can such people who believe this not be an “enemy of the cross” if they don’t believe the way of salvation through the work of the cross was provided for all. Please note Paul’s concern about such people.
Philippians 3:17-19
17 Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.
18 (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:
19 Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.) [Emphasis added]
Can’t it rightfully be said that Calvinists are false teachers? Certainly, that passage we just noted can apply to any “religious” people who prove to be a hindrance rather than a help in the presentation of the good news about what Christ did at the cross for all people. Doesn’t rejecting what Christ did for all at the cross make one an “enemy of the cross of Christ”?
As some of you may know, I’m a graduate of a seminary where many correct and good things were taught, but this teaching about what is called five-point Calvinism that was taught there was disgusting. I “squirmed in my seat” every time I heard it. Just to hear it taught that the simple reading of passages like John 3:16 doesn’t mean God loves all was ridiculous! The idea was that God’s love only applied to those they spoke of as “the elect.” In other words, again, it wasn’t to be believed that Christ died for the sins of the whole world of mankind. To Calvinists, God only loves those HE “chooses” for salvation. To them certain important verses didn’t apply to everyone.
Romans 5:8-10
8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. [Emphasis added]
Please be assured that verses like these apply to us and anyone you may know. Everyone needs to know what God has done for them through Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection. So, share it freely. Never let Calvinistic beliefs ever be a hindrance to your evangelistic work. Never doubt for a moment that everyone who comes into your life can be saved. What a wonderful opportunity you have to share this important message of the gospel with them!
For more information about Calvinism, please see my other articles about it on this website. Here are the names of several of many—
Calvinism: Is it a false teaching?
Calvinism: Does God love ALL mankind?
Calvinism: Did John Calvin kill rival theologians?
