Author: Steve Amato
Keywords: bible study,Calvinist,Calvinism,free will

## Discussions with a Calvinist

# Discussion with Teresa
Round 3

Teresa wrote:

But as for Calvinism, here's a question for you:
Does God hold people accountable for things they have no control over?

Lets look at scripture

Act 4:26
The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ.

Acts 4:27
For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together,
Acts 4:28 For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.

Were those that crucified Christ held "responsible"?

Luk 23:34
Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.

Psa 22:18
They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.

Luk 24:44
And he said unto them, These [are] the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and [in] the prophets, and [in] the psalms, concerning me.

If they were not to be held responsible for this foreordained act, why would there need be forgiveness?

Act 2:23
Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:

Luk 22:22
And truly the Son of man goeth, as it was determined: but woe unto that man by whom he is betrayed!

Mat 26:24
The Son of man goeth as it is written of him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it had been good for that man if he had not been born.

Was Judas held responsible for his part in the foreordained for his betrayal ?

Psa 76:10
Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee: the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain.

Men are fully responsible before God for all their acts. They will be judged or rewarded for every act.

Eph 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Mat 25:32-46
And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth [his] sheep from the goats:

And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.

Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:

Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.

Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed [thee]? or

When saw we thee a stranger, and took [thee] in? or naked, and clothed [thee]?

Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?

And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done [it] unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done [it] unto me.

Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:

For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:

I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.

Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?

Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did [it] not to one of the least of these, ye did [it] not to me.

And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

Reward and punishment based on the foreordained act of God .

Eph 1:4
According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

Now you tell me , does God hold men responsible for the acts He has foreordained ?

All of these acts were foreordained, yet they were freely chosen by men.

# BCBSR Reponse

Teresa,

You say, "All of these acts were foreordained, yet they were freely chosen
by men." But you didn't really answer my question. Does God hold people
accountable for things they have no control over? Are you saying that people
have free choice - choice which is under their control? And what about
people being held accountable for Adam's sin? Were they in control of Adam
when he sinned?

Let's make it easy. I'll make it multiple choice:
Does God hold people accountable for things they have no control over?
A) Yes
B) No

Chose A or B. It's your "free" choice?

Steve

The Berean Christian Bible Study Resources