Calvinists love to defend their gospel with the unbiblical assertion that humans have no free will to accept the gospel. Unfortunately, their gospel is another gospel that does not save.
Beginning with God, we know that God created everything in perfection. God cannot be the author of sin and evil, as we know from 1 John 1:5 that in God there is NO darkness at all. However, we do know that God allows sin and evil to exist. When God created Satan, He created Satan perfectly without spot or blemish. In Ezekial 28, we see that Satan was created "full of wisdom, perfect in beauty." The fact that Satan rebelled and disobeyed God is evidence that God had created His angels with the power of freedom and free will. Satan exercised his free will to sin, and thereby became the author of sin. Now if God had from eternity past "forced" Satan to sin, then it really would be God sinning against Himself. We must conclude, then, that Satan in his own volition decided to act contrary to God's perfection.
The Calvinists would most likely agree with me up to this point. Where they begin to diverge is the point where they believe that due to the introduction of a sin nature, we can only choose sin/evil and not the Gospel despite being given the freedom to accept/reject the gospel. If we analyze this, we would see that what they advocate isn't free will at all. Firstly, if we can ONLY choose sin, then by definition, we are not free as we have no freedom to choose God/good. If we are not free to choose to accept the Gospel, then we are ALSO not free to choose sin/evil. Why are we also not free to choose sin/evil? Let's examine this.
If we are not free to choose to accept the Gospel, then it means we are not really free at all because there is something we have no ability to choose in. And if we are not really free at all, then it means we are inanimate objects without the freedom of choice. Therefore, we cannot choose anything, whether good or evil, sin or God. Without the freedom to choose anything, God must make our decisions for us. Inevitably, this is what Calvinism's theology brings us to.
Why did God create Satan, His angels, and humans? Because He desires love, worship, loyalty, obedience, and etc. In order for us to do those things, God had to provide us the free will to do those things. Without free will, we would not be able to choose to love God, and on the flip side, choose to not love God. We would not be able to choose to worship Him or choose to not worship Him.
In the context of the gospel, God has given every human being the capacity and free will to accept or reject the salvation He provides. And if humans had no free will to accept the gospel, they would have no free will to reject the gospel. Furthermore, God would be unrighteous to hold man accountable for not accepting the salvation provision He provided, yet absolutely withholding man the capability to do so.
Total depravity is men lost in sin, in bondage to sin, separated from God, and therefore unable to save themselves. Without the external wooing of God, it is true that men would be hopelessly lost in sin and not choose God. However, God convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. God draws all men unto Him, that they may come to believe in Him as Savior. This means that through the preaching of the Gospel, existence of the church, and proof of the ageless Bible that God has revealed Himself to all men. Therefore, all men are accountable in their free will to accept the Gospel.
However, what Calvinists believe is that even with the existence of God's revealing Himself and convicting the world, men STILL cannot on his own free will accept the Gospel unless God chooses him to believe because he is so totally depraved. At this point, we can see that according to Calvinist theology, man actually has no free will, because he cannot on his own free will choose to accept the Gospel unless God has chosen him to. False.
Deceiving Quote by John Piper
“Christ did not die to forgive sinners who go on treasuring anything above seeing and savoring God. And people who would be happy in heaven if Christ were not there, will not be there. The gospel is not a way to get people to heaven; it is a way to get people to God. It's a way of overcoming every obstacle to everlasting joy in God. If we don't want God above all things, we have not been converted by the gospel.” -John Piper
Any Bible believer that sees nothing wrong with these statements is confused about the gospel. Piper, here, is essentially asserting that one is saved by the evidence or good works of conversion, but that evidence is the result of God's grace. Thus, Calvinists like him claim you are saved by God's grace.
This is what God's grace actually is:
Romans 3:21-24
"21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;22 even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: 23 for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 24 being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus"
Any Bible believer that sees nothing wrong with these statements is confused about the gospel. Piper, here, is essentially asserting that one is saved by the evidence or good works of conversion, but that evidence is the result of God's grace. Thus, Calvinists like him claim you are saved by God's grace.
