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Doctrines of Calvinism

Doctrines of Calvinism. A Brief Look Perseverance Of The Saints. Introduction. This presentation is to help you come to a better understanding of the glorious grace of our sovereign God

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Doctrines of Calvinism

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  1. Doctrines of Calvinism A Brief Look PerseveranceOf The Saints

  2. Introduction • This presentation is to help you come to a better understanding of the glorious grace of our sovereign God • It is hoped you will have the spirit of the Bereans, who diligently searched the Scriptures to see if what the Apostle Paul taught them was indeed true • Hopefully this presentation will provide some basic definitions and introductions to those who do not possess a great theological background, and who may not be acquainted with the workings of grace

  3. Grace It Is All Of Grace Some Brief Comments

  4. Grace [1] • What a glorious and humbling word • It is a word that encompasses all of the magnificent attributes of a Holy God • The definition of grace is simple, and yet, at the same time it is the deepest of all the doctrines taught in God's divinely inspired Word • Grace is the unmerited favor and spiritual blessing bestowed upon frail creatures of dust by a sovereign God

  5. Grace [2] • Throughout church history, many attempts have been made to define the acts of God in connection with this divine bestowal of grace upon sinful, fallen man • The system of thought to set forth is commonly known as "The Doctrines of Grace" or "Calvinism" • John Calvin was one of the first men to write a comprehensive systematic theology, thus his name is attached to this area of Biblical thought as a simple means of identification

  6. Grace [3] • Do not be alarmed because his name is set in conjunction with these truths of grace • These truths are not true because some man thought them up • They are true because God penned them into the pages of sacred Scripture • One of the most famous Baptist preachers who has held to these doctrines was Charles Haddon Spurgeon • In his short work entitled "A Defense of Calvinism," he writes, "It is a nickname to call it Calvinism; Calvinism is the Gospel, and nothing else."

  7. Grace [4] • The doctrines of grace relate to the Biblical teaching concerning salvation • It is the clear teaching of Scripture that God saves sinners • The whole theme of the Bible is redemption. A person who believes these truths is one who believes that salvation is of the Lord

  8. Grace [5] • Paul, in writing to the Ephesians says • Ephesians 2:12 • "Remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world" • What a bleak picture of despair! No hope! Without God! • But thanks be to God, for Paul continues • Ephesians 2:13 • "But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ."

  9. Grace [6] • The teaching of Scripture then, is the plan by which God has purposed to save sinners like you and I • The heart of the Gospel message is God's Sovereign Grace

  10. Grace of God The Fountain Head Of Our Salvation Holy Spirit Word of God Christians FORE- KNOWLEDGE Scarlet Thread of Redemption GLORIFIED PREDESTINED GRACE Glory To God GRACE GOD LORD’S RETURN CALLED SAVING FAITH SANCTIFICATION (LIVING FAITH) JUSTIFIED Faith is the work of God’s grace in us. . . Grace is the first and last moving cause of salvation; and faith, essential as it is, is only an important part of the machinery which grace employs. We are saved through faith, but salvation is by grace. Charles Spurgeon

  11. POSITION OF GRACE EFFICACIOUS GOD’S GRACE RAPTURE UNJUST GRACE JUST COMMON GOD’S GRACE CHURCH Acts 2:1 JUST UNJUST Saved by Grace 1 Blessed To Do P O S I T I O N IN G R A C E T H E M Y S T E R Y • Spiritual Blessings • Tenderhearted • Forgiving • Sufficiency • Good Works • Called Saints 6 CHRIST APOSTLES 3 4 5 2

  12. Five Main Points Of Sovereign Grace Some Call It The “TULIP”

  13. “TULIP” • TOTAL DEPRAVITY • This is the total spiritual inability of man to save himself • UNCONDITIONAL ELECTION • This means that man is not saved because of his own merits or good works • LIMITED ATONEMENT • This means that Christ died to redeem or save His chosen people, and for them only • IRRESISTIBLE GRACE • This means that God's grace is able to overcome man's rebellious will to draw the sinner unto himself • PERSEVERANCE OF THE SAINTS • This means that those who are saved will be kept saved by God's grace

