If you are reading this I have a prayer request. Please pray for our presbyterian church in Bristol, England. We have no pastor, and have been without one for 2/3 years now, so every Sunday someone from another reformed church comes to minister, but the lack of a local pastor is evident. Pray for us that we may have one soon.
You are spot on here on assurance brother! I appreciate your articulation here and I love Jesus and trusting i have peace with God by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ His perfect righteousness and sacrifice on my behalf! I came to reformed faith years ago and I was cage stage at first...now at 39 I have settled down but I'm still very passionate!
Wow great answers. I moved to UT 5 yrs ago, incredibly found a reformed baptist church that had 21 people total (4 singles and 3 families) but closed last year. I was heartbroken but I understand bivocational pastors are an inescapable heart wrenching fact. It sadly lead to its demise. By God’s grace I found another larger one 45 minutes away praise God! Thanks, your a blessing Keith👍
I recommend the little book. Autopsy of a Deceased Church by Thom Rainer. The author interviewed people from several dead churches and saw the same patterns. If people are honest about themselves and their church concerning these patterns, you may be able to break them in time to save your church. Many of our dying churches are not as welcoming to newcomers as they like to think they are.
Thank you for reminding us all again: it is not our works that keep us saved. And it doesn't matter how we feel about ourselves; we must trust in what God tells us about ourselves in His Word.
I saw this on an article and I loved it. Thomas Manton a puritan- By the righteousness of faith we are acquitted from sin (justified), and by the righteousness of works we are acquitted from hypocrisy (confirmed to be justified by a true faith).
Agreed Keith. 50-60 committed people is absolutely a viable church, especially with some younger families. If the facility is larger than can be supported, then it would be wise to get a right-sized facility for the current situation and continue its ministry. Praying for this church!
I loved this podcast, Keith. You really showed the compassionate heart God has given you as you spoke to the struggling Christians, who battle sin in their lives, with such a spirit of meekness. The message that we were all dead in our trespasses and sins, unable to save ourselves, should produce in us the humility not to look down on any that struggle with sin. It should produce in us the cries of all who approach the throne of the Lamb that was slain, saying worthy is the Lamb who was slain who purchased us with His own blood, when we were hopelessly lost.
This is good. Your response to the individual that lacked assurance was great. I too lacked assurance when I was saved and sometimes I doubt now and then but I know why, and its because I sin or I'm looking more to myself than the Lord Jesus Christ. But the Lord has been working in me in this area and its been less and less now. The thing that has helped me ALOT is firstly understanding the fact that Jesus paid for all my sins and that when I sin I can come before Him in confidence, confess that sin, turn away from it but basing myself on His death, burial and resurrection in my place and believing that He even paid for that sin. Its such a relief that we can go to our Savior in true faith and repent before Him. Praise the Lord Almighty!
Let's be very clear with your analogy! The fruit (good or bad)does not show weather the tree is saved (justified). If its bad fruit it shows the tree needs to grow in knowledge of God (sanctification). James 2.
Romans 7 and 1John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. This is the ongoing life of a true Christian. ❤️✝️
Keith, I think the one question having to do with works has something to do with the controversy that Doug Wilson and John Piper have sort of stirred up. it is known as “final justification”. The idea is out of the federal vision from what I understand. that one is justified by grace through faith alone and then his works actually are the vehicle that saves the person at the end, I’ve actually heard them talk about this and it is very close to a works gospel. It is very subtle in some reformed circles, but it really is a works to be justified gospel, which is no gospel at all
I am really battling with giving up my right to eat at all if God doesn't want me to. Its really hard. I make it all day long without eating but its very hard to not eat at least once before going to bed. Only a few times have I been able to do that, and then I can't sleep - or if I do sleep its bizarre, like being away and somehow dreaming at the same time. Its especially difficult to function at work after a night like that. I'm taking medication that you need to take with food so I rationalize that having at least something should be ok. But then I feel like God is mad at me, and I start over every day the same way.
