Christianity and the Meaning of Life

[Guest]

Welcome to the lecture series on the Westminster Shorter Catechism. My name is Monty Collier, and I am the teaching elder of Geneva Dutch Calvinist Church, Kingsport, Tennessee.

This will be a brief exposition of the catechism, and a good introduction to Calvinism.
Let’s get started.

Question One, What is the chief end of Man?
Answer, Man’s chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever.

This first question of the catechism confronts us with one of the most important tasks of philosophy and religion.

Have you ever wondered what your purpose is in the universe?
Where do you fit in, and why is it that you are alive in the first place?

The Bible teaches us that man’s purpose for existing is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever.

To glorify God means to recognize and bestow the highest honor possible to the God of the Bible. It is to give Jehovah the highest admiration and praise. It is to be grateful to God for His creation, His providence, and His mighty deliverance from sin. It is to give God the full credit for His saving grace.

In the Protestant Reformation there was a famous Latin saying which summarized this important principle in Calvinism. The saying was ‘Soli Deo Gloria.’ This Latin dictum means: “To God Alone Be The Glory.†It signifies God’s sovereignty and our highest regard for Him.

We learn to glorify God by engaging in the daily reading and serious study of the Holy Bible.
It is from the Bible that we learn exactly how to glorify God. Indeed, we glorify God when we read and study His word daily, when we recognize it to be the sole source of truth and authority in matters of faith and practice.

The Bible teaches that man glorifies God when he worships God in truth and spirit.
The Bible says, “Give unto the Lord, O ye mighty, give unto the Lord glory and strength. Give unto the Lord the glory due unto His name; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness†Psalm 29:1 and 2.

It is true that man cannot add to the glory of God, but man can recognize and exalt God’s greatness.

Another way we glorify God is by understanding the law of God. When we understand that we are transgressors of God’s law and are in need of a savior, when we believe the Gospel and are grateful for the salvation God has provided in His only begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, then this also casts glory to God.

We also magnify God by living a Holy life. When we strive to keep God’s moral law, not in order to earn salvation, but in order to show our gratitude to God for such a great deliverance from our sin, then this also brings glory to God.

Another way God can be glorified is when we are content with the situation God has given us.

We also glorify God by defending God’s truth in the Bible by sound logical argumentation from the Scriptures. This is called presuppositional apologetics.

We can glorify God by being good fathers and good mothers, by being good sons, and by being good daughters all according to the Scriptures.

And we can bring glory to God by teaching others the wonderful truths found in God’s Word.

Now let’s talk of enjoying God.

The more we learn and understand God, the more we will come to enjoy Him in this life and the life to come. So again, the study of the Bible is the primary source of this enjoyment.

To know that God loves us and is our Father is to enjoy God’s goodness and grace. God’s love for us is the source of an unbreakable chain of causation which ends in our salvation and glorification. If any person believes the Gospel, then it is only because God first loved that person and elected to be gracious to that person from eternity.

It is true that God does not love every single person, for the Scripture tells us plainly that “Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated†Romans 9:13.

The great 18th century Baptist theologian John Gill states, “…while some are given up to believe a lie, that they might be damned, others being beloved of God, are chosen from the beginning to salvation by Christ;†(Body of Doctrinal Divinity, Book II, Chapter 2)
http://www.pbministries.org/books/gill/ ... hive.htm#2


Although this is not so popular today, the Bible clearly teaches that God has loved some people from eternity, and has elected those whom He loved to be recipients of His grace. God justifies his elect only on the basis of Christ’s merit, imputes Christ’s righteousness to them, pardons their sins, adopts them as His own children, not for anything in them, or any foreseen work by them, but merely for His own good pleasure. God gives all those He freely justifies the gift of faith. So, the reason a person believes the Gospel is because God has justified that person and given that person the gift of faith and repentance. The reason that person has been given faith and repentance is because God has elected that person from eternity to be freely justified. And the reason God elected that person to be the object of His unmerited kindness is because God loves that person from eternity. This train of God ordained events is sometimes referred to as “the golden chain of salvation.â€Â


Now, let us close by looking at some verses which teach us to glorify and enjoy God.

The Bible says, “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God†1 Corinthians 10:31.

And finally, the Bible says, “Whom have I in heaven but thee? And there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever. For lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all of them that go whoring from thee. But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord God, that I may declare all th worksâ€Â
Psalm 73:25.

