Most conservative Protestants claim to believe that the Bible alone is the Word of God. They say that only those who believe the biblical truths describing Jesus Christ—the gospel—are justified, or have Christ’s righteousness imputed to their account. Some will even go so far, as to say that God gets to decide who will be justified, and that man does not have free will to control Jehovah. Often these people will also assert that Jesus Christ’s death will save everyone for whom He represented, so that He laid down His life only for His sheep, or “elect”.

 

Historically, these people are known as “Calvinists” or persons who believe in “Reformed Theology”, “TULIP”, or “Sovereign Grace”. This website is primarily designed for informing and corresponding with such people. Such correspondence is normally quite aggressive, however, mainly for two reasons. Most Calvinists believe they were saved by an Arminian gospel, or think that God uses this false message to save sinners. Contrary to this philosophy of “Tolerant Calvinism”, the Bible teaches that all who believe in a false gospel are lost and that anyone who knowingly embraces a heretic as a spiritual brother is also lost. All the five points of Arminianism teach salvation based on the sinner’s own works. Thus, anyone who believes one or more of these points is lost.

 

In light of the first, the second reason that Calvinists hate this website is ironic. What is ironic is that most Calvinists openly admit that they are not sure whether or not they are saved! And this heresy—that believers can doubt their salvation—is actually taught in all the “prestigious” Reformed Confessions of faith. Sometimes it does not even seem necessary to tell Tolerant Calvinists to “repent and believe the gospel”. Most will admit that at times they have doubted whether or not they are a believer. These Calvinists have a dead faith, and we know this, because by the mouth, the heart overflows. These “Doubting Calvinists” clearly do not believe God’s promise to save all believers. They call God a liar in His testimony concerning His Son, and have not the Son and have not life (1 John 5).

 

But, why do these Calvinists embrace heretics? And, why do they call God a liar in His promises, by doubting His Word? These questions get to the very heart of the difference between a believer and an unbeliever. The answer is, that unbelievers do not derive their theology from the Bible, but instead, have certain opinions about God derived from men. For instance, a person catechized in the Westminster Shorter Catechism from an early youth, will form strong convictions about the Law, sin, justification, Christ etc. However, if this person only thinks that “Jesus is the Christ”, because his parents told him so, he does not possess the knowledge of Christ. To possess any knowledge of God, God must tell such a person about Himself by the Holy Spirit testifying to the Word.

 

Or to go a step further, someone have a strong conviction that “Jesus is the Christ” because the Bible says so. But if they believe the Bible is true, because the “church” maintains it is God’s Word, or, because there is “scientific evidence that proves it”, or because of any “theistic proofs”, then the basis of their theology is the opinions of men.

 

It should be easy to see why Calvinists embrace Arminians and doubt their salvation. The reason they have certain convictions about God’s Sovereignty, man’s inability etc. must come from outside the Bible. They are basing their beliefs on the “church”, science, or theistic “proofs”. If they were deriving their theology from the Bible, then they would know that “everyone that believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God”, or that “Christ is the end of the Law for righteousness for everyone who believes.” They would all have full assurance, and there would be no “Doubting Calvinists.” Moreover, they would know that “those who believe not the gospel are condemned”, and that the gospel includes the truth that “Christ died according to the Scriptures.” They would not embrace Arminians who do not believe in the Biblical Atonement, and thus believe a false gospel. They would not be “Tolerant Calvinists.”

 

True believers have the same like precious faith as the Apostles. Since the apostles did not believe the Bible to be the Word of God because of any “church”, “science”, or theistic proofs, neither will believers. The Thessalonians did not receive their apostolic message as words of men, but as the Word of God. They perceived God speaking through the Apostles, and believed their message based on His authority alone.

DOES THE BIBLE MAKE SENSE?

 

 

If believers can doubt their salvation the Bible is full of contradictory impenetrable nonsense. 

 

“He that glories, let him glory in the Lord.” (1 Cor 1:31). How can a believer glory in God if he does not know he is saved?

 

For you did not receive a spirit of slavery again to fear, but you received a Spirit of adoption by which we cry, Abba! Father! (Romans 8:15). Wouldn’t a believer be under slavery again, if they could not cry “Abba”? And can someone cry “Abba”, if they do not know that God saved them?

 

“And this is everlasting life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent.” (John 17:3). Can someone have everlasting life and not know Christ?

 

“And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:32). Is someone free who thinks they are going to hell?

 

“I am the Good Shepherd, and I know those that are Mine, and I am known by the ones that are Mine.” (John 10:14). This passage says that believers know the Good Shepard. They must know they are sheep, too.

 

“Because it is God who said, “Out of darkness Light shall shine,” who shone in our hearts to give the brightness of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” (2 Corinthians 4:6). Can the person of Christ shine into someone’s heart without him or her knowing it? And if Christ’s knowledge is in their heart, could they ever doubt they are saved?

 

“And they shall no more teach each one their neighbor, and each one his brother, saying, Know the Lord; because all shall know Me, from the least of them to their great ones.” (Hebrews 8:11). Obviously, counselling for assurance is not needed. Even the least believer know the Lord.

 

“Then being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,” (Romans 5:1). Can someone have peace with God, and worry about damnation?

 

“Much more then, being justified now by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath through Him.” (Romans 5:9). Can someone be saved and call God a liar in this passage? God says all believers are justified and saved from wrath. Anyone who doubts this is saying God lied in this passage.

 

“and not only so, but also glorying in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we now received the reconciliation.” (Romans 5:11). Again, if God says believers have received the atonement, how can they doubt?

 

“But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am persuaded that He is able to guard my deposit until that Day.” (2 Tim 1:12). Paul had full assurance of salvation. And Peter says that believers have the “like precious faith as the apostles”. Thus anyone without Paul’s assurance is without the apostolic faith, and lost.

 

“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, and we are in the true One, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and the life everlasting.” (1 John 5:20)

 

“But if anyone has not the Spirit of Christ, this one is not His.” (Romans 8:9). No assurance, you’re lost.