  14. LIMITED ATONEMENT Hebrews 10:10 Revelation 5:9 L UNCONDITIONAL ELECTION Ephesians 1:4-5 Romans 9:10-16 IRRESISTABLE GRACE Romans 8:30 Romans 11;7 2 Thess 2:13-14 John 6:37; 63-65 U I TOTAL DEPRAVITY Ephesians 2:1 & 12 Romans 3:11 Romans 8:7 Titus 1:15 PRESERRVATION OF THE SAINTS Philippians 1:6 John 10:28-29 1 Peter 1:5 & 9 T P SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD Jeremiah 32:17 Isaiah 46:9-11 S A Chiasmic View Of Calvinism GOD’S LOVE GOD’S GLORY IN CHRIST

  15. Word Of Caution [1] • Do not be tempted to think that sovereign grace consists only of these five points • In his "Introductory Essay to John Owen's Death of Death in the Death of Christ," J. I. Packer writes: • “Calvinism is something much broader than the five points" indicate. . . . Calvinism is the consistent endeavor to acknowledge the Creator as Lord, working all things after the counsel of His will. Calvinism is a. . . way of thinking about all life under the direction and control of God's own Word. Calvinism . . . sees the Creator as the source, and means, and end, of everything that is, both in nature and in grace”

  16. Word Of Caution [2] • Packer goes on to say: • “Sinners do not save themselves in any sense at all, but that salvation, first and last, whole and entire, past, present, and future, is of the Lord, to whom be glory for ever; amen” • Please do not think that that only Calvinists are ever saved • In a sermon preached on December 11, 1864, Spurgeon said • “You know, brethren, that there is no living soul who holds more firmly to the doctrines of grace than I do, and if any man asks me whether I am ashamed to be called a Calvinist, I answer, I wish to be called nothing but a Christian. . . .”

  17. Word Of Caution [3] • Spurgeon goes on to say • “But, my dear friends, far be it from me even to imagine that Zion contains none within her walls but Calvinistic Christians, or that there are none saved who do not hold our views” • May the Holy Spirit impress upon your heart and mind a greater awareness of the Glory, Holiness, and Majesty of our Eternal Loving Heavenly Father

  18. Word Of Caution [4] • Some additional Spurgeon remarks • “I do not believe we can preach the Gospel, if we do not preach justification by faith, without works; nor unless we preach the sovereignty of God in his dispensation of grace; nor unless we exalt the electing, unchangeable, eternal, immutable, conquering love of Jehovah; nor do I think we can preach the Gospel, unless we base it upon the special and particular redemption of his elect and chosen people which Christ wrought out upon the cross; nor can I comprehend a Gospel which lets saints fall away after they are called, and suffers the children of God to be burned in the fires of damnation after having once believed in Jesus. Such a Gospel I abhor”

  19. Where Must We Begin? Laying A Foundation

  20. God Is Sovereign [1] • One must believe that God is Sovereign • This simply means that God must be acknowledged as the Supreme Ruler, Creator, and Judge of all things • Isaiah 46:8-11 • “Remember this, and show yourselves men; Recall to mind, O you transgressors. 9 Remember the former things of old, For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me, 10 Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things that are not yet done, Saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, And I will do all My pleasure,’ 11 Calling a bird of prey from the east, The man who executes My counsel, from a far country. Indeed I have spoken it; I will also bring it to pass.  I have purposed it; I will also do it”

  21. God Is Sovereign [2] • God alone is God, there is none other like him at all • As human beings, created in the image of God, we are subject to His sovereign rule • As His creation, we have only those rights and privileges which He, as our Governor, allows • Encompassed in God's sovereignty is His attribute or characteristic of holiness

  22. God Is Sovereign [3] • God is perfectly pure and without sin • Therefore, as a Sovereign Holy God, He must by nature react against sin • In the prophet Nahum we read • Nahum 1:2 • "The Lord is avenging and wrathful. The Lord takes vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserves wrath for his enemies"

