JUSTIN PETERS: MORE DOUBLE TALK!

 (21) Is There A Calvinist Conspiracy Against Christmas, Charlie Brown? - YouTube

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” (Luke 2:14). 
Footnote: "Some manuscripts peace, good will among men."

Justin Peters gives a comprehensive exposition of the Greek phrase ἀνθρώποις εὐδοκία/εὐδοκίας in Luke 2:14. Brian (Faith on Fire) has some very questionable views at times.{1} Even Calvin did not relate this verse to limited atonement. 

Calvin: "Which shall be to all the people Though the angel addresses the shepherds alone, yet he plainly states, that the message of salvation which he brings is of wider extent, so that not only they, in their private capacity, may hear it, but that others may also hear. Now let it be understood, that this joy was common to all people, because, it was indiscriminately offered to all. For God had promised Christ, not to one person or to another, but to the whole seed of Abraham. If the Jews were deprived, for the most part, of the joy that was offered to them, it arose from their unbelief; just as, at the present day, God invites all indiscriminately to salvation through the Gospel, but the ingratitude of the world is the reason why this grace, which is equally offered to all, is enjoyed by few. Although this joy is confined to a few persons, yet, with respect to God, it is said to be common. When the angel says that this joy shall be to all the people, he speaks of the chosen people only; but now that, the middle wall of partition" (Ephesians 2:14) has been thrown down, the same message has reference to the whole human race. [149] For Christ proclaims peace, not only, to them that are nigh, "but to them that are, far off," (Ephesians 2:17,) to "strangers" (Ephesians 2:12) equally with citizens. But as the peculiar covenant with the Jews lasted till the resurrection of Christ, so the angel separates them from the rest of the nations." {2} 

Peters continues to quote John 6:37-39 and he asserts that no amount of hermeneutical gymnastics can deny that God has His elect. At the same time he argues for man's responsibility and accountability in responding to the gospel. Peters does not refer to himself as a Calvinist and yet he does not deny it either.

According to Peters, the teaching that man has no responsibility is only true of hyper-Calvinists. Peters: "Hyper Calvinists are about as rare as bigfoot. I have travelled all over the world and I have met very few, maybe a handful, maybe two or three people that are true hyper-Calvinists.." 

I do not know what planet Peters has been on, but the irrefutable teaching of Calvinism is summed up in the acronym TULIP. Many pastors/teachers promote five-point Calvinism in their churches, including Peters' hero John MacArthur. This aberrant teaching is not limited to "two or three people".

• Total depravity. Human beings are dead in their sins, and they stand justly condemned before God, unable to do anything to save themselves.

• Unconditional election. From eternity, God in his sovereignty chose specific human beings to be saved. That salvation was determined entirely by God, not simply God’s foreknowledge of who would respond to his offer of grace.

• Limited atonement. Also known as “particular redemption,” the doctrine teaches the death of Jesus Christ was intended for the remission of the sins of elect human beings only; in other words, the intention of the atonement and its effects are the same.

• Irresistible grace. Many Calvinists prefer the term “effectual calling” to express this idea—God’s call to salvation will not fail to bring about the repentance and faith of the elect.

• Perseverance of the saints. This doctrine teaches all true believers in Christ will be saved because God grants them faith to persist to the end of life, and God will keep them safe.

Why does Peters think that Calvinism is so very controversial and that it is responsible for causing numerous church splits and pain to countless believers? 

Everyone the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will never drive away. For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but to do the will of Him who sent Me. And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that I shall lose none of those He has given Me, but raise them up at the last day. For it is My Father’s will that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in Him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.” At this, the Jews began to grumble about Jesus because He had said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” They were asking, “Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How then can He say, ‘I have come down from heaven?’”“Stop grumbling among yourselves,” Jesus replied. “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day. (John 6:37-44).

Soteriology 101: "There are two basic ways to interpret this passage and it hinges on the words “draws” and “them.” Let’s look at the two renderings side by side:
Calvinists: 'No man can come to me unless the Father who sent me *drags* him, and I will raise up *him who was dragged* at the last day.'
Traditionalists: 'No man can come to me unless the Father who sent me *enables* him, and I will raise up *him who comes* at the last day.'
The Greek sentence structure allows for the author to be referencing 'them' who come, not necessarily all those drawn. For instance if the sentence translated in English were structured in this manner the intention might be more obvious:
'Only those drawn by the Father may come, and I will raise up them (those that come) at the last day..'” {3} 

 

1. WOLVES IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING: FALSE PROPHETS AND BIBLE TEACHERS IN THE LAST DAYS: BRIAN (FAITH ON FIRE) CAN WE SEPARATE FAITH AND REPENTANCE? (bewareofthewolves.blogspot.com)
2. Luke 2 Calvin's Commentaries (biblehub.com)
3. JOHN 6:44 – SOTERIOLOGY 101