I was recommended a book to read on the issue of Five Point Calvinism entitled Whosoever Will, by Steve Lemke and David Allen. The book is a very clear look at both sides of the arguments for and against Five Point Calvinism, "High Calvinism" or what some might term "Hyper Calvinism". I still have a few chapters left to finish but to this point I certainly would recommend the book as an honest look at the issue facing our churches written in a very Christian manner without anger or malice. The authors do a tremendous job in using the statements and writings of the proponents of High Calvinism to explain in detail their positions on the subject while at the same time they use the Scripture to refute or clarify many of these same opinions. This is my biggest problem with High Calvinism is that it seems to be found in more papers, books, and sermons than it is found in the Word of God! Something that takes this much explaining and reasoning from man seems to fight against the simplicity of the Gospel message.
On that thought one of the chapters in the book that blessed me and so much was the chapter on John 3:16 by Dr. Jerry Vines. In the chapter, which is a transcribed sermon by Dr. Vines, he breaks down the most powerful and yet simple verse in all of Holy Scripture. I cannot for time retype the sermon in it's entire form, but the thought of how many isms John 3:16 clears up is incredible. I will share them as follows:
"For God" responds to atheism, which claims there is no God.
"so loved" responds to fatalism which asserts that God is an impersonal force.
"the world" responds to nationalism which says God loves only one group of people.
"that He gave" responds to materialism which says it is more blessed to give than to receive.
"His only begotten Son" responds to Mohammedanism which says God has no Son.
"whosoever believes' responds to Five Point Calvinism which says Christ died for only the elect.
"in Him" responds to pluralism which says all religions are equal.
"shout not perish" responds to annihilationism which says there is no hell.
"but have everlasting life' responds to Arminiansim which says God only gives life conditionally.
The rest of the chapter is tremendous but I wanted to share that portion of it so that it might be a reminder to us all of just how wonderful our salvation is! Do not make the mistake of making salvation so difficult that even a little child cannot receive Jesus because Jesus would not be please with that. (Mark 10:14-15)
Praise the Lord for John 3:16 as it is the gospel in a nutshell, or as Martin Luther said, the Bible in miniature!
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