The Lighthearted Calvinist

Posted in Calvinism, Doctrine, New Testament, Sovereignty, Theology, Truth | Tagged Arminianism, Bad theology, Bible Study, Calvinism, Doctrine, Gospel, New Testament, Theology, Truth | 34 Comments

34 Responses

1. on April 24, 2009 at 5:56 pm | Reply JohnBrian

   I do so appreciate you taking on the monumental task of giving the Calvinistic response to his most thorough refutation of our “false religion.” The amount of time you invested in study is only equaled by your skill in the art of copy/pasting your most eloquent replies.

   I was deeply disturbed when I read the gentleman scholars strong arguments against Calvinism, but your response has restored my faith in our “religion.”

   
   
   • on April 24, 2009 at 7:09 pm | Reply oldbutweary

     Thanks. I may have to request an extended vacation to recuperate. I also may indeed have to deal with RSI from hitting Ctrl “V” so many times.

     
     
   • on July 22, 2010 at 2:38 pm | Reply Joshua Royalty

     Why the glee in being a Calvinist. Why does it matter that yes, God knows who will be in Heaven. If you enjoy the fact that your neighbor or even someone that sits beside you in church is not saved because obviously he is “not chosen” to hear and accept the gospel, you are free to do that but what a rotten life you have to only embrace those that you don’t even know if they are saved regardless if they accepted exactly what the Bible tells them to do. They can’t “Know” as the BIBLE tells them, No they have to wait to get to Heaven to see if they are in favor with God to be the “chosen elect few”. Have fun with your view, but this is one reason Islam is increasing. Cause if christians don’t want anybody in their little clique, people really don’t give a care as to stupid fetishes as to this stupid website.

     
     
     • on July 22, 2010 at 2:53 pm | Reply Jeff Peterson

       Joshua:

       Thank you for stopping by.

       Concerning your statement, “If you enjoy the fact that your neighbor or even someone that sits beside you in church is not saved because obviously he is “not chosen” to hear and accept the gospel, you are free to do that but what a rotten life you have to only embrace those that you don’t even know if they are saved regardless if they accepted exactly what the Bible tells them to do,” I guess I am wondering where you see in this post – or any others on this site – that we take “glee” in the damnation of anyone? If I took such glee, I would not spend so much time in evangelization within Michigan prisons. I think you would also be hard-pressed to lay blame for the growth of Islam on Calvinism, since Calvinism is very much the minority view within contemporary Christianity.

       One troubling factor I see – especially within the prisons – is for non-Reformed Christians to welcome Muslims as their spiritual “brothers,” since many of these Muslims claim to “love the same Jesus as you Christians” and worship “the one true God,” as Roman Catholicism affirms in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, Paragraph 841. Your run-of-the-mill Calvinist would make no such affirmation.

       Your run-of-the-mill Calvinist would also say that one CAN know if he is among the elect, as the Apostle wrote in 1 John 5:13. I’ve asked many non-Calvinists – those who believe your salvation comes and goes with every sin – how THEY know they are saved? How do they know which little sin will push them over the edge and they will “fall from grace,” as they like to put it, which is a terrible misreading of Galatians 5. They just plain DON’T know and their doctrine does not permit them to know. As John MacArthur says, “If I could lose my salvation, I’d lose it a thousand times a day.”

       Thanks again.

       
       
       • on September 12, 2012 at 1:10 pm | Reply Tom Lessing

         You said: “I guess I am wondering where you see in this post – or any others on this site – that we take “glee” in the damnation of anyone? If I took such glee, I would not spend so much time in evangelization within Michigan prisons.”

         I would like to remind you that we are commanded to be like Jesus (“Be holy, for I am holy”). Now, if we are to be like Him – think like Him, talk like Him and act like Him – then we should also imitate Him in his attitude to the non-elect. What is his attitude and feelings toward the reprobate? Well, let’s take a look at what Calvin said.

         “Scripture clearly proves … that God by his eternal and immutable counsel determined once for all those whom it was his pleasure one day to admit to salvation, and those whom, on the other hand, it was his pleasure to doom to destruction. ” (John Calvin: Institutes of the Christian Religion, Book 3, Chapter 7, Sec. 2210).

         The dictionary defines the word “pleasure” as follows:

         1) the state or feeling of being pleased.
         2) enjoyment or satisfaction derived from what is to one’s liking; gratification; delight.

