me too! and I am NOT ashamed for I know whom I believe in and I'm persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day...I believe Jesus and the promises of God are good!
DW: A Calvinist cannot claim the Lord Jesus Christ saved his soul. The doctrine stipulates - every person's election is known only by Calvin's god. That is why - when a person has been a devout Calvinist for 40 years - and then rejects Christ and becomes an Atheist - Calvinism says he was never "elect" in the first place. He was divinely deceived with a FALSE SENSE of salvation - which must have been decreed at the foundation of the world.
God chose me in pure grace and mercy --- nothing in me caused God to choose me. None of us seek HIM. None seek after God. We would choose a cult in our free will
"I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life."- 1John 5:13. Sounds pretty simple to me. Those that believe know that they have eternal life.
@@chrissherri1614 It is easy. The Lord Jesus Christ took on the wrath of God the Father so that believers might be saved. Christ did the work, You are covered in the blood or you are not. People like to twist and complicate scripture so they can get puffed up in their own self-righteousness, We have no righteousness. We are damned sinners, hell bound without the blood of the Savior. God wants none of us to perish. Eternal salvation is free.
I feel like it should be Belief in Jesus Christ + nothing = salvation The free gift of eternal life can only be received once we acknowledge the one giving it.
I’m not a complete Calvinist but some of their doctrine is literally based on the Bible. You just gotta read honestly. Some of their doctrine is based on scripture just search it up
Ha ha amen to that..Paul says.." Follow ME as I also FOLLOW..Christ..."..1Cor.11:1... NOT Calvin or anyone else for that matter!!! ...hellllloooooo...by the way in all of Calvin,s writtings..did he ever explain if he himself was saved?? how he got saved if he actually was..???.... and the source of his assurance...if he had any..???... I have his infamous & insidious quote..re: " salvation & it's not only ugly ..but is as far fm... the Gospel of Christ..as one can get & still be on the planet...2day calvinism is nothing more than a " FAITH & FRUIT"...Salvation...ya gotta " PRODUCE....PRODUCE" or ya out...O.U.P.!!!... ie..no apples & oranges....no...regeneration..not election..no salvation...ya out...O.U.P...its really rather sickening..& gives our Lord a bad name...black eye & a bum deal w/ its loaded...ladened & laced w/ leaven..of the phariseees..Mt 16:5-12.. also Mt.15:1-20...
@@dirkdookies6418 Calvinist doctrine is certainly based on their INTERPRETATION of scripture - yes. But when their INTERPRETATION leads to conclusions they don't like - they change their INTERPRETATION to give them what they do like.
i am calvinist and i HAVE assurance-because of what Christ told me in John-"OF THOSE GOD GIVES ME-i LOSE NONE-" HE IS THE AUTHOR AND FINISHER OF MY SALVATION AND ROMANS SAID WHEN HE CHOSE US HE JUSTIFIED US-SO WHAT IS THE PROBLEM HERE??
+maxwell williams Your comment - "i am calvinist and i HAVE assurance-because of what Christ told me in John-"OF THOSE GOD GIVES ME-i LOSE NONE-" HE IS THE AUTHOR AND FINISHER OF MY SALVATION AND ROMANS SAID WHEN HE CHOSE US HE JUSTIFIED US-SO WHAT IS THE PROBLEM HERE??" My comment - How do YOU know you are one of the "chosen elect few"?? Even John Piper and RC Sproul who are among the biggest names in Calvinism has expressed on occasion that they don't know if they're one of the "elect".
I know man this must be a troll video...1 John 5:1 ( Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, )1 John 4:15 ( Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.)1 John 5:10 ( He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself:)1 Cor12:23 ( Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says, "Jesus is accursed"; and no one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit.)Calvinist are the ones who actually understand the doctrines of grace and the work of the Spirit as it is taught soundly in the bible that is why they can know they are saved because its a work of God and not man ...1John 5:13 ( These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.)
These men are scoffers. The devil is the accuser of the brothers. These men are modern day pharisees; and their father is the devil. Those of us who are chosen live by faith, knowing that our sins are forgiven, period. The Bible says of the chosen ones, "nothing can separate us from the love of God."
"Come to me all who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you REST." Matthew 11:28. There is no rest in uncertainty as to whether you will persevere or are 100% saved, etc. etc. Jesus is our REST. We REST assured. Calvinists don't have this rest.
1 John 5:13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.
It's like this: An Arminian fell down the stairs and said "I should've been more careful." A Calvinist fell down the stairs and said "I'm glad that's over."
Both Calvinist's and Arminians look for fruit to see if they are saved, those of us who have trusted Jesus as our savior look at the cross to know we have eternal life. Romans 4:5 But to Him that worketh not, but believe on Him who justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. Romans 4:6 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord imputeth righteousness without works. I am so glad he gave me His righteousness in place of my filthy rags righteousness. We have to be perfect to be saved, and no one is. But When we believe on Him as the only way of salvation by grace. He gives us His righteousness. First John 5:13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God, that ye may KNOW YE HAVE ETERANAL LIFE. AMAZING GRACE, JESUS PAID IT ALL AND WE PAID 0. IT IS FREE
Jim those of us who have trusted Jesus as our savior look at the cross to know we have eternal life DW: Yes - but in Calvinism - the Calvinist has not CERTAINTY that his "trust in Jesus" is not in fact - a divinely decreed FALSE PERCEPTION.
Calvinism gives no assurance of salvation because of not having eternal life now. You have to persevere to the end of your life to get what I have now. John 6:47. John 12:32. John 6:40. John 5:24. I have eternal life. First John 5:13. Why would you persevere to get something you already have? Eternal life. Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the GIFT of God is eternal life through Jesus finished work on the cross alone. Romans 3:26-28. You cannot boast in a free gift that we did nothing for. The GIFT of God is eternal life, not faith. First Corinthians 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolisness, but unto us who are saved it is the POWER of God. First Corinthians 1:21 For after that, by the wisdom of God, the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that BELIEVE. Act 16:31. Ephesians 1:13-14 Our guarantee of eternal life after we have believed the Gospel. First Corinthians 15:3-4. Romans 8:29 For them He did foreknow, them he also called to be among the first born of many brethren. God foreknew before the foundation of the world who would believe on Him and who would not. That has nothing to do with us. We have to believe it to be saved. First John 2:2 John 3:16-18. But only those who believe it are saved. First John 5:13. Acts 16:31.
@@jimkraft9445 In Calvinism - whatever is "Persevering" is doing so by infallible decree. So everything that is "persisting" or "continuing" by infallible decree - is "persevering" by infallible decree. Therefore there are two groups within Calvinism who are "persevering" 1) Those who were divinely given a TRUE faith/salvation/election 2) Those who were divinely given a FALSE faith/salvation/election They are both "persevering" by infallible decree - by virtue of continuing in what they were infallibly decreed to be. And those who are divinely given a FALSE faith/salvation/election - will continue to "persevere" forever in the lake of fire
I like to listen to James White to get a good idea of the basic Calvinist Baptist theology. Who would be a good person to listen to who encapsulates Evangelical theology?
It's 'Marrow' and is on Google. The Controversy was an argument that sprang up regarding a book written on theology. Some slated it, some backed it. Puritanical thinking. Likely a load of toot, basically. Lol 😅
Just prior to his death, RC Sproul is quoted to have said he was 99% sure he was saved… terrifying uncertainty is no way to go… it is also entirely unnecessary given the promises of Jesus himself in the Gospel of John ✝️✝️✝️
You have to remember - the Calvinism is predicated on EXHAUSTIVE DIVINE DETERMINISM. NO CERTAINTY of ones eternal destiny is an unavoidable consequence of that doctrine.
When the Spirit of God seals you for the day of redemption then you can have assurance. Can I fall away? It is possible and if I begin to live in unrepentant sin then I should not have assurance at all. Like Calvin's teaching based on 1 Corinthians 1 and 2 and Romans 8, the Spirit will witness to us spiritual things and that we are sons of God. The arminian has the same problem for he does not know if he will be able to maintain his salvation but it is worse because it leaves the our ultimate destiny up to us and if .000000001% of our salvation is up to us then we are all doomed.
As a Calvinist, I do not look over my life events to see if "I" have lived a perfect life. My security is not in my actions or how I have lived. My security is that Christ regenerated me (made me alive) and placed his coat of righteousness on me. Even if I do "bad works" (wood, hay, straw) when they are tried by fire they will be consumed and covered by grace. All my works, good and bad,are built on the foundation known as Christ. (1Co 3:12).
@@garyleemusic - this is a great question, but there are signs of regeneration. I'm not sure if you are familiar with the reformed (Calvinist) position, but prior to regeneration we are dead in our sins and trespasses (Eph 2). We are actively living in rebellion while suppressing the truth of God in our unrighteousness (Rom 1 - Rom 3). However, when regenerated, our nature and affections are changed. There is now a pursuit and a longing for God and righteousness. We now mourn over the sinful actions that we were "numb" to prior to the Holy Spirit changing our nature. Then there are the fruits of the Spirit that believers bear. There are definitely signs of true conversion. John Piper has this amazing quote - "The evidence of one spiritual fruit in your life is worth more then a lifetime of sins". I believe that. Why? Because "He that began a good work in you will complete it...." (Phil. 1).