Please do not torture yourself worrying if God is mad or not at you if you don’t eat. Just enjoy your life and food and be grateful for who He is. Read the word, be kind to people and don’t put unnecessary burdens upon yourself that are required of you. If you eat then eat with enjoyment unto God and let that burden others make more of than necessary weigh you down! Romans 14 will help you with this. Enjoy life and provision with gratitude! That’s what’s expected.
Justification (made-righteous) is by grace through faith but Glorification is by grace through works. Paul's use of "Justification" (made-righteous) is what God does to us in regeneration; it is not to be "declared righteous." James 2:24 is where "justification" means "declared righteous." If you check your interlinear for the word "justify" you see that it can mean either "declared" or "made" righteous. The "save" in James 2:14 refers to Glorification (and "saved" from condemnation) and is linked to the "justification" (declared righteous) in James 2:24 - which is judged based on works. The word "just-ify" literally means "to make just" with "-ify" meaning "to make." Greek has the same feature where there is a suffix meaning "to make" and it is applied to "just" - as in English.
One small nitpick: John MacArthur doesn't have an earned doctoral degree; his D.Div from Talbot in 1977 was honorary. He therefore hasn't earned the title of Dr. If you haven't read it, I'd recommend Sinclair Ferguson's _The Whole Christ._ It isn't easy to follow, but it makes the important and counterintuitive point that legalism and antinomianism both grow from the same root, which is that of seeking to base our justification on our works.
So we can never say "I know I'm going to heaven," because we might end up a Judas. For myself, although Calvinism makes most sense, when I doubt I remind myself that Judas never believed.
I always love the end of Psalm 22. A thousand years before Christ...it was proclaimed: HE HAS DONE IT! Not me. Not you. And Romans 7:13- Romans 8 is always a great comfort since if Paul struggled with feeling like a wretch...then we had no chance but to struggle with sin as well but thanks be to God for our Lord Jesus Christ. Psalm 22: 31 they shall come and proclaim his righteousness to a people yet unborn, that he has done it. Romans 7: 24 Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin. 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.
The only way a deity would ever even vaguely care what your worship or what you do with your life is if your actions had a direct effect on its power and domain. As that is not possible with a tri-omni being... it would never care whatsoever what you believe, what you worship or what you do. It would also never care about _you._ How could it? It could make an infinite number of you in every possible state you could exist in with no effort whatsoever. What value could you possibly have to it?
@@Slice_O_Bread94 It isn't an assumption. People care about things because they value them. They value them because they are limited in quantity in some way. But with a tri-omni being, _nothing_ is limited in any kind of quantity. By definition. So it would never care about you. Which means that if such a being exists... the Christian mythos is absolutely, 100% false.
@@Diviance from your definition of this said "being" existing that has no care about us at all..... we shouldn't even exist. Your mere existence proves yourself wrong. A God that wanted to be left alone or didn't care about anything wouldn't create. My God, the Creator of all things looked at His creation and said it is Good. He loves His creation it sings to His glory. And he didn't leave His creation alone even after it had fallen He entered it and died for his rebellious fallen creation, Us, that we may not perish but have everlasting life, those who believe in Him and what He has done John 3:16 for God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life
@@Slice_O_Bread94 "from your definition of this said "being" existing that has no care about us at all..... we shouldn't even exist. Your mere existence proves yourself wrong. A God that wanted to be left alone or didn't care about anything wouldn't create. " *Correct. If the tri-omni being that Christianity holds as its god existed... we wouldn't. Our mere existence is irrefutable proof that the Abrahamic deity **_doesn't_** exist.* "My God, the Creator of all things looked at His creation and said it is Good. He loves His creation it sings to His glory. And he didn't leave His creation alone even after it had fallen He entered it and died for his rebellious fallen creation, Us, that we may not perish but have everlasting life, those who believe in Him and what He has done" *Either your God is not a tri-omni being... or it doesn't exist. Well, it doesn't actually exist either way, but that is just details.* *No intelligent being would use a blood sacrifice of itself to itself to "forgive" its creation for things it made them to do. The whole concept makes no sense on the face of it!* "John 3:16 for God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life" *And I can't imagine how you people can consider eternal life to be a gift or reward... it is a curse. I can't imagine anything worse than eternal life. No thanks.*
God has a purpose in absolutely everything that he has created for Himself. Proverbs 16:4 The Lord has made everything for its own purpose, Even the wicked for the day of evil.