         I have often wondered why Paul preferred to be accursed (separated) from the eternal presence of God for the sake of his reprobate brethren after the flesh (Romans 9: 1-3) whilst he allegedly knew they were the accursed of God (doomed to a predestined eternal destruction in hell), even before the foundation of the world, simply because it was God’s good pleasure to do so. As such Paul was in direct conflict with God’s sovereign will and decree and guilty of downright disobedience. On the other hand, it may be that he was completely ignorant of this doctrine which the Calvinists’ claim to have come directly from him. Hadn’t he been so oblivious of God’s sovereign decree to damn all the reprobate, simply because it was His good pleasure, he would probably never have had any desire for His “reprobate” brethren to be saved. We should bear in mind that Paul vigorously and single-mindedly expressed the desire to imitate His Master in all things and even once declared that he, together with all Christians throughout the ages, have the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2: 16). It simply means, they ought to think and act upon the same principles of love, compassion, longsuffering and graciousness Christ fostered in His own heart when He was on earth. If Paul and his brethren throughout the ages truly “have the mind of Christ,” they too should take pleasure in the sovereignly decreed damnation of the reprobate and cheerfully obey and support God in His divinely ordained ruling to damn all the reprobate. Was Paul disobeying God’s sovereign decree to pleasurably damn all the reprobate to hell when he expressed the profound wish to be damned himself so that, if it were possiblle, all his reprobate brethren could be saved?

         One may conclude that Paul’s was a case of the sovereignly elected who for the sake of the non-elect passionately desired that he himself could become non-elect so that the sovereignly decreed non-elect could be saved. Does that make any sense? I don’t think so. In similar fashion, Moses begged God to blot his name out of his book He had written for the sake of his eternally and sovereignly decreed reprobate brethren (Exodus 31: 32). The contention, of course, may be that neither Paul nor Moses referred to the children of the flesh (unsaved or non-elect) but the children of the promise whom God had elected unto salvation before the foundation of the earth. That would turn an oxymoron into an even sillier “oxy-moronic” conclusion, for why would the elect want to be eternally accursed on behalf of the elect while they knew that the elect were sovereignly elected unto salvation before the foundation of the world, and that they would all unreservedly be saved because if they weren’t . . . God would be a dismal failure? Why would anyone want to go to hell for the sake of those who were elected to go to heaven before the foundation of the earth? Both these scenarios— to be accursed for the non-elect or the elect — are, to say the least, an absolute absurdity.

         Having said this, I would like to exhort you and all your Calvinistic brethren to imitate Jesus in his attitude toward the reprobate and that is to take pleasure (glee) in their damnation. If you refuse to do so, as you’ve already indicated in your comment, then are being downright disobedient and prove that you don’t want to be like Him.

         
         
2. on June 26, 2009 at 10:05 am | Reply Dave

   Calvinism is appealing to those who do not want to be held accountable for his/her own actions. In certain ways it mirrors one of the largest growing religions, Atheism. In similar fashion Atheists love their religion because they are not accountable for what they do and there is no penalty. They only need to abide in man’s law and finding loopholes is OK. Also they can break man’s law, and that is fine as long as they don’t get caught, again because there is no penalty. OSAS is a feel good teaching that will lead many to destruction. Once you are “saved”, you can do as you please. This philosophy is in direct line with the Satanist Aleister Crowley’s, “Do What Thou Wilst”.

   
   
   • on June 26, 2009 at 10:27 am | Reply oldbutweary

     Thanks for your comment. But, to quote my youngest son, “What the?!?!?!”

     I would have to ask for your sources that document your statements equating Calvinism with Atheism/Satanism and documentation that would support your statement that “Calvinism is appealing to those who do not want to be held accountable for his/her own actions.” A cursory listening/reading to/of any of Paul Washer’s messages, for example, which hold to a Calvinistic view of holiness and sanctification, (or John MacArthur. Or John Piper. Or Alastair Begg. Or George Whitefield. Or Jonathan Edwards. Or J.C. Ryle. Or Mark Dever. Or any Calvinist who holds to historic confessions such as the WCF or the 1689 LBCF) would seem to fly in the face of your broadly painted statement.

