Calvinism vs. Arminianism!

Okay, so we are all on the same team! But!!! Opinion may differ and that's cool too!
This post is not complete, I'm hoping to update it as life goes on!!
My personal view, is that there is a mysterious truth blended with both these views, how we can put it together, I don't know, and don't think anyone does! Whenever you identify too strongly with one position, you must dismiss some scriptures! (that's my opinion, waiting to be convince otherwise!)

Calvinism

T - Total Depravity

• Rom. 6:20
• Gen 8:21

U - Unconditional Election

• Eph 1
• Rom 9

L - Limited Atonnement

• Mark 10:45

I - Irresistible Grace

• John 6:37

P - Perseverance of the Saints

• Phil. 1:6

Arminism

Conditional election

Mat 11:28-30

Unlimited/Full Attonement

1 John 2:2

Resistable Grace

No scripture!

Running away of the saints

Freewill - responsability to respond:

Acts 2:38

Prevenient Grace
John 16:18
Luke 24:45

Bibliology - How did we get the Bible?

Verses 

Mat 4:4 But he answered, “It is written, ‘Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’"

Luke 24:44-47 Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the law of Moses and the prophets and the psalms must be fulfilled.” 45Then he opened their minds so they could understand the scriptures, 46and said to them, “Thus it stands written that the Christ would suffer and would rise from the dead on the third day, 47and repentance for the forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.

Process

Revelation

Thoughts in the mind of God, which he reveals to men so they become thoughts in the Mind of Men.

Inspiration 

God  guides men to write down what he reveals to them in a way, mysteriously using the human element but allowing making sure that all of scripture are his words.

The product of inspiration are the original autographs!

For them to be spread they were copied. Leading to many manuscripts being formed. Along with copies of the original texts, we have many different manuscripts of other writings which are circulating. 

Result: lots of manuscripts. Some copies of the original other of non-inspired texts. 

Canonization

There are many many manuscripts!

The Process of Canonization is the process of recognition of the inspired texts. They are then then preserved through copies. 

Textual Criticism

Process of reproducing the original manuscripts.

By comparing all the manuscripts. 

Translation

The critical text is converted into modern languages. For people to understand.

What can't stop there!

Interpretation

Believers with the help of illumination of the Holy Spirit understand what the scriptures mean. 

Application

Believers do what the Bible says!

This leads to spiritual growth. 

Communication

One of the applications is that they communicate the gospel to the whole world!

Micah 6:8

Just spent the biggest part of last week writting a 10 page paper on the book of Micah!

To give everyone a bit of Backgroung.

• THE BIBLE
• First 5 Books
• Beginning of Everything, Specially beginning of Israel
• Giving of the Law
• Joshua - 2 Kings
• Tells about the story of Israel, pretty much about how they keep trying to do their own thing (sinning!)
• God sent them many prophets to remind them to repent! ts
• Prophets
• 3 main ones (Isaiah, Ezekiel, Jeremiah) 
• 12 minor prophets
• 6 who focus on sin (including MICAH)
• 3 judgment
• 3 restoration.

Micah is the Last Book to focus on sin, so we really get the feeling as we read it that judgment is just around the corner!

The Book has 3 cycles of prophecy: 1-2; 3-5; 4-7 - They all talk about the judgment to come, the sin they have committed, and each mention some of the hope they should have for the future.

What stuck me the most as I was studying the Book was this long dialogue, God is having with the people in Chapter 6:

He's reminding them of the Good things he's done for them like taking them out of Egypt..

Israel asks what then? Will A few burn offerings satisfy you, to make you happy?

This is when God answers:

Mic 6:8 He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

1. To do Justice

2. to love kindness

3. walk humbly with your God. 

Justice, as in not injustice. Probably meaning you treat everyone around you fairly. Don't seek just your own joy, if it means others might miss out.

Give to people what is due to them. 

Look at your society, see if some people are being oppressed in anyway? This is a big theme in the book.

Love kindness: We all love different things, TV, Movies, Nature, Nature, Food, ... God is telling us to Value Kindness. What would that look in all our lives? It would probably mean spending less time of everyday valuing other things, no?

Walk humbly with your God - I guess there's no going around it here, if you claim God does not exist, if he does, well you two are not Cool! This echo's Hebrews 11:6 which says to approach God you must believe that he exists! The second thing is understanding the concept of humility? False humility, is when we always try to put ourselves down when we do not mean it, true humility is to be confident in the right thing! When walking with God, placing your confidence in the right thing, means rellying on God rather than on your own strength. This one covers a lot!

Let's see how we can do good in God's eyes, by practicing justice, loving kindness, and walking humbly with him, 

Love love love, 

Julian