To hear this lecture, or other lectures on Calvinism, then go to this link:

http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=calvinism&hl=en

 

[mutzrein]

Thankyou for the insight RED BEETLE and I also agree with God's election. What does your stream of Calvanism say happens to those who are not the elect?

 

[Guest]

Thankyou for the insight RED BEETLE and I also agree with God's election. What does your stream of Calvanism say happens to those who are not the elect?

I am a supralapsarian, so I believe if God does not choose to give grace to an individual, then that individual will be judged for his sins, then sent to hell. This is the doctrine of reprobation.
R.B.

 

[AHIMSA]

Wait...

So God created people he doesn't love...
...fails to give them the gift of faith
then sends them to hell for not having the gift that he didnt give them?

What kind of God is this?

 

[mutzrein]

Wait...

So God created people he doesn't love...
...fails to give them the gift of faith
then sends them to hell for not having the gift that he didnt give them?

What kind of God is this?

Yes - and that deserves an answer too.

I certainly don't accept this part of calvanism.

 

[Guest]

Wait...

So God created people he doesn't love...
...fails to give them the gift of faith
then sends them to hell for not having the gift that he didnt give them?

What kind of God is this?

Yes, God did create people He did not love. Romans 9 is clear on this. You might also wish to check Proverbs 16:4 (The Lord hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil), and let's not forget Jesus's statement about Judas where Christ explained, "better for him not to have been born..."

God does not fail to give them faith, He chooses not to be gracious to them. He actively chooses not to give them the gift of faith. He rejects them.

God sends the reprobate to hell for their sins. Because God does not justify the reprobate, then they are judged according to God's law. The result is that sinners who are reprobates are condemned. Romans 6:23 contrasts the difference between sin and grace perfectly. Notice that eternal salvation is a gift. If God gave it to all, then all would be saved. God does not give it to all, therefore, all are not saved. If you must do something, anything to get this gift, then it is no longer a gift, but a wage you deserve. Therefore, if salvation is a gift, and the Bible clearly says it is (Ephesians 2:8), then no man can earn it with his own will.

Romans 9:16 confirms this perfectly.

Let me now answer your final question: What kind of God is this?
This is the sovereign God of the Bible. The God of the Bible is the kind of God who is all powerful, all knowing, and in complete control of all things, including who will and who will not be saved.

The next question you may wish to ask is, "Why does God create people He does not love?"


Red Beetle

 

[stranger]

Red Beetle,

The next question you may wish to ask is, "Why does God create people He does not love?"

Gen 1:31 And God saw all that He had made, and behold it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.

blessings: stranger

 

[christian_soldier]

:smt074 The Gospel of Beetle :smt074

God so loved the world he gave his son so some, whom he chose beforehand, should not perish and to hell with everyone else.

:o

 

[Vic C.]

:smt074 The Gospel of Beetle :smt074

God so loved the world he gave his son so some, whom he chose beforehand, should not perish and to hell with everyone else.

:o

That's an interesting interpretation. :

 

[Guest]

Red Beetle,



Gen 1:31 And God saw all that He had made, and behold it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.

blessings: stranger

Hello Stranger,
Calvinism has always maintained the truth of Genesis 1:31. So, I'm not sure what it is your implying, or if you are just making some kind of related remark. Could you be a bit more clear? I would appreciate it, especially if you have an argument you would like to share.
Thanks.

Red Beetle

 

[Guest]

:smt074 The Gospel of Beetle :smt074

God so loved the world he gave his son so some, whom he chose beforehand, should not perish and to hell with everyone else.

:o

Hello Christian soldier,
your sentence is a bit difficult to understand. Maybe you could clarify a bit for me (I wouldn't want to put words in your mouth).
Thanks.

Red Beetle
Soli Deo Gloria

 

[christian_soldier]

Hello Christian soldier,
your sentence is a bit difficult to understand. Maybe you could clarify a bit for me (I wouldn't want to put words in your mouth).
Thanks.

Red Beetle
Soli Deo Gloria

I'm confident that you get the point.

But, if you need it spelled out, I find the implication that God is so shallow and lacking in sufficient Grace that only an elite group will be saved, to be abhorrent.

You cheapen the sacrifice of our Lord and your message is not of God.
John 1:9 That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world.

Romans 12:3 For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think [of] [himself] more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.

What the individual will do with the knowledge of the existence of God, as evidenced by all aspects of His Creation, are a matter of free will, to accept or reject, NOT because God has chosen to remove the blinders from some while leaving others to rot in the Dark.

 

[Guest]

Christian soldier,

First of all, let me deal with what you attempt to smuggle into the discussion at the very end of your post: free will.

