The Security Of The Believer

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.

Nehemiah6

Senior Member
Jul 18, 2017
26,074
13,778
113
...the emphasis in the Reformed tradition is on biblical doctrine rather than historical interpretations.
And yet Five Point Calvinism deviates from the true Gospel. The true Gospel says that (1) God offers salvation to all of mankind and (2) Christ died for the sins of the whole world. Calvinism rejects these Gospel truths.
 

BillyBob

Active member
Dec 20, 2023
407
176
43
Texas
Calvin himself, is not the originator for most of what he taught and is credited for. Much of his teaching are an expansion of what was expressed in the Canons of Dort which was written to appose the teaching of Jacob Arminius. However, like most good teachers, he stood on the shoulders of men who proceeded him.

Arminians taught:
  • Election based on foreseen faith
  • Universal Atonement
  • Partial Depravity
  • Resistible Grace
  • Possibility of a lapse from Grace
 

Chester

Senior Member
May 23, 2016
4,319
1,448
113
I don't equate the Biblical doctrine of the eternal security of the believer with Calvinism because Calvinism takes away the God given free will of the individual to make the decision for themselves (even if they go through the motions of belief in a God Who has really made the decision for them). The Biblical teaching of the eternal security of the believer allows "whosoever will may come".

And no offense intended, but it really doesn't make a difference what Calvin taught if it doesn't agree with what Jesus and the Apostles taught almost 1500 years prior it is NOT the teachings of Jesus Christ.
But the doctrine of OSAS teaches that all men except Christians have free choice.
 

Cameron143

Well-known member
Mar 1, 2022
20,074
6,880
113
62
But the doctrine of OSAS teaches that all men except Christians have free choice.
It doesn't. And no one has unlimited freewill. God has sovereignly made many, many choices for everyone.
 

Romans34

... let God be true ...
Oct 28, 2023
309
125
43
But the doctrine of OSAS teaches that all men except Christians have free choice.
I'm not sure you worded that as you intended, or else I'm not sure what you meant. Men that are Christians have made the free choice.
 

Cameron143

Well-known member
Mar 1, 2022
20,074
6,880
113
62
The unbroken man shall not enter the kingdom of God, eh?
All mankind is incomplete and broken when they enter this world.
I asked you a couple of questions on another thread that you didn't answer. I don't know if you didn't see them or just didn't care to reply. But I am interested in your answers if you are so inclined.
What is eternal life and when does someone receive it?
 
Apr 27, 2023
538
39
28
All mankind is incomplete and broken when they enter this world.
I asked you a couple of questions on another thread that you didn't answer. I don't know if you didn't see them or just didn't care to reply. But I am interested in your answers if you are so inclined.
What is eternal life and when does someone receive it?
Everlasting living is what Enoch had. It is when you don't taste of death. Eternal life is also in the afterlife, but it isn't the same thing as the afterlife.
 

Cameron143

Well-known member
Mar 1, 2022
20,074
6,880
113
62
Everlasting living is what Enoch had. It is when you don't taste of death. Eternal life is also in the afterlife, but it isn't the same thing as the afterlife.
Hmmm...I wonder why Jesus didn't say that in John 17:3.
 
Apr 27, 2023
538
39
28
Hmmm...I wonder why Jesus didn't say that in John 17:3.
[John 17:3 KJV] 3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
Look at the previous also.
[John 17:2 KJV] 2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.
Everlasting life is also a synonym for Enochian translation. Something big and quiet happened. Jesus determined this in the past.
Basically Everlasting Thriveitude.
 

Cameron143

Well-known member
Mar 1, 2022
20,074
6,880
113
62
[John 17:3 KJV] 3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
Look at the previous also.
[John 17:2 KJV] 2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.
Everlasting life is also a synonym for Enochian translation. Something big and quiet happened. Jesus determined this in the past.
Basically Everlasting Thriveitude.
Eternal life is knowing God and Christ. This knowing isn't fact based. Rather, it is knowing experientually. In other words, it isn't simply knowing something to be true of God. But that you experience God in that truth. For example, Psalm 16:11 tells us that in God's presence there is fulness of joy. Knowing this is true is simply knowing this as a fact. But if you were actually in God's presence and He conveyed His joy to you, you would be experiencing eternal life.
All Christians should be experiencing such things regularly. So important were such experiences to Paul, he was willing to give up everything else...I count all things loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord...
 

Kroogz

Well-known member
Dec 5, 2023
864
346
63
But the doctrine of OSAS teaches that all men except Christians have free choice.
If that were true, we would not see Gods discipline. We would not see rewards or lack of rewards. Inheritance or lack of inheritance. Reign or lack of reign. Shame or lack of shame at the Bema seat. Well pleasing to the Father or saved as if through fire......

Loss of salvation teaches that God doesn't have His free choice.
Heb 7:25~~New American Standard Bible
Therefore He is also able to save forever those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.
 