Hi@@JFLJR28 - thank you for your thoughtful reply. I am familiar with the Calvinist reformed view. I used to hold the exact view you just expressed. It actually led me to believe that because there were various sins in my life that I probably wasn't saved - "If I were saved, would I really be doing this or that?"-type of thinking. I've researched extensively the reformed position and it's just not convincing to me at all when I compare it to the scriptures. I've since found so much peace simply relying on the promises of God that says I'm eternally secure by simply believing that Jesus is the Christ, the one who guarantees eternal life to all who believe in Him for it. Regarding John Piper. I'm convinced that he doesn't believe you can attain heaven by faith alone. He believes there are other conditions...In his own words: "As Tom Schreiner says, the book “tackles one of the fundamental questions of our human condition: how can a person be right with God?” The stunning Christian answer is: sola fide-faith alone. But be sure you hear this carefully and precisely: He says right with God by faith alone, not attain heaven by faith alone. There are other conditions for attaining heaven, but no others for entering a right relationship to God. In fact, one must already be in a right relationship with God by faith alone in order to meet the other conditions" I love discussing this type of stuff. if you want to continue the conversation over email or something let me know. God bless!
Been a Calvinist all my life and in that circle. I've never come across the teaching Bob refers to here, or the doubt that the narrator brings up at the beginning. The whole point of perseverance of the saints is that God will work his promise to it's completion (Phil 1:6). The trust is in God's faithfulness to keep his promise, not our faithfulness. Every Calvinist I've ever known sees perseverance this way -- and I've never once ran into a Calvinist that argued that a Christian could not know he's saved. There may be some who don't know if they are saved. Every Christian has to work that out regardless of his soteriology. It has nothing to do with Calvinism.
+Jon Mts R.C. Sproul and John Piper are 2 of the biggest names in Calvinism who have no assurance of their salvation. John Piper's congregation certainly has no assurance of their salvation. 1) R.C. Sproul is known to express fear over whether or not he's "saved". Sproul stated in Table Talk Magazine, Nov 6, 1989, page 20, he says, "There are people in this world who are not saved, but who are convinced that they are. The presence of such people causes genuine Christians to doubt their salvation. After all, we wonder, suppose I am in that category? Suppose I am mistaken about my salvation and am really going to hell? How can I know that I am a real Christian?" "A while back I had one of those moments of acute self awareness that we have from time to time, and suddenly the question hits me: "R.C., what if you are not one of the redeemed?" What if your destiny is not heaven after all, but hell?" Let me tell you that I was flooded in my body with a chill that went from my head to the bottom of my spine. I was terrified." "I tried to grab hold of myself. I thought, "Well, it's a good sign that I'm worried about this. Only true Christians really care about salvation. But then I began to take stock of my life, and I looked at my performance. My sins came pouring into my mind, and the more I Iooked at myself, the worse I felt. I thought, "Maybe it's really true. Maybe I'm not saved after all." "I went to my room and began to read the Bible. On my knees I said, "Well here I am, I can't point to my obedience. There's nothing I can offer, I can only rely on Your atonement for my sins. I can only throw myself on Your mercy." Even then I knew that some people only flee to the cross to escape hell, not out of a real turning to God. I could not be sure about my own heart and motivation. Then I remembered John 6:68. Jesus had been giving out hard teaching, and many of His former followers had left Him. When He asked Peter if he was also going to leave, Peter said, "Where else can I go? Only You have the words of eternal life." In other words, Peter was also uncomfortable, but he realized that being uncomfortable with Jesus was better than any other option!" 2) Then we have John Piper who also has doubts about whether or not he's saved and also regarding his congregation's uncertainty of their salvation. He made this statement in his sermon entitled, "Why God is not a megalomaniac in demanding to be worshiped" - Nov 20, 2008 in Providence, Rhode Island. Piper says, "I deal with this as much as anything, probably, IN THE PEOPLE THAT I'M PREACHING TO. "Fears and doubts, doubts not about objective "Did He rise from the dead?" - very few people are wrestling with that - but "AM I IN? AM I SAVED?" That's very common for people to wrestle with." "But why I sin against my wife the same at age 62 that I did at age 42 causes me sometimes to doubt my salvation or the power of the Holy Spirit. - This question is not theoretical." ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- My comment - The utter fear and uncertainty that Calvinism/Lordship Salvation produces in people who embrace this false doctrine regarding their assurance of their "salvation" can only intensify and drive them obsessively and compulsively to try even harder to "stop sinning" and to keep doing and doing "good works" in commitment, obedience, perseverance, faithfulness, etc, etc, in the hopes of "making it into the Kingdom at the very end". It literally becomes a vicious circle, much like a "bionic hamster" that keeps going and going, and going on that metal thing that they run on in their cages. It's utter insanity. It's obvious in Piper's and Sproul's minds that Jesus simple promise/simple truth of John 3:16, John 5:24, 6:47, John 10:28-29, Romans 8:38-39, is a subjective thing and not an objective one. It's always based on what they observe in themselves in their "evidence" of their faulty works, and not on Christ and His perfect FINISHED WORK and guarantee of eternal life and eternal security. Calvinists/Lordship Salvationists are no different from the Puritans of long ago where many of them were in utter fear and anxiety on their deathbeds not knowing whether or not they are going to heaven. William Perkins was a classic example.
Calvinism teaches looking at the fruit of the spirit in your life for evidence that you are elect. If that doesn't lead to lack of assurance, then you're even more stupid than MacArthur is
@@faith_alone Charming. It seems [you] who follow the Free Grace movement seem to think that salvation isn't a process by which a man grows in faith and assurance over time. If Bob actually knew Sproul, he would have understood Sproul's answer better. The questions Bob asked Sproul in a rush were from a human perspective, so Sproul gave answers from a human perspective -- as he tries to walk people through the their questions starting with where they are at (he has a whole book on it called Classical Apologetics). That's Sproul's way. The error here is [you] seem to think that's where Sproul's answer would stop, but given time Sproul would have gone on to talk about God's perspective, the completeness of Christ's work, the efficacy of the Holy Spirit's power, and the hope that should give us. To get to the point - [you] lack charity and patience and thus you don't understand Sproul's answer.
@@JM-de2gh correct. Salvation is not a process. Sanctification is (potentially) a process. The two are distinct. One is a free gift received in a moment, the other takes work on your end. I don't care about RC Sproul so I don't know why you brought him up?
@@faith_alone I'll offer a different structure to consider. Justification is a free gift received in the moment. Sanctification is a process and promise resulting from justification. Salvation includes justification and glorification (sanctification being in-between the two) as salvation is about being saved from the consequences of sin, the power of sin, and the presence of sin and transformed into the likeness of Christ. The Bible plainly talks about sanctification as being a process and an evidence of saving faith. It's a guaranteed result of a changed heart (the new birth) which is an incredibly common theme in both Old and New Testaments. The Free Grace movement redefines so many definitions and flips so many verses upside down that it's very difficult to have a discussion on it over the Internet. It has some of the strangest interpretations I've ever seen on certain verses. If we could have talked face to face, I would; but I'm not interested in a virtual discussion. If you had watched the video you would know why I brought up Sproul.
Thank You Jesus for Paying for All my Sins Thank You Jesus for Shedding Every Last Drop of Your Perfect Redeeming Innocent Blood For The Forgiveness Full Remission of All my Sins Thank You Jesus for Dying in my place on The Cross ✝️ ❤To Pay for All my Sins as The Perfect Sacrifice because You Have No Sin Thank You for Being Buried Thank You Jesus for Coming Back ALIVE 3 Days After Your Death because You Are The Son of God and God At The Same Time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I LOVE You Heavenly Father ABBA I LOVE You Jesus I LOVE You Holy Spirit Not 3 Different Gods But The 1 The Only True Living GOD Most High Revealed to us in 3 Ways ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
I am neither a Calvinist nor an Arminian. It's a shame that neither side do not know the assurance of salvation. Christians are in a such a mess. They think they know the Bible but seem to lack the Holy Spirit illumination to spiritually discern the spirit and truth of the word of God. I can honestly say that I live with a 100 % assurance that I will go to heaven when I die. my assurance is based on what the word of God declares about my position "IN" Christ. my salvation is based in the Lord Jesus Christ and not on what I do or not do - this means its by God's grace and my faith.
Talk about taking scripture out of context. A Calvinist would never say1 cor 9:27 means you can lose your salvation, it's clear that Paul was talking about his witness of the Gospel not being disqualified before others because of willful sin... Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.1 cor 9:26&27
"For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake". 1 Thessalonians 1:4, 5
Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews It's not what we do....its what Christ did....and what he did was enough for all of us who believe in Him.
Calvinist believe the same thing the Armenians do, just in a different way. Calvinist believe that if you are really one of the elect your life will change and you will have the fruit of the Spirit. If that does not happen, then you were not one of the elect. The Armenians believe once saved about to be lost. Both are trusting in their own works for salvation. Matthew 7:21-23 Those that trust in their own works, Cain, are not saved. We can only be saved by Jesus works, his one blood sacrifice for all our sin forever. Abel. Free grace people will always be hated because they can not believe the idea that no matter how many sins we commit grace abounds. They want to believe they are saved because they do not do all those bad things, instead of what Jesus did for us. Romans 4:5. But to Him that worketh not, but believeth on Him who justifieth the UNGODLY, his faith is counted for righteousness. Faith alone because we can do nothing to save ourselves. If we could do one thing that would save us, works, then Jesus died in vain. Jesus is the only way of salvation by grace apart from any works. Jesus plus anything else is idolatry. Baptism can not save us. Nothing we do can save us. Jesus is the narrow way because there is no other way but Jesus alone by faith alone. First John 1:8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the TRUTH is not in us. No one is perfect in the flesh, but we have to be perfect to go to heaven. Romans 4:6-8 Romans 11:6. AMAZING GRACE, JESUS PAID IT ALL AND WE PAID 0. IT IS FREE, OR NOT AT ALL, because no sinner can pay his own sin debt. Jesus paid mine and gave me His righteousness as a free gift because that is the only way I could be saved. I still sin because I still have my old nature. Only our soul/spirit is saved. I know I am going to heaven based on what He did for me, not by what I do or do not do. My own works can not save me. But now that I am saved I can earn rewards in heaven by how I live and what I do. First Corinthians 3:11-21 Only my works can be burned up, but I am still saved so as by fire. First Corinthians 5:5 and 3:15. If we were not saved by grace, no one would be saved. Galatians 2:21. Sorry, I get all carried away by what Jesus did to save a sinner like me, and I want everyone to believe and receive the free gift of eternal life. IT is free, because no one can earn it. First John 5:13. Love you guys. See you shortly in heaven.
