5月14日
Inconsistent Calvinists
How often do you hear this ...
"We
are in the light as believers. But are there not clouds that hide the
complete view of our salvation from us at times? Does God ever use our
human doubt to strengthen our spiritual dependance upon Him and His
promises? But do not look down upon your fellow brothers and sisters in
Christ that are experiencing a sin in their life that causes them to
not see clearly their savior." (Ethan Beckler, U-Illinois)
"I
never doubt my salvation anymore. But I will admit that when I was
young in Christ there were times when I wondered." (Josiah Burke,
Hawaii)
My
response: Hmmm.... Thanks for your comments guys. But the Bible defines
a believer as someone with same assurance and confidence as the
Apostles (2 Pet 1:1).
NASB: Simon Peter, a bond-servant and
apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have received a faith of the same
kind as ours, by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ
KJV:
Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that
have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of
God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:
Now, Doubting Calvinists say
that believers today can doubt their salvation. Yet, the Bible says
believers have the same assurance as the Apostles.
No offence, but this puts you guys in a sort of dilemma =) A catch-22.
Either you have to say…
1) We can doubt our salvation even though we have the faith of the Apostles. Because the Apostles also doubted their salvation.
...or...
2) We can doubt our salvation even though the Apostles did not. Because we don't have the faith of the Apostles.
Point
1) goes against the whole New Testament, as the Apostles never doubted
their salvation. (Show me where the Apostles doubted! The disciples did
.. but that was before the Resurrection ... see http://Godnoliar.com/john_the_baptist.htm ) The Aposltes NEVER doubted! You will not find a single example!
And Point 2) contradicts 2 Pet 1:1 which says believers have the faith of the Apostles.
OK! Hope that made sense…
I
wonder... do you guys say that 1) the Apostles doubted their salvation
and thus we can? Or, are you conceding that you think believers today
do NOT have the faith of the Apostles (since the Apostles did not
doubt, but "believers" today do)
OK... hope to hear your response to that! =)
Now, I want to point out a comment made by someone that I totally agree with. They wrote me,
"In the end it is only the grace of God that saves us, and it is only the Holy Spirit that assures us of our salvation."
My
comment: OK!! So we agree that Holy Spirit assures believers the Gospel
is true. And since the Gospel says "everyone believing is justified",
the moment the Spirit convicts you of the Gospel, you are infallibly
assured of your salvation. You simply can't believe the Gospel without
realizing you are justified, can you? Because God has eternally joined
together belief with justification =)
And there are some verses
of Scripture screaming out on this point. John 4:14 says that
"believers never thirst" because they have a "well of water springing
up in them unto everlasting life". So the work of the Spirit is to
annihilate doubting so that believers never thirst for justification.
Maybe
you could also look at Hebrews 11:3. "By faith we understand the worlds
were framed by the Word of God." So, it's a man's belief in the Gospel,
that proves to Him God exists. There's no way we could know there is a
Just God and Savior who created the worlds, unless we understand
Christ's person and work.
Now, a man's belief in the Gospel not
only proves to the man that God exists. Paul also said we are to have
"peace and joy in believing" (Romans 15:13). So belief in the Gospel is
the way a man knows he is saved. (The way he has peace, joy and
assurance).
This means that understanding Gospel not only proves
1) that God exists, it also proves to me I am saved. So the evidence to
me that the Bible is the Word of God is the same evidence to me that
I'm saved. That is, the proof the Bible is the word of God is the
authority of God stamped in the Gospel. But the Gospel in me is also
the proof I am saved, so you I can't call in question my salvation
without calling in question God's authority itself !
Can you see
why John says "the one not believing God has called Him a liar" (1 Jn
5:10) ? Indeed, "this is the testimony -- God has given US [believers]
everlasting life". So anyone who doubts they are saved, doubts the
testimony, and calls God a liar.
Sobering stuff indeed!
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