 

“Or do you not yourselves perceive that Jesus Christ is in you, unless you are disapproved?” (2 Corinthians 13:5). If someone cannot perceive Christ in them, they are not saved.

 

“The Spirit Himself witnesses with our spirit that we are children of God.” (Romans 8:16). No witness, you’re lost.

Q: CAN UNBELIEVERS PRAY?

A: “HOW CAN THEY CALL ON ONE INTO WHOM THEY HAVE NOT BELIEVED?”

-Romans 10:14

RC SPROUL WRITES…

“Conversion to Christ does not instantly cure us of our Pelagian tendencies. From the earliest days of our conversion, our Pelagianism is reinforced on every side. We brought it with us out of paganism, and the secular world around us reinforces it with the humanistic view of human freedom and inherent goodness. In the church we are widely exposed to Arminianism…” (Grace Unknown, 2002, p180) ”I … entered seminary believing that the key work of man to effect rebirth was faith. I thought that we first had to believe in Christ in order to be born again. I use the words in order here for a reason. I was thinking in terms of steps that must be taken in a certain sequence. I had put faith at the beginning. … Perhaps I had been confused by the teaching of the Roman Catholic Church.” (Holy Spirit, 1990). “[Learning that] regeneration precedes faith … [is a] virgin exposure to reformed theology [and] … this tends to be something of a pattern for Calvinists .” (Grace Unknown, p182)

Sproul is correct when he asserts that most Calvinists believe they were initially converted by a form of Pelagianism. Indeed, most will admit that Pelagian tendencies were reinforced, too, by remaining in an Arminian communion for a period of time. Perhaps, they also had Roman Catholic friends and family, and were influenced by them. Well, Sproul rightly notes, that it wouldn’t really make a difference whether someone was belonging to an Arminian or a Roman Catholic communion, because they are both semi-Pelagian. Sproul shows the similarity between Arminianism and Pelagianism/Roman Catholicism:

“Arminianism “in effect” makes faith a meritous work … Man in his fallen state must reach out and grasp this grace by an act of the will which is free to accept or reject this grace. Some exercise the will rightly (or righteously) while others do not. … When pressed on this point, the Arminian finds it difficult to escape the conclusion that ultimately his salvation rests on some righteous act of the will he has performed. He has “in effect” merited the merit of Christ, which differs only slightly from the view of Rome. (Free Will, 1997, p25) “In this view faith is not only a condition for redemption but also one of the very grounds of justification … Here faith becomes a work with a vengeance because its presence or absence determines the efficacy of Christ’s work of satisfaction for this person.” (Grace Unknown, p165)

Sproul concludes that Arminians make Christ’s death only potentially saving, and that an Arminian’s salvation rests on some righteous act of the will. This is true. Furthermore, Sproul correctly notes that the Arminian’s view of justification differs only slightly from the view of Rome. Clearly, it would not really make a difference whether someone belonged to a Roman Catholic communion, or an Arminian fellowship, because both are semi-Pelagian. On the topic of Roman Catholicism, Sproul asserts:

“Since Rome claims infallibility for its teaching office, believers who affirm justification by faith alone and stay within the Roman Catholic Church must differ not only with their church’s view of justification but also with their church’s view of its infallible teaching office. I am convinced that any Christian who belongs to a communion that rejects any essential truth of Christianity is duty-bound to leave that communion and break fellowship with it. Obviously those Evangelicals who say in Rome either disagree with that assessment or do not believe their communion’s defection from the gospel is a serious one.”  (Faith Alone, 1995, p46)

Sproul’s logic is correct here. If there are believers in Roman Catholicism, then they either 1) believe the Bible does not command believers to separate from communions that preach a false gospel, or 2) believe that Rome preaches the true gospel. This logic would also apply to any Calvinists who think they were saved in Pelagianism/Arminianism. They either 1) believe the someone can be converted and stay in a communion which preaches a false gospel, or 2) believe that Arminian communions preach a true gospel. Sproul chooses option 1):

“I agree with Packer and Johnston that Arminianism contains un-Christian elements in it and that their view of the relationship between faith and regeneration is fundamentally un-Christian [i.e., a false gospel, option (1)]. Is this error so egregious that it is fatal to salvation? People often ask if I believe Arminians are Christians? I usually answer, “Yes, barely.” They are Christians by what we call a felicitous inconsistency. [i.e., they believe an un-Christian gospel, and stay within an un-Christian fellowship, but are saved, option (1).]” (Free Will, p25).

Thus, Sproul believes that Arminians are Christians, yet they believe in an un-Christian gospel. Furthermore, Sproul believes that a Roman Catholic can be regenerate, even though they either 1) believe Roman Catholicism to be true, or 2) deny the Bible commands separation from false communions. In fact, Sproul boldly affirms that,

“I know of no one who argues that there are no Christians in the Roman Catholic Church.” (Faith Alone, p31).

No one. There is not a single person known by Sproul who thinks that all Roman Catholics are lost. Why is this so? For now, let’s briefly review what Sproul believes. Firstly, for a time, he was semi-Pelagian himself, prior to claiming to learn about the true atonement and God’s sovereignty in salvation. Secondly, Sproul says that Arminianism “differs only slightly from the view of Rome.” Thus, it is absolutely essential for Sproul to assert that there are some regenerate Roman Catholics, because if he was to maintain that all Roman Catholics are lost, then he himself would be lost, because he believes that he was converted by an semi-R.Catholic gospel, and after his conversion, “may have been confused by the teaching of the Roman Catholic Church”. Sproul believes that he was converted by a semi-Pelagian false gospel, and that there are saved Roman Catholics tolerating a false gospel in a false church. Moreover, according to Sproul, Arminians are saved whilst believing in their un-Christian, works-based gospel.

