Calvinism’s predestination doctrine teaches that God predestines individuals for heaven or hell through an “unconditional election” process. In other words, God chooses to create some people who are predestined to go to heaven, and He chooses to create others who are predestined to go to hell; furthermore, the people themselves have no choice in the matter, because, according to Calvinism, mankind has no “free will” or freedom of choice. God has predestined everyone and everything. Some have the good fortune of being created with a one-way ticket to heaven, but most have the bad fortune of being created with a one-way ticket to hell, because Jesus said that “many” are going to hell, whereas only “few” are going to heaven (Matthew 7:13-14). Thankfully, Calvinism’s unconditional election doctrine is contradicted by numerous scriptures. The following texts, as well as dozens of others that could be listed, clearly reveal that people do indeed have a “free will” to choose to accept and obey God’s invitations and commands, or to reject and disobey them.
The deacon Stephen accused the religious leaders of his day, and their ancestors, of always “resisting” the Holy Spirit (Acts 7:51). If they were rebuked for “resisting” the Holy Spirit, they obviously had the power of choice to do so. Also, the Bible instructs all people to “resist” the devil (James 4:7). Therefore, it is apparent that we all have the “free will” to do so! Furthermore, Luke states that the Pharisees and lawyers had “rejected the will of God” for themselves because they had not been baptized by John the Baptist (Luke 7:30). Once again, the Scriptures clearly state that people have the freedom and ability to reject or resist God’s will for them.
The prophet Joel stated that multitudes are in the “valley of decision” (Joel 3:14). And, the book of Acts says that the people on the island of Malta “changed their minds” (Acts 28:6). If we do not have a “free will” with the power to choose, how did these people “change their minds”; furthermore, how can multitudes be in the “valley of decision” if they have no “free will” to choose or decide with?
The Lord Jesus Christ told the Jews of His day that He had wanted to gather them to Him as a mother hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but they “were not willing” (Matthew 23:37). According to Jesus Himself, these people obviously had “free will”, and chose not to come to Him.
Also, note all of the following texts that unquestionably teach that people have “free will”. Hosea proclaimed that the people of Ephraim were oppressed because they had “willingly” walked by human precept (Hosea 5:11). Nehemiah recorded that the people blessed all of the men who had “willingly” offered to dwell at Jerusalem (Nehemiah 11:2). In Judges 5:9, the Bible states that there were rulers in Israel who offered themselves “willingly” to the Lord. The Bible records in Exodus 35:29, and in numerous other passages, that the children of Israel brought “free will” offerings to the Lord. The Apostle Paul declared that the Macedonian believers had been “freely willing” to minister to the needs of the saints (2nd Corinthians 8:3-4). In Hebrews 10:26, the Bible states that if we sin “willfully” after we’ve received knowledge of the truth, then there no longer remains a sacrifice for our sins. The Apostle Peter proclaimed that scoffers “willfully” forget that God is the Creator (2nd Peter 3:5). All of these texts, as well as many others that could be cited, clearly and unequivocally teach that people have a “free will” with the ability to make their own choices.
Many Calvinists suggest, however, that if people have the ability to “choose” to accept or deny God’s gift of salvation; then, the people themselves would be responsible for, and get the credit for, their own salvation. I must ask Calvinists a question. If someone comes to your door with an unexpected gift that they bought and paid for with their own money, and you choose to accept the gift; who is responsible for that gift and deserves the credit for it? I’m sure you would agree that the person, who spent his own money to purchase your gift, is responsible for it and deserves the credit for it. You know that you would never take credit for that gift. It is certainly the same principle with Jesus’ gift of salvation. He has also bought and paid for that gift with His own blood, and your decision to accept the gift that He paid for does not make you responsible for it, or deserving of getting the credit for it, anymore than your having accepted the gift from the person at the door did. Jesus is obviously the one who is responsible for, and deserves the credit for, your gift of salvation. Whether or not people accept or reject Jesus’ gift, He is still the one who paid for it, and He’s the one who gets the glory for it. If there are any Calvinists who still try to dispute this point, while simultaneously claiming to be honest and consistent; then, each Christmas they must publicly announce that they are responsible for, and are taking the credit for, all of the gifts that have been bought for them. And, if and when they do so, I’m sure that their friends and family members, who paid for the gifts with their own hard-earned money, will straighten them out on this issue.
