Calvin mixes faith and works as the same thing and the word does NOT teach that. Works will come from true faith, a heart faith NOT a head faith. A head faith which most of the world has as do the devils will NOT save.
God has chosen to save and reach mankind when they exercise faith in his finished work accomplished by his death on the cross for our sins. Faith and good works are totally different acts. When I act on the faith freely given me from the Spirit of God by his word I am saved. The word lets us know that faith comes from hearing the word. The word is quick and powerful and it can work miracles in any life that opens up to its power. As I showed in Part 1 that God was reaching, saving what Calvin would call totally depraved people as they acted on what he told them to do.
Calvin said,
Calvin didn’t get that from the bible. The bible shows that faith comes from God, that you CANNOT please God without faith. God is ultra plain on that truth all through his word. God has elected or selected ALL to be saved by the blood of Jesus, exercising faith in his finish work on the cross. God has accomplished through his sacrifice what we couldn’t accomplish in our abilities or strength.
As I shared in “Part 1, Total Depravity” that God in the word of God told mankind to repent over and over and many below did so in their unregenerate state. No problem for God. I used these scriptures in Part 1.
Rom 3:27,28
27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.
28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.
I will give another illustration from the word going forth is what produces faith in totally depraved persons just like it did in Acts 10
43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.
44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.
45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.
46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,
47 Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?
Here we see that when God word goes forth it does some kind of work within mankind. In this instance Peter is preaching Jesus to those that were hearing him and they were convicted as the word was going forth and they received the Holy Ghost, hence saved. Peter made it plain that they were saved in the same way he was by the word going forth causing conviction and then came belief and repentance.
1 Timothy 2
1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.
3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.
Here we see that since God wants ALL saved, he gave his life as a ransom for ALL without forcing all to be saved BUT allowing it to take place as they receive or act upon it.
Isa 55
11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
This scripture based on some of the others I have shown you tells me that God’s word accomplishes what God said it accomplishes. The word being conviction enough conviction for a person to be saved and if he acts on that conviction through repentance then he is saved. In other words the moment you believe the gospel is the moment you repented and received.
God has unconditionally chosen ALL to be saved by the blood of Christ. IF you truly believe that you are a sinner in need of salvation then he is ALWAYS a prayer away. Call upon the Lord for his free love and mercy and he will answer..