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Category:
Religion
Publisher: LULU
Type: Non-Fiction
Pages: 89
Copyright: May 17, 2010
ISBN-13: 9780557477357
It is the belief of many that doctrinal issues should be left for the theologians to debate. If believers shy away from doctrinal issues, how then can we checkmate heresy when introduced into the body of Christ? THE CONTROVERSIAL DOCTRINES is a book that presented a critical examination on some of these doctrines in the light of the Scripture to see if they can still stand after going through the magnifying lens of the Scripture. We need to know the truth and the truth can only be known through the Scriptures. The book successfully bridged the gap between the theologically sound and the so called laity as it is written in a simple yet spiritually sound format.
Excerpt
Sunday service is over, you waited behind to greet one or two people before you made your way home. Just some few meters away from your house, a young man walked up to you, gave you a tract titled ETERNAL SECURITY and in it, the writer argued that a true believer can never be lost or go to hell no matter what, except he or she was never a true believer. The writer drew support from the Scripture but built his argument majorly on the words of Jesus Christ in John 10:28,29,
“And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.”
After digesting the content of the tract, you became confused because in your Sunday school class, you have been taught that a careless believer can still go to hell.
I think this is another issue where we have to tread softly. In my opinion, any argument that centers round the Scripture should be defended or argued against with extreme caution. This becomes necessary so as not to ridicule the Scripture.
Eternal security or perseverance of the saints was first elaborated by Augustine [354 – 430]. Though Martin Luther [1483 – 1546] was equivocal about the perseverance of the saints, but John Calvin [1509 – 1564] later consolidated the Augustinian doctrine. Today in Christendom, this doctrine has become a subject of controversy. However, opinion differs as to the true meaning of eternal security. To many adherents of this doctrine, it goes beyond once saved is forever saved. They hold to the belief that a true believer can never perish no matter what, even let him or her wallow in sin, he can never perish. In my honest opinion, maintaining a position on this doctrine without taking the pain to expound on it scripturally will further compound the existing controversy. No doubt, scriptural passages like John 10:28.29 and I Thes. 5:23.24,
“And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it,”
must have influenced the founding fathers of eternal security while Heb. 6:4-9,
“For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame. For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God: But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned. But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak, ”
and II Peter 2:20-22,
“For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire,”
must have also influenced those who oppose eternal security. In such a situation where both parties laid claim to the Scripture, an argument not infested with man’s opinion becomes imperative. Before presenting my argument, I have some questions for the Calvinists.
1]. What will happen to genuine believers that died in sin? If they will still make heaven after all, then the teaching of holiness is a fraud or is that not so?
2]. If believers shall never perish no matter what, then complacency is allowed and how should we regard the admonition of Apostle Paul that we work out our salvation with fear and trembling? An ordinary noise?
3]. Rom. 12:1,2, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service and be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye prove what is that good and acceptable, and perfect will of God.”
Throwing of caution into the wind on becoming saved or a continuous obedience and a daily godly living, which is favoured by this passage?
I also have a question for the Arminians [followers of Jacobus Arminus [1560 – 1609] a Dutch theologian] who conversely rejected the doctrine of eternal security. How do you explain John 10:27-29 noting fully well that Jesus said, “They shall never perish”?
It seems Calvinism tend to take the ability of God to keep believers from falling to the extreme when maintaining that believers shall never perish no matter what while Arminianism seems to deny that ability. If Calvinism maintain this view, then scriptural passages stressing the fact that the consequence of sin is death [For biblical explanation of death as regards the different types of death as presented in the Scripture, see my book IS HELL REAL?] and that God will not overlook sin wherever it is found should be regarded as the words of men and not of God.
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