If the Calvinist Teaching On Predestination is right, what is the point of life?

[Riverwalker]

It seems rather strange if everything in our life was preordered, that all decisions were made and the die was cast, that God would require us slog about on this planet for 80 or so years before we could go to our predetermined reward or punishment.

As a person who holds to the teaching that salvation is a choice, I believe my purpose in being here is to come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, and then to help others find the same. That this earth is a proving ground, giving us a chance to choose to follow or reject God.

I did not ask this question to rekindle the never ending debate. I want to know what your thinking here is. There is no wrong answer 

 

(and if the hamster wheel does start up again, I will not be part of it)

[OneLight]

I've often asked the same question and have not received a direct answer to that particular question.  I've received far too many responses as to why people believe what they believe, as a round about way of trying to answer.  Here's hoping you get your question properly answered.

[LearningToLetGo]

Our perception of reality is limited by our physical bodies. I don't think we understand enough to truly ask the question 'what is choice?' and we certainly can't understand the answer! In other words, we simultaneously have and don't have the ability to choose.

[Riverwalker]

 

18 minutes ago, LearningToLetGo said:

Our perception of reality is limited by our physical bodies. I don't think we understand enough to truly ask the question 'what is choice?' and we certainly can't understand the answer! In other words, we simultaneously have and don't have the ability to choose.

 

Um.......

Edited February 25, 2021 by Riverwalker

[LearningToLetGo]

8 minutes ago, Riverwalker said:

Um.......

It's like offering food to a starving man or water to a drounding man. Yes, choice is always possible but sometimes it's 100% predictable.

[Dennis1209]

4 hours ago, Riverwalker said:

It seems rather strange if everything in our life was preordered, that all decisions were made and the die was cast, that God would require us slog about on this planet for 80 or so years before we could go to our predetermined reward or punishment.

As a person who holds to the teaching that salvation is a choice, I believe my purpose in being here is to come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, and then to help others find the same. That this earth is a proving ground, giving us a chance to choose to follow or reject God.

I did not ask this question to rekindle the never ending debate. I want to know what your thinking here is. There is no wrong answer 

 

(and if the hamster wheel does start up again, I will not be part of it)

As I'm understanding your post, I'm taking it you have questions about preordained and election vs. omniscience and human free will? Before I run the cyber ink well dry, is this your topic? Or are you referring to Calvinistic TULIP and the five points?

Edited February 25, 2021 by Dennis1209

[Riverwalker]

1 hour ago, Dennis1209 said:

As I'm understanding your post, I'm taking it you have questions about preordained and election vs. omniscience and human free will? Before I run the cyber ink well dry, is this your topic? Or are you referring to Calvinistic TULIP and the five points?

The former is my focus.  I am not well versed in Calvinist doctrine, I am just trying to understand the thought process

[Michael37]

10 hours ago, Riverwalker said:

If the Calvinist Teaching On Predestination is right, what is the point of life?

(and if the hamster wheel does start up again, I will not be part of it)

Well the one does suggest the other . . . 

[Sower]

 

10 hours ago, Riverwalker said:

I did not ask this question to rekindle the never ending debate. I want to know what your thinking here is. There is no wrong answer 

I have ask two 'calvinist' trying to convert me after many many many discussions,
just what benefit to my walk with Jesus would be, believing as they did. No answer.
I cannot remember one thing to change my view, and actually, it doesn't matter.
I believe the most important thing I can do as a born again believer,
is to share with the lost how they can become saved, born again, the gospel.
A faithful brother presented to me the simple gospel. I was saved.
Why had nobody told me about needing to be saved, all those years!
Discussions on the sharing of the gospel on this forum I believe would be of greater profit.
I still have an urgency to continue to share with whomever, wherever, whenever, truth.
And every one can hear the truth of God's plan for salvation and never having heard the word Calvinism.
The confusion with the views debated here about this, which has been debated for centuries,
has no winners, save the author of confusion, the prince of this world!
Over the years, so many threads shut down, members banned or completely leaving the forum, from this topic.
I believe in the elect, and predestination. It's scripture.  But not as defined/explained as I have heard here, so much.

If I believed that God had already chose the saved/damned, to what purpose should I have going about sowing seed.

This could not be possible, if it has already been decided.......

He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed,
shall doubtless come again with rejoicing,
bringing    his sheaves      with him.

Think about it.......
 

[Whyme]

Jesus is awesome. The spirit is awesome. I choose him. I don't care about theology on salvation because I have Jesus. I have the holy spirit. Whats to debate? 

Edited February 26, 2021 by Whyme