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JOHN CALVIN : LIFE, LEGACY AND THEOLOGY -<br />
PROF. M. M. NINAN<br />
mouth the Lord Jesus <strong>and</strong> believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be<br />
saved" (Romans 10:9) all the while knowing that he (the god of <strong>Calvin</strong>ism) has withheld the faith to do<br />
so. <strong>Calvin</strong>ism presents a false gospel that neither offers eternal life nor allows salvation by the<br />
indwelling of the Holy Spirit.<br />
As an example, Mormons (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints) believe in a god <strong>and</strong> believe in<br />
a Jesus they say rose from the grave. However, Mormons are not born-again members of the Body of<br />
Christ. They are destined to spend eternity in hell. <strong>Calvin</strong>ists will also spend eternity in hell. <strong>Calvin</strong>ists<br />
believe in a false god <strong>and</strong> false Jesus with make-believe attributes much different from the true God<br />
<strong>and</strong> His Son, Jesus Christ, who took upon Himself the sins of the whole world.<br />
<strong>Calvin</strong>'s Predestination Doctrine Distorts the Character of God<br />
<strong>Calvin</strong>'s doctrine of predestination teaches that God in eternity past established the course of all future<br />
events from the molestation of a child to a rocket trip to the moon. <strong>Calvin</strong> taught that God has decided<br />
in eternity past those persons who would spend eternity with Him <strong>and</strong> those who would endure eternal<br />
torment. This doctrine was not derived from the Bible but from the philosophical concepts called the<br />
"immutability of God" (unchangeable) <strong>and</strong> the "impassability of God" (unaffectable).<br />
The pagan philosopher, Aristotle, born in 384 BC, wrote a book he called, Metaphics. His reasoning<br />
concluded that "God can't feel <strong>and</strong> can't change." This God must be unaffected by anything <strong>and</strong><br />
unalterable. He is unchanging, for change to would be a weakness <strong>and</strong> change thus render Him less<br />
than the ultimate God. Aristotle's God cannot love, cannot suffer <strong>and</strong> cannot be influenced. Saint<br />
Augustine incorporated this philosophy from Plato, Plotinus <strong>and</strong> Aristotle into his writings which were<br />
transferred to <strong>John</strong> <strong>Calvin</strong>. Thus <strong>Calvin</strong>'s doctrine of predestination was born.<br />
We know from Scripture that God does change His mind. God does suffer. God is influenced by<br />
prayer. God can be sorrowful <strong>and</strong> God does love. God changes His intended purpose as He chooses<br />
in response to the actions of man. <strong>Calvin</strong>'s doctrine of predestination strips God of His character <strong>and</strong><br />
is proven to be false by Scriptures that show God changing His mind in response to mankind's prayer<br />
or repentance.<br />
Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ<br />
died for us.<br />
2 kings 20:1 In those days Hezekiah was sick <strong>and</strong> near death. And Isaiah the prophet, the son of<br />
Amoz, went to him <strong>and</strong> said to him, "Thus says the Lord: `Set your house in order, for you shall die,<br />
<strong>and</strong> not live.' " 2 Then he turned his face toward the wall, <strong>and</strong> prayed to the Lord, saying, 3<br />
"Remember now, O Lord, I pray, how I have walked before You in truth <strong>and</strong> with a loyal heart, <strong>and</strong><br />
have done [what] [was] good in Your sight." And Hezekiah wept bitterly. 4 And it happened, before<br />
Isaiah had gone out into the middle court, that the word of the Lord came to him, saying, 5 "Return <strong>and</strong><br />
tell Hezekiah the leader of My people, `Thus says the Lord, the God of David your father: "I have<br />
heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; surely I will heal you. On the third day you shall go up to the<br />
house of the Lord. 6 "And I will add to your days fifteen years.<br />
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