     Perhaps you are thinking of the Arminian Baptist, Charles Stanley, and his book, “Eternal Security.” In that book he says that all one needs to do is make one profession of faith and then it doesn’t matter what one does afterward. Just go to Amazon,com, search for the book and then search for phrases like “faith” and “outer darkness.” You may be surprised by what you find. Please note, also, though, that Dr. Stanley’s view are not in line with
     either historic Calvinism or Arminianism.

     
     
     • on September 12, 2012 at 1:52 pm | Reply Tom Lessing

       No true Christian in his right mind would think that because he/she is saved can doeth whatever they wilst and get away with it. That’s nonsense. I believe in a child of God’s eternal security once he/she has placed their faith in Jesus Christ and his finished work on the cross. I base my argument on 2 Corinthians 7:10: “For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.” However, I do not believe that one’s eternal security can be based on election and the perseverance of the saints. Salvivic security is solely based on God’s promises in Scripture and nothing else. “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. (John 10:27-28). The anti OSAS group usually counters this verse with the silly argument that no one can snatch the sheep out of his hand but the sheep themselves can turn their backs on Him, wrench open his hands and walk away (as if they have the power to do so). Then I must remind them again of 2 Corinthians 7:10 where Paul says that a truly born-again child of God will NEVER regret his/her salvation and walk away.

       Furthermore, the question must be asked whether those never sin who shout ” OSAS is a feel good teaching that will lead many to destruction. Once you are “saved”, you can do as you please. This philosophy is in direct line with the Satanist Aleister Crowley’s, “Do What Thou Wilst.” Isn’t sin the very act of doing what thou wilst in stead of what God wills?. How much should one not sin so as not to fall in the category of the satanist Aleister Crowley’s “Do what thou wilst” maxim? I’m sure that oldbutweary would agree that he is a sinner who frequently sins – although he may not want to sin – and that his sin squarely places him in Satan’s court. How do I know? Well the Bible tells us: “He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.” (1John 3:8). I really don’t think oldbutweary can point any fingers and then boast (inadvertently) that he himself is responsible for his ultimate salvation through his good and pristine lifestyle.

       Please tell us oldbutweary, is King Solomon in heaven?

       
       
3. on July 15, 2009 at 12:03 am | Reply Dave

   I don’t know why you mentioned Satanism in your reply, since I didn’t discuss it or mention it at all, I only mentioned a quote from Aleister Crowley who happened to be a Satanist.

   If a tenet of Calvinism is that once someone has received Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior he is permanently and irrevocably saved, here in lies the problem. I am speaking of the belief that a “saved” person can do anything he pleases and never lose his salvation. This is often called “Once Saved Always Saved” by some Baptist sects.

   The corrolation between Atheism and the “OSAS” philosophy, (for the purposes of this conversation let’s define an Atheist as a person who denies the existence of God) is easy to understand psychologically speaking.

   A person who clings to the “OSAS” doctrine typically believes in Jesus Christ and the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. While an Atheist, who claims to be moral and perhaps even a Humanist, certainly does not believe in any God.

   OSAS is a feel good belief that is being peddled in the apostate churches of the United States. It allows a person to believe he is saved regardless of his future actions. It is easy to deceive Christians with this philosophy because we all know that we are not saved by our works. This is an appealing doctrine because a person can continue to live the same lifestyle as he did before and still believe he is saved.

   Humanism and Atheism are other feel good beliefs, although there is no afterlife or eternal life, there is also no punishment, no eternal damnation. Once again a person can live how he or she pleases without any accountability.

   Here is the parallel between “OSAS” and Atheism. There is a similarity to why it appeals to people. You can do as you please without penalty.

   I am neither Calvinist or Arminian. I believe in the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. The God who led his people out of bondage in Egypt. I believe in his son, Jesus Christ. The Bible is my guide for life. The writings of Calvin, Luther, etc, hold many truths, but are not without error.

   If you do not subscribe to the doctrine of “Once Saved Always Saved”, it is probably not wise to refer to your faith as Calvinism. This can cause confusion among your brothers in Christ. Is it so difficult to call ourselves Christians without feeling the need to add additional labels? Or to add additional doctrines and writings?

   
   
   • on September 12, 2012 at 2:16 pm | Reply Tom Lessing

     oldbutweary wrote: “If a tenet of Calvinism is that once someone has received Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior he is permanently and irrevocably saved, here in lies the problem. I am speaking of the belief that a “saved” person can do anything he pleases and never lose his salvation. This is often called “Once Saved Always Saved” by some Baptist sects.”

     it is patently clear that you know absolutely nothing about Calvinism, my friend. No one, not even the elect – let alone the non-elect – are able to receive Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour because we are all dead in our sin and trespasses. Paul Washer says it so beautifully in many of his YouTube vidoes. Dead men cannot hear and neither can they respond in faith to the Gospel. They need to be regenerated like unto the very resurrection of Lazarus. They (i.e. only the elect) need to be regenerated monergistically without them having to place their trust in Jesus Christ (because dead men are completely inept to do so) and then, AFTER their monergistic regeneration God gives them faith as a gift.

     If you’ve trusted Jesus to save you (which I hope you did) but deny that He’s able to see you through to glory, then you’re simply NOT trusting Jesus but your own efforts to remain faithful to Him. You began your walk with God in the spirit but now you are trusting your flesh (Galatians 3:3)

     
     
   • on September 12, 2012 at 2:28 pm | Reply Tom Lessing

     Dave wrote: “It is easy to deceive Christians with this philosophy because we all know that we are not saved by our works.”

     If you are not saved by works why do you then want to consummate your salvation by works? Paul said: “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: (Php 1:6) I’m sure, like myself, you also sin sometimes. Does that mean you are willfully wanting to sin because you just love to do anything that pleases you? T what degree must you sin to determine when you lose your salvation – 10% 30% 70% 100%? The worst sin one can commit is to think that you can consummate your salvation by keeping your degree of sinning down to 10% or even less.

     
     
4. on December 17, 2009 at 6:17 am | Reply Allan Svensson

   Hi.
   I found your Web Site by Google
   And I wish you the best you can get,
   the peace of God through Jesus Christ.

   Welcome to visit my Site.
   Allan Svensson, Sweden
   http://www.algonet.se/~allan-sv/INDEX.HTM

   Once saved – always saved?
   The doctrine of election, which William M. Branham preached,
   that the elected cannot fall away from the Lord, it can entice
   people into a false safety, which can be their fall. Branham’s
   doctrine of the election does not agree with Ezekiel 33:12-19
   or Rom. 11:17-22.

   If the elected ones cannot become lost, why then are there so
   many warnings in the Bible? Why did Jesus warn us about
   false teachers and false prophets, if it is impossible that the
   elected ones become lost?

   If it is no risk to lose our salvation, then we do not need to
   hold us awake or be careful against false teachers. Why then
   are Israel’s sins and punishments under their wandering through
   the desert, written down as warnings for us? Why then did Paul
   write, “Now all these things happened unto them for examples:
   and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of
   the world are coming. Wherefore let him that thinketh he
   standeth take heed lest he falls.” 1 Cor. 10:1-12.

   A usual reason that Christians fall away from the Lord, is that
   they follow false doctrines, which lead away from the sincere
   faithfulness to the Lord. They believe more on preachers and
   priests than on the Bible.

   A remarkable phenomenon is, that the most resistance against
   revival comes from those Christians who have been praying for
   revival during many years. They have prayed for revival, but
   when the answer to prayers comes, then they become angry.
   They do not like to hear the truth of the Assembly of God, the
   Body of Christ. Instead to praise Jesus, they are irritated and
   afraid. Why? They are spiritually blinded of Satans false
   assembly doctrine. They do not have the knowledge of the
   Assembly of God. This truth has never been preached in the
   churches.

   Churches and denominations are Satan’s tools to hold control
   over the Christians. The purpose of the churches is that with
   false doctrine defend churches and denominations, and to hold
   their members in religious slavery, and hinder them to
   understand God’s word.

   In the time of the apostles any church did not exist, and
   therefore the word “church” does not occur in the Bible.
   Everywhere in your English Bible where you see the word
   “church” it is a grave translation error. It ought to be
   “assembly”.

   As you can see in my Web site, I am no member in any
   church. In the year 1965 I left Babylon the great, and since
   then I have been outside of all churches and denominations,
   according to the command of the Lord. Rev. 18:4.

   This command of the Lord is the most powerful revival
   message we can find in the Bible. Yet, this truth of the Bible
   has not been preached among God’s people, and therefore the
   Christians are entirely unprepared for Jesus’ coming. Only
   few Christians have obeyed this command of the Lord to
   come out of the great Babylon.