Calvinism draws people's attention to the question of whether they're elect, not to the death of Christ for sin. As such, it's a disaster, and because it is, it is virtually impossible for an evangelist to preach a Calvinistic gospel.
On the contrary, Calvinism highlights the effectiveness of Christ's atoning work on the cross and His high priestly work as high priest who intercedes for those whom He died for. It all points to the perfection of Christ as the mediator between fallen man and Holy God. We can evangelize confidently, without having to change the gospel to make it more palatable to the masses, knowing that the Holy Spirit of God will quicken whom He will. Calvinism actually empowers evangelism. I can look anyone in the eye and tell them that if they turn to Jesus in faith and repentance that they will find Him to be a perfect savior.
I agree with everything you said BUT what about all the people who think they are saved only to gear Jesus say to them i never knew you? Also why are we told in scripture to examine our selves to make sure we are in the faith?
I agree with Free Grace Theology in its opposition to Lordship Salvation. But I think GES makes a lot of false assumptions about Calvinism. But to be fair a lot of people going around calling themselves Calvinists haven't really studied it well. It's a difficult doctrine to get right; it's easy for people to misinterpret it or have a shallow/incomplete view of it.
evolutionists use that same old sad argument..":oh, you don't understand us"...weak and silly argument..the fact is, calvanists slander God, and if you do not agree with them, thay use the "you don't think God is sovereign?" guilt trip.
Really good points Mr. Wilkin!!👍 I enjoyed this and yes,, when you run all the way down the long and winding Road of Calvinism ,,it only ends up in one place... You have to believe you persevere to the end,, which includes some kind of fleshly works, including constant fruit inspection and ultimately relying on yourself to make it to heaven and not the finished work of Jesus Christ.😩 Isn't that wonderful, good news?! isn't that worth writing of gospel hymn about??! Doesn't that, Calvinism, sound as simple as a child could understand😅🎶
well...Jesus did speak of the parable of the sower. So yes, some do respond to Christ but can fall away later on. I wouldnt want to debate the 'once saved always saved' but knowing some who have fallen away...it aint a pretty sight.
You cannot lump all Calvinists together like that. Some do fall into this position but not ALL Calvinists. Beware of someone lumping groups of people together like this.
Yes - there are Calvinists who have all sorts of cherry picked versions of John Calvin's Calvinism. They take what they like and reject what they don't like. But John Calvin was LOGICALLY consistent with his doctrine. And departing from Calvin entails departing from his LOGICAL consistency.
I see Calivnism as a much worse false teaching than that of the Mormons or Jehovas Witnesses because what it teaches is subtler, is right here in our midst, and rots the believer from within. But having said that I think the guy in this video is wrong when he suggests on the basis of 1 Cor 9:27 that Paul doubted his salvation. What Paul was referring to is not salvation but the reward we get for what we have done. Both Jesus, John and Paul spoke about this. Do a word-search for "reward" for example. Working for a promised reward is not the same as working for salvation, which only comes through faith. In the following verses, Paul discusses the work done by different servants such as sowing and reaping, how their works will be tested, and what happens if they are "disqualified from the prize": "If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. If it is burned up, the builder will SUFFER LOSS BUT YET WILL BE SAVED-even though only as one escaping through the flames" (1 Cor 3:14,15)
Yeah it also teaches a loving God only saves a few a d burns others and also takes away free will which is at the heart of why Eve ate fruit in first place. If we have no free will then why allow all of this nonsense in first place. He would just create obedient robots from the start. The entire basis of Calvinism is retarded and sad. DR James White main proponent. Wants to look clever with his Dr title when in eyes of God hes probably a fool. Hes a fool in my eyes
I can't agree more with you it needs to be exposed and called out and that can only happen with the real truth sadly the overwhelming majority of non-calvinists are arminians who also error on the subject...
@@watchmanendtimes ask this pastor if the elect of God procreate the elect of God. You see Paul the apostle command to Titus and Timothy to appoint elders in every Church and said that the elders children must be believers. Also ask this pastor if as a parent he has any problems with procreating the accursed of God.
Yes - and per Calvinism's doctrine of decrees - whatever is coming to pass and continues to do so - is by infallible decree - and thus "Perseveres" by virtue of that decree. Therefore in Calvinism there are two groups that are "Persevering" 1) Those who have been decreed to have a TRUE election/salvation/faith 2) Those who have been decreed to have a FALSE election/salvation/faith By the power of the infallible decree - they both "Persevere" along with everything else which persists by virtue of the infallible decree.
Jeremiah 17:9 'the heart is deceitful and desperately wicked, who can know it? Don't trust your heart , go to the word of God and examine yourself in the light of the word . Read 1 john 5:13, then read the book of 1 john . It's the job of the Holy Spirit give the believer assurance of salvation in the light of God's word Did Paul not say, examine yourself test yourself to see if you are in the faith
For the Calvinist - the word is considered the PRESCRIPTIVE WILL of god. Which can easily be the opposite of the SECRET will of god. So the Calvinist has NO CERTAINTY that any of the promises in scripture are for himself. The promises in scripture may in fact be intended as greater condemnation for the Calvinist who is divinely given a FALSE SENSE of election.
I am 100% certain, fully persuaded that I am going to heaven ALL because of what HE (CHRIST) DID FOR ME & NOTHING AT ALL that I HAVE DONE OR NOT DONE!! May I NEVER boast or glory in ANYTHING SAVE THE CROSS & CHRIST CRUCIFIED FOR ME & ALL OF MY SIN/S 🩸🩸🩸 I HAVE BEEN washed, PURGED of ALL SIN & POSITIONALLY I am PERFECTED IN CHRIST JESUS. In my PERFORMANCE, I fall short every day in word, thought & deed…i can in NO WAY live to the standard of God, which is 100% perfection ALL THE TIME, if one stumbles in ANY of the law, then that one in GUILTY OF ALL the law!! We are not, nor have we ever been under The Law of Moses, ISRAEL was because of their DISBELIEF, their lack of FAITH!!! If there had been a law that COULD have savED me, then there should be NO MORE CONSCIOUSNESS OF SIN. We are told in Romans 8 that there is therefore NOW NO CONDEMNATION or those in Christ Jesus that walk according to the Spirit & not the flesh. That is a STATEMENT OF FACT & NOT A CONDITION !! In fact, in older translations the, “those that walk according to the Spirit & not the flesh” is not even in those translations!! I am savED because Jesus Christ BECAME SIN, FOR ME, having never sinned that I might (that it therefore might be possible) be MADE THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD IN Him (Jesus). 2nd Corinthians 5:21. In 1st John, he tells us that he writes these things so that we can KNOW that WE HAVE ETERNAL LIFE. If we base this on our performance, there is absolutely NO ASSURANCE whatsoever that we could EVER KNOW because we ALL miss the mark of God!! There is NONE good , no NOT ONE. ALL OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS (NOT OUR SINS BUT OUR GOODNESS) IS AS FILTHY RAGS before The Holy, Just & Sovereign God Almighty. You DID NOTHING to be a sinner!!! You were BORN A SINNER!! We can DO NOTHING to be Righteous, we are BORN AGAIN OF THE SPIRIT FULLY RIGHTEOUS & HIDDEN IN CHRIST JESUS!! THAT man CANNOT SIN b/c he is IN CHRIST, already seated in the heavenlies & DECLARED JUSTIFIED ( just as if you’ve NEVER SINNED). Ephesians chapters 1 & 2 tells us WHO WE ARE IN CHRIST JESUS!! That is what we STAND FIRM IN & NOT our ability to gain, merit or earn eternal life IN ANY WAY-ITS NOT POSSIBLE. Put ALL of your belief (your FAITH & TRUST in the FINISHED REDEMPTIVE WORK OF CHRIST ALONE AT THE CROSS ALONE FOR ETERNAL LIFE. “For by GRACE ( the UNearned, UNmerited & UNdeserved favor of God) ARE you savED through FAITH and that NOT of yourself; it IS THE GIFT (FREE GIFT- all gifts are free to the receiver) OF GOD, NOT OF WORKS, lest any man should boast.” Ephesians 2: 8 & 9 “For ALL who CALL UPON THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST WILL BE savED.” Romans 10:13 ALL of Scripture is FOR the body of Christ however NOT ALL Scripture is ABOUT the Believer!! God bless & may yes & ears be opened spiritually to this TRUTH for it is the ONLY TRUTH THAT SAVES!!
