The Church of God » calvinism

Sinning Saints?

admin — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 20:06:42 +0000

The enmity of the world to Christ and His religion is, undoubtedly, the natural result of man’s universal sinfulness; for as the apostle Paul says, “We are all by nature the children of wrath.” The natural man is therefore constitutionally and fundamentally at variance with God and His holy religion. The forms of religion may be desirable to many, but when it comes to the practice of God’s holy precepts, many who are admirers of the rituals and forms of religion are the greatest antagonists to practical and experiential aspects of consistent salvation. Many desire to have religion, providing that religion does not interfere with what they want to do. If it calls for no discipline, no sacrifice, no inconvenience, no obligation, it is a desirable thing to have, but if they are faced with the responsibility of consistently practising the precepts of divine truth, this is an entirely different thing.
It has ever been the policy of Mr. Worldly Wiseman to deny, or to wrest the scriptures, so as to make them mean what he wants to believe, rather than what he ought to believe. It is tragic indeed to see how often the gospel, which is the power of God unto salvation, has been made impotent, through the desperate effort of some of its advocates to make it popular. Generally speaking, in order to make a gospel popular with a world that is carnal and unfriendly to grace, it will be necessary to remove from it such obligations as call for discipline or sacrifice. This, no doubt, will tend to make it popular, but will also make it impotent, for the gospel of the New Testament is to be “the power of God unto salvation” and to give deliverance to mankind from the bondage and servitude of sin.
In seeking to determine the governing factors which discriminate saints from sinners, and determining whether or not sin and sainthood are compatible, it is essential that we have a proper understanding of what constitutes sin. There are many who seek to take a very extreme and unscriptural position in defining sin. In the minds of some, every mistake, failure, and human weakness, is to be reckoned as sin. This position is neither reasonable nor scriptural.
The apostle John definitely defines sin in his epistle when he says, “Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.” It is with this interpretation in mind, that we discuss the question as to whether or not Christians must sin.
The writer does not preclude the possibility of a person sinning, but we do believe that the normal standard of consistent Christian living is a life that is victorious over all known and wilful violation of any or all of God’s laws. There may be mistakes and errors in the life of a Christian that are not to be reckoned as sin. They are the result of human weakness, of faulty judgment and other reasons, other than a wilful transgression of God’s law. If these things are to be reckoned as sin, of course neither saint nor sinner lives right, for these are the common heritage of mortals, but that these are sins, we humbly deny. For if so, the Bible is a maze of contradictions, for it says, “The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.” If these things, however, are to be reckoned as sin, the blood does not cleanse us from all sin, for there are no mortals exempt from mistakes.
It may be true that mistakes are often offenses toward God, but the motive that prompted them was of pure intention, and God looks at the inward intention and motivating purposes behind the act. It is very evident from many of the exhortations of the Word of God, which call for a forsaking and abandonment of sin, that these things are not to be considered as sin, lest we find God making Himself utterly ridiculous, by demanding of His subjects that which He knows to be impossible. If all the failures and blunders and mistakes of humanity are to be reckoned as sin, seeing there are none free from these, the ultimate conclusion is, that God has no children except those that belong to the devil, for “he that committeth sin is of the devil.” To sin in the scriptural sense, and so as to become guilty, one must of his own volitional choice commit those things which he knew was violating God’s will, and regardless of this, proceeded to do wilfully and knowingly that which he knew to be wrong. When we insist on doing a thing against our knowledge of right and wrong and against a knowledge of God’s will or commandments, then we may know of a surety that we have sinned. No man can follow such a course of conduct and be a Christian. When we talk about living without sin, we simply mean that the religion of Jesus Christ is sufficient in both purpose and power to enable its possessors, by the grace of God given unto them, to so live as not to willingly violate any of God’s precepts or commandments, because “Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is a transgression of the law.”
The first sin of our foreparents was not a mistake, or a mere error in judgment, but a wilful act of disobedience against light, knowledge and known duty. Likewise, all sin is wilful disobedience to known duty.
Among the blundering inconsistencies of a nominally professing Christian world, there is none more tragic and more deplorable than the doctrine of a sinning religion. That is to say, we accept Christ as our Saviour, but continue to live in sin, believing that it is impossible for anyone in this life to do otherwise. Let one become obsessed with this idea and he is most certainly destined to live a defeated Christian life here and be weighed in the balance and found wanting hereafter.
The poverty of this age is its skepticism as to God’s willingness and ability to effect an efficient deliverance from sin.
A maze of contradictory teaching has no doubt led many into confusion. Is there no way by which a human being may know that he is infallibly safe? Is there no standard by which one may know whether or not he has met with the desired requisite on the part of divine authority? Is there any way by which one may determine whether or not he is in the right or wrong way? Thank God, there is a way by which we may safely determine our course, and know when we have conformed to the demand of Him who holds the destiny of us all in His hand. That way is revealed in the Word of God.
He who makes the eternal God his refuge, and His truth his shield and buckler, will successfully ride the stormy scenes of the great judgment, and anchor safely in the harbor of celestial bliss. His Word is the only dependable source of information, it is the authoritative declaration of duty, and is the revelation of God’s divine requisite and provision for our standard of living here, in order to he ready for the hereafter. Too much stress cannot be put upon the veracity and the authority of “thus saith the Lord.” What does the Bible say about the sin problem? This is the voice that settles the whole matter.
The foundation of true religion is determined by our attitude toward sin. Liberal theology and true theology meet and part at the signboard marked SIN. One road leads to the cross and deliverance, and the other leads to various human inventions, substitutions and defeat. One leads to heaven, the other to hell. We doubt if a more serious blunder has ever been propagated by the modern “church” and we are sure none more hurtful to the progress of experiential Christianity, than that idea which makes sin to be unavoidable in a child of God.
While we admit the visible deficiency in the lives of many who profess to be Christians, we are not willing to concede that these inconsistent lives are to be the basis of our conviction of duty and obligation, but that we are to get our convictions out of “thus saith the Lord” and not out of the lives of those who misrepresent the privileges of New Testament Christians by their defeat and humiliation in the warfare of grace. Too many who profess to be Christians are so in name only and are making little or no effort to live as a true Christian should.
Is it a fact that Christ died for nothing better than to permit us to continue in sin? The apostle Paul asks this very question. “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin?” and at once proceeds to answer it in no uncertain language: “God forbid. How shall we that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?” Oh, for a professing Christian world that will have a profound conviction of the sinfulness of sin, and the efficiency of Jesus Christ as the great Deliverer. May we never lose sight of the fact that a religion that does not save you from sin here, will never be sufficient to save you from the penalty of sin hereafter.
There is no neutral place in grace (Matt. 12:30). If God rules in the soul, sin must go out. If satan rules, God will depart. We cannot serve two masters (Matt. 6:24). Therefore, “to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are, to whom ye obey” (Rom. 6:16). Let no one be deceived and made to think he is a Christian, when he is in the bondage and servitude to sin, for victorious living is an outstanding mark of discipleship. “He that committeth sin is of the devil” (I John 3:8). “Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin” (I John 3:9). “In this the children of God are manifest and the children of the devil” (I John 3:10). In what? In that one sins and the other does not. He that sins belongs to the devil, while he that belongs to God does not commit sin. If this language does not teach that the child of God is to be discriminated from the child of the devil by the fact that one sins and the other does not, will the reader offer some language that would convey this idea? The birth of the Spirit puts an end to sin.
It is unreasonable to suppose that a sinning religion is the ultimate product of God’s provision for man in the plan of redemption, for it is unlike God and insufficient for man. Who can imagine that a God who is unlimited in the provisional aspect of His salvation, who hates sin with a consuming hatred, would subject His Son to Calvary to make provision for men to sin, when they were already living in the habitual practice of sin without such provision? Who could imagine an intelligent God, knowing the needs of man, making a plan of salvation that was a failure at the very point where it was most needed? God sending His Son into the world to “save his people from their sins” and only providing for them to continue in sin? Thank God, this is not the glorious gospel which the apostle Paul was to herald to the Gentiles, for in his defence before King Agrippa, relating his experience and call to the ministry, he says, he was sent “to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of satan unto God.” Here is deliverance from the power of satan.
