Posted on 04/11/2018 8:47:20 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
Calvinism affirms a doctrine known as the perseverance of the saints according to which the truly regenerated disciple will persist in faith. In the words of the seventeenth-century Puritan William Secker, "Though Christians be not kept altogether from falling, yet they are kept from falling altogether."
Calvinists insist that perseverance of the saints is a scriptural doctrine. As Paul says in Philippians 1:6: "he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."
In addition, Calvinists have also often argued that perseverance has a clear pastoral advantage in that it grounds our assurance of salvation in the faithfulness of Christ rather than our own unreliable human wills.
As Exhibit A, the Calvinist might point to the famous Arminian theologian John Wesley. In marked contrast to the Calvinist doctrine of perseverance, Wesley often warned that a saved and regenerated individual could lose their salvation. For example, in one sobering passage, Wesley observes,
"a man that believes now may be an unbeliever some time hence; yea, very possibly tomorrow; but if so, he who is a child of God today, may be a child of the devil tomorrow."
A child of the devil tomorrow? Yikes! It must be admitted that this is a disconcerting thought! Reformed theologian Loraine Boettner drives the point home by asking the Arminian, if he believes this to be true, how can he know that he will persist and so be saved?
"He has seen many of his fellow Christians backslide and perish after making a good start. Why may not he do the same thing?"
The answer to the dilemma, or so Boettner would have us believe, is that the only real hope for assurance comes if we deny Wesley's claim and conclude that the truly saved individual will not ultimately backslide and perish. In the words of Secker, though we are not kept from falling, we are kept from falling altogether.
So here is the question: are Reformed theologians like Boettner correct to suppose that perseverance of the saints provides a superior basis for assurance of salvation? The answer, or so it seems to me, is a resounding no. To be sure, particular individuals may find the doctrine of perseverance more comforting: that, I do not dispute. But as to the core epistemological question of whether one can know they will ultimately be saved, Calvinism offers no advantage.
The reason is this: while Arminianism cannot give you a guarantee that you will be saved tomorrow, Calvinism cannot give you a guarantee that you were ever saved (i.e. of the elect) to begin with. So return to Boettner's statement:
"He has seen many of his fellow Christians backslide and perish after making a good start. Why may not he do the same thing?"
Boettner's point is that there are individuals — we can probably all think of examples — who appeared to be Christians at one time but who later renounced their faith. But this is a common datum shared by Arminians and Calvinists. We are all familiar with such people who rejected a faith they once accepted. With that in mind, in principle, we must recognize the possibility that we could ultimately be counted in their numbers: we too could conceivably reject the faith at some time hence. The question is how we interpret that possible scenario.
The Arminian would interpret that outcome as a matter of an individual once saved coming to lose their faith (1 Timothy 1:19). By contrast, the Calvinist would interpret that outcome instead as a matter of the individual who at one time believed they were saved in fact never having had faith (cf. 1 John 2:19). To sum up, while the Arminian warns that you could be a child of the devil tomorrow, the Calvinist must admit that you could be a child of the devil today!
To conclude, while the Calvinist doctrine of perseverance of the saints may offer a particular subjective comfort of assurance for some, it offers no objective advantage over Arminianism as regards an epistemological basis for the assurance of salvation.
So how do we find assurance? We look for spiritual fruit in our lives (Galatians 5:22-23), testing ourselves to see that we are of the faith (2 Corinthians 13:5). And as we do, the Spirit testifies to our spirit that we are God's children (Romans 8:16). But those answers are the same whether you are Calvinist or Arminian. Neither of these views offers any special objective advantage as regards the assurance of salvation.
“Does Calvinism Offer a Basis for the Assurance of Salvation?”
No.
Can you elaborate?
Here is what Jesus said on this topic:
MAT13:18 Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower.
MAT13:19 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.
MAT13:20 But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; MAT13:21 Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.
MAT13:22 He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.
MAT13:23 But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.
God. KING JAMES BIBLE TOUCH - KJV (Kindle Locations 37940-37949). Kindle Edition.
This is what James taught about Faith and Works:
JAM2:19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
JAM2:20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? JAM2:21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? JAM2:22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? JAM2:23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.
JAM2:24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
JAM2:25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? JAM2:26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
God. KING JAMES BIBLE TOUCH - KJV (Kindle Locations 47647-47651). Kindle Edition.
If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and are overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning. 21 It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them. 22 Of them the proverbs are true: “A dog returns to its vomit,”[g] and, “A sow that is washed returns to her wallowing in the mud.”
In truth, 5-point Calvinism scares me to death.
The whole thing about predestination is what does it to me. Say that there’s a young man who asks Jesus to be his Savior. He goes through his life, doing the best he can, but he’s not perfect (as none of us are). He questions his salvation sometimes since he feels badly about his sins. He prays to repent and takes assurance in scriptures like Romans 8:1.
Finally, he comes to the end of his life. He closes his eyes and dies...and wakes up in Hell. At the Great White Throne judgement, he asks God “Why wasn’t I saved? I trusted Jesus. Why??”. God replies, “Well I appreciate that you lived a life for Jesus, but I’m afraid you were one of those who were predestined for destruction. Sorry”.
That’s the way I read the part about predestination. If you’re predestined for destruction, no matter how badly you want to be saved, you can’t be. And no matter how much you do your best to live as Jesus commanded, it’s all to no avail.
Am I missing anything?
ph
The only calvinist I know was arrested 6 years ago for child porn. The ugliest kind.
