http://disqus.com/by/timculberson/enMon, 22 Mar 2010 10:10:18 -0000http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/the-permanent-value-of-tulip#comment-41050150<p>Of course I believe it was given to me to believe on Jesus! If Jesus had not come to this earth, I wouldn't have the opportnuity to believe! So yes, apart from Jesus coming and dying for the world, I could NOT believe on Him for salvation...so yes, as a Gentile, I have now been given the opportunity to believe. The very use of the term "believe" implies choice. </p>timculbersonMon, 22 Mar 2010 10:10:18 -0000http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/the-permanent-value-of-tulip#comment-40587079<p>You Jesus quote was talking to the disciples right? That "chosen" verse is NOT speaking of SALVATION!!! It's speaking of a calling on ones life...similar to being called to the ministry.</p>timculbersonFri, 19 Mar 2010 15:34:30 -0000http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/the-permanent-value-of-tulip#comment-40586761<p>So Jesus jumped in the water and saw two men dead and decided to save only one....hmmmmmmm...what a Jesus you have concocted.</p><p>Yes, God chose us...by giving his son Jesus Christ for ALL, not desiring that ANY should perish! </p>timculbersonFri, 19 Mar 2010 15:31:57 -0000http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/the-permanent-value-of-tulip#comment-40399041<p>Where's the reformed response to the above? A just God would not condemn a man to hell because that man was born in sin (the curse) because of no choice of his own...</p><p>Listen, EVERY man is cursed because of one man's sin...we all agree there. Then the converse is also true (PRAISE THE LORD) EVERY man has the opportunity for salvation because of One Man's sacrifice!!! THAT'S the truth. Through one man sin came into the world and through one man LIFE! Any other teaching diminishes the blood of Jesus.</p>timculbersonThu, 18 Mar 2010 17:23:59 -0000http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/the-permanent-value-of-tulip#comment-40398488<p>No retort to this? Tell me where I'm wrong on the illustration above?</p>timculbersonThu, 18 Mar 2010 17:19:13 -0000http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/the-permanent-value-of-tulip#comment-40398339<p>No I was not suggesting that. But to minimize this argument is not right. My desire to know the truth in this debate is to know who my God is. If someone teaches a doctrine that reveals an unjust God...no matter how they spin it, I must stand up and say ENOUGH! Stop spreading this.</p>timculbersonThu, 18 Mar 2010 17:17:57 -0000http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/the-permanent-value-of-tulip#comment-40397630<p>How can a Calvinist draw this artificial line of free will before the fall and then magically man loses the free will to choose to obey after the fall? Why the distinction?</p>timculbersonThu, 18 Mar 2010 17:11:49 -0000http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/the-permanent-value-of-tulip#comment-40397278<p>You are misinterpreting that scripture as all Calvinists do...what Paul is dealing with is NOT mercy or compassion from individual to individual, but rather Jew vs. Gentile....Paul was addressing the problem of Jewish christians telling Gentile Christians that they had to be "Jew" also to be saved....Paul was saying, who are you to say that God is unjust for broadening his net of compassion to the Gentiles.</p><p>You need to read Romans 9 in context...why was Paul writing this? To give Calvinism their doctrine? Was it some deep statement of how God choses one man over another man? Absolutely NOT! It was Paul telling his own people that if God chooses to extend salvation to the Gentiles...tough! He can do that! <br></p>timculbersonThu, 18 Mar 2010 17:08:28 -0000http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/the-permanent-value-of-tulip#comment-40320951<p>But what makes us all equally helpless? The fact that we were born into sin. Was that your choice to be born into sin? NO! So, if you had no choice but to be born into sin, how is it just to not have the choice to accept the way out of sin? For every baby born on this day, they all our born into the curse of sin...did they choose to be born that way? But the Calvinist would say God will decide which of those babies born today will go to Heaven and escape hell. How is that just?</p>timculbersonThu, 18 Mar 2010 11:38:04 -0000http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/the-permanent-value-of-tulip#comment-40320341<p>Again, there are many more of us non-calvinists who find trouble with TULIP NOT because we refuse to relinquish our prideful desire to want to take credit for our salvation. But rather, a desire to want to believe in a just God that would not condemn a man to hell because that man was born in sin because of no choice of his own.</p>timculbersonThu, 18 Mar 2010 11:33:16 -0000http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/the-permanent-value-of-tulip#comment-40319532<p>It is a VITAL question if you truly desire to know the God you serve!!! Don't you care about how God deals with saving the lost souls around you?</p>timculbersonThu, 18 Mar 2010 11:26:33 -0000http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/the-permanent-value-of-tulip#comment-40318666<p>You can absolutely resist God! Because He created us to have that ability. The OT is full of pleading from God in vain to His people to repent and to come back to Him through His prophets. God is depicted as being frustrated with man repeatedly throughout scripture. The fact of our ability to resist makes God's judgment just.</p>timculbersonThu, 18 Mar 2010 11:19:12 -0000http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/the-permanent-value-of-tulip#comment-40317631<p>It is NEVER just to damn a person to hell when they truly have no free will to chose otherwise...that's why Calvinism is flawed. </p>timculbersonThu, 18 Mar 2010 11:09:12 -0000http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/the-permanent-value-of-tulip#comment-40317432<p>Adam and Eve had free will??? I thought Calvinist didn't believe in free will? And if so, why Adam and Eve and not the rest of us? Makes no sense.</p>timculbersonThu, 18 Mar 2010 11:07:24 -0000http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/the-permanent-value-of-tulip#comment-40317173<p>Giving man a role in their salvation does not = "giving credit" to man. How can a drowning man take any credit in grabbing a lifeline tossed to him? Ask someone who actually has been rescued in such a way. Was their first response when they find dry land, "Wow, look how great I am for latching on!"? Of course not, there exists nothing but immense and deserving gratitute to the one who provided the lifeline! The Calvinst view creates a picture of that same rescuer seeing two men drowning and had two lifelines and decided to toss one out to the random lucky soul. How does that glorify God any greater?</p>timculbersonThu, 18 Mar 2010 11:04:55 -0000http://eatbible.org/post/176805820#comment-15709070<p>Plus, homegirl really tortured that Fergie lick, huh?</p>timculbersonTue, 01 Sep 2009 10:53:32 -0000http://eatbible.org/post/176805820#comment-15709017<p>Dude. I have the original song in my running mix. Now this video has totally ruined it for me. Thanks.</p><p>There's a fine line and I think they may have crossed it. But who am I to say I guess.</p>timculbersonTue, 01 Sep 2009 10:52:26 -0000