Let it be remembered that no one can have a hope of heaven, except a false hope, who is out of harmony with God. Furthermore let it be remembered, that no one can be in harmony with God, when he loves what God hates and hates what God loves. Sin is utterly hateful to God, and it is a reflection upon His intelligence, His power, and His character to assume that He has made any provision in the great plan of salvation, other than deliverance from sin. Those who are the servants of sin, can by no stretch of imagination be made to be servants of God, for Jesus Christ became the Author of eternal salvation to them that obey Him. Does the reader class himself with those that sin every day in thought, word or deed? Then do not class yourself with those that have been born again, for “He that committeth sin is of the devil” and “Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin,” for “Whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey,” and “No man can serve two masters.” Can we be the servants of sin and the children of God? Sin disqualifies one from being a Christian.
Many there are who have no higher conception of the plan of salvation than to suppose that the sinner is pardoned, but left in bondage to a certain amount of sin. Hence they talk much about being a sinner saved by grace, meaning that though they are saved by grace, they are still a sinner by practice. The fact is we are never saved by grace until we have renounced and turned away from our sins; unless a transformation accompanies the pardon. Sinners are not saved in their sins, but from them. “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus,” says Paul, “hath made me free from the law of sin and death” (Rom. 8:2).
Did Christ cry, “It is finished,” only to discover later, that the real design and purpose of the plan had not yet been accomplished, and deliverance was yet impossible? If there is no power of deliverance in the present gospel plan, then it is far from being finished either in design or achievement. Is the Christian life to be nothing more than a life of daily sinning and repenting? Such a “gospel” is worth about as much as a hospital that never cured a patient. Is this the finished product of Calvary? Is there no deliverance from the bondage of sin?
Sin is mighty, but Christ is Almighty.
The apostle declares, “Sin shall not have dominion over you.” That is a wonderful promise of the Almighty when He says, “For he shall save his people from their sins.” That is a thrilling announcement made by the preacher when he says, “Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world.” There is no ground left for debate, in the language of Paul, as to whether we must not sin, when he says, “For the law of the spirit in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.” How can any person contend for the necessity of sinning when he reads these scriptures, “Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father” (Gal. 1:4). “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously and godly, in this present world” (Titus 2:11, 12). “Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness” (Rom. 6:18). “Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof” (Rom. 6:12). “Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace” (Rom. 6:13, 14). “For ye are bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit which are God’s” (I Cor. 6:20). And “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed” (Jn. 8:36).
These and innumerable others, ought to convince even a sinning religionist, that he is entirely out of harmony with such instruction as the Word of God gives. Is it not apparent to any thoughtful person, that no man can live wrong and die right? After you have put on sin its last covering, and sought to make it as pleasing and permissible as possible, it is still God’s enemy and man’s arch foe.
If the church is to be a covering for sectarian perverts, who revel in the forms of godliness, but deny the power thereof, then the doctrine of a sinning religion is a success. But if the church is to house the people of God, serve and meet the needs of mankind and magnify the Almighty and His power to save, then the doctrine of a sinning religion ought to be banished back to hell, from whence it came. God’s gracious promise is that “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it” (I Cor. 10:13).
Jesus, Himself, has declared that, “all power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.” Did He mean all power, except power to save from sin? Did He say that all power was given him in earth, except power to do exactly that for which He came (I John 3:8)? Too many are banking upon the mercy of God to save them in the hour of judgment, without complying with the condition upon which mercy can be extended to them.
To sin every day in thought, word and deed, and then at the close of each day, balance up accounts with the Almighty, is the highest conception of some people as to the possibilities of grace. Such a conception of Christianity gives the Christian little advantage over the sinner except in profession. If both the Christian and the sinner are alike to be the servants of sin, why does the Christian have any more or better hope than any other sinner? It makes Christianity to have no advantage over even the pagan religions of the world, for unless the gospel of Jesus Christ is the power of God unto salvation, what better is it than other religions? Such a conception makes Jesus to be, not a Saviour, but one who grants indulgences–not saving you from the practice of sin, but from the penalty thereof. Does the conforming to certain religious ordinances entitle us to the special privilege of disobedience, unfaithfulness, and lack of fidelity; to the privilege of bragging about the fact that we do not claim to live right and yet at the same time, entitle us to the approbation of God? If a church member sinner can go to heaven in his sins, what is to prevent any other sinner from doing the same? What other way has God to save any man from hell except to save him from his sins? If a man can sin every day in thought, word and deed and go to heaven, what does he have to do to gain God’s displeasure and be condemned?
Are we to label ourselves Christians when we are daily in the practice of sin? If being saved from sin does not distinguish the Christian from the sinner, what difference is to be found?
How the Almighty can smile upon such a travesty enacted in the name of His holy religion is more than we can determine. We imagine it would be difficult indeed to become enthused about a religion of that kind. Apology and defeat are not the conduct of a New Testament Christian. A man may be defeated and may need to repent and turn back to God, but the man who has to ask forgiveness for the same things each week, is either a poor, ignorant weakling, or a deliberate hypocrite and there is no sincerity in his conduct. Obedience is better than sacrifice, and God is ever and always pleased with it. Victory is the rightful heritage of every Spirit-born child of God. Thank God, the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus can make you free from the law of sin and death.
There is nothing more needed at this time and place, than a definite conviction for and a real indignation toward sin. There is altogether too much smiling at and apologizing for it. If the church fails in its uncompromising attitude toward sin, it is sure to fail in its fundamental purpose in the world.
If Christ cannot deliver the “church” from its bondage to sin and its allurements to the world, what encouragement do we give the sinner to leave these things? “For this purpose the Son of God was manifested that he might destroy [loose you from] the works of the devil.” If this cannot be done, then the plan fails right at the point where it is needed.
If the position of the writer in regard to this matter is extreme, then when John said, “Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin,” he should have added, “But do not believe this, for it is rank fanaticism, for no one in this world can live without sinning every day in thought, word and deed.”
If men cannot preach any gospel but that of a sinning religion, it is better to preach none. Better let men read for themselves, for no matter how ignorant they were, they could hardly pervert the truth any more to their own destruction than by such teaching from the pulpit. Dangerous, did you say? Dangerous to teach deliverance from the bondage and power of sin? Dangerous to teach a victorious life? If we cannot teach this, pray what is the purpose of the gospel and what is it worth? Was Paul a dangerous teacher when he said, “The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death?”
Was Jesus a dangerous teacher, and a promoter of fanaticism when He said to the woman, “Go and sin no more.” Or did He just mean to go and sin not quite so much? If we cannot teach deliverance from sin through our Lord Jesus Christ, for what purpose are we to preach His gospel? Certainly the gospel, which is “good tidings,” must bring news of deliverance. When the “way of the transgressor is hard” and “the wages of sin is death,” and “the soul that sinneth it shall die,” it is far from being good tidings to learn that no one can do otherwise. Away with such a travesty on the gospel of Jesus Christ! Away with such nonsense, for the gospel is the power of God unto salvation.
A victorious life over sin is the rule of Christian action. The normal standard of Christian living is one of victory rather than defeat. This is God’s plan, God’s provision and God’s expectation. When a man sins, he falls below the standard of Christian provision and privilege. Hence, if he fails to repent and acknowledge the fact and renounce his transgression, with a purpose to refrain from further repetition, it will forfeit his adoption and fellowship with God. Christ in you, the hope of glory, is the secret of the overcoming life, because “greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.” This is the rule of life for the New Testament Christian, “that ye sin not.”
If the question is asked, as it often is, in ridicule, “Who in this world ever lives without sin?” we might answer in the language of John, “Whosoever is born of God.” Or we might have the apostle Paul answer the question for us. “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.” The apostle John says, “hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.”
What stronger language could be used, than is used by this apostle, when he says, “He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” I Jn. 2:4.