Sproul argues that Arminianism and Roman Catholicism are un-Christian, because both systems are semi-Pelagian — salvation depends on man – so that Christ’s work is not efficacious in and of itself, but requires man’s cooperation. Yet, Sproul believes that his god uses these semi-Pelagian gospels to convert people. Sproul’s god deceives people into believing in a gospel, where “faith is not only a condition for redemption but also one of the very grounds of justification“, and in a gospel where “faith becomes a work with a vengeance because its presence or absence determines the efficacy of Christ’s work of satisfaction for this person.” Sproul’s god deludes regenerate people into an “un-Christian” gospel, where “salvation rests on some righteous act of the will”, making Christ’s death ineffectual in itself, and dependent on man’s cooperation.

But doesn’t Sproul claim to believe in the true atonement? In God’s sovereignty? In total depravity? Unconditional election? Irresistible grace? That’s correct. But Paul and the Pharisees agreed in confessing the resurrection of the dead. What Paul meant by the ”resurrection” was fundamentally different from the Pharisees. Paul believed Christ to be the resurrection and the life, and that if Christ had not risen, there would have been no resurrection. The Pharisees took Christ for a blasphemer, a Samaritan, and a devil. So, it’s the meaning behind the words — definitions — that determine whether or not someone believes the truth. Likewise the five thousand (John 6) and the eleven disciples agreed for a while, in calling Jesus “the Messiah”, but only the eleven knew Him to be the Christ, the Son of God, and therefore, they only continued to follow Him, when the rest went away, and walked no more with Him, calling Him “mad”, and a “devil”, because they understand not His words, and were offended by Him. The Pharisees called God their “Father”, while they were of another family (John 8). And the Lord taught His disciples to pray saying, “Our Father”, giving them to understand, that they were all the children of God through faith. The unjustified Pharisee said, “God I thank you, I am not like other men.” And the apostle said, “I thank God I have labored more abundantly than them all.” Therefore, someone may claim to believe in the true gospel — God’s promise to save His people based on the atoning blood and imputed righteousness of Christ alone — but if they have different meanings behind the words they are using, they are not saved, but deceived and deceiving. When Sproul says that salvation by Christ’s work through faith, is the only gospel, he does not really mean it. For at the same time, he maintains that his god uses a false gospel to convert people. Practically, Sproul makes semi-Pelagianism the justifying knowledge through which a man is saved. 

“We are of God: he that knows God, hears us; he that is not of God does not hear us, by this we know the Spirit of truth, from the spirit of error.” The only gospel is that of the Eternal Three who bear record in heaven, who are One. It describes the grand amazing work of God bringing many sons and daughters to glory, according to the manner laid down in Scripture. It describes the infinite, eternal, electing, redeeming, calling, justifying, sanctifying Love of God, from glory to glory, for His people. God’s people “were bought with a price” (1 Corinthians 6:20). They were “redeemed … with precious blood of Christ” (1 Peter 1:18-19). They were “purchased through [His] own blood” (Acts 20:28). They “shall be saved from the wrath through Him” (Romans 5:9). They are “justified freely by His grace through the redemption in Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:24). They sing to Jesus Christ, “You were slain, and by Your blood purchased us to God out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation” (Revelation 5:9). Jesus Christ came to “save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21) and to “set these free, as many as by fear of death were subject to slavery through all the [time] to live” (Hebrews 2:15). He is “the [One] delivering us from the coming wrath” (1 Thessalonians 1:10). He has “given Himself a ransom on behalf of all” (1 Timothy 2:6). He “gave Himself for our sins, so that He might deliver us out of the present evil age” (Galatians 1:4). He “gave Himself on our behalf, that He might redeem us from all lawlessness” (Titus 2:14). “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law” (Galatians 3:13). He came “that He might redeem the ones under Law” (Galatians 4:5), “to give His life a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28; Mark 10:45). In Christ, “we have redemption through His blood” (Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 1:14).

Is there a middle road between a false and the true gospel? Are people saved by semi-gospels? All other gospels besides the one composed by and preached in the power of the Holy Spirit, what, in the name of God, are these, but works of the flesh, whose wages is death? They are fragrant rebellions against the Most High, to be ranked among the most gross of abominations. And someone cannot preach or believe a false gospel, without exalting and glorying in that false gospel. The only gospel is that of the Eternal Three who bear record in heaven, who are One. It describes the grand amazing work of God bringing many sons and daughters to glory, according to the manner laid down in Scripture. infinite, eternal, incomprehensible, electing, redeeming, calling, justifying, sanctifying Love, from glory to glory. “But He was wounded for our transgressions; [He was] bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His wounds we ourselves are healed” (Isaiah 53:5). “… For also Christ our Passover was sacrificed for us” (1 Corinthians 5:7). “… This is My body being given for you … My blood, which is being poured out for you” (Luke 22:19-20). “… this is My body which is broken on behalf of you …” (1 Corinthians 11:24). “… for even Christ suffered on our behalf …” (1 Peter 2:21). “Truly [He] who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up on behalf of us all …” (Romans 8:32). “… our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself on our behalf …” (Titus 2:13-14). “… He has been manifested for putting away of sin through the sacrifice of Himself” (Hebrews 9:26). “Because even Christ once suffered concerning sins, the just for the unjust …” (1 Peter 3:18). “… Christ also loved us and gave Himself for us …” (Ephesians 5:2). “… the Son of God, the [One] loving me and giving Himself over on my behalf” (Galatians 2:20). “… Christ also loved the Assembly and gave Himself up on its behalf” (Ephesians 5:25). “… The Good Shepherd lays down His life on behalf of the sheep … I lay down My life for the sheep” (John 10:11,15). “… by [the] grace of God He might taste death for every [son]” (Hebrews 2:9). “… if One died for all, then all died” (2 Corinthians 5:14). “For if by the deviation of the one the many died, much more the grace of God, and the gift in grace, which [is] of the one Man, Jesus Christ, did abound to the many. … For if by the deviation of the one death reigned through the one, much more those who are receiving the abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness shall rule in life by the One, Jesus Christ. So then, as through one deviation [it was] toward all men to condemnation, so also through one effected righteousness toward all men to justification of life. For as through the one man’s disobedience the many were constituted sinners, so also through the obedience of the One the many shall be constituted righteous” (Romans 5:17-19).

