Understanding Calvinism: The Sovereignty of God & Unconditional Election

1. Calvinism Part 2 - PM Lesson The Sovereignty of God

2. Calvinism otal Hereditary Depravity False Doctrine nconditional Election TULIP imited Atonement rresistible Grace erseverance of the Saints

3. nconditional Election U • Known as the “doctrine of predestination” • John Calvin wrote… • “By predestination we mean the eternal decree of God by which he determined with himself whatever he wished to happen with regard to every man.  All are not created on equal terms, but some are preordained to eternal life, others to eternal damnation; and accordingly, as each has been created for one or other of these ends, we say that he has been predestinated to life or to death.” • Institutes of the Christian Religion, 3:21:5

4. nconditional Election U • This point alleges that God elected some to be saved and excluded others • Those excluded are lost • They have no hope of salvation • Their election by God is unconditional • JW’s claim that only the 144,000 will go to heaven - Revelation 14:1-2

5. “God, from all eternity, did, by the most wise and holy counsel of His own will, freely, and unchangeably ordain whatsoever comes to pass…He has not decreed anything because He foresaw it as future, or as that which would come to pass on such conditions…By the decree of God, for the manifestation of His glory, some men are predestinated to everlasting life; and others foreordained to everlasting death…their number so certain and definite that it cannot be either increased or diminished” • Westminster Confession of Faith, Chapter III, Sections 1-4, 1960

6. Steele/Thomas/Quinn Quote • “God could have chosen to save all men (for He had the power and authority to do so) or He could have chosen to save none (for He was under no obligation to show mercy to any)-but he did neither. Instead, He chose to save some and to exclude others” • The Five Points of Calvinism, Steele/Thomas/Quinn, p. 27

7. nconditional Election U Who are the “elect” according to the Bible? • To “elect” (eklektos) means to pick out or select • Who are God’s selected or picked out? • 1 Peter 2:9 • The “elect” are those who answer the call of the gospel to be saved by obedience to the faith • Romans 1:5; 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14 • God foreordained the destiny of the obedient • Romans 8:28-30; Ephesians 1:1-14

8. nconditional Election U What does the Bible say? • “Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: 35 But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.” • Romans 2:11; 10:12-17 • Ephesians 6:9 • Colossians 3:25

9. nconditional Election U What does the Bible say? • “And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” – Revelation 22:17 • Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:15, 16; John 3:16 • Romans 9:33; 10:11, 13

10. nconditional Election U To Sacramento Destination of this bus is predetermined before hand • Ephesians 1:5, 11 – “predestinated us” All Spiritual Blessings are “In Christ” - Gal. 3:26, 27

11. The Blessings of Obedience Alien Sinner Spiritual Blessings Remission of sins - Acts 2:38 Washing away sins - Acts 22:16 Blood of Christ - Rom. 6:3-4 Become a New Creature - Rom. 6:5 Put on Christ - Gal. 3:26-27 Sanctified & Cleansed - Eph. 5:26 A Child Of God - Gal. 3:26-27 Enter the Kingdom - Jn. 3:4 A Good Conscience - 1 Pet 3:21 The Church (Body) - Acts 2:47 The Name of Christ - Acts 4:12 Salvation - Mk. 16:16 Baptism Stands Between The Alien Sinner and All Spiritual Blessings Baptism “all spiritual blessings…in Christ” - “baptized into Christ” (Eph 1:3; Gal. 3:26-27)

12. Many on the wrong bus! Precepts of Men • Matthew 15:7-9, 13; 16:18 Denominational Bus Catholic, Baptist, Mormon, Methodist, SDA, Muslim, JW, Christian Scientist…,etc.