Excerpted from “Sinning Saints?”
-By H. Sweeten

Sin – A Little Thing?

admin — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 20:05:45 +0000

“Sin…exceeding sinful.” Romans 7:13.

Christian, beware how thou thinkest lightly of sin. Take heed lest thou fall by little and little. Sin, a little thing? Is it not a poison? Who knows its deadliness? Sin, a little thing? Do not the little foxes spoil the grapes? Doth not the tiny coral insect build a rock which wrecks a navy? Do not little strokes fell lofty oaks? Will not continual droppings wear away stones?

Sin, a little thing? It girded the Redeemer’s head with thorns, and pierced his heart! It made him suffer anguish, bitterness, and woe. Could you weigh the least sin in the scales of eternity, you would fly from it as from a serpent, and abhor the least appearance of evil. Look upon all sin as that which crucified the Saviour, and you will see it to be “exceeding sinful.”

– Selected

Once Saved Always Saved?

admin — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 19:59:19 +0000

There are many preachers in today’s world who give people a false sense of security by teaching them that once they are born again, they can never again be anything but a child of God, and that they have sealed their destiny in heaven. They often use a father-son illustration to support their doctrine, saying a son will always be a son of his father, even if he treats his father and family badly. This example may sound good to some, but the Bible speaks to the contrary. We had no choice but to be children of our earthly fathers. That can never be reversed. However, we choose to become children of God. By choosing to sin, we choose to be converted back to children of the devil. The following scriptures show very clearly that a person can lose salvation, sonship of God, and their place in heaven.

“Therefore, thou son of man, say unto the children of thy people, The righteousness of the righteous shall not deliver him in the day of his transgression: as for the wickedness of the wicked, he shall not fall thereby in the day that he turneth from his wickedness; neither shall the righteous be able to live for his righteousness in the day that he sinneth. When I shall say to the righteous, that he shall surely live; if he trust to his own righteousness, and commit iniquity, all his righteousnesses shall not be remembered; but for his iniquity that he hath committed, he shall die for it.” Ezekiel 33:12-13.

That needs no explanation. Some say, “That is in the Old Testament–we are under the New.” The scriptures answer: “Now therefore ye [the New Testament church]… are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone.” Eph. 2:19-20. “This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you…that ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour.” II Pet. 3:1-2. Thus Paul and Peter both taught that the

doctrines of the New Testament are founded on the teachings of Jesus, His apostles, and the prophets. Knowing this, it is impossible to brush off the words of the prophet Ezekiel as mere history. The truths of Ezk. 33:12-13 still hold especially true in this New Testament dispensation and tell us very plainly how God feels toward those who choose to sin after they have been born again.

“For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.” II Pet. 2:20-22. This very clearly tells us that someone can turn from righteousness and go back to their old, sinful ways. Their condition is worse than if they had never been saved.

Rev. 3:5 says, “He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.” Here we learn that those who overcome evil will remain in the book of life. It is implied that those who do not overcome will be blotted out. God told Moses this very thing, “Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book.” Ex. 32:33. Now this is very serious, for on Judgment Day, whosoever is not found written in the book of life will be cast into the lake of fire (Rev. 20:15).

“…Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.” John 8:34. “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and Mammon.” Matt. 6:24. Here Jesus says you cannot serve God and mammon. Mammon is simply money and earthly possessions. How much less can a person serve God and sin? It cannot be done. “He that committeth sin is of the devil…In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.” I John 3:8-10. Can you be a child of God and of the devil at the same time? No!

When a person is saved, they receive eternal life. Some say, “See–it is eternal; it is never ending. You can never lose it.” The Bible says, “Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.” I John 3:15. They say a person can be living in sin–have hatred, commit murder, adultery, etc.–and yet still have eternal life. This scripture says that we know it is not so. “For the wages of sin is [still] death…” Rom. 6:23.

“If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.” John 15:6. For something to wither, it must first have had life. It was a living branch that was cut off from its source. It dies. It hasn’t changed from Adam’s day, when God told him, “…In the day that thou eatest thereof [i.e., sin] thou shalt surely die.” Gen. 2:17.

“Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in. Well, because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee. Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.” Rom. 11:19-22. The disobedient will be cut off. A branch cut off of a tree does not live. Though for a short time it looks like it is alive, it is most surely dead, and time will prove to everyone that there is no life at all in that branch.