Calvinism is almost always misrepresented by those who hate the five points, one of them is this guy who haven't presented the true meaning of reformed teachings on the videos I have seen him speaking about it. I suppose those who disagree have not put the time to really study reformed theology. And of course! calvinists have assurance my friends!
+Pizza Hero Your comment - "Calvinism is almost always misrepresented by those who hate the five points, one of them is this guy who haven't presented the true meaning of reformed teachings on the videos I have seen him speaking about it. I suppose those who disagree have not put the time to really study reformed theology. And of course! calvinists have assurance my friends!" My comment - R.C. Sproul and John Piper are 2 of the biggest names in Calvinism who have no assurance of their salvation. John Piper's congregation certainly has no assurance of their salvation. 1) R.C. Sproul is known to express fear over whether or not he's "saved". Sproul stated in Table Talk Magazine, Nov 6, 1989, page 20, he says, "There are people in this world who are not saved, but who are convinced that they are. The presence of such people causes genuine Christians to doubt their salvation. After all, we wonder, suppose I am in that category? Suppose I am mistaken about my salvation and am really going to hell? How can I know that I am a real Christian?" "A while back I had one of those moments of acute self awareness that we have from time to time, and suddenly the question hits me: "R.C., what if you are not one of the redeemed?" What if your destiny is not heaven after all, but hell?" Let me tell you that I was flooded in my body with a chill that went from my head to the bottom of my spine. I was terrified." "I tried to grab hold of myself. I thought, "Well, it's a good sign that I'm worried about this. Only true Christians really care about salvation. But then I began to take stock of my life, and I looked at my performance. My sins came pouring into my mind, and the more I Iooked at myself, the worse I felt. I thought, "Maybe it's really true. Maybe I'm not saved after all." "I went to my room and began to read the Bible. On my knees I said, "Well here I am, I can't point to my obedience. There's nothing I can offer, I can only rely on Your atonement for my sins. I can only throw myself on Your mercy." Even then I knew that some people only flee to the cross to escape hell, not out of a real turning to God. I could not be sure about my own heart and motivation. Then I remembered John 6:68. Jesus had been giving out hard teaching, and many of His former followers had left Him. When He asked Peter if he was also going to leave, Peter said, "Where else can I go? Only You have the words of eternal life." In other words, Peter was also uncomfortable, but he realized that being uncomfortable with Jesus was better than any other option!" 2) Then we have John Piper who also has doubts about whether or not he's saved and also regarding his congregation's uncertainty of their salvation. He made this statement in his sermon entitled, "Why God is not a megalomaniac in demanding to be worshiped" - Nov 20, 2008 in Providence, Rhode Island. Piper says, "I deal with this as much as anything, probably, IN THE PEOPLE THAT I'M PREACHING TO. "Fears and doubts, doubts not about objective "Did He rise from the dead?" - very few people are wrestling with that - but "AM I IN? AM I SAVED?" That's very common for people to wrestle with." "But why I sin against my wife the same at age 62 that I did at age 42 causes me sometimes to doubt my salvation or the power of the Holy Spirit. - This question is not theoretical." ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- My comment - The utter fear and uncertainty that Calvinism/Lordship Salvation produces in people who embrace this false doctrine regarding their assurance of their "salvation" can only intensify and drive them obsessively and compulsively to try even harder to "stop sinning" and to keep doing and doing "good works" in commitment, obedience, perseverance, faithfulness, etc, etc, in the hopes of "making it into the Kingdom at the very end". It literally becomes a vicious circle, much like a "bionic hamster" that keeps going and going, and going on that metal thing that they run on in their cages. It's utter insanity. It's obvious in Piper's and Sproul's minds that Jesus simple promise/simple truth of John 3:16, John 5:24, 6:47, John 10:28-29, Romans 8:38-39, is a subjective thing and not an objective one. It's always based on what they observe in themselves in their "evidence" of their faulty works, and not on Christ and His perfect FINISHED WORK and guarantee of eternal life and eternal security. Calvinists/Lordship Salvationists are no different from the Puritans of long ago where many of them were in utter fear and anxiety on their deathbeds not knowing whether or not they are going to heaven. William Perkins was a classic example.
Only a chosen few have been made aware of the fact that everyone ever created has full assurance of Eternal Salvation. The vast majority of mankind has NOT been made aware of this fact. They are still struggling with “sin”, that has been taken away forever in Yeshua. So most people don’t have “assurance”. They have no clue what’s going on, what was accomplished on that cross. But a few of us know that. That is why we can say to anyone in the world, “You have Eternal Life”, no matter who they are, because all men have it, they just don’t know it nor believe it yet. But they will in the Ages to come. Amen. For so it seems Right in His Sight.
The Bible teaches election in Ephesians but the Bible also says whosoever will. How can you deny election and predestination when it is taught but yet God says whosoever will....
Those who hold an Augustine doctrine of election and predestination don't need to trust in assurance, we trust in Christ. Assurance unless based upon faith which bears fruit in keeping with repentance can only be an Idol. Faith and conversion aren't mysterious for the Reformed, only election to them is. If you confess, believe, and are transformed then you experience assurance not as a logical consequence, but as the lived condition of your walk with Christ. It isn't seen so much as it is the light by which you see.
The Calvinist can of-course have the PERCEPTION of "trusting in Christ" - because it can be infallibly decreed that he have that PERCEPTION. But he cannot have CERTAINTY that his PERCEPTION is not a divinely decreed FALSE PERCEPTION. John Calvin -quote But the Lord gives them a *SENSE* such as can be felt *WITHOUT* the spirit of adoption.
I'm a sinner worthy of death Fortunately Jesus son of God died in my place. Was buried and 3 days later was resurrected. I accept his free gift of substitunionary punishment paid for with his blood so I can have eternal salvation
Sure - but the Calvinist has NO CERTAINTY that Christ died for him. If he is not elect - then Christ did not die for him. And his perceptions of salvation in that case are divinely decreed FALSE PERCEPTIONS.
*CALVINISM ENTAILS THE DIVINE DECEPTION OF THE BELIEVER* John Calvin -quote But the Lord gives them a *SENSE* such as can be felt *WITHOUT* the spirit of adoption. John Calvin -quote He *ILLUMINES THEM FOR A TIME* to partake of it......then he *STRIKES* them with greater blindness. John Calvin -quote We are *NOT* bidden to distinguish between reprobate and elect - that is for god *ALONE* not for us, to do. John Calvin -quote God knows what he has determined to do with regard to us: if he has decreed our salvation, he will bring us to it in his own time. *If HE HAS DOOMED US TO DEATH* it is vain for us to fight against it.
"...whosoever believe is me " is itself an election or segregation. Because not all have eternal life ONLY "whosever believes in Him" . Isn't it true? So what are the flows of Free Grace?
35The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand. 36He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. So he says it and I believe it and by his power he makes it truth I will have everlasting life .
Peter clearly teaches we are kept by God's power thru faith. And the bible clearly calls believers the "Elect". Many have taught wrong versions of these concepts tho. Anyone teaching u can't have assurance must be forgetting John ch 6 & 10!
Yes - but for the Calvinist - all of the promises in scripture - are designated as THE PRESCRIPTIVE will of god. Which for the Calvinist can easily be the opposite of the SECRET will of god. So the Calvinist has no CERTAINTY if any of the promises in scripture are divinely meant for himself. For the Calvinist - it can just as easily be the case that the promises in scripture are meant for his greater condemnation.
+specialgreg53 Your comment - "I don't know where you're getting this wigged out but there is assurance with calvinists ,sir.youre sadly mistaken." My comment - I do believe you are sadly mistaken. R.C. Sproul and John Piper are 2 of the biggest names in Calvinism who have no assurance of their salvation. John Piper's congregation certainly has no assurance of their salvation. 1) R.C. Sproul is known to express fear over whether or not he's "saved". Sproul stated in Table Talk Magazine, Nov 6, 1989, page 20, he says, "There are people in this world who are not saved, but who are convinced that they are. The presence of such people causes genuine Christians to doubt their salvation. After all, we wonder, suppose I am in that category? Suppose I am mistaken about my salvation and am really going to hell? How can I know that I am a real Christian?" "A while back I had one of those moments of acute self awareness that we have from time to time, and suddenly the question hits me: "R.C., what if you are not one of the redeemed?" What if your destiny is not heaven after all, but hell?" Let me tell you that I was flooded in my body with a chill that went from my head to the bottom of my spine. I was terrified." "I tried to grab hold of myself. I thought, "Well, it's a good sign that I'm worried about this. Only true Christians really care about salvation. But then I began to take stock of my life, and I looked at my performance. My sins came pouring into my mind, and the more I Iooked at myself, the worse I felt. I thought, "Maybe it's really true. Maybe I'm not saved after all." "I went to my room and began to read the Bible. On my knees I said, "Well here I am, I can't point to my obedience. There's nothing I can offer, I can only rely on Your atonement for my sins. I can only throw myself on Your mercy." Even then I knew that some people only flee to the cross to escape hell, not out of a real turning to God. I could not be sure about my own heart and motivation. Then I remembered John 6:68. Jesus had been giving out hard teaching, and many of His former followers had left Him. When He asked Peter if he was also going to leave, Peter said, "Where else can I go? Only You have the words of eternal life." In other words, Peter was also uncomfortable, but he realized that being uncomfortable with Jesus was better than any other option!" 2) Then we have John Piper who also has doubts about whether or not he's saved and also regarding his congregation's uncertainty of their salvation. He made this statement in his sermon entitled, "Why God is not a megalomaniac in demanding to be worshiped" - Nov 20, 2008 in Providence, Rhode Island. Piper says, "I deal with this as much as anything, probably, IN THE PEOPLE THAT I'M PREACHING TO. "Fears and doubts, doubts not about objective "Did He rise from the dead?" - very few people are wrestling with that - but "AM I IN? AM I SAVED?" That's very common for people to wrestle with." "But why I sin against my wife the same at age 62 that I did at age 42 causes me sometimes to doubt my salvation or the power of the Holy Spirit. - This question is not theoretical." ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- My comment - The utter fear and uncertainty that Calvinism/Lordship Salvation produces in people who embrace this false doctrine regarding their assurance of their "salvation" can only intensify and drive them obsessively and compulsively to try even harder to "stop sinning" and to keep doing and doing "good works" in commitment, obedience, perseverance, faithfulness, etc, etc, in the hopes of "making it into the Kingdom at the very end". It literally becomes a vicious circle, much like a "bionic hamster" that keeps going and going, and going on that metal thing that they run on in their cages. It's utter insanity. It's obvious in Piper's and Sproul's minds that Jesus simple promise/simple truth of John 3:16, John 5:24, 6:47, John 10:28-29, Romans 8:38-39, is a subjective thing and not an objective one. It's always based on what they observe in themselves in their "evidence" of their faulty works, and not on Christ and His perfect FINISHED WORK and guarantee of eternal life and eternal security. Calvinists/Lordship Salvationists are no different from the Puritans of long ago where many of them were in utter fear and anxiety on their deathbeds not knowing whether or not they are going to heaven. William Perkins was a classic example.