I think some reformed go way to far with perseverance of the saints or Lordship salvation. Are there theologians balenced in this area? I didnt like the Gospel according to Jesus.
I thought the Gospel according to Jesus was great and based on God's Word, but I say this because I was a false convert for 24 years who held to the false gospel of cheap grace.
I found NeedGod and Theocast, which both seem very balanced. Lordship Salvation made evangelising seem so complex that it was intimidating, but NeedGod does livestreams with all kinds of unbelievers who understand the Gospel and believe (!) very fast. It's so beautifully simple for babes.
How can a Calvinist know they are saved if they don’t know the future? Under their systematic if a person falls away they were never saved to begin with. John Calvin called this evanescent grace. This is a fake grace or fake regeneration for a time that some people experience, but latter they fall and it’s revealed that they were a depraved reprobate after all purposed for destruction for God’s glory. Without perfect knowledge of the future which only God would have it’s therefore impossible to logically know if you are presently saved.
My opinion on this: My trust isn’t in myself, but rather in God to keep my sinful heart with Him. Before I was a Calvinist, I doubted that I would “remain saved.” I felt so many evil forces and desires pulling at my soul. I cried out to God to keep me with Him so I don’t fall away. It was like drowning in an ocean. I didn’t have a choice on what to believe or feel. Even then, though I wasn’t a Calvinist, I thought God was the only one who had the power to keep me with Him. Without perseverance of the saints, I could have confidence that I was saved at a particular moment, but not that I’d be saved for the rest of my life. I have no confidence in myself. But I have felt the hand of God pulling me back toward Him, and now I’m more confident not based on my current beliefs but base on what I believe is the sanctifying work of God. It’s because of God I have assurance, not because I know the current state of my unreliable mind. It’s logically possible that in the future I may fall away from the faith so that one could say that I never had proper faith to begin with. It’s a funny possibility to acknowledge given my personal experience. But it is logically possible, so I understand the argument. All in all if I am saved I have confidence in God rather than myself to keep me there. I hope you understand what I’m saying.
@@gigahorse1475 I appreciate that you realize the logical implications. Many appeal to mystery or simply say I know I am saved and will stay saved. Some honestly admit I am right and maybe in the future God will reveal that they are purposed for Hell.
The channel Theocast is Reformed and non Lordship salvation, to "help weary pilgrims" with assurance. But your quote of Calvin concerns me. I have been listening to free-gracers, and though I'm wary of having my ears tickled, I just LOVE that assurance comes 100% from believing in a moment in time, just as John three sixteen implies.
@@LilacDaisy2 free gracers believe someone can place their faith in Christ for salvation and then live however they want? They could become a serial child sodomizer, murderer, Satanist, drug abuser, take the mark of the beast, write their own perverted Bible subtracting from the book of Revelation, blaspheme the Holy Spirit, curse God everyday till they die, then hear well done good and faithful servant as they enter heaven. Doctrine that tickles the ears just like Satan to Eve. You won’t perish. God didn’t really say that.
@@LilacDaisy2 free gracers believe someone can place their faith in Christ for salvation and then live however they want? They could become a serial child sodomizer, murderer, Satanist, drug abuser, take the mark of the beast, write their own perverted Bible subtracting from the book of Revelation, blaspheme the Holy Spirit, curse God everyday till they die, then hear well done good and faithful servant as they enter heaven?
According to the creator of the unbiblical system John Calvin himself, absolutely not. A Calvinist can never know if they have been given Evanescent Grace. Thankfully, John Calvin and his entire system is false.
