Does Edwards ever describe how God may have an “uncaused” or undetermined free-will, or is this another one of those things that is attributed to “paradox”?

Once again, it is the Calvinist, rather than the Arminian, who limits God, insisting that God has “total inability” to create a being with an undermined free-will.

Richard

God be with you,
Dan

Thanks,
Ben

Personally, I think this post was expressed very well with ample points. The different treatments of the two uses of death was most enlightening. Thank you for you cander and humility.

I cannot answer this in short. I’m going to create a blog very soon, where I’m going to elaborate on this and relative issues very, very thoroughly.

It is some of the Arminians I have heard, which promote to choose God and then maintain that chosen salvation by good works. Not all Arminians stand by this, for many certainly recognise that it is only the Spirit in them by which they work righteousness.

But most Christians, by far, are of neither doctrine but a mixed view which says we can choose God (Arminianism) and then will never lose our salvation (a twisted view of Calvinism’s Perseverance of the Saints.) Shouldn’t we worry more about them? I have seen Calvinists with wonderful fruit, and I would say by the Holy Spirit; Likewise, I know many Arminians, by the Holy Spirit and not their own works, bear wonderful fruit.

But there are unconverted, carnal people who believe that because one time in their life they prayed a prayer, they are saved. They go through the motions and the emotions — But there is no Spirit within them. They attempt to convince themselves with a few works, but there is no repentance. No conviction. Just the terrible judgement of God awaiting them.

“Lord, Lord!” … But He will say, “I *never* knew you. Depart from me, you workers of iniquity.”

I understand what you are saying but I am asking you how you define “faith” and “works”. Do you believe that faith that does not produce fruit is still saving faith?

Thanks,
Ben

Works-based religions are mostly like this:
faith + works => justification

Calvinism is like this:
justification => faith + sanctification
sanctification => works

or put together

justification => faith + works

So if there are no good works in your life, meaning if you do not (as a new creature) perform good works, then you have no sanctification. And then you have no justification in the first place.

So there is no justification without good works. Thus, calvinism holds to salvation by works. Why do many not realize that? Because in Calvinism, you must work but nevertheless cannot boast!

That’s the real sheep cloth : “we cannot boast, can we? So it’s not by works at all”.

No, you must do works and STILL cannot boast.
This is not Sola Fide.

How do you define “works”? How do you define “faith alone”?

The others must work and feel they can boast.
Calvinists must work but SIMPLY CANNOT BOAST.

That’s really the ONLY difference.