wtom04 First of all and last- sproul and piper don't represent me and all other believers in the doctrines of grace. I don't care frankly what they say or do. I just believe this because of what the Bible says and my feelings and experience. You and the guy in the video behold a very faulty approach .
+specialgreg53 Your comment - " First of all and last- sproul and piper don't represent me and all other believers in the doctrines of grace. I don't care frankly what they say or do. I just believe this because of what the Bible says and my feelings and experience. You and the guy in the video behold a very faulty approach ." My comment - "Doctrines of grace" is another name for Calvinism and you are reading the Bible through the tainted lens of Calvinism. Your feelings and experience do not take precedence over the plain truth of God's Word in the right context. Calvinism is guilty of eisegesis of the Scriptures especially Romans 9, and on the doctrine of predestination and election. There is a world of difference between the true Biblical interpretation of Romans 9 versus Calvinism's perversion of that text. There is also a world of difference between true Biblical predestination and election versus Calvinistic "predestination" and "election".
Actually - he is describing previous generations of Calvinist belief - well documented within historical Calvinist literature. The problem today is that Calvinist pastors do not want to teach ALL of the doctrine - because they fear they will lose their congregations when they tell them - that some of them are given a FALSE SENSE of salvation/election.
So if someone is overtaken by sinning and goes back to the sinful life he once lived before saved never to repent they still go to heaven? What if a person once saved pays no more attention is to the Holy Spirit and isn't producing and fruit leaving earth in this condition? How do you fit in the following scriptures with once saved always saved doctrine? : Hebrews 6:4-6 New International Version (NIV)4 It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5 who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age 6 and who have fallen[a] away, to be brought back to repentance. To their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace. 7 Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is farmed receives the blessing of God. 8 But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed. In the end it will be burned.
Though I am not a college-educated theologian I look at scripture in its totality. if the apostle Paul truly was speaking of predestination that God has chosen those to be saved and those to go to hell the holy Spirit would have given him those thoughts at that time and he would have explained it as such. After all those words did wind up in the Bible. John Calvin and his words and thoughts are not included in Holy Scripture. But to prove my point in the totality of scripture against the ideas of John Calvin, if God only chose so many to be saved would Paul have been to command both Titus and Timothy to appoint elders in churches, "Whose children must be believers"? That command brings up the question of; do the elect of God procreate more of the elect of God? Since there are no scriptures in the New testament that even allude to the answer to that question unequivocally refutes any calvinist thought process.Calvin's ideas come more from an academic mindset.
IF you agree with Calvin's doctrine of the wheat and the tares - and Calvin's doctrine of the SECRET election - then you can PERCEIVE yourself as putting your faith in Jesus - but that can easily be a divinely decreed FALSE PERCEPTION. John Calvin -quote The Lord gives them a *SENSE* such as can be felt *WITHOUT* the spirit of adoption.
Everyone ever created has full assurance of Eternal Salvation. We are all saved from sin and death. What could get in the way of this Total Victory of Yeshua? Sin? He took away all sin of the whole world 2000 years ago. He came here on a Mission from Yahweh His Father to save the whole world, to take away all sin, and to return to the Right Hand of the Father. He did all these things successfully. So what’s the problem? Sin??
I have never met a Calvinist who didn't have full assurance of faith that they were indeed among the elect of God who are predestined to eternal life by grace through faith in the gospel of Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 15:1-4).
Please tell me how Paul the apostle who penned the words of predestination could command Titus and Timothy to appoint elders in churches if the children of those elders must be believers? Does that pose the question of do the elect of God procreate the elect of God.......
@@johnsavarese6365 I think that the children of Church Elders are to be brought up in the faith and attend church meetings regularly. It is important that the Elder and his family set a good example for the other members of the congregation in all things. Whether or not the children of the elect are also elect is up to God who does the electing.
@@travisgrayson3736 you missed the point entirely. Paul the apostle gave a command that the children of elders must be believers, not just brought "up in the faith" and just be disciplined. To take the horde stand that you do is to literally make John Calvin's thoughts equal to the inerrant scripture. Remember there are many scriptures within the Bible that become total contradictions under the teachings of John Calvin. If God's word is perfect please explain that away.
@@johnsavarese6365 I understood the point you were making perfectly. My point is that greek word (pistos) that is translated as "believing" in Titus 1:6 also means trustworthy or faithful. If we compare the qualifications for an Elder's children in Titus 1:6 to the qualifications listed in 1 Timothy 3:4-5, I think we can ascertain that Paul's point is that the Elder must have trustworthy, well disciplined children who are of good reputation. This demonstrates his ability to manage his own household well and thus can be seen as an indicator that he has the ability to do a good job overseeing the church of God.
This man criticizes the Calvinist position on assurance. However, he never gives his position on assurance. Okay, what is his position? Let us examine it to see what it is about. Maybe we will critique it, maybe not. What does he have? He does not tell us.
John Calvin -quote But the lord gives them a *SENSE* such as can be felt *WITHOUT* the spirit of adoption. -quote He *ILLUMINES THEM FOR A TIME* to partake of it - and then he *STRIKES* them with greater blindness.
@@evanu6579 I see that you don't know your Bible. You cannot read the Gospel of John without seeing election plain and clear, so you have never raad that. You cannot read the book of Romans without seeing election and predestination clearly so you have never read that book.
And I think in some cases it’s unbelief fear and doubt are cancer to a believer which can lead to just not believing god and there no joy in the believers life no power and your living out of your own strength which never works
I'm a believer! Saved by grace. What did Calvin ever do for my soul! Yet Calvinist will defend this Murderer to the death. Calvin deep down was nothing but a Catholic. Calvinist will never read or study the truth about Calvin. But Calvinist will wear their badge proudly! Makes them feel special, they are the elite! Calvinist will only read Calvinist books , their eyes are wide shut to the truth.
+Phil Kornegay Great comment! Calvinism is basically Roman Catholicism repackaged. John Calvin's theology was heavily influenced by Augustine of Hippo who is one of the founding fathers of Roman Catholicism. In John Calvin's "institutes of the christian religion" he quotes Augustine over 400 times all throughout his books. Calvin's 4th book has 20 chapters devoted to Roman Catholicism. Calvinism spawned from Roman Catholicism/Augustinianism, and Lordship Salvation theology spawned from Calvinism. One false doctrine breeds another false doctrine. No wonder why the Roman Catholic church is referred to as the "mother of all whores" in Revelation 17:5. Her other daughters are Mormonism, Jehovah's Witnesses doctrine, etc, because they all teach "faith + works" = possible eternal life at the very end. The Bible teaches eternal life by GRACE through faith alone in Christ alone apart from works - Romans 4:2-6, Genesis 15:6.
+Phil Kornegay From : wittenberg-door.blogspot.ca/2009/04/was-john-calvin-murderer.html The Wittenberg Door said..."......... you have succumbed to nonsense. What you’re claiming simply isn’t true. First, Calvin never had anybody executed, for he had no civil authority. Even in his own church, the Genevan council overrode Calvin on things such as the frequency of communion and, even, who would be admitted to the table. The myth that he was some kind of tyrant falls for the same reason. During the sixteenth century, all European countries and cities executed heretics. Geneva was no exception. Instead of handing Servatus over to France (they wanted to executed him too), the city council chose to deal with it on their own. The entry for the registry of the Venerable Company of Pastors recorded the city council’s decision on October 25, 1533, as follows: “Their Lordships, having received the opinions of the churches of Basle, Berne, Zurich, and Schaffhausen upon the Servetus affair, condemned the said Servetus to be led to Champey and there to be burned alive.” Calvin, of course, is not mentioned, because he was not a member of the city council and had nothing to do with the verdict. As you mentioned, however, Calvin supported state-execution of heretics. Calvin met with Servatus and tried to get him to repent, but he refused. He also went to the city council, after the judgment was made, and plead with them to change the mode of execution to the more humane beheading-they refused. Since Calvin murdered no one, he can’t be charged with murder. And just because he supported the state’s right to, at the time, execute heretics, doesn’t make him a murderer either. Your last charge is that Calvin, and it seems by extension Calvinists (such as myself), believe in a different god, and thus aren’t Christians. It certainly can’t be because of the case you’ve made here-our salvation isn’t depended upon which state laws we support. Instead, it’s based upon our faith in the person and work of second person of the Trinity: Jesus Christ, and that faith is in Him and His work alone. Since I believe that, John Calvin believed that, and I assume you believe that, then we can all rejoice in the fellowship of the communion of the saints."
