Why People Don't Want What the Bible Says But Prefer Money Grubbing TV Evangelists Who Lie Instead.
This video appears to consist of excerpts from a 2009 debate between Steve McCalip and Larry Wessels in which Wessels' views are shown exclusively.1 A debate is a discussion in which opposing arguments are put forward. I have never watched a "debate" where we do not get to hear the opposing arguments!
Pitting Calvinism against TV evangelists is something of a misnomer. Many Christians who reject Calvinism, including myself, also reject the ministries of Billy Graham, CS Lewis, and the ecumenical NAR Word-faith TV evangelists. Given the plethora of false teachings circulating within various denominations, it may seem right to run to Calvinism as a place of safety. However, to put one's faith into the teachings of John Calvin is to lunge from one false teaching to another. The "true gospel" minus the distortions of Calvinism can only be found in the scriptures. (2 Timothy 3:16).
Wessels: "Did Jesus die for everybody who ever lived?" (in contrast to "limited atonement")
..even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many (ἀντὶ πολλῶν).” (Matthew 20:28 cf. Matthew 26:28; John 10:15; 1 Timothy 2:6; 1 John 2:2; 2 Cornithians 5:14-15, Hebrews 2:9).
Meyer:
"ΠΟΛΛῶΝ] The vicarious death of Jesus may be described as having taken place for all (Romans 5:18; 1 Timothy 2:6; 1 John 2:2), or for many (so also Matthew 26:28; Hebrews 9:28), according as we regard it as an objective fact (that fact being: Jesus has given His life a ransom for all men), or look at it in relation to the subjective appropriation of its results on the part of individuals (which happens only in the case of believers). So in the present case, where, accordingly, πολλῶν is to be understood as meaning all who believe now and will believe hereafter. (John 17:20)."2
Wessels: "Due to their carnal pride, men naturally object to God's power and sovereignty.. especially in the area of salvation.. and (they) try to say that God loves everybody equally and God wants everybody to be saved."
Many Old Testament passages teach that God hates sinners or evil and wicked people. (e.g. Leviticus 20:23; Psalm 11:5; 26:5; Proverbs 6:16-19; 16:5; Hosea 9:10-15 and Malachi 1:2-3.) Nevertheless, God rescued the wicked city of Nineveh when the people repented. (Jonah 3:6-10). The New Testament asserts that God loves the world and that Jesus died for the sins of the world. (e.g. John 3:16; Romans 5:8;1 John 4:16; 1 John 4:10). The denial that repentance and faith are the key factors that take sinners from the status of God's enemies to his beloved children is perverse. There are many examples in the scriptures where repentance and faith are required as a condition of salvation. (Romans 5:10).
First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all.. (1 Timothy 2:1-6).
The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. (2 Peter 3:9).
Wessels:
"It is the sinner, not God, who secures salvation...God offers everyone a chance as if he owed it to everyone or anyone, leaving the sinner the work of saving himself by 'accepting Christ'. From this theory, God does not save anyone in particular, just anyone who will have Him. ..This would then make God a respecter of persons, choosing people to be saved based on their own efforts to attain salvation.. Does God choose people to be saved on their own efforts..
The idea that repentance and faith are works is often touted by Calvinists. However, the scriptures are unequivocal: God commands all people everywhere to repent. (Acts 17:30). The New Testament affirms that we are saved by grace through faith.. not by works. (Ephesians 2:8-9). Repentance and faith are two sides of the same coin. Salvation involves deep conviction and revulsion of sin and requires faith in Jesus Christ. Romans 4:5 debunks the false assumption that faith is a work: And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness.
The argument that "God is a respecter of persons" because He accepts repentant sinners is totally perverse and wicked. God gives everyone the opportunity to repent, taking no account of status or anything else. The saying, "God is no man's debtor" is based on Romans 11:35. God is sovereign and self-sufficient. He does not rely on humanity for anything, and he has no obligation to save us. Salvation is based on God's grace and unmerited favour. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16). Because of His love, God has reached out to humanity with the gospel. Nevertheless, He requires a response. For some twisted reason, Calvinists equate human response to the gospel with works. But that view goes against the scriptures. (Acts 3:19,20:21,26:20; 2 Corinthians 7:10; Mark 1:15; Revelation 9:21; Luke 5:32,13:3, 24:47; Matthew 3:2 etc.)
Wessels: "If this theory is true, then John the Baptist must have 'accepted Christ' in the womb."
..for he will be great before the Lord. And he must not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb.. And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. (Luke 1:15,41,44).
The gifts of the Holy Spirit are distributed according to God's will. (Hebrews 2:4). In other words, John did not make a conscious decision to leap in his mother's womb in recognition of Jesus as the Messiah; rather, the Holy Spirit came upon John in a specific way when Mary greeted Elizabeth. The pre-birth filling of John the Baptist is unparalleled, indicating John's pivotal role in preparing the way for Jesus Christ. (Malachi 4:5-6; Isaiah 40:3). The Holy Spirit subsequently filled Elizabeth and Mary, both of whom prophesied. We should understand that the conception, birth, and life of John the Baptist was anything but normative. John's recognition of Jesus came by divine revelation when he was baptizing: Then John testified, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove and resting on Him. I myself did not know Him, but the One who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit descend and rest is He who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God.” John 1:32-34).
Wessel's insistence that God's offer of salvation to
all/everyone does not mean
all/everyone (
contingent upon repentance and faith) is profoundly dishonoring to God and, in my view, is a blasphemous misuse of His name! (Exodus 20:7).
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.” (John 3:16-21).
1. McCalip/Wessels Debate on Calvinism's Limited Atonement Part 1 of 24
2. Matthew 20:28 Commentaries: just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."
