Calvinism — Research Notes (Cheryl Schatz)

Collection of 5 research notes on Calvinism, covering God's mercy to all (Romans 11:30-32), the purpose of divine mercy and compassion, Esau's election as about Messianic lineage not individual salvation (Malachi 1:2-3), and Calvin's concept of Evanescent Grace.

The Giving Part 2: Judas the Betrayer, a Balanced View of the Sovereignty of God

[Music] the giving is a balanced view of the sovereignty of God God's sovereignty is vitally important for us to know God yet it's God's sovereignty taught as a system of theological thought which can lead to a person reading into the biblical text an outside concept that is foreign to the writers i...

Are you better than those who say no?

Those who believe in Calvinism are quick to accuse those who do not believe the same way. The accusation comes in the form of two questions.

Masculine Christianity

This is part 2 of What God intended at creation and it is inspired by a recent lecture given by John Piper where he states that God’s intention for Christianity is for it to have a “ masculine feel “. After discussing John Piper’s Masculine Christianity, I will give my critique of his masculine argu

Women Leaders To Judge Sinful Men

It is very common for hierarchists to explain away Deborah’s position as Judge in the nation of Israel as merely a judgment by God

Laying A False Argument To Rest

One of the arguments that complementarians employ against women in ministry is the argument that God only used women as prophets and leaders in the Bible when there were no men available at the time. Is this really a valid argument

Romans 11:3-4

Sections: exegesis

Ephesians 2:8-9

Sections: cross_references, debate_points, exegesis, greek_analysis

Ephesians 1:4-5

Sections: cross_references, debate_points, exegesis, greek_analysis

Romans 9:16

Sections: cross_references, debate_points, exegesis, greek_analysis

1 Corinthians 1:26-31

Sections: cross_references, debate_points, exegesis

Romans 8:28-30

Sections: cross_references, debate_points, exegesis, greek_analysis

Romans 11:25-36

Sections: cross_references, debate_points, exegesis

Titus 2:11

Sections: cross_references, debate_points, exegesis

χάρις (charis)

grace, unmerited favor

προγινώσκω (proginōskō)

to know beforehand, to foreknow

Romans 11:6 teaches that grace and works are mutually exclusive — mixing them destroys the concept of grace.

Mike reinforces the biblical incompatibility of grace-plus-works with a second Pauline reference.

Challenge to Catholics: Romans 11:6 — grace and works are diametrically opposed; if works, grace is no longer grace

Posing a challenge to the Catholic faith-plus-works view from Romans

Luke 21:20-24 — Jerusalem surrounded by armies: partial fulfillment in AD 70, not the abomination of desolation

Key difference between Mark and Luke: Luke gives a different 'sign' — armies surrounding Jerusalem, which Mike connects to AD 70, not the final abomination.

Sye explains presuppositionalism: start with the presupposition that God exists and his Word is true; all reasoning depends on God; the 'circle' is virtuous, not vicious

Sye's core explanation of the presup method, tracing it to Van Til and Bahnson

Sye's summary position: biblical apologetics is not about probability; it always starts with God's authority and certainty; all other methods are inconsistent with Scripture

Sye's mid-debate summary

The New Testament is a Jewish book written by Jews about the Jewish Messiah

Mike contextualizes the gospel for Ben as a Jewish person

Christianity is a Jewish religion; Gentiles are grafted in — not the other way around

Mike speaks directly to the Jewish identity of Christianity

Mike's anti-Calvinist argument: faith is not a work regardless of its source; the Calvinist objection tries to smuggle faith into the "works" category

Mike's response to the Calvinist framing of faith as a "good work" that requires prior regeneration

Revelation 7:4 — the 144,000 are a literal future group of ethnic Jewish men

Question about what the 144,000 sealed in Revelation 7:4 means.

Modern Israel and biblical Israel are continuous, but God's promises do not make every Israeli action righteous

Question about how modern political Israel correlates to biblical promises for Israel.

Romans 11:25-32 — partial hardening of Israel, fullness of the Gentiles, and end-times caution

Trevor T asks about Romans 11:25-32 and whether the rising number of Messianic Jews in Israel signals prophetic fulfillment.

Being grafted into Israel does not give Christians the right to claim every promise made to Israel, especially negative or law-based promises

The second half of the question about claiming Israel's promises via grafting-in

Hebrews 6:4-6 — apostasy, hardness of heart, and the possible national Israel interpretation

Question from A.D. Chan about whether Hebrews 6:4-6 applies to Judas and what "falling away" means for someone who has experienced the Spirit.

Hyperdispensationalism claims OT saints were saved by faith plus works. Refuted by Romans 4: Abraham was justified by faith alone, not works. Romans 11:6: grace and works are philosophically unmixable — if by grace, then not works; if by works, then not grace. These categories can't be blended. This applies to every era, not just the NT.

OT salvation by faith alone — Romans 4 and 11:6

About the 2 Witnesses / Rapture?: It seems like the 2 witnesses in Zechariah 4 and Revelation 11 are like two peoples instead of individuals, as Romans 11: 17-21 speaks of olive trees/branches being Jews/Gentiles. If so, would the rapture be the "calling up" of them?

Q&A question: About the 2 Witnesses / Rapture?

When Israel is Mentioned in Scripture: In the Bible, when Israel is mentioned in the context, is it referring more to the people or to the land (country)? (Ex: Romans 11:26)

Q&A question: When Israel is Mentioned in Scripture

Does God Veil/Blind Understanding?: Why do we assume that 2 Corinthians 4:4 is not about God, but presumably about Satan? In the context of chapters 3 and 4, and also in other verses, we learn that God veils/blinds eyes (ex: John 12: 40, Romans 11:8).

Q&A question: Does God Veil/Blind Understanding?

Romans 11 6