John MacArthur’s Heresy on Predestination
By David J. Stewart
“For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.” —Jude 1:4
Pastor John MacArthur is a dangerous man, because he subtly has introduced many damnable heresies into the church—none more hideous than his denial of the redeeming power of the literal physical blood of Jesus Christ. MacArthur also teaches a form of works-based salvation. And to no surprise, as a Calvinist, MacArthur teaches that a lost sinner cannot be saved unless God first chooses him or her.
In the thirteenth chapter of Acts, a most fascinating statement is found in verse 48. Paul and Barnabas ready to preach, “And when the Gentiles heard this,” that is regarding the gospel, and the gospel of salvation, “they began rejoicing and glorifying the Word of the Lord,” now note this, “and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed.” The only people who believe are those who have been appointed to eternal life. God only grants the gift of faith to those who are predestined to salvation. He chose us. And to those He has chosen, He gives the power to believe.
MacArthur foolishly teaches that God chooses who will get saved, and conversely, who won’t. MacArthur is dead wrong! Here is what Acts 13:48 says:
“And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.”
Although at a glance, Acts 13:48 appears to teach that God chooses (i.e. appoints) people to be saved, nothing could be further from the truth, which is clearly evidenced if we compare this Scripture with other Scriptures. For example, consider the Words of John 1:12
“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.”
Clearly, salvation comes to those who RECEIVE HIM. This is the exact opposite of the garbage John MacArthur is teaching, i.e. “God only grants the gift of faith to those who are predestined to salvation. He chose us. And to those He has chosen, He gives the power to believe.” MacArthur states that God must choose us before He gives us the power to believe; BUT, in sharp contrast, John 1:12 teaches that God gives the power to be saved to those who RECEIVE HIM. That power is the Gospel (Romans 1:16). Biblically, it is us who choose God; and not God Who chooses us. MacArthur is teaching doctrines of Devils.
What Does Acts 13:48 Mean?
Again, Acts 13:48 reads, “And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.”
The Greek word for “ordained” in Acts 13:48 is “tasso” and means “to appoint, arrange, order, ordain or decree.” The same exact word is used in Romans 13:1, “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.” Applying the same mentality John MacArthur uses to interpret Acts 13:48 to interpret Romans 13:1, would mean that God appointed Hitler to murder 6,000,000 Jews. Do you think God chooses evil men to kill the innocent? Did God ordain Herod to murder 2,000 infants? Of course not. The correct interpretation of Romans 13:1 is that God ALLOWS men to rule over men; but this does not mean that God always approves of what men do. The Bible has plenty to say about evil rulers (e.g. Proverb 28:15). Likewise, God doesn’t choose those who will be saved; but rather, he allows us to make our own decisions.
The suggestion that “ordained” in Acts 13:48 teaches predestination to salvation goes 100% contrary to dozens of Scriptures which teach that man has a free will, and thus chooses for himself where to spend eternity. Jesus plainly stated in John 5:40 “And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.” The invitation was open; but they refused. Jesus said “ye will not come“; He didn’t say “ye cannot come“.
Acts 13:48 simply means that God in His foreknowledge KNEW ahead of time, from the beginning of the world, who would be saved; BUT, God did not choose them to be saved. Carefully notice that the Greek meaning of the word “ordained” does not include the word “chose“.
They who RECEIVE JESUS are saved by the power of God “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name” (John 1:12). That “power” is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Romans 1:16 states: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”
Here are some words of wisdom by Dr. John R. Rice concerning John 1:12
“But what about those who received him? Why, very simply, based on that simple heart reception He gave them authority to become sons of God. There was no question of their merit or character of fitness, just the simple condition that any who wanted the Lord Jesus may have Him. Any who would receive Him may take Him. And those who received Him, “to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.”
Will you note that receiving and believing are the same? If any one wants to know what it means to believe on Jesus, it simply means to receive Him. That is the same kind of promise as Revelation 3:20, “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” That is the same kind of promise of Revelation 22:17, “Let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” Instant salvation, undeserved salvation, glorious, eternal salvation to the one who receives Christ in the heart. Oh, simple, beautiful, and marvelous!
SOURCE: John, the Son of God; by John R. Rice, pgs. 28,29; ISBN: 0-87398-794-2; Sword of the Lord Publishers
Receiving Jesus and believing Jesus are the same thing! Acts 13:48 plainly evidences this fact “And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.” You see, certain of the Gentiles had RECEIVED CHRIST, and were glad, and glorified the Word of God, and it was by the power of the Gospel that they were saved, just as John 1:12 teaches:
“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.”
