March 29, 2007

• Doubting Calvinists: A Dilemma

  
  How often do you hear this …

  “We are in the light as
  believers. But are there not clouds that hide the complete view of our
  salvation from us at times? Does God ever use our human doubt to
  strengthen our spiritual dependance upon Him and His promises? But do
  not look down upon your fellow brothers and sisters in Christ that are
  experiencing a sin in their life that causes them to not see clearly
  their savior.” (Ethan Beckler, U-Illinois)

  “I never doubt my
  salvation anymore. But I will admit that when I was young in Christ
  there were times when I wondered.” (Josiah Burke, Hawaii)

  
  My response: Hmmm…. Thanks for your comments guys. But the Bible defines a believer as someone with same assurance and confidence as the Apostles (2 Pet 1:1).

  NASB:
  Simon Peter, a bond-servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who
  have received a faith of the same kind as ours, by the righteousness of
  our God and Savior, Jesus Christ

  KJV: Simon Peter, a servant and
  an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious
  faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus
  Christ:

  Now, Doubting Calvinists say that believers today can
  doubt their salvation. Yet, the Bible says believers have the same
  assurance as the Apostles.

  No offence, but this puts you guys in a sort of dilemma =) A catch-22.

  Either you have to say…

  1) We can doubt our salvation even though we have the faith of the Apostles. Because the Apostles also doubted their salvation.
  …or…
  2) We can doubt our salvation even though the Apostles did not. Because we don’t have the faith of the Apostles.

  Point
  1) goes against the whole New Testament, as the Apostles never doubted
  their salvation. (Show me where the Apostles doubted! The disciples did
  .. but that was before the Resurrection … see http://Godnoliar.com/john_the_baptist.htm ) The Aposltes NEVER doubted! You will not find a single example!

  And Point 2) contradicts 2 Pet 1:1 which says believers have the faith of the Apostles.

  OK! Hope that made sense…

  I
  wonder… do you guys say that 1) the Apostles doubted their salvation
  and thus we can? Or, are you conceding that you think believers today
  do NOT have the faith of the Apostles (since the Apostles did not
  doubt, but “believers” today do)

  OK… hope to hear your response to that! =)

  Now, I want to point out a comment made by someone that I totally agree with. They wrote me,

  “In the end it is only the grace of God that saves us, and it is only the Holy Spirit that assures us of our salvation.”

  
  My
  comment: OK!! So we agree that Holy Spirit assures believers the Gospel
  is true. And since the Gospel says “everyone believing is justified”,
  the moment the Spirit convicts you of the Gospel, you are infallibly
  assured of your salvation. You simply can’t believe the Gospel without
  realizing you are justified, can you? Because God has eternally joined
  together belief with justification =)

  And there are some verses
  of Scripture screaming out on this point. John 4:14 says that
  “believers never thirst” because they have a “well of water springing
  up in them unto everlasting life”. So the work of the Spirit is to
  annihilate doubting so that believers never thirst for justification.

  Maybe
  you could also look at Hebrews 11:3. “By faith we understand the worlds
  were framed by the Word of God.” So, it’s a man’s belief in the Gospel,
  that proves to Him God exists. There’s no way we could know there is a
  Just God and Savior who created the worlds, unless we understand
  Christ’s person and work.

  Now, a man’s belief in the Gospel not
  only proves to the man that God exists. Paul also said we are to have
  “peace and joy in believing” (Romans 15:13). So belief in the Gospel is
  the way a man knows he is saved. (The way he has peace, joy and
  assurance).

  This means that understanding Gospel not only proves
  1) that God exists, it also proves to me I am saved. So the evidence to
  me that the Bible is the Word of God is the same evidence to me that
  I’m saved. That is, the proof the Bible is the word of God is the
  authority of God stamped in the Gospel. But the Gospel in me is also
  the proof I am saved, so you I can’t call in question my salvation
  without calling in question God’s authority itself !

  Can you see
  why John says “the one not believing God has called Him a liar” (1 Jn
  5:10) ? Indeed, “this is the testimony — God has given US [believers]
  everlasting life”. So anyone who doubts they are saved, doubts the
  testimony, and calls God a liar.

  Sobering stuff indeed!

  • 12:35 am
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