Semi-Pelagians are enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end, if God be true, who they hold a liar, is destruction, their god is Satan, their mind is consumed by a false christ, they glory in the free will, and enjoy proclaiming their sin like Sodom. False gospels! God extirpate them! utterly ! utterly ! Let their voice be heard no more! How their voice ascends like the cry of Sodom to heaven, crying for vengeance upon an evil and adulterous generation. How abominable is it to see the disciples of Jesus–disciples of Jesus?–No; they are the disciples of the devil, who spread such lies as, “God loves all men” and ”Christ died for everyone”. The heathens worshipped devils, while thick darkness covered the people, and nations. But worship your false god, Arminians! Worship him now, when the true light shines! You do it in presumptuous defiance, and avowed despite of the Holy Spirit. You do it, and indeed, you do it, when you invoke a filthy gospel from your own filthy lips, in opposition to the blood of the Lamb, which you throw beneath your foot, while you drink infernal venom with your mouth. You do it in the face of the flaming wrath of God, to your own irretrievable condemnation, and casting into the midst of eternal darkness and fire with the devil and his angels. Truly, except you repent, you shall all likewise perish.

But hail, O you children of Zion, who are joyful in your king! Declare the true gospel with strength, and sing aloud the glories of His name. Strike in with all your fire and skill the universal truth that Christ fulfilled all righteousness for His people. You know that before you believed God’s promise, you were deceived and blasphemed against God. But thanks be to Him, who has washed His church from her sins in His own blood, and sanctified and perfected in Himself for ever both and all her ways of peace. The former things are past and gone. Behold, all things are become new. If any man be in Christ he is a new creature: old things are done away. Triumph you vessels of mercy, be filled with love, and pour forth all within your soul and voice, the everlasting gospel to all men. He chose you and called you to joy, and not to wrath. Let Baal contend for Baal: but let those whose hearts are clean, whose hands are pure, whose garments are undefiled, being washed in the blood of the Lamb (for justification), and sanctified by the Holy Spirit. This is the gospel: God’s perfect Law fulfilled in the blood of His Son.

Jesus Christ is “The Lamb of God, taking away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). He “was revealed that He might take away our sins” (1 John 3:5). His blood was “poured out for remission of sins” (Matthew 26:28). He “made purification of our sins through Himself” (Hebrews 1:3). His mission was“to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make atonement for iniquity” (Daniel 9:24), and to “undo the works of the devil” (1 John 3:8), that “through death He might cause to cease the [one] having the power of death, that is, the devil” (Hebrews 2:14). Jesus Christ “has been manifested for putting away of sin through the sacrifice of Himself” (Hebrews 9:26). He “washed us from our sins by His blood” (Revelation 1:5). He has “forgiven you all the offenses, blotting out the handwriting in the ordinances against us, which was contrary to us, even [He] has taken it out of the midst, nailing it to the cross” (Colossians 2:13-14). His blood “cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7). In Him there is “the remission of sins” (Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 1:14). His blood was shed once, because “apart from shedding of blood no remission occurs. … But where remission of these is, there [is] no longer offering concerning sins” (Hebrews 9:22; 10:18). God in Christ was “not charging their trespasses to them” (2 Corinthians 5:19), and “with His wounds we ourselves are healed” (Isaiah 53:5; 1 Peter 2:24).

The Holy Spirit never fails to impress this true gospel upon the spirits of the saints at their conversions. He is a “well of living water springing up to everlasting life,” in them, and He immediately cures them of any Pelagianism/Arminianism/Roman Catholicism. The believer believes the truth of salvation through Christ’s righteousness, and the blood of the atonement, and is justified through faith in His blood. Thus, you will find no example of a person praying, praising, confessing, pleading, acknowledging and rejoicing in the character of God according to His own testimony well pleased in His beloved Son, and yet believing in a false gospel. So what about Arminians? Are they saved? Has the Holy Spirit, who makes intercession for the saints according the will of God, drawn people savingly into an Arminian conversion? No. Let the apostles of God bear witness — a confession of Arminianism, not matter how solemn, is a direct way of calling God a liar. Since so many lost Calvinists deny this, I have put out a universal challege: for a single person to produce upon the spot one instance, from the whole records of God, of persons already regenerated, justified, and accepted of God, and yet believing in a false gospel. 

For He made the [One] who knew no sin [to be] sin for us …” (2 Corinthians 5:21). “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us …” (Galatians 3:13). “… Christ having been once offered to bear [the] sins of many …” (Hebrews 9:28). “who Himself carried up in His body our sins onto the tree …” (1 Peter 2:24). “Surely He has borne our sicknesses, and He carried our pain … and Jehovah made meet in Him the iniquity of all of us. … He shall bear their iniquities. … He bore the sin of many …” (Isaiah 53:4-12).

The Lord obeyed to the death for His church. This is the gospel. Repent and believe it!

 

David Ponter writes, “God must love the good in man, even reprobate man, as he is an image bearer, which is not annihilated. God also expresses his love in his call and offer of Christ to all … The expiation is sufficient for all because it bears a legal relationship to all, he suffered for all, sufficiently. Suffered what? The wrath of God, of course. The wrath of God against what? Sin. As Edwards says, Christ made a sufficient satisfaction for *all* and for all sin.” (D. Ponter 17th May 2005)

 

Ponter asserts that Jesus Christ died for everyone without exception, so that, some people for whom Christ died, will end up in hell. Yet, John 6:39 says that God the Father wills everyone to be saved for whom Christ died. Thus, Ponter believes in a god, where the “son” violates the will of his “father”. Ponter’s “son” was not able to save everyone the “father” wanted to be saved. According to Ponter, there are people in hell, that “god” the “father” willed to be in heaven, but “god” the “son”, could not save. What a pathetic “christ” (another christ)  Ponter worships, who violates the will of his “father”.