Please understand that salvation is NOT a process. Salvation is instant. The very moment that a repentant sinner receives Jesus as their personal Saviour, they have also believed on Him in their heart. To be saved, a sinner need only to BELIEVE on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 10:43). It is Jesus’ precious blood that washes our sins away (1st Peter 1:18,19); and not our own self-righteousness (Isaiah 64:6). We need HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS (i.e. Jesus’ righteousness) to get to Heaven (Matthew 6:33; Romans 10:3,4; 2nd Corinthians 5:21). Salvation is receiving; not giving. Salvation is of God; not man. Eternal life is a free gift (Romans 6:23).
Jesus Died for the Sins of the Whole World
If, as John MacArthur and other Calvinists teach, God chooses who will and won’t be saved, then why does the Word of God repeatedly proclaim that Christ died for the WORLD?
John 3:16 proclaims:
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
The Bible teaches that “whosoever” may be saved, simply by trusting upon the Lord Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins. Salvation is having our sins taken away by the precious blood of Jesus Christ (1st John 1:7).
1st John 4:14 states:
“And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.”
Jesus could not be the Saviour of the world if He ordained only some to believe.
1st Timothy 4:10 states:
“For therefore we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.”
How much clearer could the Bible be? Jesus is the Saviour of all men. Jesus paid for the sins of all humanity. If you die in your sins and burn in Hellfire, it will be your own fault. Eternal life is a “free gift” (Romans 5:15). Unbelief is the only sin which can prevent a person from going to Heaven, because everyone who believes upon the Lord is going to Heaven “To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins” (Acts 10:43). There’s that word “whosoever” again. In the Greek that means everybody!
John 12:47 states:
“And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.”
Calvinism is of the Devil
Oh, how foolish are those men who corrupt the simplicity of the Gospel, and place heavy burdens upon sinners, grievous to be borne. Calvinism teaches that God chooses who will and won’t be saved. Consequently, Calvinism also teaches that Jesus only died for the “chosen” few (i.e. the elect). How absurd!
If MacArthur is correct, i.e. that God chooses who will get saved and who won’t, then what is the criteria by which God chooses? Are some men better, or more worthy, than others? Calvinism turns God into a respecter of persons; but Romans 2:11 states: “For there is no respect of persons with God.” Titus 2:11 clearly states: “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men.” The Bible plainly teaches that the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to ALL MEN. That is, all men have the opportunity to get saved. It is man’s responsibility to desire the truth; and it is God’s responsibility to provide it. God is not obligated to provide the truth unless a man first desires to have it.
The very notion that Jesus only died for certain people is blasphemy against the character of God. Does not Romans 5:6 teach that “Christ died for the ungodly“? Yes, it does! God loves all mankind, and has manifest His unconditional love towards us by dying for our sins (Romans 5:12). To say that God chose who would be saved or lost before the world began defeats the entire purpose for which God created mankind. God created us to please Him (Revelation 4:11). Hebrews 11:6 declares that only FAITH pleases God. If God forces certain people to become Christians, then where does faith enter the picture? It doesn’t. For faith to exist, there must be the opportunity for freewill. Calvinists teach that God, through “Irresistible Grace“, forces a person to get saved. How ridiculous! God has given mankind a freewill. It is our choice whether to receive Jesus Christ, or to reject Him. God does not determine our decision NOT because He is incapable of doing so but because He does not desire to do so.
God is not willing that any should perish (2nd Peter 3:9). If MacArthur is correct, i.e. that God chose some not to be saved, then God is willing for some to perish, because He didn’t even give them a chance to get saved. There are so many loopholes in the doctrines of Calvinism. One heresy begets another and another.
Matthew 25:41 states that God created Everlasting Fire (i.e. Hell) originally for the Devil and his angels. God never intended for even one human being to burn in the fires of Hell. Yet, according to John MacArthur and other Calvinists, God only chose certain people to be saved, and others were intended to burn in Hell for all eternity. The big problem with Calvinism from every perspective is that it eliminates man’s free will to make his own choices.
Conclusion
John MacArthur is full of pudding. Faith is not a gift to those whom God has chosen to salvation, independent of their own free will. God forbid! Rather, those who freely RECEIVE Jesus Christ are saved by the power of the Gospel (John 1:12; Romans 1:16). Eternal life is a “free gift” which has been paid for by Jesus’ literal physical precious blood (Hebrews 9:12). All that God requires for salvation is that we, of our own free will, “believe on the Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 16:31).