Christian Soldier writes:
What the individual will do with the knowledge of the existence of God, as evidenced by all aspects of His Creation, are a matter of free will

You give us no verse teaching free will, you simply read it into Scripture. You are adding your own secular philosophy to the Bible. If you don't believe that the Bible alone is the Word of God, then I can understand this Roman Catholic-like approach, but if you insist that Scripture Alone is the Word of God, as do all Calvinists, then you will have to demonstrate this wild claim.

I have already pointed out that Romans 9 teaches God's sovereignty in the salvation of man. That verse plainly infers that man's will has nothing to do with whom God has mercy on. Let me state that verse for you again, "So then it is not of him that willeth...but of God that sheweth mercy" Romans 9:16.

This is a declarative verse which demonstrates that man's will is not the effectual cause of his justification / regeneration. If you want to argue that free will is something that is taught in the Bible, then I suggest that you take up where Roman Catholic scholar Erasmus of Rotterdam left off and prove from the Scripture that there is at least one indicative verse in the Bible that teaches the idea of human autonomy or free will. Erasmus could not find one verse. Martin Luther gave a plethora of indicative verses proving from the Scripture that man's will is determined by God. You can still get a copy of Luther's book which is titled: The Bondage of the Will."

So, Luther's challenge to Erasmus stands before you today. Just find a verse somewhere in Scripture that teaches free will, then please post it for us. Don't try to smuggle in unbiblical philosophies and pretend it is an accepted doctrine.

Christian Soldier writes:
only an elite group will be saved

Here you show that you do not understand Scripture. Ephesians 2:8-9 not only demonstrates that man does not use a "free" will to earn his salvation by believing the Gospel, for this verse teaches that faith is the gift of God, but it also teaches that because man can do nothing to merit his salvation, then all men are equally unworthy of it. There is no elite class, one is not better than the other. The elect are chosen due to God's purpose of election, not man's "free will" or merit see Romans 9:11: "that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of Him that calleth."

Quite to the contrary, the one who holds to "free" will implies that those who exercise their "free" will and believe the Gospel are better than those who do not, for all who hear it are are equal footing thanks to "free" will. This clearly violates Ephesians 2:8-0.

According to "free" will theorists, those who believe the Gospel are better and deserve to be saved, and this is why God elects them, because of their faith. Again, this clearly violates Scripture's teaching in Romans 9 and in Romans 3:12. Paul clearly teaches that man can do nothing good before man is justified and regenerated. Those who hold to "free" will teach that believing the Gospel is something good all men can do, and they can do this before justification and regeneration. In fact, those who hold to "free" will teach that man must use his "free" will in order to become justified or regenerated. Again, this is the opposite of what the Bible teaches. Scripture teaches that man is dead in his sins and unable to do anything good before he is quickened unto life by the Holy Ghost and given Faith. Sinful man must be regenerated before he can do anything good. Regeneration precedes sanctification. Read Ephesians 2 from the beginning and you will see this: "And you hath He quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins...for by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God"

You also wrongly claim that I cheapen the sacrifice of Christ. The Calvinist doctrine of Definite Atonement is correct. Christ's intention at the cross was to save His people, not those whom God did not choose to give to Christ. Christ, being fully God, is omnipotent, and accomplishes whatsoever He desires. If Christ desired to save all at the cross by paying their ransom, then all would have been justified. Christ is all powerful and perfect and always accomplishes His desires! The Bible says, "But He is in one mind, and who can turn Him?, and what His soul desireth, even that He doeth" Job 23:13.

Those who teach that some are lost, although Christ earnestly desires their salvation, are teaching that Christ is a failure. They are teaching that Jesus is unable to save those He wishes to save. Those who hold to "free" will and teach this idea of the atonement present a passive and helpless Christ: If only men with "free" will would only listen to poor little Jesus, then they would be saved.

Let me remind you all that Jesus Christ is King of kings and Lord of lords, and he does not stand idly by with his hat in his hand hoping some sinner will accept Him. No, He is almighty God and He quickens the elect unto life as He wishes and when He wishes! The Bible says, "The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is everyone that is born of the Spirit" John 3:8. The Bible teaches that Christ is victorious when it comes to accomplishing the salvation of His people.

To say that it was Christ's intention to save all at Calvary, and that Christ's desire to save all has been frustrated (for many are not saved), is to infer that Christ is not God, or that God is not omnipotent. Either of the two is blasphemy.

