I recently saw someone comment on social media, and they said, “I do not understand how anyone can read through the book of Romans and not come out the other side a Christian and especially a Calvinist.” I want to point out a few things that immediately struck me in my spirit about this comment that many who attend church or are very religious may not understand concerning the Word of God or how God works through His Holy Spirit in the lives and souls of mankind.
First of all, God does not function in the same manner that any man does. His mind does not operate in the way a man may comprehend. Even when men believe they know or understand a thing, they do not truly grasp the full meaning or depth of the matter in question as God does. As Scripture says in,
Isaiah 55:8-9 For my(God) thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.
Numbers 23:19 God is not man, that He should lie, or a son of man, that He should change His mind. Has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not fulfill it?
Just because a person reads the Word of God, or in this case, the Book of Romans, this does not mean they will be convinced to become a Christian. As if calling yourself a Christian is anything at all or being a part of a particular sect in Christianity, such as a Calvinist, means anything, either. Many men down through the ages who were very wicked called themselves Christian. For example, Hitler called himself a Christian, and we all know He was not a follower of Jesus Christ by the horrific actions he took against the world and the Jews. In a speech in 1932, Hitler declared himself “Not a Catholic and not a Protestant, but a German Christian.”
God is the one who changes the soul of a sinner. He works in the heart of mankind, not on the mere surface of things. It is a man who gives themselves titles and names that others may admire, agree with their stance, or even so others may worship on stages or behind a pulpit.
Jesus instructed us that God looks upon the heart and convicts us of our sins through the supernatural power of His Spirit. He is the one who changes us through the work of repentance and our sorrow for breaking His Law. It is not of anything we have done so that no one can boast. Just because someone reads His Words does not mean it will have a lasting effect. All have sinned and fallen short of His perfect example. Jesus never lied, stole, lusted, or had hatred in His heart for anyone, as we have done. Let’s take a look at what Jesus said when He taught His disciples how different people receive the Word of God in the Parable of the Sower.
Matthew 13:19-23 Jesus said, “Hear then the parable of the sower: When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path. As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away.
As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.”
You see, those whom God truly changes will, in turn, bear the good fruit of good deeds and yield a harvest of not only righteousness in their daily lives but also seek to save others who are lost in the deception of the Devil. They will walk in the ways that please the Lord. As Jesus also said, “Whoever obeys my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me.”
True salvation and regeneration into God’s character and image come through the transformation of the Holy Spirit and have nothing to do with what you label yourself. He makes an actual change in the believer’s heart, soul, mind, and body. Scripture also says, “And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.”
Now, on the topic of the title. The initial quote stated that the person doesn’t understand how anyone who becomes a Christian would not also be a Calvinist. Unfortunately, many within Christianity not only use that word loosely, thinking everyone who remotely believes in God or Jesus is a Christian, but they also have divided themselves up into thousands of different sects. Many times, they believe that they have found the correct sect of Christianity because they believe this religious group has every detail of doctrine and teaching correct, and every other one is flawed.
Galatians 2:26-29 For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.
The truth is that a spirit of pride and arrogance has grown within their hearts to think such a ridiculous thought that they have obtained some perfection. It is foolish since no one can reach perfection until we reside in Heaven. They have established their beliefs and opinions based on the writings of one person, in this case, John Calvin, over others. But the Word of God tells us a different story.
1 Corinthians 3:1-7 But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now, you are not yet ready, for you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way? For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not being merely human?
What, then, is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each. I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth.
Even worse, they believe they are holy and better than others, putting themselves above the teachings and instructions of the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. They prove themselves to be like youths in the Spirit if they are true to God at all. Jesus warned us about them.
Matthew 7:15-20 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.
In God’s Church, there is no difference between us. There are no denominations, sects, or divisions. We are all one in Christ, equal, yet given a different amount of the Spirit and gifts so that we may have different functions and authority in the body of Christ Jesus to help each other grow closer to the Lord. Yet, men puff themselves up, thinking they are something special above others, with wicked intentions. Pretending that because of their title or position, they are over others to rule over them. Because of their wicked hearts, they mistreat and demean others. But the hand of God’s judgment is not short because He sees all things. There will come a day when His wrath will rain down upon them.
Matthew 18:32-35 Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”
In conclusion, it is not about title, position, denomination, or what you call yourself. All that matters is to be a genuine follower of Jesus Christ, as He is the Head of the Church. Though He may give some of us the title of Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Preacher, or Teacher, that does not make us more important than the lowest of low in the Kingdom of Heaven.
Jesus implied through His teaching that it is the exact opposite of how the world works. We learn that the lowest will be the highest in the kingdom of Heaven and vice versa. So seek to be humble and holy in all your ways, to serve instead of being served. If you hold some position, do not consider yourself more significant than anyone else unless you want to be known as the least in His Kingdom.
Mark 9:35-37 And Jesus sat down and called the twelve. And He said to them, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.” And He took a child and put him in the midst of them, and taking him in His arms, He said to them, “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but Him who sent me.”