13. Calvinism otal Hereditary Depravity False Doctrine False Doctrine nconditional Election TULIP imited Atonement irresistible Grace erseverance of the Saints

14. imited Atonement L • Who did Christ die for? Only the elect? • Is the atonement of His shed blood limited? • The claim of Calvinists… • “…Christ’s redeeming work was definite in design and accomplishment—that it was intended to render complete satisfaction for certain specified sinners and that it actually secured salvation for these individuals and for no one else” • The Five Points of Calvinism, Steel/Thomas/Quinn,pp. 39, 40

15. imited Atonement L What does the Bible say? • “But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man” - Hebrews 2:9

16. imited Atonement L What does the Bible say? • “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” • John 3:16 • Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. • Romans 5:18

17. imited Atonement L What does the Bible say? • “And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world” • 1 John 2:2 • “For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.” • 2 Corinthians 5:14-15

18. imited Atonement L What does the Bible say? • “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise” • Galatians 3:26-29

19. imited Atonement L “the elect” What does the Bible say? • “Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him” • Hebrews 5:8-9 • “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” – 1 Peter 3:9

20. Calvinism otal Hereditary Depravity False Doctrine False Doctrine nconditional Election TULIP False Doctrine imited Atonement rresistible Grace erseverance of the Saints

21. rresistible Grace I • This idea says the God saves sinners even if they have no desire to be saved • This is the “direct operation of the Holy Spirit” idea • This rules out the desire and free will of man to be saved • They claim the Spirit or Grace of Godcannot be resisted

22. rresistible Grace I • Steele/Thomas/Quinn say… • “The Spirit is in no way dependent upon their help or cooperation for success in His work of bringing them [the elect] to Christ. It is for this reason that Calvinists speak of the Spirit’s call and of God’s grace in saving sinners as being ‘efficacious,’ ‘invincible,’ or ‘irresistible.’ The grace which the Holy Spirit extends to the elect cannot be thwarted or refused; it never fails to bring them to true faith in Christ.” - pp. 53, 54

23. rresistible Grace I # 4570, sbennumi- a prolonged form of an apparently primary verb; to extinguish (literally or figuratively):--go out, quench - Strong’s Greek Dictionary What does the Bible say? • The Spirit can be resisted • “Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.” – Acts 7:51 • “Quench not the Spirit” – 1 Thessalonians 5:19 • Who has eternal life? Those that resist God? • Who will come into condemnation or judgement? • John 5:24

24. To Quench vs. Build-up Build-up – Feed Acts 20:32 Ephesians 4:12, 16, 29 Extinguish

25. 1 Timothy 4:1-2 • “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron” • Are “seducing spirits…doctrines of devils…lies” in opposition to the Holy Spirit?

26. Acts 20:28-32 “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears. And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified”

27. Calvinism otal Hereditary Depravity False Doctrine nconditional Election False Doctrine TULIP False Doctrine imited Atonement False Doctrine rresistible Grace erseverance of the Saints

28. erseverance of the Saints P Steele/Thomas/Quinn say… • “The doctrine of the perseverance of the saints does not maintain that all who profess the Christian faith are certain of heaven. It is saints—those who are set apart by the Spirit—who persevere to the end. It is believers—those who are given true, living faith in Christ—who are secure and safe in Him. Many who profess to believe fall away, but they do not fall from grace for they were never in grace. True believers do fall into temptations, and they do commit grievous sins, but these sins do not cause them to lose their salvation or separate them from Christ.” - pp. 64, 65

29. erseverance of the Saints P Steele/Thomas/Quinn say… • “The Westminster Confession of Faith gives the following statement of this doctrine: ‘They, whom God hath accepted in his Beloved, effectually called and sanctified by his Spirit, can neither totally nor finally fall away from the state of grace: but shall certainly persevere therein to the end, and be eternally saved.’” p. 65 • Chapter XVII, Section 1 1 1

30. erseverance of the Saints P • This is the “once saved always saved” idea • Dr. Albert Gardner, President of a Baptist College in Lakeland, Florida debated. J.T. Smith and was asked by brother Smith… • “Is the eternal salvation of the child of God, saved by the blood, absolutely unconditional in that he is not required to do anything to go to Heaven? Dr. Garner’s Answer: ‘YES.’” • Source: http://www.truthmagazine.com/archives/volume21/TM021272.html