You need to explain from the Scriptures just how an omniscient and omnipotent God can somehow not accomplish something He intends or desires. The Bible says, "But our God is in the heavens: He hath done whatsoever He hath pleased" Psalm 115:3. You may need your philosophy of "Free" will, so you better get to looking for that verse which teaches it.

Red Beetle

 

[christian_soldier]

Beetle

The free will debate has been going on for a long, long time and I don't expect to sway you from your position.

However, I contend that God is not a puppetmaster. Did Adam and Eve have free will to eat the forbidden fruit or not?

And what of the Great Commission? Is it the responsibility of Christians to spread the Good News of the Gospel, or not? If so, why would this be necessary if God has already elected those to be redeemed, in fact, why would the crucifixion be necessary?

If disbelief is not an option for the elect, why speak of belief at all? If the elect are chosen from the beginning, why would anyone need to be brought to God?

1 Peter 3:18

18For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:

 

[Robci]

Beetle

The free will debate has been going on for a long, long time and I don't expect to sway you from your position.

I'm really fascinated by this discussion, and even though I am not trying to speak on Monty's behalf, you really didn't interact with any of his post. You acknowledged that the debate over free will has raged over the centuries (Augustine vs. Pelagius, Augustine vs. Cassian, etc…) and that the you cannot sway him. You then made your own assertions as to why you believe in libertarian free will without really rebutting any of his post. Of course I am not demanding your participation in the debate, but it doesn’t seem fair to disagree with somebody’s points without explaining why.

 

[christian_soldier]

robci,

The explanation is there for those with eyes to see. Much like in the reading scripture, discernment is required.

I raised some questions. Feel free to respond to them along with your 2 cents of observations about what is or isn't fair.

 

[Guest]

Beetle

The free will debate has been going on for a long, long time and I don't expect to sway you from your position.

However, I contend that God is not a puppetmaster. Did Adam and Eve have free will to eat the forbidden fruit or not?

And what of the Great Commission? Is it the responsibility of Christians to spread the Good News of the Gospel, or not? If so, why would this be necessary if God has already elected those to be redeemed, in fact, why would the crucifixion be necessary?

If disbelief is not an option for the elect, why speak of belief at all? If the elect are chosen from the beginning, why would anyone need to be brought to God?

1 Peter 3:18

18For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:

First, let me thank you for responding Christian Soldier.

Now, let me say that those who hold to "free will" have been losing this debate for a long long time. The reason is simple. Like you, they have always failed to demonstrate from the Bible that "Free will" is taught in Scripture. It is not taught in Scripture. Like Luther before me, and Calvin after Luther, I challenge any to prove "free will."

If you have a major principle that drives your interpretation of Scripture, but you can not explicitly show this principle from Scripture, or deduce it from Scripture, then you must ask yourself "Why do I believe this?" All who hold to "free" will should ask this question.

Calvinists also agree that God is not a puppet master, we will tell you that the Bible compares God to a potter, not a puppet master. Romans 9 states, "Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to Him that formed it, Why has thou made me thus? Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honor, and another unto dishonor?" Romans 9:20 and 21. You may read the same analogy, which supports God's sovereign determination of man and man's will, in the Book of Isaiah. The Bible says, "Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker! Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth. Shall the clay say to Him that fashioneth it, What makest thou? or thy work, He hath no hands?" Isaiah 45:9.

Adam and Eve never had a will that was free from God. Not even the devil is free from God. There are plenty of examples of God sending evil angels to torment and trick people into believing lies. Job chapter one, verses 11 and 12, is probably the best known example of God sovereignly controlling the devil for His own purposes and glory. Nothing is, nor can be free from God. If some created thing could become free from God, then it would cease to exist. The Bible says, "For in Him we live, and move, and have our being" Acts 17:28. God is the ultimate cause of whatever exists or happens. Please see John 1:3 and Ephesians 1:11.

The Great Commission is a command for Christians to preach the Gospel to all. Christians are to obey all of God's commands. The fact that God has elected some only gives us courage that we will always be succesful in the preaching of the Gospel, because God's Word always accomplishes its task of saving the elect or damning the reprobate. Blessed be the name of God. The Bible says, "So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it" Isaiah 55:11. There is a two-fold purpose in the preaching of the Gospel. It either saves the elect or it hardens the reprobate. Sometimes God has sent out His servants to preach for the specific purpose of hardening the reprobates heart so that they would be damned. The Bible says, "And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not. Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed" Isaiah 6:9 and 10.