Come on friend. Do your research before throwing out falsehoods. From A.N.S. Lane, “Calvin’s Doctrine of Assurance,” Vox Evangelica 11 (1979): 32-54 Calvin, in his commentary on Galatians 4: 6, argued that the confidence there described is so important that ‘where the pledge of the divine love towards us is wanting, there is assuredly no faith’. For Calvin it was not possible to partake of salvation without being sure of it. This is because saving faith is seen as faith in God’s mercy to me. The ‘full definition of faith’ is ‘a firm and sure knowledge of the divine favor toward us, founded on the truth of a free promise in Christ, and revealed to our minds, and sealed on our hearts, by the Holy Spirit’. "In one word, he only is a true believer who, firmly persuaded that God is reconciled, and is a kind Father to him, hopes everything from his kindness, who, trusting to the promises of the divine favour, with undoubting confidence anticipates salvation; ... none hope well in the Lord save those who confidently glory in being the heirs of the heavenly kingdom... the goodness of God is not property comprehended when security does not follow as its fruit." In Institutes, he wrote, “For nothing so moves us to repose our assurance and certainty of mind in the Lord as distrust of ourselves, and the anxiety occasioned by the awareness of our ruin” (3.2.23). And again later: “For faith totters if it pays attention to works, since no one, even of the most holy, will find there anything on which to rely” (3.11.11)
![[LIVE] : ONE ลุมพินี 84 วันนี้!! คู่เอก "ก้องศึก vs เมืองไทย"](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/3kuzsAIDf1c/mqdefault.jpg)
If you are reading this I have a prayer request. Please pray for our presbyterian church in Bristol, England. We have no pastor, and have been without one for 2/3 years now, so every Sunday someone from another reformed church comes to minister, but the lack of a local pastor is evident. Pray for us that we may have one soon.
I'm so sorry! Perhaps The Masters Seminary can send a recent graduate?
Praying. Maybe it’s you !?
🙏 I’m not presby but I can pray for your situation.
Thank you for such encouragement, Pastor Keith. 🙏
You are spot on here on assurance brother! I appreciate your articulation here and I love Jesus and trusting i have peace with God by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ His perfect righteousness and sacrifice on my behalf! I came to reformed faith years ago and I was cage stage at first...now at 39 I have settled down but I'm still very passionate!
Wow great answers. I moved to UT 5 yrs ago, incredibly found a reformed baptist church that had 21 people total (4 singles and 3 families) but closed last year. I was heartbroken but I understand bivocational pastors are an inescapable heart wrenching fact. It sadly lead to its demise. By God’s grace I found another larger one 45 minutes away praise God!
Thanks, your a blessing Keith👍
Really appreciate these episodes, Keith.
I recommend the little book. Autopsy of a Deceased Church by Thom Rainer. The author interviewed people from several dead churches and saw the same patterns. If people are honest about themselves and their church concerning these patterns, you may be able to break them in time to save your church. Many of our dying churches are not as welcoming to newcomers as they like to think they are.
Amen. Good video, keep it up Bro. Keith.
Thank you for reminding us all again: it is not our works that keep us saved. And it doesn't matter how we feel about ourselves; we must trust in what God tells us about ourselves in His Word.
This was beautiful brother! Thank you. Imma Provisionist and love your teaching.
I saw this on an article and I loved it. Thomas Manton a puritan- By the righteousness of faith we are acquitted from sin (justified), and by the righteousness of works we are acquitted from hypocrisy (confirmed to be justified by a true faith).
Please do more of these styles of answering e mails!
Thank you so much for your discussion on the assurance of salvation! I so needed to hear all that.❤
Glad it was helpful!
I appreciate it Keith
Agreed Keith. 50-60 committed people is absolutely a viable church, especially with some younger families. If the facility is larger than can be supported, then it would be wise to get a right-sized facility for the current situation and continue its ministry. Praying for this church!
I loved this podcast, Keith. You really showed the compassionate heart God has given you as you spoke to the struggling Christians, who battle sin in their lives, with such a spirit of meekness. The message that we were all dead in our trespasses and sins, unable to save ourselves, should produce in us the humility not to look down on any that struggle with sin. It should produce in us the cries of all who approach the throne of the Lamb that was slain, saying worthy is the Lamb who was slain who purchased us with His own blood, when we were hopelessly lost.