   Just this is revival, that all God’s people become free from
   all churches and denominations, the great Babylon. Many
   preachers are speaking that Jesus shall come, but they do
   nothing to prepare themselves.

   On my Homepage I have written very much about the
   Assembly of God and about churches and denominations.
   It is very urgent that all God’s people get the knowledge
   of this.

   None be saved by works of the law, Gal. 2:16,
   and none be saved without works of faith. Matt. 7:21-23.

   Prepare you to meet Jesus!
   http://www.algonet.se/~allan-sv/PREPARE.HTM

   Evil spirits in the churches
   http://www.algonet.se/~allan-sv/SPIRITS.HTM

   Why did the Pentecostal Revival take an end?
   http://www.algonet.se/~allan-sv/CRISIS.HTM#end

   What does hinder the Antichrist to appear?
   What is the Restrainer?
   http://www.algonet.se/~allan-sv/MESSAGE.HTM#Antichrist

   
   
   • on December 17, 2009 at 8:15 pm | Reply Jeff Peterson

     Thanks for the comment.

     In my quest to search the Bible, I fail to see the doctrine of not being involved in a local fellowship being taught by anyone. It would appear you are not obeying the clear example of Acts and 1 Corinthians as to one’s commanded involvement in a local assembly, and hence have not obeyed by sharing at the Lord’s Table since 1965.

     Falling back into an Elijah-like mode (“Lord, I’m the only faithful, obedient one out here…!), one may want to be prepared for a similar response from God about the remnant of 7,000.

     Paul himself said he was “being perfected.” I’m not perfect, nor are you. Stating you’re the only one out there with the truth seems a little over the top. I’m just sayin’…….

     
     
     • on February 13, 2012 at 2:30 am | Reply Michael

       I think you’re above reply is of the most accurate yet. You indeed are “just sayin” and have completely failed to address any of the poster’s significant arguments pertaining to your Calvinist view of the inability to lose salvation. In fact anytime a rational and substantial argument is established to refute Calvinist ideals (such as the numerous scriptures declaring Christ’s sacrifice for ALL men) the reoccurring rebuttal is composed of nothing more than a redirection away from the original question and/or making a reinterpretation of the scripture by adding assumptive meanings to words as if gods original message was conveyed with a poor choice of words. What is written is written. Attempts to use your diminutive human logic to make our holy scripture fit the ideals of a self righteous lawyer motivated to instigate reform within the church seem nothing short of blasphemous.

       
       
5. on February 22, 2010 at 9:49 pm | Reply timothy

   calvinism is a man – made false religion

   
   
6. on April 5, 2011 at 2:16 am | Reply Seth Woolsey

   Calvanism is a cop out. Why would you want to believe in it? there is irrefutable proof that God gives all men the chance to be saved? It’s not like being saved by Grace can’t be proved, so why would you not want to believe it? I would wrather go to hell and know that God gave me and every man a chance to come to him, than to go to heaven and know that there are aborted babies in hell because they weren’t apart of the Gods chosen.

   
   
   • on April 5, 2011 at 4:33 pm | Reply Jeff Peterson

     RE: “I would wrather go to hell and know that God gave me and every man a chance to come to him, than to go to heaven and know that there are aborted babies in hell because they weren’t apart of the Gods chosen.” OK…………..

     
     