 

Ponter makes God the author of sin. Firstly, his “god the son” died for everyone, yet “god the father” only draws a few of those for whom the “son” died. The “father” withholds some people from their purchaser “christ”, who bought them with his own blood, having paid the price into his “father’s” hand. Ponter’s “father” denies salvation to some for whom the “son” died, “sinning” against the son. Ponter’s god authors sin, because the persons of his “trinity”, sin against one another. Moreover, Ponter’s “god” breaks his promises. Take a moment to read Isaiah 53:5-12 and keep in mind that Ponter’s “god” breaks all of these promises, because some for whom his “christ” died for will not receive these promises. The true Christ of the Bible, “was wounded for our transgressions; [He was] bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon Him … But Jehovah pleased to crush Him, to make Him sick, [so that] if He should put His soul as a guilt offering, He shall see [His] seed; He shall prolong [His] days, and the will of Jehovah shall prosper in His hand. He shall see [the fruit] of the travail of His soul; He shall be fully satisfied. By His knowledge the righteous One, My Servant, shall justify for many, and He shall bear their iniquities. Because of this, I will divide to Him with the great, and with the strong He shall divide the spoil; because He poured out His soul unto death; and [He] was numbered with those transgressing; and He bore the sin of many, and made intercession for those transgressing” (Isaiah 53:5-12).

 

The True Christ can also say: “And this is the will of the Father sending Me, that of all that He has given Me, I shall not lose any of it, but shall raise it up in the last day.” (Jn6:39) Does Ponter believe in a Christ who can say, “I and my Father are one?” No. Ponter is anti-Trinitarian; indeed, there is no unity in a “trinity” where the will of the “father” is violated by his “son”. The God of the Bible, however, has a perfect unity of persons, where God the Father will draw all the elect, so that none for whom Christ died, will end up in hell (John6:37). In the Trinity of the Bible, there is no failure on the part of the Son to satisfy the will of His Father, (in fact, the wills of the Father and the Son are one and the same). Clearly, Ponter does not believe in this Trinity, because everyone who believes in this Trinity, believes in a Christ who can say, “all that He has given Me, I shall not lose any” of them. Ponter is a rank Atheist, for he does not believe in the God of the Bible.

 

PHILLIP R. JOHNSON

On your website, you accuse Marc Carpenter of fanaticism, as well as being “harsh”, and “ridiculous”.

Perhaps you find the following logic harsh:

(1) Arminianism is a false gospel.

(2) All who believe a false gospel are unregenerate.

(3) Therefore all Arminians are unregenerate.

Can’t handle that truth Phil? Well, Arminians assert that their “christ” died for everyone, including those who end up in hell. They believe that Christ is not the difference between salvation and damnation — since they think many for whom he died end up in hell — but man determines his eternity. They hate John 6, 10 and 17 (and the rest of the Bible) which unequivocally teach that Christ laid done His life only for the elect. So, Arminians are deceieved, but what about the truth? Well, for anyone interested, I’d like to briefly outline what the gospel is. This will not be internet “Calvinism”; this is the gospel which all Christians assent to.

The gospel may be best answered with a couple of questions. Firstly, what do we mean when we say Christ “died for” someone? If by “died for,” we mean that Christ suffered the penalty due for their sins (including the sin imputed to them from Adam), then would we not conclude that this person is forgiven, and the Father was satisfied with Christ’s vicarious suffering for that person? After all, if Christ was made a curse and made sin on the cross for someone, that work must be 100% sufficient to save that person from hell. Otherwise, you are forced to say that a sinner must add to the work of Christ to be saved, if Christ’s death alone does not save. But the Bible says “it is finished”, the work is complete. God says that the death of Christ justifies and saves from wrath (Romans 3:24; see also 5:9) reconciles to God (Romans 5:10; see also 2 Corinthians 5:18-19; Colossians 1:21) and justifies from all things (Acts 13:39). That’s the atonement-side of the gospel in brief. For the righteousness-side, read Romans 3,5,10 and Galatians. Christ is the “end of the Law for righteousness”, and by the “obedience of One many will be made righteous”. This righteousness (Christ’s obedience to the Law) is imputed (charged to the account) of an elect sinner when the Holy Spirit causes them to assent to these propositions of the gospel. At this point in time, God declares this person righteous (justified) by Christ’s righteousness (now in their account). Indeed, they are justified from all things, and fully persuaded (no doubt whatsoever, because God has told them in the Bible) that they are elect. All those ordained to eternal life believed; so if you believe, you are elect. And this is not internet “Calvinism”, this is the gospel. Repent and believe it Phil!

My second point, or rather, rhetorical question, is — are those who end up in hell “justified”, “saved”, and “reconciled”? No. So Arminians who believe that some blood-bought people are in hell, do not understand the atonement (the heart of the gospel). Arminians do not believe in the Just God and Savior of the Bible. They are rank Atheists.

“The one believing in the Son of God has the witness in himself.
The one not believing God has
made Him a LIAR,
because he has not believed in the witness which God has
witnessed concerning His Son.” (1 John 5:10 LITV)

Andrew C. Bain
Sydney, Australia
http://www.Godnoliar.com

Scott Whitaker wrote: ===”This site is well-intended, yet filled with many misunderstandings concerning the true nature of salvation. It seems as though many Scriptures have been inadvertantly ignored and misinterpreted. As a result, this site, in the midst of some good points, contains many heretical views. Read my entry entitled, “Hyper-Calvinism” for more information on what hyper-calvinism is and why it’s dangerous.Posted 2/9/2005 at 3:22 AM by skwidaker”===


Hi Scott, we at are not “Calvinists”, let alone “Hyper-Calvinists”. We are just ordinary Christians who believe God’s one and only gospel.

The gospel is God’s promise to save His people based on the atoning blood and imputed righteousness of Jesus Christ alone. For instance, read 2 Corinthians 5:21. Christ became a curse — He substitued Himself for His people. Also, He actively obeyed the Law of God — He represented His people. The perfect sacrifice was necessary to appease God’s justice. That is, God hates all sin, and all rebellion MUST be punished.