“…let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” —Revelation 22:17
I believe in Predestination. Ask yourself why when you witness to someone and they will not come to salvation. At this point panic strikes the heart of an Arminian. Like the theological liberal, he needs to rescue God from this caricature. Arminianism is another rescue operation to rescue God from the bad press He gets in the Bible. Arminians don’t deny God’s power or love or holiness or goodness or that He should be glorified for saving sinners, but the panic attack comes when they cannot allow God to be held responsible for evil. They don’t want God to have the responsibility for not saving people (even if they don’t want to deny God the responsibility for saving people). How do they make this rescue attempt? You have to reinvent God and become a revisionist interpreter of Scripture. You need to come up with a new God who is off the hook. Many limit His power to prevent evil or say He is unwilling to use the power He does have because there was something more important than stopping evil and that was to give to sinner autonomy or free will. This is supposedly a nobler gift. Then there are other Arminians who say that God has limited knowledge and here we meet process theologians and openness theologians. They have created a new God and lack a God-centered, God-focused, God-exalting view of the way things are. They need to make sure that God doesn’t violate any of their sensibilities. God creates man and they return the favor.
Where do we go to solve this?
One answer is metaphysical thinking about reality: good exists, therefore evil exists. Evil is inevitable because good is present (yin yang). Another answer is the one used by most evangelicals: autonomous theology–evil exists because of free will. The noblest thing God gave men is free will because this is the highest good. Free will trumps evil on God’s value scale. He would rather deal with the issues of evil in order to give people freedom. God wants you to love Him because you chose to love Him, not because He made you love Him. God had to allow the possibility of evil to allow the possibility to autonomy. Humans must then have self-determination since if God worked as the primary cause, God is responsible and people are then not free. This doesn’t solve anything because if God knew that people would reject Him when He gave them free will, knowing where it would go and where it would lead, He is still responsible. This problem of evil is the big problem in evangelical and liberal Christianity–everyone trying to save God from this biblical definition.
The question is would you rather have a God trying to get control of evil or a God who is in control?
God didn’t create evil but He also didn’t invent it. It occurred in a rebellion against Him but willed and ordained that it occurred. You can see many ways in the Bible that God designs to use evil things for His own purposes, and even eternal evil. Sometimes to bring fear and terror and conviction on the unregenerate, sometimes to bring chastisement or discipline on God’s people or to humble them.
Comment by Shawn Gregoire — September 18, 2008 @ 3:38 pm |
Hi Shawn Gregoire,
Please read these short articles to understand more about predestination:
http://onetruegod.wordpress.com/2008/06/26/arminianism-exposed/
http://onetruegod.wordpress.com/2008/06/24/what-a-mess-calvinism-vs-hyper-calvinism-vs-arminianism/
http://onetruegod.wordpress.com/2008/07/13/predestination-foreknowledge-and-election/
Regards
Comment by Bearing The Cross — September 18, 2008 @ 5:39 pm |
If you don’t believe that God has sovereignly predestined all things to happen, how do you know the events of Revelation will happen? If we all have a ‘free will’, how do we know we won’t mess it up somehow?
Comment by Randy — October 15, 2008 @ 1:45 pm |
I think it’s kind of funny how when you talk about Acts 13:48 you jump to a different scriptural translation than John Macarthur in order to make the passage less severe. Then you openly admit that the Greek word for “ordain” implies decreeing, ordering, and arranging something. From there you say how if you want to use the same definition of “ordain” in Romans 13:1 it would imply that God had appointed Hitler. So after stating the definition of the word you basically state that that cannot be the real definition of the word because you cannot see how God would ever choose a murderer to be in a position of power. What ever happened to trusting God and realizing that we cannot understand why he does what he does. Words mean things, and we should not change our understanding of the words of Scripture because they do not gel with our conceptions of how God should work.
Also, as a Calvinist I would like to add that I do believe that there is a lot of Scripture which speaks about man’s ability to reject God. However, we also have much of the exact opposite with indisputable Scripture in support of God’s choosing the saints. To believe that the Scripture about election is somehow nullified by the large amount of Scripture on free will is erroneous. If you believe the Scripture on election to be a problem, you should investigate it instead of pushing it to the side.
Lastly, I thought this quote was humorous. “Are some men better, or more worthy, than others? Calvinism turns God into a respecter of persons; but Romans 2:11 states: ‘For there is no respect of persons with God.’” Your logic leaves much to be desired. You created a straw man for the sake of tearing it down. Calvinists do not turn God into a respecter of persons. Rather, one of the main points of Calvinism is the total depravity of man. Calvinists do not assert that God favors some more than others; he chooses us for reasons we cannot fathom. Examples of this would be God’s choosing of Paul , a persecuter of Christains, or Moses, a murderer. We are all deplorable before God until he lifts us up.
I applaud your zeal, but I would admonish you to make sure that your criticism is done in love.
Peace to you my brother.
Comment by Matt — November 25, 2008 @ 1:09 am |
Matt you said:
“Calvinists do not assert that God favors some more than others; he chooses us for reasons we cannot fathom. Examples of this would be God’s choosing of Paul , a persecuter of Christains, or Moses, a murderer. We are all deplorable before God until he lifts us up.”
If God chooses us, and that choice is a “better” position than if He had not chosen, then God does indeed favor. It is an argument by implication.