The devil loves to use this false doctrine to try to ease the consciences of people–to make them feel comfortable in their sins and give them a false hope of heaven. Sinners will receive the sentence of eternal damnation on Judgment Day–no matter if they called themselves “Christians” or not. We all need to walk carefully before God, keeping our garments unspotted from sin and the world. Only in righteousness and holiness can we remain children of God and expect a home in heaven. &

By Jere Thilmony

The Evolution of Calvinism

admin — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 03:06:17 +0000

By Malcolm Lavender

Introduction:

On major doctrinal issues Calvinism evolved from Paganism, Gnosticism, and Roman Catholicism. Calvinists and all others holding the doctrines of unconditional salvation, or once saved, always saved, are major enemies of the cross. Although their position is supported neither by experience nor rational explanation, it is paraded as orthodoxy demanding uncritical acceptance. Calvinism is thus an assaulting force, fighting against righteousness in this life. Accordingly, Five Points are used to pillage the gospel. Thus there is another gospel that openly declares that Christ did not die for all; that many are called, but cannot respond; that people are predestinated to damnation by God…even infants. And yet, these aggressors against the truth, dare claim that the Five Points are “the very gospel itself,” that “the gospel preached by the Reformers is the very one taught in the pages of scripture.” The Reformation, of the Luther/Calvin kind, gave the church a heavy dose of Roman Catholicism: through Anselm’s penal atonement; and through Augustine’s predestination and the sinning religion.

The propagation and defense of the truth against this apostasy has been very weak at best. Arminians and Wesleyans stand awe-struck and small-mouthed before this great giant of apostasy. They show some disagreement while carefully suppressing the full truth!

The Calvinistic doctrine of sin finds its roots in Paganism and Gnosticism, not the scriptures. The likeness of both Calvinists and Gnostics will be compared. The Gnostics were a religious movement that evidently borrowed from both pagan philosophy and Christianity, and so apostate. Doubtlessly, ideas and concepts were borrowed from many sources and became Gnostic when used in the context of their system. The Gnostic system was a fusion of Christianity and Greek philosophy.

On teachings that are briefly considered below, it will be shown that Calvinism is an evolving, sinister system in opposition to the gospel of Christ. Calvinistic teachings on sin, election, etc., have no parent type in scripture, but the evident relationship to Paganism and Gnosticism, etc., cannot be denied by fact.

This discussion is simply to give a few insights into the Ancestry of the system called Calvinism; and hence, the reason why the Posterity, Calvinists, think these barbaric thoughts about God damning most people, etc. Thus their origin and evolvement helps to identify who they really are today and why they think as they do. Such a system could only yield a departure from the faith with respect to the atonement, and salvation matters; the result is thus expected, considering the source. It is hoped, therefore, that these remarks will inspire further study along this line and help break the present silence among so many.

The Scriptures, Pagans, Gnostics, and Calvinists on Sin

The Scriptures on Sin:

The apostle John wrote a polemic against the Gnostics and their views on sin, etc., in 1 John.

The apostle states, on the matter of sin:

3:5 And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. [So, the incarnation of Christ is evidence that earthbound believers can be delivered from sin in the here and now by Christ, their example.]

3:6 Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.

3:7 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.

3:8 He that committeth sin is of the devil…For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

3:9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin…

3:10 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God…

From these sriptures it is evident that the proof of one being in Christ is his not sinning–“Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not.”

You can go to most any commentary and see how the passages that teach deliverance from sin in this life are explained away. Essentially, the Christian (?) world agree with the Gnostics that we cannot be free from sin and that sin does not separate one from God, as it used to in Eden when man sinned. They are in Christ, they say.

The Calvinistic statements in defense of sin in the here and now, as that of others, are discussed at 1 John.

We here simply show the similarity between the Gnostics and Calvinists on the sin issue. Reformation and Reformed systems, as with all forms of the “sinning Christian,” have tenets of Gnosticism. The Gnostic believes that sinlessness can only be experienced by pure spirit; Calvinists believe that one cannot be free from sin while in the body, only after death. The Gnostic believes that the spirit is not contaminated, though the body was inherently sinful. Calvinists believe that one can be sinful and accounted holy at the same time. So, both for the Gnostic and Calvinist, Christianity and sin are possible at the same time, in the same life, and there is no deliverance while in the body.

In the process of this discussion it will be seen that the Pagans, Gnostics, and Calvinists are in disagreement with the scriptures on the sin issue; but while in disagreement with the scriptures, agreement among them will be clear.

The Pagans on Sin:

The Greek Stoic philosopher Epictetus said:

“How, then: is it possible to be sinless? It is impossible; but this is possible, to strive not to sin.”The Calvinists agree with Epictetus, but see how they disagree with the apostle John at 1 John.

Earlier the Greek philosopher, Plato, had articulated these words:

“But having become good, to remain in a good state and be good, is not possible, and is not granted to man. God only has this blessing; but man cannot help being bad when the force of circumstances overpowers him.”

Note the corresponding kinship between Greek philosophy, Gnosticism, and false Christianity–Calvinism–that all despair of any hope for deliverance from sin while in the body. Later, we will hear the outbreak of hopelessness in what we call the Christian church as the advocates of the “sinning Christian” speak in behalf of sin.

The Gnostics on Sin and Perseverance:

Irenaeus, in Irenaeus Against Heresies, speaking of Gnosticism, says:

“2. … But as to themselves, they hold that they shall be entirely and undoubtedly saved, not by means of conduct, but because they are spiritual by nature. For, just as it is impossible that material substance should partake of salvation (since, indeed, they maintain that it is incapable of receiving it), so again it is impossible that spiritual substance (by which they mean themselves) should ever come under the power of corruption, whatever the sort of actions in which they indulged. For even as gold, when submersed in filth, loses not on that account its beauty, but retains its own native qualities, the filth having no power to injure the gold, so they affirm that they cannot in any measure suffer hurt, or lose their spiritual substance, whatever the material actions in which they may be involved.

“3. Wherefore also it comes to pass, that the ‘most perfect’ among them addict themselves without fear to all those kinds of forbidden deeds of which the scriptures assure us that ‘they who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God…’ Some of them, moreover, are in the habit of defiling those women to whom they have taught the above doctrine, as has frequently been confessed by those women who have been led astray by certain of them, on their returning to the Church of God, and acknowledging this along with the rest of their errors. Others of them, too, openly and without a blush, having become passionately attached to certain women, seduce them away from their husbands, and contract marriages of their own with them. Others of them, again, who pretend at first to live in all modesty with them as with sisters, have in course of time been revealed in their true colors, when the sister has been found with child by her [pretended] brother.
“

4. And committing many other abominations and impieties, they run us down (who from the fear of God guard against sinning even in thought or word) as utterly contemptible and ignorant persons, while they highly exalt themselves, and claim to be perfect, and the elect seed…”

…they run us down: This sounds like the Calvinists in their condemnation of Christian perfection as “perfectionism.”

Jerome, Augustine, and the Pope Fought Jovinian

Rome Against Truth:

The harlot church thus fought the truth advocated by Jovinian; so does the daughters of the harlot church of today, Calvinists and others.