7. on May 28, 2011 at 10:25 pm | Reply Ian Franks

   WOW! it’s amazing how people want to “slam” Calvinism and talk bad about it call it “heresy” and everything else, it makes me sick.. Obviously u don’t read the Bible u MUST start with the first point of Calvinism which is TOTAL DEPRAVITY meaning (there is NO GOOD in man he CANNOT and DOES NOT want to or have ANY DESIRE to WANT TO come to God)
   Romans 3:10-18 as it is written there is NONE righteous NO NOT ONE there is NONE WHO UNDERATANDS there is NONE WHO SEEKS AFTER GOD they have ALL TURNED ASIDE TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME USELESS! There throat is an OPEN GRAVE with THIER TOUNGES they have PRACTICED DECIET the POISON OF ASPS IS UNDER THIER LIPS WHOSE MOUTH IS FULL OF CURSING AND BITTERNESS THIER FEET ARE SWIFT TI
   SHED BLOOD DESTRUCTION AND MISERY
   ARE IN THIER WAYS AND THE PATH OF
   PEACE THEY HAVE NOT KNOWN THERE IS NO FEAR OF GOD BEFORE THIER EYES..
   Jerimiah 17-9 the HEART is DECEITFUL above
   ALL THINGS and is DESPERATELY SICK
   WHO can understand it? The bible teaches TOTAL DEPRAVITY meaning SIN AFFECTS
   AND INFECTS AND CONTROLS EVERY PART
   OF US u can also read John chapter 6 where
   Jeaus says NO MAN CAN COME UNLESS THE
   FATHER WHO SENT ME DRAWS HIM second
   thesolonians 2-13 Paul says we should ALWAYS give thanks to God BECAUSE GOD HAS FROM THE BEGINNING CHOSEN YOU FOR SALVATION read Romans 9 the evidence of election and the teachings of calvin is so grounded in scripture it’s crazy how people misunderstand scripture and take it out is context trust me there is ALOT more than just 39 verses that I could throw at u but I’ll stop with this and when or if u write back I’ll answer any objections u have trust me I’ve got my guns loaded and there’s a bullet in the chamber I’ve got the bible on my side… P.S. When Jesus says if I be lifted up I will draw all MEN to me the word “man” was added by the king James translators read it in the Greek and the Hebrew it just says “all” and it has to mean all the elect

   
   
   • on September 28, 2011 at 8:16 am | Reply M. Akers

     You said at the end of your post here, that in the Hebrew it just says ALL, it does NOT say all elect, those are your words. All means all, and God does draw ALL at some point, but people run from God every day when he “draws” them, why is that? Because he gives us the will to choose, but most of us are not smart enough to choose LIFE, over eternal damnation. And those above who said that you can lose your salvation, you haven’t read your bible enough, because it says in John 10: 28-30: 28And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 29My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. 30I and my Father are one.

     
     
   • on September 12, 2012 at 2:36 pm | Reply Tom Lessing

     “Calvinism which is TOTAL DEPRAVITY meaning (there is NO GOOD in man he CANNOT and DOES NOT want to or have ANY DESIRE to WANT TO come to God)”

     Please explain to me why God called Cornelius the Centurion a devout man who feared the Lord, gave alms and even prayed to the Lord whilst he was still an unregenerate man. Or was he already a saved man when God sent Peter to him and his household to preach the Gospel to him? The words “devout,” “God-fearing” and “prayer” don’t seem to describe a man who is totally depraved, does it?

     
     
8. on May 29, 2011 at 2:32 pm | Reply Ian Franks

   Hello??? Anyone??

   
   
9. on August 1, 2011 at 9:49 pm | Reply Alan

   Ian,

   I saddens me that you could never stand before anyone that is lost and proclaim that Jesus loves them without really believing it. Calvinism is a philosophy that twist scripture into a doctrine that pits God’s attributes against each other. I can see how it is appealing to your flesh to believe that you are choosen while others aren’t. It really is sad that so many believers are falling prey “after” they saved.

   
   
10. on October 20, 2011 at 2:44 am | Reply Oksana Fesenko

    First of all, I would like to say I am not a Calvinist and can only label myself in the area of “born-again Christians,” although I strive to be able to be called simply Christ-like, as were the Christians of the first church.

    Secondly, I would like to address this comment:

    “I’ve asked many non-Calvinists – those who believe your salvation comes and goes with every sin – how THEY know they are saved? How do they know which little sin will push them over the edge and they will “fall from grace,” as they like to put it, which is a terrible misreading of Galatians 5. They just plain DON’T know and their doctrine does not permit them to know.”

    Perhaps the people you have asked happened to be ones who are not very grounded in their faith. From my own experience, the only times I wasn’t sure about my salvation was when I had distanced myself from God by agreeing with sin, which was because of my lack of knowledge of the truth which is the Word of God.

    However, I understand that the reason I am convinced that I am saved is because I keep exercising my faith in choosing life over death in time of temptation. But because Revelations 3:5 says “I will not blot out his name from the book of life,” I know that if I begin to choose sin=death over Christ=Life, i run the risk of dying in sin and having my name blotted out. Simply put, it is not a question of being saved – it is a question of DYING saved.

    Now, I am not sure whether you believe that there is no possibility of losing one’s salvation once it is had, but since I did not see you comment on that, I thought to include my convictions. I would be happy to hear your comments on this.