The only Jehovah witness I know had 6 kids, 5 by different men all while married to my Navy friend. She ended up dead. Murdered by a lover in a love triangle, er, love rectangle rather.
So, christian labels mean nothing and are no measure of devotedness.
We are supposed to be saved by the grace of God and not by our actions, however in order for a particular individual to believe that he is one of the elect then he is strongly driven to be constantly acting in a Christian manner.
In this way Calvinism may be the wellspring of the protestant work ethic.
Calvinism in theory is about faith. Calvinism in practice may be more Catholic than the Pope.
I don’t believe in predestination, but for someone who does I assume the answer to your queston would be Romans 9:15, “For he saith to Moses: I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy; and I will shew mercy to whom I will shew mercy.”
James 2:18 But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I by my works will show you my faith. 19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder. 20 Do you want to be shown, you senseless person, that faith apart from works is barren? 21 Was not our ancestor Abraham justified by works when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was brought to completion by the works. 23 Thus the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness,” and he was called the friend of God.
James 2:24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. 25 Likewise, was not Rahab the prostitute also justified by works when she welcomed the messengers and sent them out by another road? 26 For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is also dead.
Furthermore, Salvation is not guaranteed. Scripture says we can lose our salvation and that perseverance is even required to enter heaven.
1 Corinthians 9:27 but I punish my body and enslave it, so that after proclaiming to others I myself should not be disqualified.
2 Timothy 2:12 if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he will also deny us;
Philippians 2:12 Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed me, not only in my presence, but much more now in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
Additionally, our actions are of great consequence to our salvation.
Galatians 5:6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything; the only thing that counts is faith working through love.
Matt 24:12 And because of the increase of lawlessness, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But the one who endures to the end will be saved.
1 Corinthians 4:4 I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me. 5 Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive commendation from God.
If you’re predestined for destruction, no matter how badly you want to be saved, you can’t be.
- - - -
Let not your heart be troubled! You should find where Jesus said that, by the way. Jesus said that if you believe in Him and keep his commandments, you will be saved. What are His Commandments? Love God (Elohim, Abba Father YHWH) and love your neighbor. Everything else flows from those two Commandments.
In the Law of Moses, earthly fathers are commanded not to provoke their children. So, would your Righteous, Loving, Heavenly Father provoke His children? No!
The ones who are predestined to destruction are the ones who chose to actively disbelieve. If you believe, then any questioning of your salvation is from the Devil, who is still accusing the bretheren, but not for long!
One must avoid fatalism and mechanism.This is explored in Systematic Theology by Wayne Grudem, page 674-676.
So you don’t believe that God knows the future?
Its really hard for us to understand that the concept of time is temporal...
RE: So you don’t believe that God knows the future?
The word “future” is only a concept we temporal being use since we are time-bound beings.
God is “eternal” and He see’s things differently from what we mortals see.
It doesn't really work that way. Most people who don't "get" predestination (or don't believe it) think it is something to worry over in the manner you described. What it basically means is that only people who are predestined to believe will believe. Taking the guy in your example: if he was a believer, then he was predestined to be a believer. You don't have to believe in predestination to be a believer.
If there is anything "scary" about it, it is that some people will not be predestined to believe. A lot of people have a problem with the idea that God chooses who will believe and that some will not be chosen.
I don’t have time to go into this deeply and reference scripture, but I can mention a few things that might help. I grew up the son of a Cumberland Presbyterian minister and continue to this day as an elder in that church. My Dad used to say it this way: Once “truly” saved, someone is always saved.
In a prayer right before his crucifixion, Jesus’s prayer says something to the effect that of those who God gave him, not one had been lost. To me, that implies that Judas Iscariot actually never had been given as a true believer in Christ. The question begs touching on apostasy. One can choose to turn away. I think it is clear that Solomon was a true believer in the beginning (read the account of the dedication of the Temple), but he died in apostasy having married forbidden wives and building high places to Molech and Chemosh.
Regarding predestination, I believe the scripture reads that “those he foreknew, he predestined”. God has perfect knowledge. I think he picks his servant based on that perfect knowledge. He knew Jeremiah before he was knit together in his mother’s womb. God knew beforehand what kind of committed servant Saul would become in the person of Paul. He was changed from being a murderer of Christians to one of the most effective servants of Christ ever.
Finally, you can’t ignore scripture that is seemingly contradictory. You have to study, call on the guidance of the Holy Spirit to discern how it all fits together. On the surface, predestination seems to rule out free will. We CPs, even though from a Calvinist tradition, are referred to as “whosoever willers”. John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” “Whoever believes” . . . sounds like free will to me. Scripture is clear that Christ died for ALL. We CPers also believe that God makes provision for one dying in infancy; hard line belief in predestination did not accept that since they died before they could make the choice to believe. That was one of the key points when the CP church broke off from the Presbyterian Church US in 1810. But I understand they may have softened their stance on predestination now.
That is a short answer to a deep question. I am sure this will get some flaming, but I believe this to be a pretty accurate lay depiction of the theology.
RE: A lot of people have a problem with the idea that God chooses who will believe and that some will not be chosen.
Yes, that is the crux of the matter. Someone described it as a toy maker making 20 toys and decides before making them that after making all of them, 10 of them will be thrown into the fire.
The Son of perdition, Judas, was numbered with the twelve, and was lost. He tasted of the grace of our Lord for 3 years and walked with the Savior. He was predestined for that horrible end and the Lord already knew his end from the beginning. The lesson for us is to work out our salvation with fear and trembling for it is God who is at work in us.
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