31. erseverance of the Saints P • Next Brother Smith asked Dr. Garner… • “Is it possible for a child of God, saved by the blood, to commit all the sins listed in Romans 1:28-32 and Galatians 5:19-21 and die without repenting of any of them and still go to heaven? Dr. Garner’s Answer: ‘YES.’” • Source: http://www.truthmagazine.com/archives/volume21/TM021272.html

32. Quote Of Sam Morris “We take the position that a Christian’s sins do not damn his soul. The way a Christian lives, what he says, his character, his conduct, or his attitude toward other people have nothing whatever to do with the salvation of his soul...All the prayers a man may pray, all the Bibles he may read, all the churches he may belong to, all the services he may attend, all the sermons he may practice, all the debts he may pay, all the ordinances he may observe, all the laws he may keep, all the benevolent acts he may perform will not make his soul one whit safer; and all the sins he may commit from idolatry to murder will not make his soul in any more danger...The way a man lives has nothing whatever to do with the salvation of his soul...The way I live has nothing whatsoever to do with the salvation of my soul”(Do A Christian’s Sins Damn His Soul?, Sam Morris, First Baptist Church, Stamford, Texas). • Source:http://www.padfield.com/1998/sin.html

33. Quotes By Baptist Preachers • “If I killed my wife and mother and debauched a thousand women, I couldn’t go to hell--in fact, I couldn’t go to hell if I wanted to.” (Bill Foster, Baptist Preacher, Louisville, KY) • Source: http://www.bible.ca/cal-P-creeds.htm • Hoyt Chastain, a Missionary Baptist preacher who defended, in public debate the proposition that a child of God cannot fall from grace, affirmed that he could abandon his wife and children, move in with a sixteen-year-old girl, and the Lord would take the situation and “work it out for his good.” • Source:https://www.christiancourier.com/articles/25-president-adultery-and-baptist-rules-the Proposition affirmed by Kent Brandenburg, a Baptist Preacher, in March of 2006 “The Scriptures teach that a child of God, one saved by the blood of Christ, cannot so sin as to be lost eternally in hell” FALSE DOCTRINE

34. erseverance of the Saints P What does the Bible say? • “Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace…Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?” • Galatians 5:4, 7

35. erseverance of the Saints P What does the Bible say? • “But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified” • 1 Corinthians 9:27 • Was being disqualified a concern of Paul? • If Paul mentioned it, was this possible? • The possibility motivated Paul!

36. erseverance of the Saints P What does the Bible say? • “Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.” - James 5:19-20, cf. Romans 6:23 • Will one who errs be lost if he does not repent? • Acts 17:30

37. erseverance of the Saints P What does the Bible say? • “Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.” • Hebrews 3:12-13

38. erseverance of the Saints P What does the Bible say? • Other passages • 2 Peter 1:4-11 • 2 Peter 2:1-2 • Hebrews 10:25-31 • Romans 6:1-4,11-16 • Isaiah 59:2

39. Calvinism otal Hereditary Depravity False Doctrine nconditional Election False Doctrine TULIP False Doctrine imited Atonement False Doctrine rresistible Grace False Doctrine erseverance of the Saints

40. Conclusion • People become sinners by violating God’s law • Romans 3:23; 1 John 3:4 • Sinners become saints by obeying the gospel • Romans 1:16-17; 6:17-18; Galatians 3:26-27 • Once saved, you must remain faithful • Colossians 1:23; 2:6-7; Acts 8:22 • Revelation 2:10 • Calvinism is “not according to Christ” • Romans 15:4-6 TULIP FALSE

41. Romans 15:4-6 • “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

42. Colossians 2:4-8 • “And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words. For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ. As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ”

43. “…WHAT SHALL WE DO?” ACTS 2:38 Alien sinners must… • Hear the Gospel – Romans 10:17 • Believe – John 8:24 • Repent – Acts 17:30 • Confess Christ – Matthew 10:34 • Be baptized in water to be saved – Acts 2:38 An erring child of God must… • Repent and Pray for Forgiveness – Acts 8:21-23 Christians must live “faithful unto death” • Revelation 2:10