Furthermore, God will not fellowship with anyone less than perfect. After all, how many times did Adam have to sin to be cast out of paradise (fellowship with God)? Thus, God’s people NEED Christ’s righteousness charged to their accounts. They need a perfect righteousness, and this is imputed to them when the Holy Spirit regenerates their heart and immediately converts them to believe this gospel. Indeed, man is TOTALLY PASSIVE throughout his salvation, and God gets ALL the glory as the “Just God and Savior” (Isaiah 45:21).

OK, Scott, THAT is the ONLY Gospel.You and anyone reading this, are commanded to repent and believe this truth, regardless of your absolute inability to do so.

Also, if any Arminians are reading this, you believe that your “jesus” died for those that end up in hell. In fact, you believe that your “christ”  on the cross was suffering for those ALREADY in hell, even though he already knew they were damned! That means your “god” was actively punishing his “son” and a person in hell AT THE SAME TIME FOR THE SAME SIN. Please read Proverbs 17:15:  He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the just, even both of them are disgusting to Jehovah.

The Arminian god is “disgusting to Jehovah”. The Arminian god sends some people who are redeemed by Christ’s blood to hell. The Arminian god punishes those that are innocent.

OK, if you are a Calvinist reading this and you agree…yet you still think Arminians are saved, you too, are lost. You cannot discern the true God from idols. You should identify yourself as an apostate by joining the “We Speak Peace To Arminians” BlogRing.

CHALLENGE TO BRIAN “THE LITTLEAPOLOGIST” AND SEAN DUPONT

Is “Calvinism the Gospel”? Well, Sean Dupont and Brian the “little apologist” say so on their websites. In fact you can read the exclamation: “Calvinism is the gospel” on the very top of Sean’s and Brian’s blogs!

My question for Sean and Brian — if the doctrines of grace are the gospel and Mk 16:16 says that all who do not believe the gospel are unregenerate, then are not all Arminians who repudiate the doctrines of grace unregenerate?

TO: KACY SANDIDGE AND CHRIS COLEMAN

SUBJECT: THREE REASONS ARMINIANS ARE NOT SAVED

CC: Tara “Samalanca”

Is Arminianism the truth? Do some Christians believe that Jesus Christ died for those who end up in hell? Do those who claim to believe it is their “free will” that saved them, believe the true gospel? Yes, according to Kacy Sandidge. Ms. Sandidge writes: “I’ve been to the Outside the Camp website before, and I completely disagree with the notion that Arminians are not our brothers and sisters in Christ.” In fact, Ms. Sandidge goes so far to repudiate the idea that Arminianism is a false gospel — that would be “dangerous teaching”, according to Sandidge. She writes: “Outside the Camp dangerously teaches that Arminians are unregenerate and anyone who believes that Arminians are saved are unregenerate themselves.” Chris Coleman, too, cannot discern between the lie of Arminianism and the true gospel. Coleman writes: “being a Calvinist or an Armenian [sic], … has absolutely no bearing on one’s relationship with Christ.”  

In contrast to Ms. Sandidge and Mr Coleman, there are some bloggers who claim to believe that the doctrines of grace are the gospel. For instance, Tara ”Samalanca” writes “I agree completely that arminians worship another God. I agree that Jesus wouldn’t sacrifice his life in vain. For if people go to hell and Jesus died for the world(everyone ever born) the the sins of these people would be paid twice- 1st by Christ and 2ndly by them being punished in hell…but that doesn’t make any sense because…Of coarse Jesus died on the cross for only the elect.”

What did Tara just say? Tara said that Arminians “worship another god”? Wow. Arminians worshipping “another god”? That would be “dangerous teaching” according to Kacy Sandidge. In fact, Tara would be called a “false prophet”, a “ravening wolf” and a “false teacher” by Chris Coleman. For after all, saying that an Arminian worships “another god” is calling an Arminian a pagan. But Coleman says “The Christian community is an inclusive community… It is not a community of people that sit back and call other Christians [eg Arminians] unregenerate heathen.” Tara is outside the Christian community, according to Coleman. Coleman says that Tara is “no better than Landmark Baptists, Oneness Pentecostals, or any other group that adds to the qualifications for salvation.”

Tara, if you have been able to swallow the criticism of Coleman and Sandidge, I have a quick question for you. Do Christians worship ”another god” to the God of the Bible? Do Christians repudiate the truth that Christ “died on the cross for only the elect” (your words)? Tara, I look forward to hearing from you.

For Ms. Sandidge and Mr Coleman, I want to restate the truth. Christians do NOT believe in a false gospel. Arminians are, therefore, not saved. As Tara says, Arminians worship “another god” — an idol. By idol, I mean “a god who cannot save.” But wait a minute, you say, don’t they worship Jesus? No, as a matter of fact, they don’t. They may say they worship Jesus, but the jesus they worship simply cannot save. The Pharisees said they believed in God and even convinced themselves they believed in God, but their faith was really in a god who could not save them; their faith was not in the one true God. This is obvious from the fact that when the one true God come to live among them, they blasphemed him and had him executed. The Pharisees had made an idol out of their idea of God; hence they were just as lost as those who worshiped a carved idol named Moloch. Forming an image in our brains and calling it “Jesus” is no more evidence of salvation than carving a wooden idol and calling it “God.” Either way the individual is in gross idolatry. And the end of those who worship idols is to become like their idols (Psalm 115:8). Arminians have a god who is unable to turn the will of man as he pleases. They may firmly believe that he is able to move mountains, cause thunder and lightning, and ordain the stars in their courses, but he is powerless before the Almighty Human Will, and the blood of the only begotten son is shed for those who are in hell in a powerless atonement. This is not the God of the Bible (Psalm 115:3, Proverbs 1:21). This “god” is neither a just God nor a Savior (Isaiah 45:21). This “god” simply cannot save (Isaiah 45:20). This “god” is a broken staff, piercing the hand of the one leaning on it. This “god” is a lie from hell and is destined to return there. And those who follow him to the end are destined to return there with him.  

