Presbyterian creed: "There is nothing that we can do to earn God's favor. Rather, our salvation comes from God alone. We are able to choose God because God first chose us.
2007-05-21 09:19:03 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Yes indeed they do (most types).
Cumberland Presbyterians do not...but the rest, generally do.
They are fully Calvinist.
(google the information under Calvinism and under Reformed Theology).
The PCUS (mainline Presbyterians) are all over the board as to this question so you have to ask the individual church.
I am a member of the Presbyterian Church of America, and a former member of a Orthodox Presbyterian Church.
2007-05-21 09:25:07 · answer #1 · answered by Calvin 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Presbyerians are Calvinists. And yes that is what they believe.
It was John Calvin who first taught that God unconditionally elected some people to be saved and other to be lost.
John Calvin lived about the same time as Martin Luther but was about 20 years younger.
I believe according to John 3:16 and 1 Tim 2:4 and 2 Peter 3:9 that God wants everyone to get saved and its up to us to decide to choose to believe or not to beleive.
That word "whosoever" means exactly that.
A Presbyterian or Calvinist would tell you that the word, "world" in John 3:16 does not mean everyone, it just means the "Elect". I disagree.
Pastor Art
2007-05-21 09:33:46 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I am a Christian, but not a Presbyterian...and that statement is Truth. Everything is from God, including our faith!
God knew from the beginning of Creation who would and who would not receive faith, and hence, salvation.
From our perspective, who do not have that knowledge. We say we have free choice, but the Bible also tells us that the days of our lives have been already written before you and I existed. That does not mean we just stop trying to spread the Word nor nonbelievers stop hearing it. That is what Christ has called Christians to do. But we can do nothing apart from what the Holy Spirit enables us to do -- otherwise our labors are in vain. We are the branch, God is the vine -- apart from the vine, we can do nothing.
And there is absolutely NOTHING we can do to win any favor with God the Father. On the other hand, Christ has already did that for us...all we need to do is place our faith in Christ as our Lord and Saviour.
2007-05-21 09:31:07 · answer #3 · answered by BowtiePasta 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes, most Presbyterians do believe God chooses.
Basically because they believe men are "totally depraved" they cannot choose good (God) without God first acting on them by His grace.
2007-05-21 09:31:05 · answer #4 · answered by Veritas 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
No. The creed you pasted in means that God decided before time began who would be saved and who would go to hell.
It's called fatalistic pre-determination. I don't believe it myself.
God's outside of time, and knows the end from the beginning, but he's not the one making the decisions that choose heaven or hell for us.
I believe in free will.
There was a guy named Ironside, here's his explanation about predestination. This is called "Ironside's door".
He's walking down a hallway and he sees a door with a sign on it that says "Whosoever wants to may enter here".
He goes into the room, and there's a banquet table. As he's walking around the table looking at the names on the reservation tags on each setting he's very surprised to find one with his own name on it!
He then looks back at the door, and on the INSIDE of the door, there's a sign that reads "Predestined from the foundation of the earth".
2007-05-21 09:21:41 · answer #5 · answered by s2scrm 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Presbyterians do believe God chooses who will be saved.
The root of their church is with John Calvin (as the Lutherans are with Martin Luther) and agree with him on the issues of "Calvinism" and on church government.
2007-05-21 14:07:19 · answer #6 · answered by Robert F 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No. God chose to offer salvation to all mankind. He chose that at the beginning of time. We can never do anything to cause GOD to choose us "earn his favor" He has already chosen to offer salvation to man.
I'm not presbyterian, so not sure how they believe, but this is basic weslyian doctrine.
2007-05-21 09:26:14 · answer #7 · answered by BS 3 · 0⤊ 3⤋
Churchy creeds are the product of IMPure religions.
Pure religion arrived undefiled, remained unspotted.
His immortal Grace cannot lie (law) nor die (law).
Which things are an "allegory" and a "mystery".
"There is no respect of persons with God".
All are either saved(graced), or not(lawed).
By Law none enter; And by Grace all enter.
The GRACE of our Lord Jesus Christ with you all. Amen.
2007-05-21 09:26:58 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋
nice way of not having to work for it. I thought the Jews were the chosen people. What a life!
2007-05-21 09:24:28 · answer #9 · answered by AliBaba 6 · 0⤊ 3⤋
Who gives a damn?
2007-05-21 09:22:27 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 5⤋