  23. No Injustice With God [1] • One must believe that there is no injustice with God • Romans 9:14 • “What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? Certainly not!” • Whatever God in His sovereignty decides to purpose or do must be just • God is not bound to ask our opinion concerning what is right or what is wrong

  24. No Injustice With God [2] • Remember, He is sovereign and holy • There is no sin in Him that He should act wrongly • That which from eternity He purposes to do will always be just • But man with his limited understanding, may not always be able to comprehend it • God has written through Isaiah

  25. No Injustice With God [3] • Isaiah 55:8-9 • "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways. . . . For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts"

  26. Approaching God’s Word [1] • God's Word must be approached with a spirit and attitude of humility • One must be willing to be taught by God and His Spirit • It is a sign of pride and arrogance to open the Bible with the idea of • "I already know most of what is in here," OR • "Let's see if God's Word agrees with my ideas which are steadfast and unchangeable”

  27. Approaching God’s Word [2] • On the contrary, we must always seek to see if our ideas and traditional beliefs agree with what is clearly taught in the Scriptures • Jesus said • Matthew 11:29 • "Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me" • Pray for the attitude which says • "I do not know everything there is in Scripture. I am desirous to learn deeper truths in God's Word"

  28. God Has AEternal Purpose [1] • Deeper truths are not revealed without obedience to what we already know • One must believe that this righteous, sovereign God is working out an eternal purpose • God is at this very moment actively at work carrying out His will and purpose and decree • Ephesians 1:11 • “In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will”

  29. God Has AEternal Purpose [2] • He is glorifying Himself through His creation • Isaiah 43:7 • “Everyone who is called by My name, Whom I have created for My glory; I have formed him, yes, I have made him” • God did not create this world like a giant pocket-watch, wind it up, throw it into space, and then sit back waiting patiently for it to run down

  30. God Has AEternal Purpose [3] • In the book of Proverbs we find a very interesting verse which reads • Proverbs 16:33 • The lot is cast into the lap,  But its every decision is from the LORD • Things do not happen by chance, luck, accident, or coincidence • God's eternal plan will not be hindered by the whims and fancies of mere mortal man • It is a a plan that requires no changes

  31. God Has AEternal Purpose [4] • Job 42:2 • “I know that You can do everything, And that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You” • Daniel 4:35 • “All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; He does according to His will in the army of heaven And among the inhabitants of the earth. No one can restrain His hand  Or say to Him, “What have You done?”

  32. PerseveranceOf The Saints The Continuation Of The Believer In Grace

  33. Perseverance [1] • The last point of is that which concerns the continuation of the believer in grace • This is known as the doctrine of the Perseverance of the Saints • This truth may be defined as follows

  34. Perseverance [2] • All who are chosen by God, redeemed by Christ, and given faith by the Spirit are eternally saved • They are kept in faith by the power of Almighty God and thus persevere to the end • One's continuance in the faith is not dependent upon good works or legalistic rule following • It, like all other points, is dependent solely upon God's grace

  35. Perseverance [3] • It is true that a Christian may "backslide" (to use a familiar term) and commit sin • But the persevering saint does not continually practice sin • 1 John 5:18 • “We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him” • He, like Paul, is ever conscious of his sin and of his need for forgiveness • Romans 7:19-25

  36. Perseverance [4] • In the midst of conflict with the evil one the believer can say • 2 Timothy 1:12 • "For I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day“ • This doctrine has often been labeled "eternal security" or, "once saved, always saved" • Emphasis is placed on the fact that God's grace is sufficient and strong enough to keep a person saved

  37. Perseverance [5] • The notion that a person can lose his salvation is unscriptural • Paul writes • Philippians 1:6 • "For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus“ • Unfortunately, those who usually proclaim "once saved, always saved" have placed too much emphasis upon preservation rather than upon perseverance

  38. Perseverance [6] • Because of this, many have the idea that they can be saved yet live a life of sin [NOT] • If a person is truly saved or born again, he will continue in the process of bearing fruit and will live a life that is proof of his confession • Ephesians 1:4 • “Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love” • Also see 1 Thessalonians 1:1-4

