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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | THE CROSS | John 3:16 | Hank | 88137 | ||
Wow! Flinkywood, I love you, brother, but what loaded questions you shoot my way :-) I dare not presume to answer for Reformer Joe or Jibby Jee about whether they know they are saved. I invite them to answer that question for themselves. It is, however, my understanding of the system of soteriology known as Calvinism that what Calvinists call the Perseverence of the Saints is not the same thing as what we Baptists call the Eternal Security of the Believer. .... Here are a few quotations from prominent Calvinists: "If there is a reserve in your obedience, you are on your way to hell." -- Arthur W. Pink, Practical Christianity, p. 16 .... "Holiness in this life is such a part of our 'salvation' that it is a NECESSARY MEANS to make us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in heavenly light and glory." --Pink, Sanctification, p.28 ..... "Neither the members of the church nor the elect can be saved unless they persevere in holiness, and they cannot persevere in holiness without continual watchfulness and effort." --Hodge, Corinthians, p. 181. ..... "Endurance in faith is a condition for future salvation. Only those who endure in faith will be saved for eternity." -- R. C. Sproul, Grace Unknown, p. 198. ..... "Holiness in this life is ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY TO SALVATION, not only as a means to the end, but by a nobler kind of necessity -- as part of the end itself." --Pink, Sanctification, p. 28. ..... Now, bon ami, make me a promise that your next question will be an easier one :-) Blessings to you. --Hank | ||||||
2 | THE CROSS | John 3:16 | flinkywood | 88141 | ||
Hank, I'm assuredly not in the pink with Pink on assurance, which actually was the main faith crux for New England Puritans: "If I presume I'm of the elect, then I sin by my presuming to know His will, and therefore can't be of the elect," a hardcore paradox, which may partly explain why Puritanism wore out. Could you help me with these 2 conundra? 1) If Calvinist doctrine, as I understand it, is applied to deathbed conversion, the new believer croaks without ever having his faith tested? Is it faith-fair that he gets a major break when the rest of us poor slobs have to persevere in effortful holinesss? When does our faith get as good as that fortunate son's? 2) If a Calvinist can't assure the dying guy that he's going to heaven, why is he there in the 1st place? |
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3 | THE CROSS | John 3:16 | Reformer Joe | 88143 | ||
"1) If Calvinist doctrine, as I understand it, is applied to deathbed conversion, the new believer croaks without ever having his faith tested?" If that faith is genuine, yes. Think about the repentant thief on the cross. "Is it faith-fair that he gets a major break when the rest of us poor slobs have to persevere in effortful holinesss? When does our faith get as good as that fortunate son's?" Jesus answered your objection with a parable in Matthew 20:1-16. "2) If a Calvinist can't assure the dying guy that he's going to heaven, why is he there in the 1st place?" Calvinists believe that all who truly call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. We merely agree with the Bible that there are those who claim to believe but in truth do not. A progressively holy life is our evidence of salvation (2 Peter 1:10-11; James 2:14; Matthew 7:15-27). The best way to remember it, in my view, is that true salvation produces a holy life, not the other way around. I am sure of my salvation, not because of a prayer I prayed when I was eleven, but because of my growing love for God's laws as good and right, and my painfully slow but gradual conformity to God's law (in itself a result of the Spirit's work). I continue to have faith that results in works, and that is the only biblical basis for concluding that I personally am eternally secure. --Joe! |
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4 | THE CROSS | John 3:16 | flinkywood | 88174 | ||
Joe, While walking my dog Flinky last night I thought on this. I'm absolutely in agreement: True salvation is a heart thing and must produce a holy life. I misunderstood your position. My wife suggests that doctrinal disputes are human nature wanting to have everything nailed down instead of trusting. I think a general fix for doctrinal naval-gazing is to get busy for the Lord with solid, Cross-focused witnessing: sin, hell, God's love, redemption--the whole, incomprehensible shebang. Seeing the Holy Spirit work repentance in a person is more interesting than doctrinal argumentation. Thanks very much for your clear reply. Colin. |
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