    In any case, I will get to my main reason for commenting. I really believe there is no reason to make such a big deal out of have differences in opinion. In fact, it is destructive, as is written that a house divided against itself cannot stand. We – as the Body of Christ – are one house who is destructively divided against itself at this very moment. Since this issue of choice vs non-choice can be argued from the Bible strongly on either side, I feel that it is a debate that will go nowhere when both sides are fully convinced in their positions.

    So, it is best that we lay aside our differences and work towards our common goal of spreading the Gospel as it was commanded by the Jesus Christ in Whom we all commonly believe. Whether the person we preach to is saved because of his individual choice or God’s choosing him to be saved, it doesn’t matter if he is saved in deed. We praise God nonetheless!! Can we not stop wasting our energy on fighting within ourselves, as Satan is so happy to see us doing, and instead combine our efforts to fight against the real enemy the devil?

    This division within the Body of Christ is the reason the Church has lost the vigor of the early Church. Paul urged the early Church not to have divisions and disputes, so why do we not realize what we are doing? We ought to surrender the judgement seat to Jesus, and not let ourselves become like Pharisees who judged others but did not judge themselves.

    Is it not written?:

    Matthew 22:36-40
    New King James Version (NKJV)

    36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?”
    37 Jesus said to him, “ ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’[a] 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’[b] 40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”

    I plead that all who read this examine first themselves on the basis of this scripture. Examine this scripture against other scriptures and read the definition of love in (1 Corinthians 13:4- ). Ask yourself, am I demonstrating love right now? I would submit to you that you would be convicted of failing in this respect. I am not excluding myself either. I am taking this time to write this because I am the same. I love a good debate and I love more than that to come out the winner, but when I read these scriptures I feel ashamed of myself. I see that I am such a sinner and such a hypocrite and so in need of Jesus’ love. How can I call myself a Christian if my actions are not at all Christ-like?

    This is the place I find myself after every debate. So, I pray that, if this speaks to you reading this, you ponder on it, and examine your heart and let Jesus have your way in you. I pray that more Christians, including myself, can say like Paul did, “imitate me as I imitate Christ.”

    I love you all with the love of Christ and I praise God that His will is being done!

    
    
    • on October 20, 2011 at 3:13 am | Reply Oksana Fesenko

      After cutting out a lot of my original message the following doesnt flow so I see the need to clarify:

      “But because Revelations 3:5 says “I will not blot out his name from the book of life,” I know that if I begin to choose sin=death over Christ=Life, i run the risk of dying in sin and having my name blotted out.”

      My train of thought is as follows: there is a mention of the option to blot out a name from the book of life, which means that some will come who were saved and did have their names written in the book of life, but because they did not follow the commandments till the end of their days, their privilege of salvation will be taken away from them.

      Although I do not wish to get into a debate about this, I wanted to put in a connecting sentence.

      Also, I am sorry if I don’t make sense at other points, its getting too late for me to think clearly.

      God bless!

      
      
    • on September 12, 2012 at 2:47 pm | Reply Tom Lessing

      “Can we not stop wasting our energy on fighting within ourselves, as Satan is so happy to see us doing, and instead combine our efforts to fight against the real enemy the devil?”

      I don’t think Paul would have agreed with you. He wrote and quietly so:

      “But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.” (Gal 1:8-9).

      Paul never preached the doctrines of grace as we find it in Calvinism today and neither did he teach that saints can lose their salvation.

      The enemy comes in the guise of an angel of light and if we do not contend for the faith that was was delivered to us by the apostles, we are definitely not fighting the devil – not at all.

      
      
      • on May 4, 2013 at 1:31 pm | Reply Oksana Fesenko

        I respectfully disagree with your interpretation. Paul’s warning to the church is to be aware of deceivers, yes. However, the warning here is for the church to be firm in their convictions and not be shaken from them. Which, I may remind, means having personally experienced the life-changing gospel and being in a devoted, immersed relationship with Jesus Christ.

        In other words, just as an agent would be able to tell a fake Benjamin after having been exposed to the real thing continuously, the Christian would be alerted to a different gospel by the Holy Spirit. Which leads me to say that the responsibility is on the individual to stand firm and “work out your salvation with fear and trembling” (Philipians 2:12). As Paul says in verse 6-7:

        “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—7 not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ.”

        This distortion is one he feels adamantly about: circumcision, along with the rules of conduct of a proper Jew. It is quite plain why he is upset and it is also quite obvious the deception.

