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Martyred for the Gospel

Martyred for the Gospel
The burning of Tharchbishop of Cant. D. Tho. Cranmer in the town dich at Oxford, with his hand first thrust into the fyre, wherwith he subscribed before. [Click on the picture to see Cranmer's last words.]

Daily Bible Verse

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Perseverance of the Saints: Kevaughn Mattis - The Modified Calvinist Eternal Security Teaching: A Sinner's Haven?

I am posting this as food for thought.  Although I might not agree with any modification of the five points of Calvinism, the arguments put forward in favor of the doctrine of eternal security or the perseverance and preservation of God's elect saints are worthy of your consideration.  Take this section for example:

I find it difficult to believe at times that so many Christians determine whether the doctrine of eternal security is true or not based on the lives of those of who believe in it. Logically, this kind of thinking finds accordance with the notion that the pervasiveness of evil in the world attests to the falsehood of theism.[4] The conditional security believer would more than likely defend the idea of theism by attributing the prevalence of evil to man's freedom of will.[5] However, the problem of how a God who foreknew all the evil that would occur as a result of free will and yet allow it would still exist. In the presence of evil, doesn't it seem a bit irresponsible for a sovereign and all powerful God to have yielded His control over human actions simply in order for them to truly express themselves as they see fit in relation to God and their fellowmen? Usually, if not always, conditional security believers do not think this way. It follows therefore that if they do not see free-will in itself as a license to sin, neither should they see the doctrine of eternal security in this light. As a matter of fact, in light of their "free-will" theology, eternal security can even be seen as a state of affairs that promotes free-will: The fact that one believes that he cannot lose his salvation means that he will act in a way that expresses his heart's truest desire. He may either live a life of godliness in heart-felt love for Christ or live in unrighteousness, in deep passion for self.
It is for this reason that some proponents of eternal security question the sincerity of worship under a system of conditional security. Is the conditional security believer saying that having a secure relationship with God afforded by the death of our Lord Jesus Christ is unable to motivate one to holiness? Is he saying that he needs to be threatened with hellfire in order to truly worship God? A more critical question would be, "Would they abuse the doctrine of eternal security if they believed in it?" If the answer to that question is yes, how can their worship under the system of conditional security be sincere?  If the answer is no, then they are admitting that eternal security is not adversative to godliness.
Click here to read Kevaughn Mattis' complete article:  


Kevaughn Mattis - The Modified Calvinist Eternal Security Teaching: A Sinner's Haven?

3 comments:

Steve Finnell said...

PERSEVERANCE OF THE SAINTS OR SPEAKING LIES?

Are those who teach the doctrine of perseverance of the saints (also know as once saved always saved) proclaiming Biblical truth or are they speaking lies in hypocrisy?

1 Timothy 4:1-3 Now the Spirit expressly says that is latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrine of demons, 2. speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, 3 forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. (New King James Version)

The Holy Spirit states men will fall from the faith. Some Calvinists say it is impossible to fall from grace. Is the Holy Spirit correct or are the followers of John Calvin the accurate teachers of truth?

1 Timothy 4:1 But the Holy Spirit tells us clearly that in the last times some in the church will turn away from Christ and become eager followers of teachers with devil-inspired ideas.(The Living Bible-Paraphrased)

The Holy Spirit tells us that church members will turn from Christ. The Holy Spirit does not believe in once saved always saved.

Unsaved people cannot apostatize from the faith. Only Christians can fall from grace.

1 Timothy 4:1 But the Spirit speaks expressly, that in latter times some shall apostatise from faith, giving their mind to deceiving spirits and teaching of demons.(Darby Translation)

The nemesis of Calvinists who advocate perseverance of the saints is the Bible. Without believing the written words of John Calvin and other men, there is no support for the doctrine of once saved always saved.

1 Timothy 4:1 The Spirit says clearly that in later times believers will desert the Christian faith. They will follow spirits that deceive, and they will believe the teaching of demons. (God's Word Translation)

Are those who believe the doctrine of perseverance of the saints believing the truth taught in the Bible or are they being deceived by the teaching of demons?

1 Timothy 4:1-2 God's Spirit specifically tell us that in later days there will be men who abandon the true faith and allow themselves to be spiritually seduced by teachings of the devil, teaching given by men who are lying hypocrites, whose consciences are dead as seared flesh.(The New Testament in Modern English by J.B Phillips)

Is the Holy Spirit a hypocritical liar when He says men will abandon the true faith? False Christians cannot abandon a faith they never have experienced. Only true Christians can abandon their faith. Can an atheist abandon being a atheist if he never was an atheist? Of course not.

1 Timothy 4:1 Now the Holy Spirit clearly says that in the later times people will stop believing the faith. They will follow spirits that lie and teaching of demons.(New Century Version)

If the Holy Spirit says Christians will fall from the faith, then who is telling you that Christians are once saved always saved? Who is telling Christians they can never be lost?


YOU ARE INVITED TO FOLLOW MY CHRISTIAN BLOG . http://steve-finnell.blogspot.com

Charlie J. Ray said...

Your god doesn't save, Steve. Salvation, according to you, is just a crap shoot. In fact, your god is unable save. The God I serve never fails to save those He predestined to salvation from before the creation of the world. Ephesians 1:4-5, 11. Daniel 4:35. Salvation is all of grace. Romans 3:20-25.

Charlie J. Ray said...

Those who commit apostasy were never of us and never saved to begin with. 1 John 2:19.

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