Appreciating the juxtaposition of the thumbnail. :)
This is good. Your response to the individual that lacked assurance was great. I too lacked assurance when I was saved and sometimes I doubt now and then but I know why, and its because I sin or I'm looking more to myself than the Lord Jesus Christ. But the Lord has been working in me in this area and its been less and less now. The thing that has helped me ALOT is firstly understanding the fact that Jesus paid for all my sins and that when I sin I can come before Him in confidence, confess that sin, turn away from it but basing myself on His death, burial and resurrection in my place and believing that He even paid for that sin. Its such a relief that we can go to our Savior in true faith and repent before Him. Praise the Lord Almighty!
Yay! Thank you for the topic change time stamps! Very helpful to me!
Glad it was helpful!
Let's be very clear with your analogy! The fruit (good or bad)does not show weather the tree is saved (justified). If its bad fruit it shows the tree needs to grow in knowledge of God (sanctification). James 2.
Romans 7 and 1John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. This is the ongoing life of a true Christian. ❤️✝️
I just finished a month long memorization with my two youngest kids to memorize Acts 6:1-5A so tiss interesting to hear the first question 👍
19:25 Roger Rees, in God's Outlaw (1986 film)
Was this the movie you mentioned ? God's Outlaw: The Story Of William Tyndale (1986)
Yes indeed
Keith, I think the one question having to do with works has something to do with the controversy that Doug Wilson and John Piper have sort of stirred up. it is known as “final justification”. The idea is out of the federal vision from what I understand. that one is justified by grace through faith alone and then his works actually are the vehicle that saves the person at the end, I’ve actually heard them talk about this and it is very close to a works gospel. It is very subtle in some reformed circles, but it really is a works to be justified gospel, which is no gospel at all
I am really battling with giving up my right to eat at all if God doesn't want me to. Its really hard. I make it all day long without eating but its very hard to not eat at least once before going to bed. Only a few times have I been able to do that, and then I can't sleep - or if I do sleep its bizarre, like being away and somehow dreaming at the same time. Its especially difficult to function at work after a night like that. I'm taking medication that you need to take with food so I rationalize that having at least something should be ok. But then I feel like God is mad at me, and I start over every day the same way.
Please do not torture yourself worrying if God is mad or not at you if you don’t eat. Just enjoy your life and food and be grateful for who He is. Read the word, be kind to people and don’t put unnecessary burdens upon yourself that are required of you. If you eat then eat with enjoyment unto God and let that burden others make more of than necessary weigh you down! Romans 14 will help you with this. Enjoy life and provision with gratitude! That’s what’s expected.
Justification (made-righteous) is by grace through faith but Glorification is by grace through works. Paul's use of "Justification" (made-righteous) is what God does to us in regeneration; it is not to be "declared righteous." James 2:24 is where "justification" means "declared righteous." If you check your interlinear for the word "justify" you see that it can mean either "declared" or "made" righteous. The "save" in James 2:14 refers to Glorification (and "saved" from condemnation) and is linked to the "justification" (declared righteous) in James 2:24 - which is judged based on works. The word "just-ify" literally means "to make just" with "-ify" meaning "to make." Greek has the same feature where there is a suffix meaning "to make" and it is applied to "just" - as in English.
One small nitpick: John MacArthur doesn't have an earned doctoral degree; his D.Div from Talbot in 1977 was honorary. He therefore hasn't earned the title of Dr.
If you haven't read it, I'd recommend Sinclair Ferguson's _The Whole Christ._ It isn't easy to follow, but it makes the important and counterintuitive point that legalism and antinomianism both grow from the same root, which is that of seeking to base our justification on our works.
I think that's the same book that Theocast recommend for "weary pilgrims" in need of assurance (worn out by Lordship Salvation).
A Calvinist can be assured that if he holds fast to the faith until the end, they will receive the crown of life.