What a silly argument! It's just like arguing that: 2 + 2 does not equal 4 because someone who has done some bad stuff found that out.. What does the validity of a statement (in this case, doctrine) have to do with the character or past deeds of the person that formulated it? If it's true then it remains true irrespective of the mouth that uttered it!
God dignifies us with free will, the power to make decisions of our own rather than having God or fate predetermine what we do. Consider what the Bible teaches. God created mankind in his image. (Genesis 1:26) Unlike animals, which act mainly on instinct, we resemble our Creator in our capacity to display such qualities as love and justice. And like our Creator, we have free will. To a great extent, we can determine our future. The Bible encourages us to “choose life . . . by listening to [God’s] voice,” that is, by choosing to obey his commands. (Deuteronomy 30:19, 20) This offer would be meaningless, even cruel, if we lacked free will. Instead of forcing us to do what he says, God warmly appeals to us: “O if only you would actually pay attention to my commandments! Then your peace would become just like a river.”-Isaiah 48:18. Our success or failure is not determined by fate. If we want to succeed at an endeavor, we must work hard. “All that your hand finds to do,” says the Bible, “do with your very power.”(Ecclesiastes 9:10) It also says: “The plans of the diligent one surely make for advantage.”-Proverbs 21:5. Free will is a precious gift from God, for it lets us love him with our “whole heart”-because we want to.-Matthew 22:37. Doesn’t God control all things? The Bible does teach that God is Almighty, that his power is not limited by anyone other than himself. (Job 37:23; Isaiah 40:26) However, he does not use his power to control everything. For example, the Bible says that God was “exercising self-control” toward ancient Babylon, an enemy of his people. (Isaiah 42:14) Similarly, for now, he chooses to tolerate those who misuse their free will to harm others. But God will not do so indefinitely.-Psalm 37:10, 11. The Bible does not teach predestination. While God is all powerful and capable of seeing all possible things before they occur, we have free will do we not? Is it consistent with a loving God to condemn some to die in sin for no mis action? Why did Jehovah God forbid Adam and Eve from eating of the forbidden fruit if they had no choice but to do so? Regarding Acts 4:27, why should the predestination of one thing mean such for all? God commanded that Jesus must die, yes, but this does not mean that he did the same for all things? www.jw.org/finder?wtlocale=E&docid=2009252&srcid=share
The will of the Father; The Greek word that is translated as “does” is poieo. The word appears 598 times in the New Testament. It has been demonstrated that the Greek word for “does” refers to action that performs an activity. This word is a verb and not a noun.Since poieo is a verb, we must also determine the meaning of its tense, voice and mood. The tense of poieo in Matthew 7:21 is in the present tense.Poieo in the present tense refers to action that is ongoing. For example, when Jesus said, “he who does the will” He was referring to ongoing action at that moment in time. In other words he who is doing the Father's will.The Greek word for “does” is a Greek present participle which implies ongoing behavior. The person who does the will of God once in a while does not qualify.Jesus is describing someone who habitually does the will of the Father. Poieo is also in the active voice, which means that when Jesus said, “.he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter” Jesus was saying that the individual must be performing the action. A life of obedience (present tense “do” [Ποιωv] for continuous action) to his will is, in fact, the definition of righteousness. when Jesus says “. . . but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.” The word “does” is a present, active, participle verb which means that those who continuously are doing the will of the Father go to heaven. Jesus was referring to a pattern of life and not perfect obedience. The character of true Christians is that they sin less and less as they mature in their faith.
If we have to persevere in the faith to be saved, then we must have never trusted Jesus in the first place. I was saved when I believed. Jesus keeps me saved. Why did Jesus die for the sins of the whole world, First John 2:2 if salvation is limited atonement. It is limited to those who believe. But First Timothy 2:4 says. Who will have all men to be saved and come unto the knowledge of the truth. John 3:16 Says, whosoever. Anybody. And for God so loved the world. Everybody. Matthew 7:15-20 Jesus is talking about false teachers who come to you in sheep's clothing preaching a false gospel.. The fruit of them is what their converts believe. If their converts believe they are saved by works, then we know they are a false teacher. We know we can only be saved by grace without works. Romans 4:6 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord imputeth righteousness without works. Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace ye are saved, through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the GIFT of God, not of works, lest any man should boast. Faith is not a work. If it was it could not be used in that same sentence. It is faith without works. It is all grace. Romans 11:6 If you add one work to grace, it is no longer grace but works. You can not mix law/works with grace. We have nothing to boast in but the cross. Faith is not the gift. Eternal life is the GIFT when we believe it. Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, and we all sin, but the GIFT of God is eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Ephesians 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also AFTER ye believed, ye were sealed by that Holy Spirit of promise. We were not regenerated by the Holy Spirit until we believe, not before we believed. If a person is trusting in their perseverance to be saved, then they are not trusting in what Jesus did to save us. If a person believes they can lose their salvation, then they are trusting in what they do to save themselves. If we were saved by how we live and what we do, then we would be our own savior, and Jesus died in vain. We can only be saved by what He did plus nothing. No one ever saved themselves. We have nothing to boast in because we did nothing for it. Jesus paid it all, and we paid 0. It can only be received as a free GIFT from God. Keep up preaching the truth you guys. There are not many that are. Most can not discern scripture because they do not have the Holy Spirit to teach them. It is foolishness to those who are unbelievers. First Corinthians 2:14.
This is a sad example of a logical fallacy known as a hasty generalization. This is when someone draws a general inference from too few specific instances. So this gentlemen, Bob Wilkins, gives examples of some professed Calvinists where they are uncertain about their salvation and now he concludes that is the logical flaw of their system. But that's the way you attack the truth of scripture, you attack the "system" by asking hypothetical questions and waiting for a response that will make you go "ah-hah." Yet there are plenty of reformed folks that will tell you of assurance based on the truth of scripture (John 6:37-44, 10:27-29, Ephesians 1:13-14, and Philippians 1:6 are just a few of the verses that come to mind) and have actually preached of that assurance. In fact, since the reformed way of thinking based on those verses (and verses that talk about God's sovereignty) is that salvation is of God, then we know sanctification, justification, and glorification is of God as well. This is a very undercut way of attacking a "system" without addressing the verses of scripture or actually showing tons of clips of reformed preachers making the claim they don't know they're saved. On the flip side, if you believe your salvation is finally determined by your "free" will decision, the chances of perseverance is dependent upon you and you alone because the same "free" will that made you choose Christ is the same "free" will that will make you leave Christ. This is the testimony of many atheists; they were once Christians because they believed, but now they don't and they left. Well, how can you dispute that fact if they have a will that is completely free to do so, unless you say their will was free before salvation, but now it isn't free to leave Christ. So Christ doesn't violate your will before salvation, but now that you are saved, He violates it so you can't leave? I've spoken to plenty of Christians that don't believe in Calvinism that doubt their salvation and plenty that think they're lives don't need to be examined at all because they've made the "decision," so now they're guaranteed heaven no matter what they do. They violate the truth of Romans 6:1-12. Reformed thought doesn't undermine assurance; the sinful flesh does. This is the reason genuine Christians can doubt their salvation because they think they haven't done enough works (no matter if you're Calvinist or not) and some are just false converts that show little or no fruit in their lives but think they're in. No offense, this thought that we can be saved but not be new creatures (2 Corinthians 5:17) that show consistent fruit is unbiblical. And the insinuation that reformed believers think that your salvation is based on your works is unfounded. We don't work to be saved, but your salvation should produce fruit and works (read James 3:18-26 and 1 John 1:5-2:17). Instead of attacking the "system" (because, no offense, you already have a preconceived notion about that system), how about addressing scriptures in the Bible many of these doctrines are derived from and go verse by verse to show that it isn't true. As Christians, the Word of God is sufficient for all things (2 Timothy 3:16-17), so why say this "system" undermines assurance instead of showing that the Bible in no way validates the system (election, predestination, God's sovereignty, etc.). (By the way, a little over the four minute mark, Mr. Wilkins said he debated James White and asserted Dr. White wasn't able to say he was certain of his eternal destiny. But if you go to the 2 hour 10 minute mark of the debate when Mr. Wilkins asserts this right next to James White, James White then answers a question from the audience (they only have 90 seconds apiece to respond to the question) and at the 2 hour, 12 minute mark, ends with him saying he is assured that he has eternal life based on his answer. You can find it here; ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-jOHg1FhyGOs.html. Mr. Wilkins may not agree with the reformed view, but he shouldn't misrepresent it and say things that are not true.)
No - it is the doctrine of John Calvin himself - as known and experienced in the lives of many Calvinists. Especially of the previews generations in which Calvinist pastors did not shirk from teaching Calvinism's doctrine of SECRET election and Calvin's doctrine of the wheat and tares. John Calvin -quote But the Lord gives them a *SENSE* such as can be felt *WITHOUT* the spirit of adoption.....he knows who are his according to his SECRET election......if he has *DOOMED* us to death then it is vain for us to fight against it.
