October 17, 2005

• Atheists!

  
  

  Caleb Cleaver writes – ”your saying, that once saved, it is IMPOSSIBLE for man to doubt. That is, to commit a CERTAIN sin. Man always has the ability to sin. Salvation does not take that away. Salvation saves us from our sin, it doesn’t keep us from doing it.”

  
  

  Ryan Eberst says – ”so it is because of one mistake, one fall that we can discredit their salvation experience altogehter? i mean, just because one doubts at one point in his life diregaurds all the previous workings he though the Spirit was doing in him?”

  
  

   

  
  

  My response: You two make it sound like the things of God are impossible with God ! Atheists ! Can’t God convince believers that “all who believe in this one are justified” ? After all, “We receive the testimony of men, but the testimony of God IS GREATER.” (1 John 5). What is all this talk about “believers” doubting God, and calling God a liar ? Are you people BELIEVERS or UNBELIEVERS? Are you full of faith, or full of doubting? “By faith Abel … By faith Enoch … By faith Abraham … By faith Joseph” (Heb11). Not “by doubting”.

  
  

   

  
  

  Now for  the issue of sin and assurance. Certainly Paul asks the question, “Who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” (Romans 7:24).And without a pause or hestitation, he answers, “I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (Romans 7:25). Paul was convicted of his sin by God’s Word. But at the very same time, the Word also told him of Jesus Christ, who takes away the sins of all believers.

  
  

   

  
  

  Now don’t get me wrong, believers DO have wicked thoughts and do wicked things. And God tells believers that they will sin. But He doesn’t stop there, does He? He also says that all believers are are JUSTIFIED from all sin, so believers never doubt that God saves sinful people, including themselves. Therefore, God can and does convince justified people that they are actually justified, and there are no believers walking around ignorant of their justification. People who doubt they are justified are not justified. Believers have the infallible testimony of the Holy Spirit witnessing to the infallible Word, and this is always 100% sufficient to convince them that God will save ALL His people based on the atoning blood and imputed righteousness of Jesus Christ alone.

  
  

   

  
  

  After all, how do we know there is a Law? Sin? Death by sin? We hear of these things by the Word. But the Word also says, “Christ is the end of the Law for righteousness for everyone that believes.” (Romans 10). So the Word is sufficient to convict my conscience of sin and death. And at the same time, the Word is sufficient to acquit (remove all concern) of condemnation.

  
  

   

  
  

  But, alas Caleb and Ryan, after reading your comments, it seems you do not understand the gospel. It looks like I’ll have to start all over again, and explain why ALL BELIEVERS HAVE FULL ASSURANCE OF SALVATION.

  
  

   

  
  

  First of all, unbelievers are TOTALLY IN THE DARK about the existence of God. They have NO IDEA that there “are three who bear witness in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit.” The Bible says, that when Christ returns, He will have pour vengeance upon those who “know not God, and obey not the gospel.” (2 Thessalonians). Similarly, Paul reminds the Ephesians that they before their belief in the gospel, they were “in darkness”, and the Apostle tells the Galatians, “not knowing God, you served as slaves [to] the ones by nature not being gods.” (Gal 4:8). Unbelievers are not just lacking a knowledge of the gospel, they have absolutely no understanding of spiritual things whatsoever. In fact, elsewhere, Paul actually says that unbelievers worship Satan! “But the things the nations sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons, and not to God.”(1 Corinthians 10:20).

  
  

   

  
  

  Now, if someone is totally ignorant of the existence of God – and has no understanding of God –  what will happen when God gives the person  the knowledge of Himself? Two things occur. #1) “And we know that the Son of God has come, and He has given to us an understanding that we may know the true One….” #2, “…and we are in the true One, in His Son Jesus Christ.” (1 John 5:20) The Apostle John states that believers, #1) know the gospel, and #2) know they are saved. The two FACTS are INSEPARABLE. God has joined belief and salvation, and who are we to separate what is eternally united?

  
  

   

  
  

  How can a believer doubt? For YOU ARE ALL SONS OF GOD through faith in Christ Jesus. (Gal 3:26) WE KNOW THAT WE ARE OF GOD, and the whole world lies in the evil. (1 Jn 5:19). So that you no more are a slave, but a son, and if a son, also an heir of God through Christ. And because you are sons, God sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, Abba! Father! (Gal 4:7,6).
  
  Leave the doubting for unbelievers. Full assurance is the privilege of every true Christian.

  • 6:33 pm
  • 3 Comments