But we note here that not all people, then or now, can be silenced with respect to the truth. We call attention to Jovinian:

“There arose another voice of dissent on the ecclesiastical scene who did not travel with the crowd–Jovinian by name (350?-405). This great worthy of righteousness was known by some as an unorthodox monk or a heretic; others called him ‘the last bright witness of first century Christianity and the first torch-bearer of the Reformation.’ Dr. Harnack, that great historian of Christian doctrine, says of Jovinian:

“‘His main positions were as follows: 1. The natural man is in the state of sin. Even the slightest sin separates from God and exposes to damnation. . . 3. Regeneration is the state in which Christ is in us, and we are in Christ; there are no degrees in it, for this personal relationship either does or does not exist. Where it does, there is righteousness. . . 8. To him, too, the truth applies that there are no small and great sins, but that the heart is either with God or the devil. 9. Those who are baptized in Christ, and cling to Him with confident faith, form the one, true church.’”

“Finally, Jovinian’s position against the‘sinning Christian’ drew the resistance of the great theologians of his time. Augustine and Jerome wrote against him; both Ambrose and the Pope called synods against him for his condemnation.

“Thus, apostasy rolls on to deeper, darker falsehood!”

The Calvinists on Sin and Perseverance:

Calvin denies, as do all Calvinists, the solemn truth that sin brings death and separation from God to the believer. He says:

“. . . the sins of believers are venial [not causing death of the soul], not because they are not deserving of death, but because, through the mercy of God, ‘there is no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus’ because they are not imputed to them, but obliterated by a pardon.”So, believers are the only persons on the planet who can sin with impunity? Nonsense!

Dr. Lewis Sperry Chafer says:

“Through the present priestly advocacy of Christ in heaven there is absolute safety and security for the Father’s child even while he is sinning.”

Steele and Thomas say:

“… True believers do fall into temptations, and they do commit grievous sins, but these sins do not cause them to lose their salvation or separate them from Christ.”

The Gnostics and Calvinists on Grace

The Gnostics on Grace:

Hippolytus, in his Refutation of all Heresies, says:

“For (they would have us believe) that they are not overcome by the supposed vice, for that they have been redeemed…and that they do whatsoever they please, as persons free; for they allege that they are saved by grace. For that there is no reason for punishment, even though one shall act wickedly; for such a one is not wicked by nature, but by enactment.”

The Calvinists on Grace:

Muller says:

“Since justification is viewed by the Protestant orthodox as a counting righteous rather than a making righteous, it rests not merely on the merit of Christ, but upon the union of the believer with Christ by grace through faith. An individual is counted righteous because he is in Christ, covered as it were by the righteousness of Christ. . .

“Thus sinners are considered positively righteous by the imputation of the active obedience of Christ.”

The Gnostics and Calvinists on Elect

The Gnostics on Elect:

Clement says:

“These quotations I have adduced in reproof of the Basilidians [Gnostics], who do not live rightly, either as having power (exousian) to sin because of their perfection, or as being altogether assured by nature of future salvation, although they sin now, because they are by dignity of nature the elect.”

The Calvinists on Elect:

Muller says:

“Only the elect are therefore effectively called.”

Steele and Thomas make the following observation:

“The doctrine of election declares that God, before the foundation of the world, chose certain individuals from among the fallen members of Adam’s race to be the objects of His undeserved favor. These, and these only, He purposed to save…He chose to save some and exclude others.”

The Westminster Confession of Faith states:

“I. They whom God hath accepted in his Beloved, effectually called and sanctified by his Spirit, can neither totally nor finally fall away from the state of grace; but shall certainly persevere therein to the end, and be eternally saved.

“II. This perseverance of the saints depends, not upon their own free-will, but upon the immutability of the decree of election…

“III. Nevertheless they may, through the temptations of Satan and of the world, the prevalency of the corruption remaining in them, and the neglect of the means of their preservation, fall into grievous sins…”

Doctrines of Calvinism on Sin, not Christian, But Pagan and Gnostic

The evidence speaks for itself! Calvinism is a Gnostic mutant, mutating from the “Christian heresy” known as Gnosticism. Accordingly, there is no parent type of the Calvinistic “sinning Christian,” election, predestination, or effectual calling to be found in the scriptures. The issues on sin, etc., are not an in-house disagreement among evangelicals. It is Christians in disagreement with professed Christians, Calvinists, and others, on doctrines of sin that have Gnostic and pagan tenets. And there can never be agreement with this enemy of the cross. Let me be clear on the matter: Calvinism is a mixture of pagan philosophy and Gnosticism on the sin issue, and therefore not Christian. And Christians must so regard Calvinism as not being Christian. Christians that may be in Calvinistic circles that hold the doctrine as a concept, but deny it as a practice must come out of this harlot system!

Common Excuses for Sinning Refuted

admin — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 03:00:32 +0000

The Bible says, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.”
These words were written by the apostle John in I John 1:8. The Bible teaches that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God, and therefore all need a Saviour to reconcile them to God. John addressed this to those claiming they had no guilt, no pollution of sin, and no need of a Saviour. This is not referring to someone that has been born again through the blood of the Lamb and has been cleansed “from all unrighteousness” (I Jn. 1:9).
John said, “These things write I unto you, that ye sin not (I Jn. 2:1). This message is clearly declared throughout his epistles:
“. . . the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.” I Jn. 1:7.
“He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” I Jn. 2:4.
“And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins…Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him. Little children, let no man deceive you, he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. 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. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin…In this the children of God are manifest and the children of the devil . . .” I Jn. 3:5-10.
The apostle’s message is clear and is in accordance with other New Testament writers. Those who would try to use I John 1:8 to uphold their sinning religion, wrest it to their own destruction and contrary to the tenure of all the scriptures.

Even Paul said in Romans 7 that he did the evil he did not want to do, and we can’t expect to live better than he could.
If you read chapter 6 of Romans, you will see the apostle Paul also said:
“Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?” Rom. 6:1, 2.
“For sin shall not have dominion over you . . .” Rom. 6:14.
“But now being made free from sin …” Rom. 6:22.
In these scriptures and many others, Paul clearly speaks of the Christian living triumphantly over sin.
He went on in Romans 7 to “speak to them that know the [Old Testament] law,” and, speaking in the present tense, described his unregenerate condition, wherein he did not have the power to overcome sin, before his conversion. Without salvation, no man is free from the law of sin and death.
Verse 23 describes Paul’s struggle with sin before he was saved. “I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.” Therefore he cried, in verse 24, “O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” He joyfully answers this question in Rom. 8:2–“The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh.”
He was now free from the condemnation of sin because, through salvation, he was empowered to live free from committing sin. Hence, he could also go on to teach others to “awake to righteousness and sin not” (I Cor. 15:34).
In Rom. 7:19 he had said, “For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.” For sinning religionists to insist that Paul still lived like this after being saved, they would have to negate all that Paul testified to and taught in Romans chapters 6 and 8, and all of his other writings, as well as all the New Testament writers. The apostle John said, “Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God.” When Paul was doing the evil that he would not, it was because he had not yet seen God; had not yet understood and experienced His great salvation.

But Paul said he was the chief of sinners.
“. . . Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.” I Tim 1:15. Again we have Paul speaking in the present tense, while looking back at his conduct as Saul of Tarsus, the religious sinner that desperately needed salvation. If we go to verse 13, he says, “Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious, but I obtained mercy . . .”
Paul reminds his readers of what he used to be, using himself as an example to give others hope that they can have this same salvation and be transformed to newness of life, as was he. “Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.” Verse 16.
If he was the chief sinner among the congregations while professing, why would God entrust him with such an important work in the church and allow him to be their teacher and guide, if they were doing better than he was? And, if such were the case, Paul did not meet the standards of being a bishop, which he listed to Timothy.
Paul also had this victorious testimony, “I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day” (Acts 23:1), and stated in I Thess. 2:10, “Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe.” This does not sound like the testimony of a chief sinner!
Numerous texts could also be cited showing that Paul taught a glorious gospel which set the believer free from the bondage of sin.
What about the contention that arose between Barnabas and Paul . . . wasn’t that sin?
People looking for an excuse to continue in their sin, like to charge these two holy apostles with sin in this situation. Adam Clarke explains this argument thus: “Why is it that most men attach blame to this difference between Paul and Barnabas? Why is it that this is brought in as a proof of the sinful imperfection of these holy apostles? Because those who thus treat the subject can never differ with another without feeling wrong tempers. Then, as destitute of good breeding as they are of humility, they attribute to others the angry, proud, and wrathful dispositions which they feel in themselves, and because they cannot be angry and sin not, they suppose that even apostles themselves cannot.
Thus, in fact, we are always bringing our own moral or immoral qualifications to be a standard, by which we are to judge of the characters and moral feelings of men who were actuated by zeal for God’s glory, brotherly kindness, and charity. Should any man say there was sin in this contention between Paul and Barnabas, I answer, there is no evidence of this in the text.”

The Bible says, “There is none righteous, no not one.” Rom. 3:10.
Paul is expressing the natural, wretched state of all mankind in Rom. 3:10-18, whether Jew or Gentile, “for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God,” as he states in verse 23.
Thank God, this is not a state anyone need remain in! Paul goes on in verses 24, 25 and 26 to present the plan of salvation, mankind’s deliverance from their sinful state.
Paul said in Romans 6:20, “For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.” When it comes to sinners, there is none righteous, no not one, that includes those professing to be sinning Christians!
“For as by one man’s [Adam] disobedience many were made sinners [for all inherited his sinful nature], so by the obedience of one [Jesus Christ] shall many be made righteous.” Rom. 5:19.

But it says in Proverbs 20:9, “Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?”
No man can make his own heart clean, and that is why the fountain was opened for “sin and for uncleanness” (Zech. 13:1). Now “the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.” I Jn. 1:7. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” I Jn. 1:9. Glory to the Lamb, who “loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood!” Rev. 1:5.
So, who can say they are pure from their sin? Thank God, “Whosoever is born of God . . .!” I Jn. 3:9.

David was a man after God’s own heart, but he sinned.
Shame on sinning religionists for taking the example of one Old Testament man, as an excuse for propagating their cursed, “sin-you-must” doctrine in this New Testament time! Is there no difference between the old and the new covenants? Does not the Bible say, “For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did?” Heb. 7:19.
Since “it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins” (Heb. 10:4), Jesus, “the mediator of the new testament,” shed His blood at Calvary, opening up “a new and living way,” which was not yet in force in David’s day, for Jesus, being the testator (Heb. 9:15-17), had not yet died.
“For what the law could not do [for David] . . . God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us.” Rom. 8:3-4. In this New Testament time, we are without excuse. Jesus came to save us from our sins, “wherefore he is able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him” (Heb. 7:25).
The Bible forbids we should copy David’s sin–let none make it an excuse to continue in theirs.

- By Susan Mutch

Christians Are Saved From Sin

admin — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 02:54:01 +0000

By F. G. Smith

“And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.” I John 3:5-6. This is the uniform gospel standard, as we shall see.

1. Christ taught it. “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin…If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” Jn. 8:34-36. Here is promised a perfect freedom from the bondage of sin.

In the fifth chapter of John we read of a certain impotent man lying at the pool of Bethesda, whose infirmity was of thirty-eight years’ duration. Jesus came along and healed him. “Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: SIN NO MORE, lest a worse thing come unto thee” (Verse 14). Now, it is preposterous to suppose that Christ was unjust, giving a commandment that could not be obeyed–a commandment whose violation was to bring upon the poor man a sorer punishment than he had endured during those thirty-eight long years. It could be obeyed. This man received power from the Lord to go and live without sin.

Again, in John 8:3-11 we read of a certain woman who was brought to Christ accused of great sin. After a short conversation, during which time the scribes and Pharisees, becoming condemned by their consciences because of their own sins, went away, Jesus turned to the woman and said, “Where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: GO AND SIN NO MORE.”

2. Peter taught it. “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.” Acts 3:19. “…Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth.” I Pet. 2:21, 22.

3. Paul taught it. “Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.” I Cor. 15: 34. Almost the whole of the sixth chapter of Romans is devoted to the subject of the Christians’ deliverance from sin. I will notice just a few verses wherein it is stated.

“What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein” (verses 1, 2)? “Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof” (verses 11, 12). “…Sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace” (verse 14). “…Ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness” (verses 17, 18). “But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life” (verse 22).

Some people attempt to prove that Paul himself was a sinner and a defender of sin; but this chapter alone is sufficient to forever settle his attitude as a Christian toward the subject of sin.

4. John taught it. “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his son cleanseth us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin [to be cleansed from], we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” I John 1:7-9. Here a perfect cleansing from sin is taught, upon condition that we do not cover our sins up and deny them, but “walk in the light” and “confess our sins.” And the same writer also shows that we must live before Christ in this sinless state, for he says, “He that sayeth he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.” I John 2:6. How did Christ walk? Peter affirms he “did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth” (I Pet. 2:22). Hence we must do no sin. This is the Christian standard.

So John writes again, “My little children, these things write I unto you, THAT YE SIN NOT.” I John 2:1. In the same verse he goes on to show that “if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” This shows that, even if men should by some means depart from the Christian standard by falling into sin, it is possible for them to be recovered, because Christ would be willing to forgive again. This, however, does not in the least weaken the standard here set forth that “he that sayeth he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked” (verse 6). But the apostle goes a step further; he shows not only that Christians “ought” to walk this way, but that they really do. “Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.” I John 3:6. “We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.” I John 5:18.

“Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.” I John 3:7, 9.

Reader, mark this fact–John does not say that God’s people confess their sins every day or repent of them frequently, but says that they “DO NOT COMMIT SIN.” Professed Christians have asked the question, “Who are those ‘just persons which need no repentance,’ of which Christ speaks” (Luke 15:7)? The answer is very clear: They are the Christians; those who have been born of God, for “Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin.”

Calvinism – Arminianism, Which?

admin — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 02:36:47 +0000

By Roger Berry

A minister once visited a seasoned old farmer in a mountain community. Very soon the conversation turned to spiritual things. The wiry farmer surprised the minister with his knowledge of the Bible.
“I take it you’re a Christian?” queried the minister.
“No,” retorted the farmer. “God hasn’t saved me yet. He might save me when I’m plowing in the field or when I’m sleeping in bed. He won’t save me until He gets good and ready.”
In another community there was a man and wife who were very faithful church members. They wouldn’t miss a service if they could possibly help it. The man held a responsible office in his denomination for many years.
A member of the family suddenly became seriously ill. This man and his wife spent weeks taking care of the invalid. They took prescribed medicine to keep awake during those trying days. Both became addicted to the medicine. The husband, when he could no longer get a prescription, contacted drug pushers in a nearby city. His wife turned to alcohol in an attempt to satisfy her craving.
A concerned friend visited them sometime later inquiring into their relationship with the Lord. He was surprised to find both of them “praising the Lord” and claiming victory in their Christian experience! He cautiously inquired as to how they could be under drugs and alcohol and still be right with God.
The immediate response was, “I still remember the day I was saved way back in 1949. I just know God saved me, and what God does, He can’t undo. Once you’re saved you’re always saved.”
Both of these incidents actually took place. They could have been told about hundreds of other people in hundreds of other communities. Their religious beliefs are commonly accepted by many well-meaning people. Most of them do not realize how unscriptural and how dangerous these beliefs really are.
The two beliefs illustrated by these examples are part of a system of Bible interpretation called Calvinism.

What is Calvinism?

John Calvin, a Swiss reformer, first set down these ideas in a detailed way. Other men before him had taught the same ideas.
Calvin and his followers have held to five main ideas about salvation in Christ. These are the crux of the Calvinistic teaching:

1. Unconditional Election. Calvinists believe that God decided before the world began who will be saved and who will be lost. According to unconditional election, your eternal destination has been decided. Nothing you may do will change that destiny!
2. Limited Atonement. Calvin taught that Christ’s blood was shed for the elect only–those God planned to save or “elect” to salvation.
3. Total Depravity. That man can, in himself, do nothing to respond to God or to come to Him. According to this idea, faith is all on God’s part–not on man’s part. The Calvinist will tell you, “God does it all.”
4. Irresistible Grace. If God has decided to save you, He will do it regardless of what you do. You can’t resist the plan and power of God. His saving grace overpowers the free will of the elect.
5. Perseverance of the Saints. Anyone who is saved or “elected” by God can never fall away from or lose that salvation–once you’re saved you’re always saved!

You’ll immediately notice that the farmer in the first example above believed strongly in these five points, especially the first four. The other man and his wife were taken up by the fifth point.
Most Calvinists of modern times seem to avoid at least the first two points of Calvinism. One Calvinistic minister, when questioned as to his belief in the five points of Calvinism admitted, “We believe them all, but we don’t talk about the first two.”
Like most other modern-day Calvinists, his main emphasis is on the fifth point.

Security or Permissiveness?

Though the Calvinists have certain “proof” verses from the Bible which supposedly teach unconditional election and limited atonement, the testimony of the rest of the scriptures is so strongly against them that they don’t say much about these points. They “run up against it” when they read such scriptures as, “Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely” (Rev. 22:17), and God is “not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” II Peter 3:9.
We know that the scriptures do mention the “elect” or the “chosen” of God. From the Bible we learn that these chosen sheep of God are those who “hear” His voice and who “follow Him” (John 10:27-29). Only those who accept Christ as Lord and Saviour are chosen by God to receive that “power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth” (Romans 1:16).
Most modern Calvinists then are embarrassed by the first few points of their dogma. But they tenaciously cling to the fifth point, namely the “once saved, always saved” idea. This is often called eternal security.
As with the other points of Calvinism, real problems arise for the supporter of unconditional eternal security. The teaching can be quite dangerous, for it directly influences the way the Christian lives. The case of the faithful church member turned dope addict aptly illustrates one of the dangers of this teaching. The man had a false feeling of security while living a very wicked life. Eternal security people will argue that such a person was never saved to start with. Simple answer. Or is it?
If everyone who was once faithful to God and to the church and who turns away and lives again in sin were never saved in the beginning, the scriptures would contradict themselves. The implication of such a statement would be that a true Christian cannot go back into sin. This is sinless perfection! Even the Calvinists emphatically teach that people can’t live perfect lives while on earth.
Then too, what about the many warnings to Christians from the Bible about “falling away” and disobeying the truth? Why are there such warnings if there is no possibility of falling away?
Even if we assume for a moment that the unfaithful church member just mentioned were never saved to start with, his teaching got him to the place he would not admit his sinful condition. This “once saved, always saved” doctrine kept this man from ever making the first step toward salvation–to admit that he was a sinner. Whether he was ever saved to start with is not really the issue. His disobedience to God is the issue.
Many advocates of eternal security will insist that their teaching will not lead to unfaithfulness to God. They will teach very strongly that good works are important for the Christian–and they’re right! But if you pay careful attention to their sermons, the “musts” of the gospel get watered down to “it would be better if you would.”
Then according to this Calvinistic “security” teaching, good works for the Christian are not absolutely necessary for his continued security in Christ. The Christian who quits “working” only loses some, or perhaps, all of his reward in heaven. He still gets to heaven (supposedly!) by the “skin of his teeth.”
An old man once pronounced a telling commentary on this “skin of your teeth” religion: “I don’t want no rewards,” he quipped, “jest so I git to heaven, that’s all I want.”
Perhaps the hardest question eternal security advocates have to answer is, “What will this teaching lead to?”
You can press them on the point, and will usually get them to admit that they believe it’s possible for a person to live a life of sin and still get to heaven.
Maybe you’ve heard such statements as, “Smoking is a filthy habit no Christian should have, but some people just can’t break the habit. Surely cigarettes won’t keep a person out of heaven. After all, you’re saved by grace, not by what you do or don’t do.” Or maybe you’ve heard, “It doesn’t matter what a Christian wears as long as his heart’s right. It’s what’s on the inside that counts. Dress doesn’t have anything to do with your salvation.” If a person thinks that once he is saved he is always saved–that nothing he can do will separate him from God–he could quite easily write off every command of the gospel with, “Surely that wouldn’t keep you from heaven” or “You aren’t saved by what you do.”
Friends, the Bible teaches that we are saved from sin, not in sin!

