In Reply to: Re: response reposted posted by OT2 on May 17, 2010 at 14:24:28:
Hi, OT2, I looked at your link and thought that the poster provided a good little history for something so brief. The point that I assume that you were making is that Calvin is as responsible as anyone for the Reformed Theological View. I won't argue this, but will just note the author's comment at the bottom of the article:
"Perhaps Calvin was influenced by Luther and followed his lead in the reforming of the Catholic church."
John Calvin (July 10, 1509 – May 27, 1564
Martin Luther(November 10, 1483–February 18, 1546)
[We see that while Luther was older than Calvin, they actually were contemporaries in that they belonged to roughly the same period. Calvin would have been 47 when Luther died]
I don't have time to do further research, but my hunch is that Calvin was most definitely influenced by Luther. Of course, as we know, neither Calvin or Luther succeeded in reforming the RCC. There was a reformation of sorts within the RCC, however, as a reaction to the Protestants, but it didn't nearly go far enough.
Re: the five points of grace, below, they are OFTEN misunderstood and misinterpreted by Calvin's critics. RC Sproul provides a wonderful in-depth look at these points and before one settles on a judgement, I recommend that his books be read first.
I would recommend Chosen by God and What is Reformed Theology? And I just noticed that he has a book entitled: Willing to Believe: the controversy over free will. I think that I'll order it on Amazon and make it my next project.
Total depravity
Unconditional election
Limited atonement
Irresistible grace
Perseverance of the saints
My own introduction to the Reformed beliefs was in a study of the Westminster Confession of Faith. The pastor of a church that I had attended for a number of years became reformed in his views and began teaching it through the WCF. Now there are beliefs within WCF that I have some disagreement with, e.g. Sabbatarianism. But the main tenets of grace IMO are exactly what the Bible teaches. Which brings me full circle because it is really the teachings of the Bible that are my greatest interest. If someone could show me through the texts of The Holy Bible that God does not save through grace alone, nor does he choose those whom he will save from the foundations of the world, then I would change my own views.