Monday, April 8, 2013

Calvinism: Keeping the commandments is not impossible

First of all, many Calvinists (such as Matt Slick) insist its IMPOSSIBLE to keep the commandments (whether old or new). This is contradicted by the fact Revelation says:
So the dragon was enraged with the woman, and went off to make war with the rest of her children, who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus.-Revelation 12:17
Here is the perseverance of the saints who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.--Revelation 14:12
 Likewise, he told me that the first and greatest commandment which says that we must love God "with all your heart..." is impossible to keep, however, the Scriptures say otherwise.
For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods; and his heart was not whole with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father. -1 Kings 11:4
And he walked in all the sins of his father, which he had done before him; and his heart was not whole with the LORD his God, as the heart of David his father. For because of David, the Lord his God gave him rule in Jerusalem to set up his son after him to preserve Jerusalem. Since David did what was just in the eyes of the Lord and he did not turn away from all that the Lord had commanded him, all the days of his life, except in the matter of Uriah the Hittite. -1 Kings 15:3-5
But the high places were not taken away; nevertheless the heart of Asa was whole with the LORD all his days.-1 Kings 15:14
For he clave to the LORD, [and] departed not from following him, but kept his commandments, which the LORD commanded Moses--2 Kings 18:6
And like unto him was there no king before him, that turned to the LORD with all his heart, and with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses; neither after him arose there any like him.--2 Kings 23:25
And I will give them a heart to know Me, that I am the LORD; and they shall be My people, and I will be their God; for they shall return unto Me with their whole heart.--Jeremiah 24:7
And ye shall call upon Me, and go, and pray unto Me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek Me, and find Me, when ye shall search for Me with all your heart.--Jeremiah 29:12-13 (notice this verse also says people can seek God)
And the king stood in his place, and made a covenant before the LORD, to walk after the LORD, and to keep His commandments, and His testimonies, and His statutes, with all his heart, and with all his soul, to perform the words of the covenant that were written in this book.And he caused all that were found in Jerusalem and Benjamin to stand to it. And the inhabitants of Jerusalem did according to the covenant of God, the God of their fathers. -2 Chronicles 34:31-32 (A Calvinist might say they simple agreed to this covenant but did not do it, however it clearly says they "did according to the covenant...")
St John also in his epistles states:
By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.-1 John 5:2-3
Notice St John doesn't even think for a moment that it is impossible to love God, or to keep the commandments, but uses this as evidence, then states the commandments are not grievous.

St Luke states about Elizabeth and Zechariah (the parents of the Prophet St John the Baptist):
And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.-Luke 1:6
Although Abraham did commit some sins in his life the LORD still said about him:
Abraham hearkened to My voice, and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes, and My laws.-Genesis 26:5
Abraham DID keep the commandments and the law, despite Calvinists insistence that such is not possible. If you read the previous verses you will see why God blessed Abraham's seed.

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