In Matthew, chapter 16, Peter tells Jesus that He's Christ, the Son of the Living God. Jesus says, "Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jo'-na: for flesh and blood has not "revealed" it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven". I walked in the Kingdom of Darkness till the Light came on. I didn't turn the Light on, God the Father did. I didn't reveal the Light, the Father did. But when I saw the Light and how it dispelled Darkness, I became a believer in the Kingdom of Light and decided I wanted to abide in Him and have Him abide in me. That simple. I just believe what the Bible says is true, now. I'm saved and Heaven bound, praise God!!! According to the Word of God.
If you are truly saved and born again by the spirit of God. You will know it and be 100 percent sure that you will go to heaven. You know that you are a child of God. How do you know? Because God changes you completely and you go into a transformation. It is very hard to explain it. You still sin but not as much and you are very aware of it. The holy spirit is in your heart and guiding you.
Ben: You will know it and be 100 percent sure that you will go to heaven DW: Calvinism incorporates the divine deception of believers - per its doctrine of wheat and tares. The Calvinists who are decreed to be "tares" are divinely given a FALSE SENSE of salvation/election. And if that is what is infallibly decreed then there is no way they can know it.
What he is describing is Calvinism as it was in previous generations when Calvinist pastors did not shirk from teaching Calvinism's doctrine of SECRET election - and Calvinism's doctrine of the INVISIBLE church - and Calvinism's doctrine of the wheat and the tares. Those doctrines include the divine deception of the believer - where it is divinely decreed for the believers to have a FALSE SENSE of election/salvation. The infallible decree cannot be broken. So if a FALSE SENSE of election/salvation is infallibly decreed - then there is no way the believer can know it.
No one has 100% confidence. You don't need 100% confidence because you're saved by the objective truth, not your subjective confidence. If I have 51% confidence in a strong rope, I'm safe. But if I have 100% confidence in a faulty rope, I'll fall and die. So, it's the objective truth that saves, not the excellence of your subjective believing! Indeed, 100% subjective assurance in a lie will kill you.
The Bible is very clear that God chooses certain people to be saved. Because we are dead in our trespasses before we are saved, we cannot choose God until He first regenerates us. Read "Chosen By God" by R.C. Sproul
GoodNews777 Regeneration happens after faith.... Jhn 7:38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. 39 (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.) All that believed would receive the Spirit after Jesus’ resurrection and ascension.... Jhn 14: 17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. Jhn 15: 26 ¶ But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: Jhn 16: 7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. The Holy Spirit is first given here.... Jhn 20: 22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: So they didn’t receive the Holy Spirit until after the resurrection as Jesus stated in John 7. That’s well after the disciples believed, and many others as well...... Jhn 2: 23 ¶ Now when he was in Jerusalem at the passover, in the feast day, many believed in his name, when they saw the miracles which he did. Luk 7: 50 ¶ And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace. Even after the resurrection, faith still preceded regeneration..... Eph 1: 13 ¶ In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Acts 5:32 And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him. Just to clarify what regeneration is. It is the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.... Rom 8: 9 ¶ But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. 10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. Spiritual life happens after belief..... Jhn 20:31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name. The disciples hadn’t received this life before the resurrection of Christ..... Jhn 14:19 ¶ Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also. Peter hadn’t yet been converted..... Luk 22:32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. (Matt 18:3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.)
I disagree. Regeneration happens before Faith. Colossians 2:13 says when we were dead in our transgressions God made us alive together with Christ. We cannot come to Christ unless God first makes us alive. Salvation is an act of God from start to finish. We can't take any credit for it.
GoodNews777 But the passage you cited doesn’t say anything about what man can or cannot do when he’s dead in sin. Nor does it state whether or not you have to believe in order for God to quicken you. All of the passages I gave clearly stated all of that. Are you saying that you don’t believe the passages I cited? Explain how they don’t mean what they say and give me a passage that states something different with regeneration happening before faith. Please and thanks.
Can a dead man get up and walk? The answer obviously is no. A dead man can't do anything. In the same way, we are spiritually dead until God quickens our heart's and gives us the desire and ability to put our Faith in Jesus. Also, in John, Jesus said that "No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him"
GoodNews777 So your analogy is that dead men can’t walk. So spiritually dead men can walk but they can’t believe??? That’s a terrible analogy my friend. It proves that you’re reading into spiritual death with what you want it to mean. If it doesn’t mean dead dead like a corpse (because we can walk and talk and brush our teeth) then where are you drawing this idea that it means we can’t believe? You have to have scripture to say that. You can’t just infer it. Jhn 12: 32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. 33 This he said, signifying what death he should die. Did Jesus mean all men as in every individual or all men as in every category?
1cor15:1to 4 Jesus died Our sins Buried Rose from death According to scripture When we accept we are sinner and BELIEVE the work of jesus for our punishment of our sins we got saved .. Eternally secured🔒
I consider myself one and I don"t have that problem. Eternal life according to scriptures starts when you are born again. You can't believe nothing, not even yourself on this issue. Only what the bible says.
I shudder from calling myself a Calvinist and I'm Free Grace all the way. When it comes to the TULIP acrostic, I would be a 4 pointer if the P is rendered as Preservation and not Perseverance of the saints. Of course I reject Limited Atonement. The only ground of knowing one is elect is not by works of any kind but believing on Christ's merits alone through His substitutionary death and subsequent resurrection as our only qualification for Heaven. This video clearly highlights that most Calvinists do not believe the Gospel and have no assurance looking for signs in and of themselves. That is sinking sand and no wonder many esteemed Puritans were in abject dread of damnation on their deathbeds. I have no truck with Lordship Salvationist Calvinists and much more in common with Free Grace believers who do not share my view of God's Sovereignty in salvation. I can be more sure that they're actually brothers and sisters in the Lord, trusting in Christ's Finished Work alone and not an admixture of faith, works and feelings. That is a perversion of the simple, straightforward, Gospel where assurance is the believer's birthright. Please do not think that all who would fall into the Calvinist side of the Free Wil debate hold such a defective view. Indeed, according to RT Kendall, there is a strong case that the Geneva Reformer was more of Free Grace 4 pointer than a Lordship 5 pointer. However, we are to follow men only so far as they follow Jesus and their teachings square up with His Word.
DW: The "T" in the TULIP should really stand for "TOTALLY PREDESTINED NATURE" The state of mans nature - at any instance in time - is 100% predestined at the foundation of the world. And man has NO SAY in the matter of what is predestined.
@@dw6528 The secret things belong to the Lord our God and the things that are revealed belong to us. Predestination is one of those secret things. Yes, as a result of the fall, man is incapable of doing or choosing any spiritual good. Left to our own devices, no one would believe the Gospel and take the free gift of eternal life by faith alone in the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ. Why God had to elect a number before the foundation of the world who would come to Him and drawn by the Holy Spirit. However, our job is to make the Gospel known to all everywhere as if it was contingent on their own free will to accept or reject the Gospel offer. That is what is revealed to us and man is responsible.
@@bloodboughtbigphilr8266 Blood: as a result of the fall, man is incapable of .... DW: For a Calvinist - that statement is a HALF truth masquerading as the WHOLE TRUTH In Calvinism the state of man's nature - at any instance in time - is 100% FIXED at the foundation of the world - to infallibly be whatever it is - and man is NEVER granted any CHOICE or SAY in the matter. Blood: Why God had to elect a number before the foundation of the world...... DW: John Calvin is very clear on this. The reprobate are not FOUND but *MADE* worthy of destruction - solely and exclusively FOR HIS GOOD PLEASURE. Calvin's god designs/creates the vast majority of his human creatures - specifically for eternal torment in a lake of fire - for his good pleasure. Blood: it was contingent on their own free will.... DW: Actually - per the doctrine of decrees 1) Man (including Adam) is FREE to be and do ONLY what he was decreed to infallibly be and do 2) Man (including Adam) is NOT FREE to be or do otherwise - than what he is decreed to infallibly do. 3) Adam was FREE to eat the fruit - because eating the fruit was COMPATIBLE with what was determined. 4) Adam was NOT FREE to NOT eat the fruit because NOT eating the fruit was NOT COMPATIBLE:E with what was determined. Additionally - Adam NOT eating the fruit - would falsify the infallible decree - which is never permitted. According to Calvinism - Ephesians 1 declares - ALL things - including all sins and evils are the WORKS of Calvin's god.
@@dw6528 I don't designate myself a Calvinist but in the Arminian/Calvinist debate around where final arbitration rests with receipt of salvation, I would fall in as a moderate Calvinist as many dispensational Free Grace luminaries were in days of yore. Before predestination, there was a foreknowledge in the decrees of ordo salutis and any predestination is a positive one unto eternal life. I reject the idea of predestination unto damnation or reprobation. Any view of predestination too that that makes God the author of sin and evil, is a blasphemy. The only reprobation I would countenance as plausible is someone hardening their heart and immersing themselves in evil to such an extent that they've gone beyond the rubicon and have rendered themselves unsaveable with God completely leaving them to their chosen course of ruin. That being so, only God would be able to tell and it wouldn't be down to us. Hence, another secret thing. Much blessing to you.