The preaching of the Gospel is necessary for God first commands it. Second, it is the way God has decided to convert His elect and to harden the reprobate. You fight with God when you oppose His methods.

Christ being crucified is most necessary! It is how God justifies His elect! The crucifixion of Christ is the basis of our Justification before God. Christ must be our surety. The Redeemer of God's elect must be crucified for it was a human who sinned, and the Redeemer must be fully God, for only God can endure the wrath of God on the cross! Therefore our Redeemer is Christ Jesus, fully God and fully man. The sins of the elect are imputed to Him, and His righteousness is imputed to the elect. It is the method of God to justify His people. You need to study Justification by Faith Alone.
You might be interested in hearing a lecture on Justification by Faith Alone at this link:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid ... nism&hl=en
It is the most important doctrine concerning man's salvation.
It is nicknamed Sola Fide.

1 Peter 3:18 is talking about God's elect, so it does not help your cause. The context of 1 Peter 1:2 confirms this.


Thank you for your response.
Red Beetle

 

[christian_soldier]

If you have a major principle that drives your interpretation of Scripture, but you can not explicitly show this principle from Scripture, or deduce it from Scripture, then you must ask yourself "Why do I believe this?" All who hold to "free" will should ask this question.

There are many terms accepted as scripturally based, but not explicitly found in the scriptures, are there not? The concept of 'free will' can, indeed, be deduced as one of these, and your objections not withstanding I continue to maintain that the fall of Adam (and Lucifer for that matter, also a part of creation) is demonstrative of this.

As you are assuredly aware, God made an explicit command in Gen 2:17. The implication is clear that Adam had a choice - to obey or disobey. If not for the disobedience of Adam, generations to come would not be spiritually dead and in need of redemption. I must reject the notion that God preordained Adam with no choice but to disobey.

Furthermore, the Calvinist position, if I understand correctly, holds that God chooses who will have faith to believe and receive the Gift of Salvation, which is followed by receiving the Holy Spirit. Having been preordained to do so, and without free will, it would be impossible not to comply, yes?

In light of these tenets, please explain:

Hebrews 6:

4For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,

5And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,

6If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.



Only the 'elect' would have been 'made partakers of the Holy Ghost' and as such and w/o free will could not fall away.

 

[Guest]

There are many terms accepted as scripturally based, but not explicitly found in the scriptures, are there not? The concept of 'free will' can, indeed, be deduced as one of these, and your objections not withstanding I continue to maintain that the fall of Adam (and Lucifer for that matter, also a part of creation) is demonstrative of this.

As you are assuredly aware, God made an explicit command in Gen 2:17. The implication is clear that Adam had a choice - to obey or disobey. If not for the disobedience of Adam, generations to come would not be spiritually dead and in need of redemption. I must reject the notion that God preordained Adam with no choice but to disobey.

Furthermore, the Calvinist position, if I understand correctly, holds that God chooses who will have faith to believe and receive the Gift of Salvation, which is followed by receiving the Holy Spirit. Having been preordained to do so, and without free will, it would be impossible not to comply, yes?

In light of these tenets, please explain:

Hebrews 6:

4For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,

5And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,

6If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.



Only the 'elect' would have been 'made partakers of the Holy Ghost' and as such and w/o free will could not fall away.

Your attempt to use Genesis 2:17 to prove "free will" only shows that you do not understand the basic principles of logic or grammar.

You can not deduce from a command.
You need to find an indicative verse which teaches "free" will.

Here is an example which may help you.


Example 1
All men are mortal
Socrates is a man
Therefore, Socrates is mortal

Notice that in Example 1 all three propositions are indicative. Propositions can not be imperative or interogative statements. The argument is valid.
Look at another example.


Example 2
All men are mortal
Socrates should not be mortal
Therefore, Socrates is not mortal


Example 2 fails because the conclusion can not possibly follow from the premise and the command. Premises must have a copula in them and the second premise is a command, it does not have a copula. This is a basic formal fallacy in logic.

Commandments tell us what we SHOULD do, not what we CAN do.
Christ commands us in the Gospel to be perfect. Can any, Christ excepted, be perfect? Nope, Paul clearly states, using an indicative remark, that there is none that doeth good (Romans 3:10-12).
Your notion is generally known as "ought implies can".
The reverse of this logical fallacy is where someone attempts to deduce an imperative from a declarative set of premises. For example:


Example 3
Mere Men from Adam are beings which sin
John is a mere man from fallen Adam
Therefore, John ought to sin

The "ought" is no where found in the premises, and it is smuggled in only in the conclusion. The "ought" can not be deduced from the premises, and can not be used to form a proposition anyways. Finally, the Bible states that men ought not to sin. Many people use a form of Example 3 when trying to develop a method of ethics. This fallacy is known as the naturalistic fallacy, or sometimes it is called "Hume's Law" after Scotch Philosopher David Hume. Hope this is helpful to you on your search for "free" will.

