Verses that say it is by believing

Calvinists teach that God does not choose us based on our free will, but rather randomly selects who goes to heaven and who goes to hell — what they call unconditional election. One way to very easily disprove that is the great multitude of verses in the Bible that use the words whosoever believeth and he that believeth.

We all know John 3:16, but there are hundreds of verses — scores of verses — in the Bible that make it clear that salvation is based on whether or not we believe. Consider just a few:

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." — John 3:16

"He that believeth on him is not condemned." — John 3:18

"He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life." — John 3:36

What kind of game are the Calvinists playing when all these verses say if you believe, if you believe, if you believe — but then they turn around and say, just kidding, you were predestined from the foundation of the world? It makes no sense whatsoever.

And here is another thing to consider. If belief was forced — if it was automatic and predetermined — then why is it that throughout the entire Bible, all the men of God are always stressing that you need to believe on Jesus Christ? If it is automatic, why does it need to be stressed at all? The answer is that it is not automatic. It is our choice. When we hear the gospel, it is our decision whether we are going to believe or not. That is why the Bible consistently and repeatedly says whosoever believeth and he that believeth — over and over and over again.

Pastor Matthew Stucky