The Convincing Argument: Why I Accepted Calvin’s View of Predestination

I had struggled with the doctrines of Calvinism for years.  One of my good friends and mentor had been convincingly and faithfully pursuing me and engaging me intellectually on predestination, but I simply had a stumbling block around free will.  I’m sure its the most common issue at heart, but I just could not get past the fact that it appears to us as if we have to make a choice to follow Jesus.  When I was saved at the age of 9 I made a choice.  I told my mother that I was a sinner who needed to be saved.  This fact of ‘choice’ dominated my thinking.

Which is why up until about a month ago I was not 100% convinced.  I had slowly been working up to believing the 5 points, but it was a process.  When asked by someone if I followed Reformed theology I would say that I was “95% there”.  Total Depravity was easy for me to believe, there was no struggle there.  Same with Unconditional Election, it was obvious to me that God saving us had nothing to do with our own merits.  But when I came to the last 3, I was resistant.  The dominant theology in the Southern Baptist circles I grew up in taught against Irresistible Grace.  In fact, one thing I clearly remembered being taught was that if you were feeling called to surrender to Christ, you could resist it in your own will.  In fact, we were taught that if you resisted long enough He would stop calling you.  I heard that in many an altar call growing up.  I thinking through the points I also realized that Limited Atonement was tied to Predestination.  If God has elected us since before the world was created, and sin must be punished, it made logical sense that for the elect our sin was paid for on the cross, but that payment did not cover the sins of the lost.  So at the end of the day, I had to contend with Calvin’s view of election.

With all that background in mind I came to a decision point.  Either God drew me to Him, or I chose to take Him up on His offer.  The logic of complete sovereignty led to me lean to election, but I still needed rock-solid biblical proof.  In preparing to attend a Q&A on the topic at the Austin Stone I dug up Matt Carter’s sermon on Calvinism vs. Arminianism (it can be found on iTunes here) from 2007.  I was not going to the church at the time, but I had heard that it was a very good sermon on the topic.  In that sermon I was shown the proof I was seeking.

Comparing the Disciples’ Experiences

If you want to see the full depth of this argument, I urge you to download the sermon and listen to it, but here is the essential texts (emphasis mine) and points, and the ones that convinced me.

36 As they were talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, “Peace to you!” 37 But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit. 38 And he said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? 39 See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” 40 And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. 41 And while they still disbelieved for joy and were marveling, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43 and he took it and ate before them.
44 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.” 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, 46 and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, 47 and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”

Luke 24:36-49 (ESV)

Notice the two things I highlighted here  After seeing his injuries and proof of the crucifixion they did not believe.  Not until Jesus “opened their minds” did they believe.  From then on in Luke and Acts there is no disbelief on the part of the disciples.

Contrast this with Thomas’ experience of conversion:

24 Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.”
26 Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” 28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

John 20:24–29 (ESV)

Again, two things to notice about this passage.  Thomas goes from stating that not only does he not have faith now, but that he never will.  Then, Jesus commands him to believe.  “Do not disbelieve, but believe” in the original Greek is an imperative statement, a command.

When you contrast these two passages you see that when presented with the same facts (seeing and touching the wounds of Christ) the 11 did not yet believe, but Thomas did.  It was not the proof of the wounds that caused the 12 of them to believe, it was the command of the living God to believe.

So right there in the gospels was the proof I was looking for.  God called them.  After all the disciples saw and heard, far more than I will in this mortal life, they still had to be actively called by the Lord to believe.  That certainly looks like Calvin’s view of predestination to me.

Tags: austin-stone, Carter, predestination, Reformed Theology