Expert: Clive Heath - 11/6/2010

Question
up until a few months ago i had never really thought about Calvinism or even how it effected me. one of my close friends is a Calvinist and he is explaining some of the things that he believe for example that god has predestined some of his creations to be saved and some of his creations to be condemned to hell. i don't know what to believe i have a hard time wrapping my head around the idea that god would condemn some when he could save all now don't get me wrong i don't believe in any way that he didn't choose me, the think i am not sure about is if i was forced to choose him back. is it true love if i didn't choose him back. and why would god send his only son to die on the cross for a select few but in the bible it says he died for all sin, not just the select sin.  i feel that Calvinists have twisted some verses in favor of their doctrines. and then i ask myself when god chose me would my pride as a human allow me to accept that i had no control over the matter.i believe that god is all knowing and nothing i could ever do would catch him off guard, but does that mean that because he already knows what I'm going to choose that he forces me to make every decision in my life. for example did he force me to be a sinner by hardening my heart or am i a sinner by nature. in the garden of Eden did god harden eves heart so that the snake could trick her to eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil or did she fail on her own will? I'm not looking for some one to tell me what to believe I'm just trying to hear all the details but most important of all i want to hear bible verses that talk about this and then let god tell me what to believe. sorry for being all over the place i just have been struggling with this for a while now i hope you can help me with my search. in the end i know god will reveal it to me. but i need all the help i can get. thank you for your time. ill be anticipating your reply.

Answer
Hi Jon,

Thank you for this question, and I will do my best with it.

Calvinism is a series of Theological beliefs, promoted by John Calvin, who was one of the leaders of the Protestand reformation. Thy were affirmed by Synod Dort as being the Bible doctrine of salvation.
Please read Mark 4:11
           Romans 5:12
           Romans 9:15
           Matt 26:28
           John 6:44
           Phillipians 8:28.

My view is that God wants to save all, not just a few, He is a loving and forgiving God, and He wants to save you.
Eve fell because she fell into temptation by the free will that God gave her. Because of the same reason we are all sinners, we sin ever day,but God still wants us, He will not turn His back on us.
Do not stray fom that fact or the faith in it.

The important thing is to admit to your sin, and then repent, and remember that salvation is through faith, no matter what.

I cannot tell you what to believe, only what I believe, and I agree that some Calvanists twisted various verses to suit their doctrines, as do Catholics etc.

Jon, pray to the Lord and He will tell you what to belive.

Regards and God Bless

Clive Heath