What was God’s complaint to apostate Israel? “… thou thoughtest that I was altogether [such an one] as thyself …” (Psalm 50:21). Arminians have fashioned a god in their own image. They are no more saved than the Jews who had done exactly the same thing. That is the first reason Arminians are unregenerate.

Reason Number Two: Arminians are not saved because they do not believe the truth. This is related to the previous reason but has more to do with the evidence of a person’s salvation.

Any Calvinist who defends the salvation of Arminians must explain 2 Thessalonians 2:12, which says, “That they all might be damned who believe not the truth …” Some use the excuse that Arminians believe the important, essential doctrines of Scripture. But do they?

Every member of the Godhead is associated with the truth (Psalm 31:5; John 14:6,17). Those who are saved love the truth (Titus 1:1; John 3:21), because it was the instrument of their second birth (James 1:18; Ephesians 1:13). More to the point, they love the truth because God has predestined them to love it (2 Thessalonians 2:13); therefore, the elect sheep know the voice of their Shepherd (John 10:14) and they inevitably follow him. In fact, those who do not hear the voice of the Shepherd are simply not sheep (v. 26)! Why does God predestine his sheep to love his truth and follow him alone? The reason is given in Isaiah 48, verses 9-11:

“For my name’s sake will I defer mine anger, and for my praise will I refrain for thee, that I cut thee not off. … For mine own sake, [even] for mine own sake will I do [it]: for how should [my name] be polluted? and I will not give my glory unto another.”

God’s glory is the only reason he does anything. It is the reason Jesus came to the earth (John 12:27-28), it is the reason he saved his church (Ephesians 1:12), and it is the reason he will some day return to take his church home (2 Thessalonians 1:10). It is the very reason for the existence of creation (Romans 9:23). Now if God wills to be glorified by his church, what possible reason could he have for allowing them to attribute the source of their faith to their own free wills? This would strip God of his rightful, unshared glory in salvation. He does not leave his people in ignorance any more than he leaves them to wallow in their sin (1 John 3:9). Therefore, the glory of God absolutely demands that we judge Arminians lost.

The teaching that God could not, or would not, irresistibly lead his people to believe and confess the true Gospel is a teaching that presents God as being as weak and powerless as the Arminian god. In fact, that line of thinking is really the result of a very subtle form of works-based sanctification. It tacitly assumes that God does the initial work of changing the heart from stone to flesh but then allows that changed heart to choose its own way. If this were true, it would mean that such “innocent” aids to religion as idols and images would be helpful, even necessary. On the contrary, God does not allow a regenerated person to freely develop his theology any more than he allows a regenerated person to freely persist in sin. Instead, he places his Holy Spirit within that person, and the Spirit sovereignly leads the person into all truth (John 16:13).

Moreover, there are three truths into which the Spirit specifically leads us: Sin, Righteousness, and Judgment (John 16:8-11). Let us examine each truth in more detail.

First, why will he teach us about sin? The answer is given in verse 9: “… Because they believe not on me.” This is obviously the doctrine of Total Depravity. Every regenerate sinner has been taught by God the Holy Spirit that he is a vile, helpless, wretched sinner, totally void of righteousness, and absolutely unable to come to saving faith on his own. Every regenerate sinner has been taught by God the Holy Spirit that unless God himself intervenes to save him, the sinner will be eternally lost (Psalm 130:3; John 6:45). The saved sinner may not use the words “Total Depravity,” but he will always understand his innate inability to please God and will never believe that his own efforts or decisions were what brought him into favor with God. Arminians teach just the opposite when they proclaim that God saves a sinner based on the actions or decisions of the sinner (John 1:12; Romans 9:16) or when they proclaim that God will save a sinner based on foreknowledge of what the sinner will do.

Second, why will he teach us about Righteousness? The answer is given in verse 10: “…because I am going to the Father, and you will no longer see Me.” Here, Jesus is teaching that the Holy Spirit will teach every believer that Christ, by his bloody death on the Cross, produced a righteousness that appeases the Father’s righteous anger against everyone whom Christ represented. The Holy Spirit teaches every regenerate sinner about the doctrine of Limited Atonement. The saved sinner may not use the words “Limited Atonement” or “Particular Redemption,” but he will always understand that Jesus has effectually established peace between himself and God and will never believe that anyone for whom Christ died could ever come under the wrath of God again. Arminians teach exactly the opposite when they proclaim that Jesus poured out his precious blood, even for those who will suffer the Father’s wrath eternally in Hell (Jeremiah 6:14; Galatians 1:8-9).

Third, why will he teach us about Judgment? The answer is given in verse 11: “… because the ruler of this world has been judged.” Here, Jesus is teaching that the Holy Spirit will teach every believer that Jesus has undone the works of the Devil and forcibly released the Devil’s captives (Luke 11:21-22; 1 John 3:8; 5:19). They can never return to the lies and snares of Satan (John 10:5). The Holy Spirit teaches every regenerate sinner about the doctrines of Irresistible Grace and Perseverance of the Saints. The saved sinner may not use the words “Irresistible Grace” or “Perseverance of the Saints,” but he will always understand that his conversion and perseverance come from the Holy Spirit, and he will never believe that his conversion and perseverance come from his own strength. Arminians teach the very opposite when they proclaim that a child of God may become a child of the devil again (Matthew 13:11-17).

Again, a saved sinner may not necessarily use all the same words that I have used here, but he will never believe the opposite of these doctrines, nor will he ever oppose them when confronted with them (1 Cor 2:12).

Reason Number Three: Arminians are not saved because they hate the truth. This reason also has more to do with the evidence of a person’s salvation.

