Is Your Future Set Or Open?

A Sermon For Clever Year Twelve Students, Doctor Who Fans, And Normal People Who Wonder!

Is Your Future Set Or Open?

Determinism:

The idea that things or people are

pre-determined and the future is set.

Five Forms Of Destructive Determinism

SOCIAL DETERMINISM: SET CLASS OR CASTE

Galatians 3:28. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

FATALIST DETERMINISM: ASTROLOGY & TAROTDeuteronomy 18:10-11.

Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft,

or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead.

BIOLOGICAL DETERMINISM: LIFE SET BY MY BODY

“Have you ever felt trapped in circumstances, then discovered that the only trap was your own lack of

vision, lack of courage, or failure to see that you had better options?” ― Nick Vujicic, Life Without Limits

Revelation 21:5. God said, “I make all things new!”

EMOTIONAL DETERMINISM: DESPAIR

“Those who are troubled with despair ought to be very careful not to be alone, for God created the fellowship of the church and commanded us to be family. As the Bible

says, 'Woe to the one who is alone when he falls.’” - Martin Luther

RELIGIOUS DETERMINISM: A SET ETERNAL FATE

Imagine the wrong actions that might arise from believing you are ‘set’ for heaven or hell

and this cannot change???

RELIGIOUS DETERMINISM: A SET ETERNAL FATE

John Calvin became obsessed with one word…

Romans 8:28-30. And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son…

(A)GOD IS ALL POWERFUL

(B) WE HAVE SOME CHOICES

Calvin obssesed with this bit!

Arminus obsessed with this bit!

 CALVIN ARMINIUS BIBLICAL 

PARADOX

Everything                predetermined 

IF YOU ARE SAVED

IF YOU ARE NOT SAVED

 CALVIN ARMINIUS BIBLICAL 

PARADOX

Everything                predetermined 

IF YOU ARE SAVED

It's God's fault

IF YOU ARE NOT SAVED

 CALVIN ARMINIUS BIBLICAL 

PARADOX

Everything                predetermined 

IF YOU ARE SAVED

It's God's fault

IF YOU ARE NOT SAVED

It's God's fault

 CALVIN ARMINIUS BIBLICAL 

PARADOX

Everything a 

choice!

IF YOU ARE SAVED

IF YOU ARE NOT SAVED

 CALVIN ARMINIUS BIBLICAL 

PARADOX

Everything a 

choice!

IF YOU ARE SAVED

It's your fault

IF YOU ARE NOT SAVED

 CALVIN ARMINIUS BIBLICAL 

PARADOX

Everything a 

choice!

IF YOU ARE SAVED

It's your fault

IF YOU ARE NOT SAVED

It's your fault

 CALVIN ARMINIUS BIBLICAL 

PARADOX

Everything                predetermined 

Everything a 

choice!

God is in  control & we have choices!

IF YOU ARE SAVED

It's God's fault

It's your fault

IF YOU ARE NOT SAVED

It's God's fault

It's your fault

 CALVIN ARMINIUS BIBLICAL 

PARADOX

Everything                predetermined 

Everything a 

choice!

God is in  control & we have choices!

IF YOU ARE SAVED

It's God's fault

It's your fault It's God's fault

IF YOU ARE NOT SAVED

It's God's fault

It's your fault

 CALVIN ARMINIUS BIBLICAL 

PARADOX

Everything                predetermined 

Everything a 

choice!

God is in  control & we have choices!

IF YOU ARE SAVED

It's God's fault

It's your fault It's God's fault

IF YOU ARE NOT SAVED

It's God's fault

It's your fault

It's your own fault

Which Of The Five Forms Of Dangerous Determinism Have Most Tempted You?

1. Social Determinism - Set Class Or Caste

2. Fatalist Determinism - Astrology & Tarot

3. Biological Determinism – Life Set By My Body

4. Emotional Determinism - Despair

5. Theological Determinism - A Set Eternal Fate

Is Your Future Set Or Open?

Acts 2:38. "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy

Spirit.”