This is what God's grace actually is:
Romans 3:21-24
"21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;22 even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: 23 for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 24 being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus"
Romans 1:16
Reformed: The gospel is the power unto salvation for everyone ("chosen to believe" elect) who perseveres.
Bible: The gospel is the power unto salvation for everyone who believes.
The Gospel
The Gospel is that Jesus Christ, the promised Redeemer in Human flesh by being born of a virgin, yet wholly God, bore the sins of the whole world upon Himself by offering Himself as the innocent and spotless Lamb of God, sacrificed for us, appeasing the wrath of a Holy God Who cannot allow sin to dwell in His presence, thereby reconciling those of us who believe to God the Father by the blood of Jesus Christ, and saving us with His resurrected Life which He gives to us with all spiritual riches through the third person of the Triune God, the Holy Spirit sealing us until the day of complete redemption where we will be like Christ, all of us adopted sons and daughters of God, possessing a glorified body to dwell in the presence of God the Father, giving all thanks to Jesus Christ Who freely and selflessly gave Himself for us according to the will of God the Father.
This is absolutely the most important decision one will make in this lifetime. The moment one believes Christ has paid the penalty for all his sin by His death on the cross and resurrection, God gives him eternal life as a gift, no strings attached! Eternal life by definition is without ending, sealed forever within the believer by God's Holy Spirit. It cannot be lost, no matter what kind of behavior is exhibited or grievous sins are committed. All believers can have the assurance that eternal life is theirs once they put their faith in Him through what He accomplished on the cross.
Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine; Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine! Heir of salvation, purchase of God, born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.
An Abused Word
The word 'repent' in the Greek language is metanoia, meaning 'to change one's mind.' I'm not sure about other states and countries, but in many churches throughout California this word has been wrongly defined. The improper definition of this word has produced many false doctrines. Many church doctrinal statements include the phrase 'repent of your sins and turn to Christ for salvation' or 'repent of your sins and commit your life to Christ to be saved.' The truth of the matter is one doesn't have to repent of his sins to turn to Christ. In fact, repenting of sins or committing one's life to Christ is not even required for salvation. Only belief is. Repentance is essential for salvation, but it is not turning from sins. The Bible does not even mention repentance in the context of turning from sin, and furthermore, the phrase 'repent of your sins' is not even found in the Bible. Repentance involves one changing his mind about salvation -- the fact that his good works cannot save and that only Christ can save him. Repentance does not require nor demand a change in behavior, but only a change of mind.
3 Characteristics of Worldliness in the Church
1 John 2:16 - "For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world."
1. Lust of the flesh - Feed whatever the flesh desires and makes the flesh feel good.
2. Lust of the eyes - The eyes are the avenue through which the flesh can lust.
3. Pride of life - Experiencing and living it up in this world because it's all about this life and not eternity.
1. Lust of the flesh - Feed whatever the flesh desires and makes the flesh feel good.
2. Lust of the eyes - The eyes are the avenue through which the flesh can lust.
3. Pride of life - Experiencing and living it up in this world because it's all about this life and not eternity.
Separation
I will not deem cool what the world deems cool, nor live and think the way the world lives and thinks. It's a difficult and lonely road, even being among Christians, but I must persevere.
"And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith."
Perseverance or Preservation?
There is no spiritual victory if there is no assurance of salvation.
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Calvinists generally embrace eternal security, but believe it in a way that really isn't eternal security at all. Calvinists claim that all God's elect will endure to the end in faith because God will keep them to the end. If the believer does not endure, then that believer was not a true believer or part of God's elect to begin with. This puts the burden on the believer, who must make sure he endures, and not on God's unchanging promises for those who believe.