@@bloodboughtbigphilr8266 DW: If you know anything about Calvinism - you must know that it is predicated on EXHAUSTIVE DIVINE DETERMINISM - enunciated within its doctrine of decrees. In such case - there is no such thing as a human will that is FREE from an infallible decree. And in Calvinism EVERY human event and EVERY human impulse is decreed by infallible decree. So the Calvinist essentially cannot have a thought or impulse which comes to pass within his brain - that he can claim to be the AUTHOR of - or call his own. John Calvin understood the problem this causes - and instructs his disciples to -quote Go about your office *AS-IF* nothing is determined in any part. Calvin knows that this instruction is a direct denial of the doctrine of decrees - which stipulates that EVERYTHING is determined in EVERY part. But he understands the Calvinist cannot possibly live that way and have any sense of NORMALCY. That is why Calvinist language has evolved to be a language of DOUBLE-SPEAK. The Calvinist wants to assert his doctrine is TRUE - but he is forced to treat his doctrine *AS-IF* it is FALSE - in order to have a sense of NORMALCY.
Reliance on yourself for salvation is dubious. If it took the sinless life of Christ and His brutal death and shed blood to save you what makes you think you can keep yourself? The fact we are all seeking God and His Son demonstrated you are elect. Quit fretting over what you can't do anything about. Trust in Jesus and what He did. Here is a clear scripture regarding predestination: ““Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know- Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death;” Acts 2:22-23
Let me see if I am getting the right. Most humans before they are borne and before they commit a sinful act are DAMNED to HELL for eternity, and then God blames the DAMNED for being DAMNED even though God made them that way. Am I missing something?
Calvin's god creates/designs the vast majority of his human creatures - specifically for eternal torment in a lake of fire - for his good pleasure. John Calvin -quote By the eternal GOOD PLEASURE of god though the reason does not appear, they are NOT found but *MADE* worthy of destruction. - (Concerning the Eternal Predestination of god)
@@artemusbowdler7508 DW: It really is simple. In Calvinism - Calvin's god is the divine potter of roman's 9 - who creates vessels specifically for dishonor. And in Calvinism the *FEW* are not created to specifically be vessels of dishonor - while the *MANY* are created to specifically be vessels of dishonor. Calvin's god does not look down the corridor of time and see a person reject Christ - and then decree what that person will do based on what he observes that person does. Calvin's god does not give humans any options. He decrees EVERY IMPULSE that will come to pass within them. So at the foundation of the world - he creates/designs the vast majority of his human creatures specifically for eternal torment in a lake of fire. And Calvin insists that this is for his GOOD PLEASURE.
@@artemusbowdler7508 It may seem like arrogance to you - while it is as straight-forward as taking [X] and subtracting 100% from it. What percentage of [X] do you have remaining?. In Calvinism 100% of [X] is infallibly decreed to come to pass. Accordingly 100% of [X] comes to pass infallibly And there is nothing a fallible creature can say or do to alter or stop or change that which is infallible So in Calvinism we have 1) 100% of [X] is determined by a THEOS at the foundation of the world before people exist 2) At the foundation of the world that THEOS leaves ZERO% UN-determined - and thus ZERO% left over for anyone else to determine. That THEOS does not confide with anyone concerning what he determines will come to pass. Not even a fraction of a percent. 100% of [X] is is *UP TO* that THEOS ZERO% of [X] is *UP TO* anyone else. Understanding that does not require arrogance.
So Arminians are omniscient and can see their future selves. Good thing no Arminian who was absolutely sure of his salvation never later became an apostate. Oh wait . . . No one can tell their own future. That's all Calvinists are saying. According to John, assurance is based on whether one remains in the love of God for the brethren, believes apostolic Christianity, and repents of sin. Those things are fruit that give assurance. Without them, no one can be assured. But assurance isn't some sort of once for all time state. That simply is not biblical nor logical.
Bryan: Those things are fruit that give assurance. DW: Just remember - in Calvinism's doctrine of the wheat and tares - it can be divinely decreed that Calvinists are given FALSE PERCEPTIONS of their faith/election/salvation John Calvin -quote But the Lord gives them a *SENSE* such as can be felt *WITHOUT* the spirit of adoption.
I thought that Leighton Flowers made a mockery of Calvinism (and he does), but some of the comments on here take caricature to a whole new level…sad state of affairs in the American church these days…fighting amongst each other rather than engaging the real enemy…no wonder we’re losing the culture war…
God lead me from Arminianism in which i stood from rebirth and 8 years of walk into Calvinism. And it blessed my heart tremendously! If a Calvinist doubts his or her salvation, one have to rethink their position if the are truly a Calvanist. In my Arminian position for 8 years straight i've hoped to not fall away from the faith and that (i) have to persevere untill the end or might not be saved in the end. Now my faith has been strengthened that much by God through Calvinism that i trust Him on His Word and think to myself i will persevere because of Gods promise in His Word. Which says: Philippians 1:6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ; Calvinism isn't the problem, but are the ones professing as Calvinists truly Calvinists? In who lies our confidence? In our perseverance? Or in the One Who promised that He preserves us? Do we rely on ourselves or do we rely on the One and His promised words to us? Perseverance and assurance doesn't lay in our works. I speak as a Calvinist here. It lays in not losing your faith, and totally apostasize from the faith by losing your faith altogether which i believe is impossible for the elect based on God's Word. I know for sure God's Spirit is working in me, i know myself to be one of the elect. If a Calvinist doubts if he is elect, it is to be doubted if he truly is one of the elect. One can know if the Spirit is in him based on Scripture. For example, look at Hebrews 11:1. Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. This verse can only be discerned and read in truth if the Spirit is in you because it needs to be spiritually discerned. The natural man can't read this in truth because worldly faith isn't seen as substance of things hoped for and evidence of things not seen. God bless ❤️🙏🏼💯
If I got this right, talking to this "Calvinist" you were able to determine the doctrine of all Calvinists. All I can say is that there is a lot of Jesuit thought in your speech.
No - what he is describing is well documented within historic Calvinist literature. But it is an aspect of Calvinism that is seriously avoided by most Calvinist pastors in today's Calvinist churches. And you can see why.
IF that is the case - then you don't believe the way John Calvin believed - and the way previous generations of Calvinists believed. That is probably because Calvinist pastors today don't want to teach certain aspects of the doctrine.
I know one thing the only reason why I go to heaven is because of what Jesus did upon the cross No Good Deed no being the best one in church and if I backslide I still have that rest of the insurance as long as I believe in Jesus and the only reason I go is because of him I can remember a time when I was hurting and I backslid and I was drinking in front of a Starbucks and I love God and the young man came up to me and he told me I was going to hell I wasn't prepared for that so I didn't have a Snappy comeback but I do remember me opening my mouth and what came out of my mouth was no I'm not I go to heaven because of the nails that were driven in his hands and his feet that is such a sad way to live any little mistake can cost me my salvation to me that's satanic Romans 10 9 and 10 that if you confess with your mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord and you believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead you will be saved this is one of my favorite scriptures it doesn't say you might be saved but you might make a mistake and not be saved none of that it says you will be saved
Mat 10:22 You will be hated by everyone because of My name, but the one who perseveres to the end will be saved. the Calvinist does not work for his salvation - it is all by grace alone and by faith alone - but that faith is not a dead faith - it becomes alive with works - that is the fruit of faith - that faith is a persevering faith - 1Jn_5:4 because everyone born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world: our faith. Heb 11:32 And what more shall I say? Time will not allow me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets, Heb 11:33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, Heb 11:34 quenched the raging fire, and escaped the edge of the sword; who gained strength from weakness, became mighty in battle, and put foreign armies to flight. Heb 11:35 Women received back their dead, raised to life again. Others were tortured and refused their release, so that they might gain a better resurrection. Heb 11:36 Still others endured mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. Heb 11:37 They were stoned, they were sawed in two, they were put to death by the sword. They went around in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, oppressed, and mistreated. Heb 11:38 The world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and hid in caves and holes in the ground. Heb 11:39 These were all commended for their faith,
What he is describing is an aspect of the doctrine which Calvinists of previous generations understood and wrote about. Calvinist pastors today try to stay away from it - and many of them won't touch it with a ten-foot-pole even though they themselves understand and believe it. It is very disturbing to the congregation to know they may have been divinely decreed to have been given a FALSE PERCEPTION of their salvation/election
Horrible place to be spiritually not really sure your going to heaven or not,this mindset is not really understanding the blood of Christ and Grace or Gods unconditional love and this mindset only leads to works based religious perfectionism or ocd constantly trying to live up to Gods standards which is under the law and Paul says those seeking to justified by law have fallen from grace or fellowship from God and don’t experience joy of their salvation.because you no longer trust Christ alone but the bird one is on you
Where the two part is: 1. The Arminian view of the "instrumental" (but not salvific) role of choice and 2. The Calvinist (notably "Lordship Theology") view of "evidence" in the life of the believer. The "evidence" is based on the "perseverance of the saints and is technically not considered "salvific" but only "evidence."
Nom De Plume, you make a very good point regarding the "litmus" test for salvation. Calvinists will say that salvation is a matter of God's grace based on Christ's vicarious and atoning death. Arminianism affirms the same thing regarding the basis of salvation, God's grace based on the atonement.
If you believe in the lord Jesus Christ you will be saved. You and your household. Thats what the bible says. Thats either true or its not. I've looked at the bible through the lens of Calvinism and if Calvinism is true, the bible contradicts itself many times. I believe the plain words of the bible without trying to make them something its not. When I do that, it no longer contradicts itself.
And then you do with the scripture the same thing that I do, you take it in its totality and view it in the time and space it was written and not from a man's opinion 1600 years later. Now that is being Holy Spirit lead!!!!