Look again at 2 Thessalonians 2:12, especially the latter part of the verse. “That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” The New American Standard Version Arminians certainly have pleasure in unrighteousness. They believe that Jesus poured out his blood to redeem millions of people whom God sends to hell anyway. And Arminians certainly have pleasure in what is false. Arminianism is the fulfillment of the oldest lie in existence: You will become like God. Or, what the natural man really wants to hear: You will become more powerful than God. When Arminians proclaim a god who is powerless before the human will, they proclaim the same old lie that is so tickling to unregenerate ears. And this is exactly the point: the one who hates the truth is the natural, unregenerate man. By nature, men love darkness (John 3:19); by nature, men hate the light (John 3:20); only those who have had their nature changed come to the light (John 3:21). Since Arminians hate the light of truth and love the darkness and lies, we are forced to conclude that they are unregenerated. Natural man (the Arminian) hates the truth of God’s Sovereignty (Psalm 15:3; Romans 9:20).

“But,” it may be argued, “if we are saved because we are orthodox, doesn’t that make salvation a result of works?” This argument is really a subtle twisting of what has been said here. No one is suggesting that we are saved because of our orthodox doctrine. On the contrary, what we are suggesting is that orthodox doctrine is a necessary result of being saved. To claim otherwise would be to deny the sovereignty of the Holy Spirit, even over the thoughts of men. Salvation is not dependent on orthodoxy any more than it is dependent on good works, but both will certainly come to be manifested in every child of God (Romans 8:9).

Again, the writer has often heard it asserted that “one does not have to be orthodox to be saved, because even the demons believe in God.” But let us compare Scripture with Scripture. “But without faith it is impossible to please [him], for he that cometh to God must believe that he is and [that] he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him” (Hebrews 11:6). Notice how this verse is constructed: He (who has faith) must believe — and then there are two things to be believed. Notice also that what follows is a pair of facts: God’s existence and his benevolence toward the elect. James 2:19 says that the demons believe in the existence of God, and this is one of the necessary facts according to Hebrews 11:6. But since they don’t believe that he is a merciful God, they tremble at the thought of his divine wrath that must someday fall on them. Are the demons really orthodox? They believe some things about God but not the right things. They believe some of the truth about God but not the whole truth. And without the whole truth they are not really orthodox. So we see that orthodoxy is a necessary result of salvation after all.

Again, it is objected that no mere human being can fully understand God, because we are finite and he is infinite (Isaiah 55:9). This objection is easily met when we remember that the people of God are those who are indwelt by the Holy Spirit. In this way a finite human being is able to truly understand the infinite God, because the infinite Holy Spirit is teaching him.

Lastly, it is often argued that Arminians must be saved because they perform such good works. Few Calvinists would seriously and openly insist that we are saved because of our works; yet when the salvation of Arminians is questioned, the typical response is to point to their good works. They are fervent in prayer, joyous in worship, and zealous for good works. And above all, they are determined soul-winners, always talking about God and busy making converts. But to assert that one is saved because of any of these actions is a flat denial of Salvation by Grace Alone. Justification is a gift; it can never be earned (Romans 4:24, Titus 3:5). But, by the same token, these good works can never be used as proof of one’s salvation. The Pharisees were also fervent in prayer (Luke 18:11-12), joyous in worship (Matthew 6:5), and zealous for good works (Matthew 23:23,27,29; see also Romans 10:2-3). Above all, they were determined soul-winners, crossing land and sea to make one convert. And yet what was the result of their soul “winning”? “… you make them twice as much a son of hell as yourselves” (Matthew 23:15). Since the Pharisees were obviously unsaved, it must be that the flesh is very good at reproducing good works without ever being pleasing to God. However, works that are done in the flesh are still an abomination to God, no matter how they appear to men.

The context of 2 Thessalonians 2:12 is even more explicit about this point. “And will all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them a strong delusion, that they should believe a lie …” Notice that those who are saved love the truth and the unsaved do not. Notice also that God causes them to believe a lie, with the intent of righteously sending them away from his presence forever. God hates them, as he hated Esau. Dare we say that those whom God hates are saved?

The very fact that there is any debate over this issue indicates that the majority of professing Calvinist churches are not true churches at all. There is often heard the plea for tolerance, based on the mistaken notion that doctrine is of little importance. On the contrary — purity of the doctrine of the gospel (the doctrine of salvation, or soteriology) is an essential fruit of salvation. Being able to define “soteriology” isn’t necessary; being able to state the five points of Calvinism isn’t necessary; but loving the truth and giving all glory to the only living and true God is necessary. Arminians do exactly the opposite when they try to reserve some of that glory for themselves; it is not a ‘sincere misunderstanding of gospel doctrine’ but a determined rebellion against the only living and true God and a stench in his nostrils.

  The fact that Arminians are unsaved also leads us to a few conclusions:  

1. We must not fellowship with Arminians. They are members of the whore church, and if we do not come out from among them, we share in their sins (Revelation 18:4). Of course, this will mean that not only are some precious friendships lost, but families will be divided as well. But is this not the very effect the gospel is supposed to have? “Think not that I am come to send peace on earth. I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And a man’s foes [shall be] they of his own household” (Matthew 10:34-36).

2. We must treat them as unsaved. It does no good to let an Arminian go on thinking he has the truth when he doesn’t. We should witness to them the true gospel of grace. God is glorified when we speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15) but not when we suppress the truth for the sake of group harmony.

3. We must be willing to exercise church discipline on those who turn out to be Arminians or consider Arminians to be their brothers in Christ. Part of the reason the bulk of the professing church has apostatized is that it is generally unwilling to discipline members for doctrinal reasons. Of course, this calls for sound judgment on the part of elders, but allowing heresy to remain in a church for the sake of building up the membership list is inexcusable.

Calvinists need to learn that the power of God does not lie in relationships with Arminians and Arminian ministries. The power of God is in the Gospel and the Gospel alone. But the true power of the Gospel will not be manifested unless it is preached in all its fullness, both as a savor of life unto life and as a savor of death unto death. The Gospel condemns Arminians as enemies of God, enemies of the Cross, and enemies of the Gospel. Turn away from them, lest you share in their condemnation (2 John 11, Rev 18:4).