The flip side, which is also my position, is that once a person believes, his salvation is eternally secure regardless of what he does. If Calvinists do not know whether they are saved until they have endured to the end, how do they conquer sin? How can they call themselves believers while it's not certain whether they'll persevere?
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Calvinists generally embrace eternal security, but believe it in a way that really isn't eternal security at all. Calvinists claim that all God's elect will endure to the end in faith because God will keep them to the end. If the believer does not endure, then that believer was not a true believer or part of God's elect to begin with. This puts the burden on the believer, who must make sure he endures, and not on God's unchanging promises for those who believe.
The flip side, which is also my position, is that once a person believes, his salvation is eternally secure regardless of what he does. If Calvinists do not know whether they are saved until they have endured to the end, how do they conquer sin? How can they call themselves believers while it's not certain whether they'll persevere?
Do we need works to evidence true faith?
No. The truth is that humans are saved by simple faith in Christ (His sinless life, death, burial, and resurrection wherein His righteousness is credited to the believer's account). Plus nothing. Minus nothing. This faith qualifies as true saving faith. Works are not a necessary proof to God for salvation, and He sees faith with or without works.
Many contend that good works are not the requirement of salvation, but the result or proof of salvation. That is tricky, because it is a way to get works involved into the plan of salvation. It sounds great at first, but there are some obvious issues one needs to consider. Who is the judge of a faithful lifestyle in a believer? How long must one serve God to 'prove' his salvation? What kinds of works are considered good fruit that will prove one's salvation? How many? Is backsliding in the faith allowed? How long? There are no answers to these questions, and the list of questions don't stop there.
The aforementioned view is in fact aligned with the 'Perseverance of the Saints' point of Calvinism --- every saved person will live a holy life until they die, because the only reason they're saved is because God chose them, and God saves His elect in such a way that they must produce fruit. However, people who condone this view mix the requirements of salvation and discipleship, and as a result measure a person's being saved by some kind of performance test or fruit. When one has faith in Christ he becomes a new creature. However, believers are not always able to detect the new birth within a person to be able to dogmatically label them as unsaved due to the process of growth. A believer can determine whether a person has fellowship with God based on his fruits, but not whether he is saved. His salvation solely depends on whether he has trusted in Christ as His savior.
As far as salvation and discipleship, they are not disconnected, but they are two different things. Every believer has a moral obligation to follow Christ and perform good works, but this is post-salvation and not a requirement to obtain or retain salvation. Salvation is His cross. Discipleship is my cross. Salvation is based on His work and will never fail. Discipleship depends upon my obedience to Him and is always in danger of failing. Salvation is receiving a gift from God. Discipleship is giving a gift to God --- my whole being. Salvation is by eternal life. Discipleship is by eternal rewards.
A believer that bears fruit and does good works represents the victory of the cross and what Christ's resurrection accomplished. A believer that does not bear fruit and wastes his life only represents what Christ died for. His not bearing fruit does not transform him into a nonbeliever nor does it void the reality of his faith in Christ, but it does mean loss of reward in heaven. Every believer's salvation is sealed by the Holy Spirit. The question is, how does one receive the Holy Spirit? The answer is simply by believing in Christ's work on the cross and personally receiving Christ as one's Savior.
The Bible says grace and works are polar opposites and cannot be mixed together. Salvation is by grace through faith in Christ alone, and is eternally secure. Performing good works is the benefit of one's salvation and the grace for one to live the Christian life. Yet, it is neither the evidence of one's faith nor the proof of one's salvation. Furthermore, the only good works that a believer performs are that of the Holy Spirit, who works within the believer to conform the believer to the image of Christ and cultivate spiritual maturity. The Holy Spirit manifests the works of God. Man does not.
If a believer's good works are required as an evidence of his salvation, then by definition getting to heaven is contingent upon the evidence of good works. Why? Because without the evidence of good works, there is no salvation. That is equivalent to saying that works are required to receive salvation.
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