Misplaced Emphasis

The whole system of eternal security has been built on a faulty understanding of the Bible and of what God expects of the Christian. The eternal security teaching emphasizes the passages of encouragement to the Christian. It very obviously ignores the passages of warning and the conditions the scriptures constantly set forth for discipleship.
Eternal security teachers will magnify the promise in John 10 that no man will be able to “pluck” us out of the Father’s hand, but they seem to ignore the conditions for being sheep given just before–hearing His voice and following Him. They emphasize “eternal life” in John 3:16 while ignoring the condition–“whosoever believeth.”

The Alternative

We are convinced that Calvinism, with its current manifestation, eternal security, is a false teaching. There are serious implications and obvious dangers in taking that position.
We hold to the system of teaching called Arminianism. Arminianism stands in opposition to the errors of Calvinism.
Jacobus Arminius, a Dutch reformer, outlined a scriptural approach to the subject of salvation. He was concerned about the dangers of Calvinism and made an effort to answer them from the scriptures.

Arminianism teaches that:

1. God created man with a free will so that he may choose to accept or reject God. “[God] will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.” I Tim. 2:4. “Give diligence to make your calling and election sure . . .” II Pet. 1:10a.
2. Christ died for all. He was not willing that any should perish (II Pet. 3:9). He will save any repenting sinner who comes to Him through faith in His finished work at Calvary.
3. Man can and must respond to Christ’s call to salvation before he can be saved. He must:
Hear God’s call–”Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Rom. 10:17.
Believe in Christ–”Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.” Acts 16:31.
Seek–”Seek ye the Lord while he may be found . . .” Isa. 55:6.
Call–”Call ye upon him while he is near.” Isa. 55:6.
Repent–”Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out . . .” Acts 3:19.
Confess–”If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus . . . thou shalt be saved.” Rom. 10:9.
4. We can never earn salvation by any works we can do.
Salvation by God’s grace is a free gift, but man chooses to accept it or to reject it. “The goodness of God leadeth [not forceth] thee to repentance.” Romans 2:4.
Satan planned the fall of man, but he needed man’s help to do it. God plans and provides for salvation, but He must have man’s will and cooperation to carry it out.
5. We are secure as long as we remain in Christ. A life of obedience to the teaching of God’s Word–a life of “good works”–is necessary for the Christian to grow spiritually and to remain in the grace of God. “He became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him.” Heb. 5:9.
Arminianism teaches a day by day walk with Christ. It emphasizes a life of holiness in obedience to Christ.
Hans Denck, an Anabaptist reformer, summed up this life of obedience to Christ like this: “He who would know Christ truly must follow Him daily in life.”
Satan still tries to bluff men by making them feel safe in their sins. He tells people today, as he told Eve, “Ye shall not surely die.” God’s plain warning still stands: “If ye live after the flesh, ye shall die.” Rom. 8:13. God, who cannot tolerate sin before salvation, certainly will not tolerate it after a person becomes saved. “If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed.” Jn. 8:31.

Are You Eternally Secure In Your Sin?

admin — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 02:28:02 +0000

Are you eternally secure in your sin? Let us look at what the Bible says about the conditional security of the true believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. Below are Bible verses that contradict the teaching of the “once saved always saved” fallacy.

Heb. 2:1-3: “Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward; How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him.”

What happens if we, as born again Christians, neglect so great a salvation? What happens if a “believer” lives a life of loving this world or loves a sinful lifestyle?

James 4:4: “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.”

What happens if you sow to the flesh?

Gal. 6:7-8: “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.”

How will a worldly “Christian” be judged? Are worldly, sinning “Christians” enemies of God? Where will the enemies of God end up if they continue in a sinful, worldly lifestyle?

“For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.” Rom. 8:6.

In Ezk. 18:20 it says, “The soul that sinneth, it shall die.” Paul writes in Rom. 6:23a, “For the wages of sin is death.” What type of death is this? Doesn’t this mean a spiritual death?

What happens if a righteous man turns from his righteousness? “But when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked man doeth, shall he live? All his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned: in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die.” Ezk. 18:24.

Rev. 21:8: “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone; which is the second death.”

This scripture shows the end result for those who think they will not die if they keep sinning against God, including religious professors who sin.

“Once Saved Always Saved” is the Lie from the Garden of Eden

The lie in the Garden of Eden (from the serpent) was that Adam and Eve would not die if they ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Satan said in Gen. 3:4, “Ye shall not surely die.” Adam and Eve were deceived. As soon as they ate from the tree, they died spiritually and tried to hide from God.

Today, many professing Christians think the same thing. They think they can eat from the tree of sin (so to speak) and still have eternal life. They are dead wrong. The wages of sin is still death, whether one is professing or not.

Did Jesus come to change the nature of sin, or to change the nature of man? (Rom. 6:4-6, 2 Cor. 5:17.)

Is a Christian a born again sinner? “God forbid!” See Rom. 6:1-2.

“Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.” John 6:29. According to this scripture, did Adam and Eve stop doing the work of God? Did they stop believing God that the fruit of that tree would cause them to die? Is it fair to say that “Christians” today who believe in “once saved always saved” will not die if they continue in sin? Is this not the lie of the garden? You will not surely die if you continue to sin. Is not “once saved always saved” another gospel; a gospel that promotes a sinful lifestyle?

Abiding in Christ after being

Born Again

The Bible is clear that after you repent of your sin and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ as your Saviour, you are born again; a child of God (Mark 1:15, John 3:3). You are a new creature in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17). Staying in Christ after receiving the free gift of God is essential to attaining eternal life. Below are scripture verses that deal with this.

John 15:1-6: “I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches. He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.”

The words abide, abides, or abideth are in the imperative mood. This means it is a command. If a Christian does not abide in Christ, what happens to him? “Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.” Matt. 7:19, 20.

Rom. 11:18-22: “Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee. Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in. Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee. Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.”

Can a Christian be cut off if he gets haughty? There are consequences “if” one does not continue in His goodness or does not stay “in” Christ: “For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.” 2 Peter 2:20.

What happens if one does not stay steadfast to the end? “For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end.” Heb. 3:14.

Rom. 6:21-23: “What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

What happens if a “Christian” has no fruit unto holiness? Do they get eternal life?

If you would hate a brother do you still have eternal life? “Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.” 1 John 3:15.

Rom. 8:1: “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”

Is there condemnation for a “Christian” who lives or walks after the flesh? “For if ye live after the flesh, ye will die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.” Rom. 8:13. “But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” James 1:14, 15. “Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.”

Holding Fast Until The End

1 Tim. 6:12: “Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.”

Heb. 3:6: “But Christ as a son over His own house; whose house we are, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.”

Heb. 5:9: “And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him.”

Conclusion

Why stay faithful to the end if you get eternal life no matter what you do? “Once saved always saved” promotes a sinful lifestyle and promotes another gospel. If you promote this doctrine as the gospel or part of it, you are 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. 1:9.

By Jeff Moser