Archive for April 25th, 2010
A bullet-proof refutation of limited sin-bearing on the terms and grounds of High Calvinist assumptions.1
Part 1:
Assumptions:
a) Let forgivable mean something like “able to have forgiveness conferred,” which I think is basic and sound.
b) Without a legal basis, no sin can be forgiven.
The Following syllogism can be constructed:
1) Only those sins imputed to Christ are forgivable.
2) Only the sins of the elect are imputed to Christ.
3) Therefore only the sins of the elect are forgivable.
1) has to follow unless one wants to deny substitutionary atonement and claim that God can forgive sins for which Christ did not bear and suffer.
2) has to follow for the limited expiation/imputation of sin proponent.2
And so 3) is undeniable.
However, God offers forgiveness of sins to all mankind, or at least, to all whom the Gospel comes.3
Assumptions:
c) To offer forgiveness of sins, necessarily implies or presupposes that sins of the offeree are forgivable.
d) One must be able to confer what one offers.
The following syllogism can be constructed:
4) All offers of forgiveness of sins necessarily entails that sins are forgivable.
5) God offers forgiveness of sins to all.4
6) Therefore the sins of all are forgivable.
4) has to be true because, one must have the ability to confer what one offers. One cannot offer what one does not have the ability to confer.
5) has to be true for any free-offer Calvinist.
6) therefore has to follow as High and Moderate Calvinists rightly maintain.