A few different questions.

[Guest]

1. Does anyone know of an exhaustive study on the subject of Israel and the Church? I understand that all who are Israelites are true believers and the separation of the two is of John Darby origin. It seems like this is an important topical study non-Disp like myself need to study because of the many Disp. ideas in Churches .

2. Concerning Calvinism, Arminianism, and the middle ground Election & Free both exist but its a mystery. I heard someone mention that Wesley taught that God gave the ability to a person to be able to chose or reject God, like a free choice zone where sin couldn't influence their decision. I don't think this can be supported from scripture but that is what I heard. Anyway for my question, from a Calvinist standpoint yes there are many scriptures that support the idea God chose His elect, we had no part. Next there are also many versus that speak of a person's responsibility to believe, to respond to God. However this is such a tuff thing to grasp for me. I thought of many things but here is just one thought,

"If God isnt willing for anyone to perish but for all come to repentance." Does this mean "all human beings"? Or just the elect?
If its all human beings it makes me think of "whom He calls, He also justifies, whom He justifies, He also glorifies" So if God calls one person that one person will be justified and last glorified, or essentially, saved. If God calls all human beings (out of His desire for none to perish) they will all be saved. But I know this isnt so, not all persons are saved. So does this mean the elect are the ones whom God isnt willing for them to perish? I also learned that God has a reason for the unbelievers in the world. The tares are left in the parable because they would hurt the wheat if pulled up. So if the tares have some benefical reason of existance for believers until the harvest it makes me think that there is a possibility that Calvinsim is true.

Is this proper hermenutics? To think in this way to determine this thinking of mine? Steve, if you have a moment to reply. Thanx.

Robin

[Guest]

I only have a moment, but your questions made me wonder if you have heard my lecture series on these two topics you raised (they are available for free download at the "topical lectures" link at www.thenarrowpath.com). If not, then I would recommend them as my way of answering your questions. If you have already heard them, and still have questions, there are plenty of written sources available on these topics. There are also many people at this forum who may be able to answer your questions one-by-one. Right now, I am quite busy packing for a long trip, and will not be able to interact much here for a few weeks. God bless you.

[Guest]

Welcome rbaitz,
for question #1 go to the following:
http://www.endtimesmadness.com/Jews.html
http://www.endtimesmadness.com/Jews2.html
http://www.endtimesmadness.com/WhoIsIsrael.html
http://www.endtimesmadness.com/refuted.html

[Guest]

they will all be saved. But I know this isnt so, not all persons are saved. So does this mean the elect are the ones whom God isnt willing for them to perish? I also learned that God has a reason for the unbelievers in the world. The tares are left in the parable because they would hurt the wheat if pulled up. So if the tares have some benefical reason of existance for believers until the harvest it makes me think that there is a possibility that Calvinsim is true.

Calvinism portrays a God who delibertely sends the great majority of people to hell for eternal punishment because God did'nt choose them. Christian universalism believes the only legitimate reference to hell is the lake of fire in Rev 20 and that it is possible to be saved through the fire, another words it's meant to be redemptive more then punitive and that it's not eternal because evil has to be destroyed not just contained. In this way God's will is going to be done in the end which is consistent with what the bible says about God's will, that it will indeed be done.