Ephesians 1:11 is an indicative verse which infers the absolute determination of all things by our Sovereign God. Here is a syllogism based on Ephesians 1:11.

Calvinism proven from Scripture
God is a being who works all things after the counsel of His will
Man's will is a thing
Therefore, God is a being who works man's will after the counsel of His will

See how simple that is?

The passage you use in Hebrews 6: 4-6 does not apply to the elect, for God is immutable and preserves all those He gives faith to. It also does not infer that the reprobate can be regenerated. The key point is found in the context: "if they shall fall away", and the elect do not fall away, and the reprobate are never put in a position where they can fall away. James states clearly that the gift of salvation is permanent, that is, it can not be lost once it is given. God preserves the elect. James writes, "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variableness, neither shadow of turning" James 1:17.

Here is a syllogism demonstrating what Paul is teaching in Hebrews 6:

If the elect fall away, then they are damned (conditional premise)
The elect are those who never fall away (John 10:28-29)
Therefore, the elect are those who are never damned (John 6:37)
Red Beetle

 

[christian_soldier]

Your attempt to use Genesis 2:17 to prove "free will" only shows that you do not understand the basic principles of logic or grammar.

You can not deduce from a command.
You need to find an indicative verse which teaches "free" will.

Here is an example which may help you.


Example 1
All men are mortal
Socrates is a man
Therefore, Socrates is mortal

Notice that in Example 1 all three propositions are indicative. Propositions can not be imperative or interogative statements. The argument is valid.
Look at another example.


Example 2
All men are mortal
Socrates should not be mortal
Therefore, Socrates is not mortal


Example 2 fails because the conclusion can not possibly follow from the premise and the command. Premises must have a copula in them and the second premise is a command, it does not have a copula. This is a basic formal fallacy in logic.

Commandments tell us what we SHOULD do, not what we CAN do.
Christ commands us in the Gospel to be perfect. Can any, Christ excepted, be perfect? Nope, Paul clearly states, using an indicative remark, that there is none that doeth good (Romans 3:10-12).
Your notion is generally known as "ought implies can".
The reverse of this logical fallacy is where someone attempts to deduce an imperative from a declarative set of premises. For example:


Example 3
Mere Men from Adam are beings which sin
John is a mere man from fallen Adam
Therefore, John ought to sin

The "ought" is no where found in the premises, and it is smuggled in only in the conclusion. The "ought" can not be deduced from the premises, and can not be used to form a proposition anyways. Finally, the Bible states that men ought not to sin. Many people use a form of Example 3 when trying to develop a method of ethics. This fallacy is known as the naturalistic fallacy, or sometimes it is called "Hume's Law" after Scotch Philosopher David Hume. Hope this is helpful to you on your search for "free" will.

Ephesians 1:11 is an indicative verse which infers the absolute determination of all things by our Sovereign God. Here is a syllogism based on Ephesians 1:11.

Calvinism proven from Scripture
God is a being who works all things after the counsel of His will
Man's will is a thing
Therefore, God is a being who works man's will after the counsel of His will

See how simple that is?

The passage you use in Hebrews 6: 4-6 does not apply to the elect, for God is immutable and preserves all those He gives faith to. It also does not infer that the reprobate can be regenerated. The key point is found in the context: "if they shall fall away", and the elect do not fall away, and the reprobate are never put in a position where they can fall away. James states clearly that the gift of salvation is permanent, that is, it can not be lost once it is given. God preserves the elect. James writes, "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variableness, neither shadow of turning" James 1:17.

Here is a syllogism demonstrating what Paul is teaching in Hebrews 6:

If the elect fall away, then they are damned (conditional premise)
The elect are those who never fall away (John 10:28-29)
Therefore, the elect are those who are never damned (John 6:37)
Red Beetle

John 6:

37All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

No, HE won't cast out a believer. However, if a believer falls away of his own free will, thats a problem for him. And, it is evidenced by the Holy Ghost that the subjects referred to in the quoted passage from Hebrews were saved. If only the elect are saved and the elect cannot fall away, you have a major contradiction to explain away. Your examples, while certainly patronizing, are insufficient to make your case.