Kroogz

Well-known member
Dec 5, 2023
864
346
63
So important were such experiences to Paul, he was willing to give up everything else...I count all things loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord...
I stop at that verse sometimes and just marvel. That is one BIG and HEFTY statement. Give up everything,everything. I would like to say that I could, but I am pretty sure I would buckle if push came to shove! I pray to get to that level someday.
 

Cameron143

Well-known member
Mar 1, 2022
20,074
6,880
113
62
I stop at that verse sometimes and just marvel. That is one BIG and HEFTY statement. Give up everything,everything. I would like to say that I could, but I am pretty sure I would buckle if push came to shove! I pray to get to that level someday.
You'll get there. We often see others in the Bible as different from ourselves, but they really aren't. They had to learn to put on Christ the same way we do. Long before Abraham lifted his knife to sacrifice Isaac, he lied about Sarah being his wife.
 

Lamar

Active member
May 21, 2023
955
143
43
I’m not a Calvinist. I just believe we’re saved by Grace through faith, and certainly, I believe John 3:16. Be careful of false accusations, my friend.
I reread my post. I made no accusations. Your post# 1389 is most certainly a false dichotomy. Is it not?
 
Apr 27, 2023
538
39
28
Hmmm...I wonder why Jesus didn't say that in John 17:3.
[Luke 9:27 KJV] 27 But I tell you of a truth, there be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the kingdom of God.
[John 8:52 KJV] 52 Then said the Jews unto him, Now we know that thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and thou sayest, If a man keep my saying, he shall never taste of death.

But he did say it.
 

Chester

Senior Member
May 23, 2016
4,319
1,448
113
I'm not sure you worded that as you intended, or else I'm not sure what you meant. Men that are Christians have made the free choice.
What did I mean?

The doctrine of OSAS acknowledges that the unbeliever can choose to continue in unbelief and go to an eternal hell. Or, the unbeliever can choose to believe in Jesus Christ and go to heaven for all eternity.

But OSAS teaches that once a person has at a point in time believed in Jesus Christ, then that person loses their choice to reject Jesus. Thus the true believer in Jesus Christ has no option to go to hell for all of eternity. Even if this person swears and yells and screams at God and says he does not want to be in heaven with an all-loving Father: this person has no choice or option to back out of what happened at his new birth - he is going to heaven whether he wants to or not.

In contrast, I believe that both the unbeliever and the believer have free choice to believe or to not believe in Jesus.
 

Cameron143

Well-known member
Mar 1, 2022
20,074
6,880
113
62
[Luke 9:27 KJV] 27 But I tell you of a truth, there be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the kingdom of God.
[John 8:52 KJV] 52 Then said the Jews unto him, Now we know that thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and thou sayest, If a man keep my saying, he shall never taste of death.

But he did say it.
The kingdom of God was present in the first century. Many people during that time and since have seen it during their lifetimes. The kingdom of God exists wherever people submit to the rule of God.
Tasting death is different from dying. Death no longer has its sting. It doesn't mean people don't die. Abraham did as God instructed and still died. What he didn't experience was the wrath of God.
 

Romans34

... let God be true ...
Oct 28, 2023
309
125
43
The doctrine of OSAS acknowledges that the unbeliever can choose to continue in unbelief and go to an eternal hell. Or, the unbeliever can choose to believe in Jesus Christ and go to heaven for all eternity.
This is correct.
But OSAS teaches that once a person has at a point in time believed in Jesus Christ, then that person loses their choice to reject Jesus. Thus the true believer in Jesus Christ has no option to go to hell for all of eternity. Even if this person swears and yells and screams at God and says he does not want to be in heaven with an all-loving Father: this person has no choice or option to back out of what happened at his new birth - he is going to heaven whether he wants to or not.
And this is the point. When a person truly becomes born again (from above), having become a new creature (creation), they belong to God. He owns us, bought and paid for with the precious blood of Jesus. A true child of God cannot be un-born again, and he certainly cannot make any decisions about that with which he no longer has rights. He cannot sell himself back to the devil (or sin, or however you want to say it) because he doesn't own himself anymore. God does. Only God could, but He will not because He paid such a high price, and now that He owns the purchased possession, He will keep it and protect it forever. The decision to trust Christ is a one-time only decision, and if truly heart-felt (sincere, genuine), then it is forever.

Like I said before, the child of God has already made the decision (which once made, cannot be un-done).
 

Mem

Senior Member
Sep 23, 2014
7,230
2,207
113
There must be a reason that men are analogized? (metphoritized? :unsure:) as fish... i.e. I will make you a fisher of men.

Fish can refuse the lure at any time, and maybe even an unlimited number of times but, once they bite, and the fisherman sets the hook (which is within milliseconds if not simultaneously to the fish biting), the fish is caught and thrown into the fish bucket bin thingy, where it is secured and remains, no matter how much it flips and flops, until the fisherman cleans it up and has it for dinner.... :coffee: