geisler book

Norman Geilser tries to unite Calvinism and Armenians in his book Chosen but Free. I know that Armenians and Calvinists have been debating and arguing about predestination and free will for years but Geisler tries to be more moderate in his book but I feel that is leaning more towards Arminianism than Calvinism as the book goes on. I feel that he takes the good things about Calvinism and tries to mix them with better Armenian ideas.

I agree with Geisler when he States that Calvin himself, was not an extreme Calvinist. Geisler states that Calvin believed that Christ died for the whole entire human race not just a select few. Calvin even wrote this “This is our liberty, this is our glorying against death, and that our sins are not imputed to us.” Clearly John Calvin was not an extreme Calvinist at all. I do think it is silly that Christians argue about this so much. I think the most important thing is that we are saved and on our way to heaven. So to actually debate whether God choose some or not is a waste of time, when there are greater things we can do with our time like evangelize and spread the good news.

I am a firm believer in free will, many verses in the bible state that God gave us the will to follow him, and that we are not predestine4d or that he chose some and not others. Geilser makes that clear in his book and I whole heartily agree with him. 1 peter 3:18 says For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, in order that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit”. In Titus 2:11 it says “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men”. Lastly, in 2 Corinthians 5:15 it states “For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died; and He died for all, that they who live should no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf”. All these verses have the word ALL in them so I don’t really know how people can argue that God died for only the chosen when the verses say otherwise.

It is very clear that Geisler is an Armenian, although he tries to come across as more moderate. I also agree with Geisler when he talks about free will before the fall. Adam and Eve had the free will to sin or not before they were cast out of the Garden of Eden. They were told by God not eat from the tree of Good and Evil and decided to instead, indicating that they had a choice. As Geisler stated “Free will menas free choice” meaning we are very free to do what we please when we want.  On earth there is evil but one day when we die and go to heaven we will be free from evil.