So we can never say "I know I'm going to heaven," because we might end up a Judas. For myself, although Calvinism makes most sense, when I doubt I remind myself that Judas never believed.
I always love the end of Psalm 22. A thousand years before Christ...it was proclaimed: HE HAS DONE IT! Not me. Not you. And Romans 7:13- Romans 8 is always a great comfort since if Paul struggled with feeling like a wretch...then we had no chance but to struggle with sin as well but thanks be to God for our Lord Jesus Christ.
Psalm 22: 31 they shall come and proclaim his righteousness to a people yet unborn,
that he has done it.
Romans 7: 24 Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin. 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.
The only way a deity would ever even vaguely care what your worship or what you do with your life is if your actions had a direct effect on its power and domain.
As that is not possible with a tri-omni being... it would never care whatsoever what you believe, what you worship or what you do. It would also never care about _you._
How could it? It could make an infinite number of you in every possible state you could exist in with no effort whatsoever. What value could you possibly have to it?
Your assumption is He doesn't care
Christ is proof He does care
*Triune Godhead*
@@Slice_O_Bread94
It isn't an assumption. People care about things because they value them. They value them because they are limited in quantity in some way.
But with a tri-omni being, _nothing_ is limited in any kind of quantity. By definition.
So it would never care about you. Which means that if such a being exists... the Christian mythos is absolutely, 100% false.
@@Diviance from your definition of this said "being" existing that has no care about us at all..... we shouldn't even exist. Your mere existence proves yourself wrong. A God that wanted to be left alone or didn't care about anything wouldn't create.
My God, the Creator of all things looked at His creation and said it is Good. He loves His creation it sings to His glory. And he didn't leave His creation alone even after it had fallen He entered it and died for his rebellious fallen creation, Us, that we may not perish but have everlasting life, those who believe in Him and what He has done
John 3:16 for God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life
@@Slice_O_Bread94
"from your definition of this said "being" existing that has no care about us at all..... we shouldn't even exist. Your mere existence proves yourself wrong. A God that wanted to be left alone or didn't care about anything wouldn't create. "
*Correct. If the tri-omni being that Christianity holds as its god existed... we wouldn't. Our mere existence is irrefutable proof that the Abrahamic deity **_doesn't_** exist.*
"My God, the Creator of all things looked at His creation and said it is Good. He loves His creation it sings to His glory. And he didn't leave His creation alone even after it had fallen He entered it and died for his rebellious fallen creation, Us, that we may not perish but have everlasting life, those who believe in Him and what He has done"
*Either your God is not a tri-omni being... or it doesn't exist. Well, it doesn't actually exist either way, but that is just details.*
*No intelligent being would use a blood sacrifice of itself to itself to "forgive" its creation for things it made them to do. The whole concept makes no sense on the face of it!*
"John 3:16 for God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life"
*And I can't imagine how you people can consider eternal life to be a gift or reward... it is a curse. I can't imagine anything worse than eternal life. No thanks.*
God has a purpose in absolutely everything that he has created for Himself.
Proverbs 16:4
The Lord has made everything for its own purpose,
Even the wicked for the day of evil.
I think some reformed go way to far with perseverance of the saints or Lordship salvation. Are there theologians balenced in this area? I didnt like the Gospel according to Jesus.
Theocast has some good stuff
Youll have to go outside the reformed tradition.
I thought the Gospel according to Jesus was great and based on God's Word, but I say this because I was a false convert for 24 years who held to the false gospel of cheap grace.
I found NeedGod and Theocast, which both seem very balanced. Lordship Salvation made evangelising seem so complex that it was intimidating, but NeedGod does livestreams with all kinds of unbelievers who understand the Gospel and believe (!) very fast. It's so beautifully simple for babes.
How can a Calvinist know they are saved if they don’t know the future? Under their systematic if a person falls away they were never saved to begin with. John Calvin called this evanescent grace. This is a fake grace or fake regeneration for a time that some people experience, but latter they fall and it’s revealed that they were a depraved reprobate after all purposed for destruction for God’s glory.
Without perfect knowledge of the future which only God would have it’s therefore impossible to logically know if you are presently saved.