        So, indeed, any man who is consciously attempting to lead others astray be accursed, but the focus is not to prove the man wrong but to firmly resist temptation. Therefore, my argument stands.

        
        
11. on June 3, 2012 at 10:31 am | Reply Todd James

    It’s funny, you’ll never meet a non-elect calvinist. In order to be one, you of your own free will choose to believe you’re elect. Obviously, if not all people are saved except those elected, then some of those would be Calvinists that think they’re the elect.

    
    
    • on July 9, 2012 at 7:06 pm | Reply Sunny

      so to be an “elect” you CHOOSE to be one…funny that sounds just like someone CHOOSING to give his/her life to Christ to be their Savior/Master or commonly known as born again Christian

      
      
12. on September 12, 2012 at 12:12 pm | Reply Tom Lessing

    Would you agree that Jesus loves everyone, even to the extent that He died for everyone? You really don’t have to go in any detail. All you have to do id to write: “Response: We agree” OR “Response: “We do not agree.”

    
    
13. on April 19, 2013 at 9:15 am | Reply Marina

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14. on April 27, 2013 at 1:47 am | Reply Trisha

    Right away I am ready to do my breakfast, when having my breakfast
    coming yet again to read further news.

    
    
15. on May 2, 2013 at 8:34 pm | Reply Jenifer

    Hi there! Would you mind if I share your blog with my myspace group?

    There’s a lot of people that I think would really appreciate your content. Please let me know. Many thanks

    
    
    • on May 3, 2013 at 9:00 am | Reply Jeff Peterson

      Thanks for stopping by.

      Sure, go ahead. Not that I could stop you anyway, even if I wished to, right? :)

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16. on May 14, 2013 at 5:17 am | Reply Melendy

    Jesus did not teach Calvinism, Calvin did. Jesus did teach eternal security, so I believe it, too. I’ve tried in the past to prove through scripture why a doctrine is an err or not but it’s exhausting and frustrating. The Holy Spirit has to reveal truth and that’s His job. If there is one God, one Bible, one Holy Spirit…there should be one truth, not many. Jesus said our faith should be as a little child’s and that a little child would lead them. Why do we want to make it so complicated? Ego.Ego and pride get in the way every time. My sister-in-law just jumped on the Calvinist band wagon and she’s so excited that she has learned something that so many don’t understand. She is an extremely intelligent women. It feeds her ego to try and convince everyone that she has figured out “the truth”. She is working on my mom and leading her astray. What is the fruit I have witnessed through my sister-in-law and now my mother? Arrogancy.The truth is you can take many scriptures from God’s Word and weild it into whatever belief you want and makes you feel like, “Aha, by george, I’ve got it. They are wrong and I’m right. They are mislead and I’ve received revelation” That is why there are so many cults and many false doctrines. I’ve asked God, “Why? why have you allowed so many different beliefs and doctrines to emerge from man when you are One. One God, One Word, One Spirit, and you yearn for unity in the body?” He wants us to be one and of one mind. Same reason He allowed Lucifer to make his choice and cast him from Heaven like a lightning bolt. He allows choice because it’s about a love relationship not loving robots. What gratifiacation is there in that unless you are a control freak, which God is not. He is transient, which means “other”. There is none like our God. His ways are not our ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts. I did get this answer from the Lord, like it or not. He told me to “leave them alone. Leave ppl alone that want to go off on their own and create doctrines and churches because that keeps them out of the Holy Spirit filled churches where He is truly at work redeeming and rebirthing those who come to the knowledge that they are lost and need a Savior. Ppl that love to make God’s Word into something that it’s not will destroy a truly Holy Spirit filled church that is experiencing God and where He is truly at work. As a parent, I cannot imagine the Heavenly Father enduring the sight, sounds, smell, and torture of His beloved Son to pay the penalty for our sins so that we could be reconciled unto God….if He had already chosen those that would be saved and those that would spend an eternity in a devil’s Hell. There would be no reason to endure such a torture and death if we were not given the choice to freely receive salvation. That is not my God and that is not your God! We need to lay down our arrogancy, have faith as a little child, take God at His Word, and fulfill the great commission. Gospel means “Good news!” We need to share the good news that our God is big enough to save everyone! There is room in Heaven for All of us so I’m going to share the good news with as many as I can…that is the will of God!

    
    

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