Factually an argument from total depravity does not mitigate the fact that according to the Calvinist perspective some are chosen (for a better position) and some are not, and therefor left un-favored.
As for your criticism: “I would admonish you to make sure that your criticism is done in love.”
Agreed, we can all be brothers with different theologies, and still agree on the essentials. It is Christ who saves, and that not unto ourselves. Less venom.
Comment by Sean — July 4, 2009 @ 11:44 am |
A little more studying is in order.
Comment by Jonathan — December 20, 2008 @ 9:59 am |
You need to study without any presuppositions, and without the motivation to disprove calvinism and support arminianism. Read the extensive number of verses that clearly indicate predestination, especially Romans 9. “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion. It does not, therefore, depend on man’s desire or effort, but on God’s mercy. For the Scripture says to Pharaoh: I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden. One of you [an arminian] will say to me: “Then why does God still blame us? For who resists his will?” But who are you, O man [O arminian], to talk back to God? “Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, ‘Why did you make me [an arminian] like this?’ ” Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for noble purposes and some for common use? You actually reinforced my belief in predestination and election by providing such a weak argument. Thanks.
I heard a debate between an arminian who had a MDIV with 40 years of pastoring and a simple calvinist believer. At the end of the debate, the arminian simply said (in closing) regarding Romans 9, “Paul was delusional when he wrote chapter 9). CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT??? And this arminian was a graduate from Fuller. Every verse that this arminian writer used can easily be disproven by Scripture alone. Example: Arminians love to use Rev 3, which reads, “…he who overcomes the world will be saved…” yet in 1 John 5:4, a calvinist will come back and use “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world.” Lastly, regarding the verse that says God is not willing that anyone should perish…, God has three major characteristics (good, just, holy), and niether can violate the other. Although God does not wish anyone to burn in hell, he cannot violate his justice (His Law). Therefore, just like a kind-hearted judge that has to sentence someone to the gas chamber may not desire to do so, he must carry out the law. And by the way: if there are ten murderers on death row, and the governor pardons three simply out of mercy but allows the others to die for their crime — is this governor good or bad? And let’s say crystal balls are real, and a parent learns that his son will die on a certain date in the future because of a “BAD CHOICE.” The day comes and the parent knows what’s going to happen on that day, AND JUST LET’S IT HAPPEN. Is this a good parent or a bad one? This is the God of the Arminians. But, if a person is not a child of God (e.g. Judas), God will use them for His purpose and allow them to go where they belong (Acts 1). God does not “know” become intimate with those who are not His. Jesus said, “MY SHEEP hear my voice, know (intimately) my voice, and follow me (not decide to follow me or may follow me) THEY FOLLOW ME. “Many are called but few are chosen.” I can go on but I think I’m overkilling here. :)
Comment by Nelson — January 20, 2009 @ 12:57 am |
Can a Calvinist tell me where in the Bible that states some people are destined to hell? How does a Calvinist know they are the elect?
Comment by Steve — March 3, 2009 @ 8:13 am |
You who use John 1:12 to disprove what you call “Calvinism,” and to prove “free will,” please read the next verse, verse 13. You know what it says; I’m not going to quote it here.
Comment by David Heesen — March 12, 2009 @ 11:05 am |
David, you said: “You who use John 1:12 to disprove what you call “Calvinism,” and to prove “free will,” please read the next verse, verse 13. You know what it says; I’m not going to quote it here.”
The verses follow in order below
12Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the RIGHT to become children of God— 13children born not of natural descent,[c] nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but BORN of God.
Vs. 12 is talking about the right, our right, exercised on belief and reception.
VS 13 is talking about potency (power) the power to cause the birth (children born…) is not the receivers or the believers, but it is God’s power who does the birthing
Comment by Sean — July 4, 2009 @ 11:32 am |
To Steve: “How does a Calvinist know they are the elect?”
By “giving diligence to make our calling and election sure.”
Comment by David Heesen — March 12, 2009 @ 1:18 pm |
Very interesting topic. Could you give us your explanation of Romans 8:29-30 and Eph 1:11?
Comment by B. Diaz — March 25, 2009 @ 6:32 pm |
David, my question on #10 was intended to be answered by you. Whenever you have a moment, please review my question and reply.
Comment by B. Diaz — March 27, 2009 @ 7:05 pm |
I mean for David Stewart.
Comment by B. Diaz — March 27, 2009 @ 7:06 pm |
David, can you answer?
Comment by bezaleel diaz — March 30, 2009 @ 5:46 pm |
Any takers?
Comment by B. Diaz — April 4, 2009 @ 10:11 pm |
Wow and the Bible has such a clear message
Comment by Peter — April 7, 2009 @ 10:50 am |
Can the owner of this blog answer my initial question, please.
Comment by B. Diaz — April 21, 2009 @ 2:08 pm |