My opinion on this:
My trust isn’t in myself, but rather in God to keep my sinful heart with Him.
Before I was a Calvinist, I doubted that I would “remain saved.” I felt so many evil forces and desires pulling at my soul. I cried out to God to keep me with Him so I don’t fall away. It was like drowning in an ocean. I didn’t have a choice on what to believe or feel. Even then, though I wasn’t a Calvinist, I thought God was the only one who had the power to keep me with Him.
Without perseverance of the saints, I could have confidence that I was saved at a particular moment, but not that I’d be saved for the rest of my life. I have no confidence in myself.
But I have felt the hand of God pulling me back toward Him, and now I’m more confident not based on my current beliefs but base on what I believe is the sanctifying work of God. It’s because of God I have assurance, not because I know the current state of my unreliable mind.
It’s logically possible that in the future I may fall away from the faith so that one could say that I never had proper faith to begin with. It’s a funny possibility to acknowledge given my personal experience. But it is logically possible, so I understand the argument.
All in all if I am saved I have confidence in God rather than myself to keep me there. I hope you understand what I’m saying.
@@gigahorse1475 I appreciate that you realize the logical implications. Many appeal to mystery or simply say I know I am saved and will stay saved.
Some honestly admit I am right and maybe in the future God will reveal that they are purposed for Hell.
The channel Theocast is Reformed and non Lordship salvation, to "help weary pilgrims" with assurance. But your quote of Calvin concerns me. I have been listening to free-gracers, and though I'm wary of having my ears tickled, I just LOVE that assurance comes 100% from believing in a moment in time, just as John three sixteen implies.
@@LilacDaisy2 free gracers believe someone can place their faith in Christ for salvation and then live however they want? They could become a serial child sodomizer, murderer, Satanist, drug abuser, take the mark of the beast, write their own perverted Bible subtracting from the book of Revelation, blaspheme the Holy Spirit, curse God everyday till they die, then hear well done good and faithful servant as they enter heaven.
Doctrine that tickles the ears just like Satan to Eve. You won’t perish. God didn’t really say that.
@@LilacDaisy2 free gracers believe someone can place their faith in Christ for salvation and then live however they want? They could become a serial child sodomizer, murderer, Satanist, drug abuser, take the mark of the beast, write their own perverted Bible subtracting from the book of Revelation, blaspheme the Holy Spirit, curse God everyday till they die, then hear well done good and faithful servant as they enter heaven?
According to the creator of the unbiblical system John Calvin himself, absolutely not. A Calvinist can never know if they have been given Evanescent Grace.
Thankfully, John Calvin and his entire system is false.
Come on friend. Do your research before throwing out falsehoods.
From A.N.S. Lane, “Calvin’s Doctrine of Assurance,” Vox Evangelica 11 (1979): 32-54
Calvin, in his commentary on Galatians 4: 6, argued that the confidence there described is so important that ‘where the pledge of the divine love towards us is wanting, there is assuredly no faith’. For Calvin it was not possible to partake of salvation without being sure of it. This is because saving faith is seen as faith in God’s mercy to me. The ‘full definition of faith’ is ‘a firm and sure knowledge of the divine favor toward us, founded on the truth of a free promise in Christ, and revealed to our minds, and sealed on our hearts, by the Holy Spirit’.
"In one word, he only is a true believer who, firmly persuaded that God is reconciled, and is a kind Father to him, hopes everything from his kindness, who, trusting to the promises of the divine favour, with undoubting confidence anticipates salvation; ... none hope well in the Lord save those who confidently glory in being the heirs of the heavenly kingdom... the goodness of God is not property comprehended when security does not follow as its fruit."
In Institutes, he wrote, “For nothing so moves us to repose our assurance and certainty of mind in the Lord as distrust of ourselves, and the anxiety occasioned by the awareness of our ruin” (3.2.23). And again later: “For faith totters if it pays attention to works, since no one, even of the most holy, will find there anything on which to rely” (3.11.11)
Are Calvinists saved? Barely 😂