Calvinism also teaches that Jesus Christ has only provided a “limited atonement”, because, according to Calvinists, He did not die for everyone, but only for those whom He had predestined for heaven. Once again, this contradicts numerous scriptures.
Jesus Christ said that He would draw “all people” to Himself, and He stated that “whoever” believed in Him would have eternal life (John 12:32; John 3:16). Jesus stated that He had come to seek and to save the “lost”, period, not just “some” of the lost (Matthew 18:11; Luke 19:10). He invited “all” to come onto Him for rest, not just a few special ones (Matthew 11:28-30). Also, the Apostle John declared that Jesus offered Himself for the sins of the “whole world”, and is Savior of the “world” (1st John 2:2; 1st John 4:14).
The Apostle Paul clearly states that God wants “all” to be saved, and that Jesus gave Himself as a ransom for “all” (1st Timothy 2:3-6). The apostle Peter agrees by saying that God wants “all” to come to repentance, because He is not willing for “any” to perish (2nd Peter 3:9). Also, in Matthew 18:14, Jesus set a little child before His disciples and stated that it is not God’s will that even “one” of these little ones should perish. And, Hebrews 2:9 tells us that Jesus tasted death for “everyone”. Finally, the Apostle Paul leaves no doubt when he admonishes Christians not to put a stumbling block in front of a weak “brother” causing him to violate his conscience and to “perish” or be “destroyed”; moreover, Paul states that Christ has also “died for that weak brother” who is caused to perish or be destroyed (1st Corinthians 8:9-11; Romans 14:13-15). These two passages clearly and unequivocally state that Christ has “also died” for people who violate their conscience and who are “destroyed”.
Calvinism also maligns the character of our gracious and loving God by portraying Him as someone who is biased and who practices “favoritism”, because He arbitrarily chooses “favorites” to be saved, while allowing everyone else to go to hell. This clearly contradicts numerous Bible texts, and also results in Calvinists portraying their God as being a hypocrite and a liar. Why? The Bible repeatedly states that God is not a “respecter of persons” and does not practice “partiality or favoritism” (Deuteronomy 10:17; 2nd Chronicles 19:7; Acts 10:34; Romans 2:11; Ephesians 6:9). Scripture also declares that God’s wisdom comes from above and is “without partiality” (James 3:17). Therefore, if Calvinists’ teaching is correct, that God does favor only “certain individuals” to be saved from hell, then God would have lied in all of these passages where He stated that He does not practice “favoritism or partiality”. Calvinists are portraying God as being a liar. And, they also depict Him as being a hypocrite. Why? The Bible instructs us that we (God’s people) must not practice “partiality or favoritism”; moreover, that it “is not good” for us to show “respect of persons, partiality or favoritism”; furthermore, that such conduct is sin (1st Timothy 5:21; Proverbs 28:21; James 2:9). Therefore, when Calvinists state that God only saves certain “favored individuals” from hell, while He simultaneously tells us that we must not practice such favoritism ourselves, because it is not good to do so and it is sinful; then, Calvinists are certainly depicting their god as being a hypocrite! The Calvinist god says, “Do as I say, not as I do”. The God of Christianity is not a liar or a hypocrite! Calvinists must stop this outrageous slandering of Jesus Christ and our Heavenly Father. It is time for the Christian Church to rise up and denounce this Calvinist predestination doctrine.
I would like to ask Calvinists to look at one of their precious children or grandchildren and to ponder their destiny. What if that precious young child is one of those predestined for “eternal torture” (as Calvinist doctrine teaches) in hell? Keep in mind, there will be many more people going to hell than to heaven, as stated in Matthew 7:13-14. Therefore, there is actually a better chance that your precious little one is predestined for hell. Remember, you believe that God has decided their destiny before they were born, and there is nothing, including your prayers, that can be done to change that destiny. If you have a family with five children, there is a good chance that three or four of them are predestined for hell. Can you picture them tormented and tortured throughout eternity without having had any opportunity to avoid their horrid fate? Can you feel the supposed “love” taught by Calvinism’s predestination doctrine as you ponder your children’s future in hell? If this doctrine was correct, most loving parents would not bring any more children into this sinful world, because the majority of them would be predestined to “eternal torture” (as Calvinists teach) in hell. Any reasonable Christian, who knows Jesus intimately, should be fully aware that He is not the author of this Calvinism predestination doctrine. This teaching comes straight from “the pit of hell” and slanders the character of our kind and loving God.