Why I now believe that salvation can be lost.
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Hi UnderGrace, I believe that section of Institutes is concerned with the "assurance" of salvation, which is something quite different than salvation itself, as I'm sure you already know (it is certainly something that is far more fickle in the mind of a believer anyway, "assurance" that is 
).
Getting to the heart of what Calvin is saying is often difficult to impossible apart from context, as well the historical context (such as the implications that often arise as a result of who he was writing to and/or what he was writing about).
Here is some of what Calvin wrote in one of his commentaries that may prove useful concerning his thoughts about saving faith being a gift from God, just like the rest of His salvation is a gift to us. Here, unlike others who, restrict the "gift" to faith only, Calvin teaches that the gift from God to us not only includes saving faith, but the whole of salvation as well.
That said, Calvin teaches that it is by the gift God gives us of saving faith that we are able to believe, but that we are the ones who do the believing. IOW, God doesn't believe for us. To be clear, all who are given this irresistible gift from God will (eventually) choose to believe, and we are told in the Bible that God waits patiently for all of His elect to do so .. 2 Peter 3:9.
Here are some other writings from Calvin that show us a little more clearly what he believes in regard to the "gift" of saving faith.
Actually, this seems like it's getting a little long-winded, so I'll stop here. There is much more, so if you'd like me to post some of it for you, just let me know.
~Deut
).Getting to the heart of what Calvin is saying is often difficult to impossible apart from context, as well the historical context (such as the implications that often arise as a result of who he was writing to and/or what he was writing about).
Here is some of what Calvin wrote in one of his commentaries that may prove useful concerning his thoughts about saving faith being a gift from God, just like the rest of His salvation is a gift to us. Here, unlike others who, restrict the "gift" to faith only, Calvin teaches that the gift from God to us not only includes saving faith, but the whole of salvation as well.
That said, Calvin teaches that it is by the gift God gives us of saving faith that we are able to believe, but that we are the ones who do the believing. IOW, God doesn't believe for us. To be clear, all who are given this irresistible gift from God will (eventually) choose to believe, and we are told in the Bible that God waits patiently for all of His elect to do so .. 2 Peter 3:9.
Ephesians 2
9. Not of works. Instead of what he had said, that their salvation is of grace, he now affirms, that “it is the gift of God.” Instead of what he had said, “Not of yourselves,” he now says, “Not of works.” Hence we see, that the apostle leaves nothing to men in procuring salvation. In these three phrases,—not of yourselves,—it is the gift of God,—not of works,—he embraces the substance of his long argument in the Epistles to the Romans and to the Galatians, that righteousness comes to us from the mercy of God alone,—is offered to us in Christ by the gospel,—and is received by faith alone, without the merit of works.
This passage affords an easy refutation of the idle cavil by which Papists attempt to evade the argument, that we are justified without works. Paul, they tell us, is speaking about ceremonies. But the present question is not confined to one class of works. Nothing can be more clear than this. The whole righteousness of man, which consists in works,—nay, the whole man, and everything that he can call his own, is set aside. We must attend to the contrast between God and man,—between grace and works. Why should God be contrasted with man, if the controversy related to nothing more than ceremonies?
Papists themselves are compelled to own that Paul ascribes to the grace of God the whole glory of our salvation, but endeavour to do away with this admission by another contrivance. This mode of expression, they tell us, is employed, because God bestows the first grace. It is really foolish to imagine that they can succeed in this way, since Paul excludes man and his utmost ability,—not only from the commencement, but throughout,—from the whole work of obtaining salvation.
But it is still more absurd to overlook the apostle’s inference, lest any man should boast. Some room must always remain for man’s boasting, so long as, independently of grace, merits are of any avail. Paul’s doctrine is overthrown, unless the whole praise is rendered to God alone and to his mercy. And here we must advert to a very common error in the interpretation of this passage. Many persons restrict the word gift to faith alone. But Paul is only repeating in other words the former sentiment. His meaning is, not that faith is the gift of God, but that salvation is given to us by God, or, that we obtain it by the gift of God. ~Calvin, J., Commentaries on the Epistles of Paul to the Galatians and Ephesians (pp. 227–229).
Here are some other writings from Calvin that show us a little more clearly what he believes in regard to the "gift" of saving faith.