  39. Perseverance [7] • A believer who is sinning can be sure that he will come under the correction and discipline of Christ • Hebrews 12:11 • “Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it” • So, this doctrine is more than just "eternal security" • It entails a perseverance and growth in holiness and righteousness

  40. Perseverance [8] • Questions arise, and rightly so, when a person professes to be a Christian, but his life gives no evidence of that profession • Many people confuse church membership with being saved • They have a false security which allows them to attend church on Sunday, but live like the devil himself during the week

  41. Perseverance [9] • Some church people give no evidence of having a desire • To grow in a knowledge of the Word • To rid themselves of sin • To see others converted and so on • The truth in this presentation encompasses much more than what is usually preached today in most churches • Churches will turn on pastors who begin to teach these great truths

  42. Perseverance [10] • In many churches there is no continuing evidence in their member’s lives that they are in fact saved • Their entire existence as a church is not centered upon Christ and growing in grace and truth, but centered upon keeping a building, an institution functioning • Many make verbal professions, but their faith is not shown by their words and deeds • As long as what is preached does not threaten their position or status they will put up with it

  43. Perseverance [11] • But when the truth begins to hit home, and when sin is confronted as sin, rebellion breaks out • If you profess to be a disciple of Christ, your life should reflect that you are one • An examination of any Christian should show they are persevering in grace

  44. Perseverance [12] • Jesus said that we would know His disciples by their fruit • John 15:8 • “By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples” • Matthew 7:16 • “You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thorn bushes or figs from thistles”

  45. Perseverance [13] • John the Baptist told the Pharisees and Sadducees to bring forth fruit in keeping with their repentance • Matthew 3:8 • In the parable of the vineyard (Luke 13:1-9), Jesus issued a call for immediate and continued repentance (seen by the use of the Greek verb forms), and then a call for fruitfulness as a result of repentance

  46. Perseverance [14] • We all know the story of King David • David was a godly man • But, one day he fell into adultery and murder • He went for some time without repenting of these sins • But, eventually, he did repent and seek forgiveness from the Lord • Read of David’s repentance in Psalm 51, may we have this same attitude

  47. Perseverance [15] • God's grace caused him to persevere • Had grace not been with him he would have never repented • What the Spirit of God begins, the Spirit of God finishes • In Romans 8:30, Paul says that those whom God predestined, "these He also called; and whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified"

  48. God’s Unbreakable Chain “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to [His] purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined[to] [be] conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.” Romans 8:28-30

  49. God’s Purpose In Salvation God’s Unbreakable Chain Romans 8:28-30 REGENERATION CONVERSION ADOPTION ETERNITY ETERNITY TIME FORE- KNOWLEDGE PREDESTINED CALLED JUSTIFIED GLORIFIED S A N C T I F I C A T I O N Those on whom God Set His heart on or fore-loved Jeremiah 1:5 Matthew 7:22-23 1 Cor 8:3 2 Timothy 2:19 Amos 3:2 He marked out Or ordained Deut 10:14-15 Psalm 33:12 Matthew 11:27 Matthew 22:14 Col 3:12 Titus 1:1 Rev 17:14 He Calls 1. Outwardly By the Gospel 2. Inwardly By His Spirit Thus giving them faith and Life Romans 1:6-7 Romans 8:30 Romans 9:23-24 Ephesians 4:4 He declares Them righteous On the ground Of Christ’ work Romans 3:24-25 Romans 5:1 Phil 3:3-10 He will glorify them in the resurrection at the last day 1 Cor 15:35-55 Phil 3:20-21 2 Cor 5:1-5

  50. Perseverance [16] • There is absolutely no uncertainty whatsoever as to whether or not the elect will ever reach their predetermined destination • By the way, all of the Greek verbs in 8:30 denote completed action in past time • It becomes a chain that cannot be broken • In God's mind, the elect are already glorified • As Paul stated in Philippians 1:6, when God begins a good work He also finishes it

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