[Paul] exhorts the Ephesians to remember (Ephesians 2) that they were saved by grace, not by themselves nor by their own works.... Faith, moreover, precedes justification, but in such a sense, that in respect of God, it follows. What they [Roman Catholics] say of faith might perhaps hold true, were faith itself, which puts us in possession of righteousness, our own. But seeing that it too is the free gift of God, the exception which they introduce is superfluous. Scripture, indeed, removes all doubt on another ground, when it opposes faith to works, to prevent its being classed among merits. Faith brings nothing of our own to God, but receives what God spontaneously offers us. Hence it is that faith, however imperfect, nevertheless possesses a perfect righteousness, because it has respect to nothing but the gratuitous goodness of God.” (Acts of the Council of Trent With its Antidote
Actually, this seems like it's getting a little long-winded, so I'll stop here. There is much more, so if you'd like me to post some of it for you, just let me know.
~Deut
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Very interesting....I see how you mean this
The truth--->God deals to men faith in measure.........even faith is a gift and like I said above....the GIFTS AND CALLING of GOD IS IRREVOCABLE.....
think about that truth for a moment....even the CALL OF GOD is irrevocable.......
MANY are called but few chosen<--the call was irrevocable....the faith to believe was dealt in measure and given....YET MEN LOVE DARKNESS and will not come to the light....
Crazy!!
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I agree that during the Tribulation period, it will be possible, as discussed here https://www.christianforums.com/thr...is-it-still-faith-only-for-salvation.8119531/
Since someone who believe in him at the beginning may be overcome by hunger and takes the mark of the beast in order to buy food.
Since someone who believe in him at the beginning may be overcome by hunger and takes the mark of the beast in order to buy food.
Good day PennEd,
I understand your disagreement, but I am not saying anything that scripture isn't saying. We are saved by faith, on-going faith and not a one time confession. If a believer stops having faith, willfully living according to the sinful nature and falls away and dies in that state, then they are accumulating sin and are on their way to death. This is stated right in James 5:19-20, as well as the scriptures that I provided above and the vine and the branches teaching.
Jesus said "unless you take up your cross daily, you cannot be disciple."
So what if a believer doesn't take up his cross?
If we as believers don't forgive others, then neither will our heavenly Father forgive us.
What if we don't forgive?
How do you explain these and all of the scriptures that I've listed above?
I believe that every promise is dependent upon faith.
After we come to Christ we need to continue in faith, taking up our crosses daily. We just can't go back into willfully living according to the sinful nature and remaining there. I'm not talking about our sins that we commit while having faith. We are all sinners. I'm talking about complete apostasy. Paul said the following to the church at Corinth:
"Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who submit to or perform homosexual acts, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor verbal abusers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. "
The above is a warning to the Corinthian (and all believers) to not live that type of life, for if they do so they will not inherit the kingdom of God. Again, scripture states the following:
"Once you were alienated from God and were hostile in your minds because of your evil deeds. But now He has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy, unblemished, and blameless in His presence—if indeed you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope of the gospel you heard, which has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant."
So, according to the scripture above, continuing in faith is a requirement for being holy, unblemished and blameless.
I would also add that, the rebukes and their consequences found in the letters to the churches also demonstrate that those churches and individual believers cannot remain that state. These letters are not only to the original seven churches, but to all believers in the entire church period who must overcome, or suffer the consequences listed in the letters.
Blessings!
I understand your disagreement, but I am not saying anything that scripture isn't saying. We are saved by faith, on-going faith and not a one time confession. If a believer stops having faith, willfully living according to the sinful nature and falls away and dies in that state, then they are accumulating sin and are on their way to death. This is stated right in James 5:19-20, as well as the scriptures that I provided above and the vine and the branches teaching.
Jesus said "unless you take up your cross daily, you cannot be disciple."
So what if a believer doesn't take up his cross?
If we as believers don't forgive others, then neither will our heavenly Father forgive us.
What if we don't forgive?
How do you explain these and all of the scriptures that I've listed above?
I believe that every promise is dependent upon faith.
After we come to Christ we need to continue in faith, taking up our crosses daily. We just can't go back into willfully living according to the sinful nature and remaining there. I'm not talking about our sins that we commit while having faith. We are all sinners. I'm talking about complete apostasy. Paul said the following to the church at Corinth:
"Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who submit to or perform homosexual acts, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor verbal abusers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. "
The above is a warning to the Corinthian (and all believers) to not live that type of life, for if they do so they will not inherit the kingdom of God. Again, scripture states the following:
"Once you were alienated from God and were hostile in your minds because of your evil deeds. But now He has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy, unblemished, and blameless in His presence—if indeed you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope of the gospel you heard, which has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant."
So, according to the scripture above, continuing in faith is a requirement for being holy, unblemished and blameless.
I would also add that, the rebukes and their consequences found in the letters to the churches also demonstrate that those churches and individual believers cannot remain that state. These letters are not only to the original seven churches, but to all believers in the entire church period who must overcome, or suffer the consequences listed in the letters.
Blessings!
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