LOOKING TO PRAISE AND WORSHIP JESUS THE CHRIST, THE SON OF THE LIVING GOD. 18 No man has ever seen God at any time; the only unique Son, or the only begotten God, Who is in the bosom [in the intimate presence] of the Father, He has declared Him [He has revealed Him and brought Him out where He can be seen; He has interpreted Him and He has made Him known].

Monday, October 22, 2007

Assurance of Salvation - 12 Step Program, My Own AA - Assurance from the Almighty


Throughout Christendom there are many denominations, groups and teachers that proclaim that we can lose our salvation. Some of them use the term OSAS Once Saved Always Saved against us but I prefer the term OSS, Once Saved . . . Saved. I apologize for my attempt at humour for such a serious subject. Actually, I prefer the term Eternal Security.

The believer needs to rest upon the theological and scriptural foundation that we are now in a life-union with the Lord Jesus Christ which establishes and gives us full assurance of our salvation. It is on this foundation that we are able to reckon upon our eternal security in Christ Jesus. Until the believer is grounded in the scriptural truths of the substitution and union with Jesus Christ, he will never be prepared for the more demanding biblical principle of identification with Jesus Christ in his death, burial and resurrection and ultimately assencion. The believer is now in the heavenlies with Christ Jesus.

The believer who does not realize this truth that he is absolutely eternally secure in Christ will never be able to trust Him for the greater truths of freedom from sin and growth. The believer who begins as a sappling and gets no nourishment from the roots of clear biblical teaching will remain a sappling. Unfortunately the believer who is a sappling and is not resting in Christ and secure in his salvation attempts to move forward in growth based on experience and blessings and they never grow by resting and reckoning on the fact that Christ is our source.

So here is my 12 Step AA Program. Twelve biblical truths that will grant you assurance of your salvation from the Almighty. You can never lose your salvation.

1. Because in the eternal, absolute sure purposes of God, you are a 'vessel of mercy' and will finally be 'conformed to the image of His Son.' - Rom.9:23; 8:29

2. Because Gods' infinate power is no longer hindered by your sins, but can wholly keep you safe, for the Blood of Christ still removes your guilt. - 1 John2:2

3. Because God's love for you, supremely expressed at Calvary, can now be manifested 'much more' and so accomplish His every desire for you. -Romans 5:8-10

4. Because of His delight in the Son, God can never reject the prayer of His Son asking Him to keep 'them which Thou hast given Me.' - John 17:9,11

5. Because the death of His Son, having a value equivalent to the punishment demanded for all your sins, has paid also for sins you now commit. - Romans 8:1,34

6. Because by the resurrection of His Son God has broken your connection with Adam and joined you to Christ for acceptance and life. - Colossians 2:13; Romans 6:13

7. Because, although your sin could hurl you into hell, Christ as your advocate defends you. - Hebrews 9:24,26

8. Because Christ 'ever liveth to make intercession' for you, Satan has no power to unsave you. - Hebrews 7:25

9. Because the Holy Spirit has taken over your body as His personal and permanent home. - John 14:16

10. Because the Holy Spirit has planted in you the very life of God, making God your real Father. - John 1:13; Colossians 3:3

11. Because the Holy Spirit has now united you with Christ and you are a very part of Himself. - 1 Corinthians 12:13

12. Because the Holy Spirit in you is the seal that your salvation is a finished transaction. - Ephesians 4:30

13. One final one in order to make it a Bakers Dozen. What God starts He finishes. - Philippians 1:6


Even though your present sins cannot unsave you, remember there are other Heavenly Father penalties you can bring upon yourself, the least of which is chastisement. We ofteb forget that aspect of our christian walk. Further, "to accept and teach that a Blood-bought child of God Can fall from grace is to assault the very nature, character and sovereign purpose of God as well as His justice and His love. Such teaching as this is an assault on the very nature of God. The scriptures teach we are partakers of the divine nature. It is an attack on His faithfulness and his truthfulness and His pledge to maintain His promises to you and me.

So fellow believer, if you are mired in the mud of doubting your salvation. If you are a sappling attempting to find life in the rain, the sun or the breeze that floats by. Quit now and rest in truth that flows from the roots.

"Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving." - Colossians 2:7

27 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Until the believer is grounded in the scriptural truths of the substitution and union with Jesus Christ, he will never be prepared for the more demanding biblical principle of identification with Jesus Christ in his death, burial and resurrection and ultimately assencion.

Beautifully stated.

The believer who does not realize this truth that he is absolutely eternally secure in Christ will never be able to trust Him for the greater truths of freedom from sin and growth.

And therein is one of the big differences between monergism and synergism. The monergist will depend on God for his/her sanctification, knowing it is a work of God, and can rest therein. The synergist will struggle to do so on his/her own - carnally struggling against carnal sins. The latter can claim some measure of his/her own success for doing so, whereas the monergist knows that *He* is completing the work that *He* began.

October 22, 2007 10:24 PM

 
Blogger jazzycat said...

James,
Good points. Susan summed it up well.

Some believe they can will themselves in the kingdom by faith and then lose the kingdom by bad works. Others believe they hold the keys and God must respond to their independent decision to simply believe a promise even if they have no repentance, no understanding of sin and no understanding of deity and work of Christ on the cross of Calvary. Folly indeed.

True Biblical salvation comes with POWER that transforms and sanctifies. This brings assurance to believers.
wayne

October 22, 2007 11:20 PM

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Someone on some blog pointed out an excellent quote by James R. White (which I should have saved), but in essence it asked - How does the synergist logically believe he can't lose his salvation if it was his choice in the first place? If he made the decision for Christ, can't he undo his own decision?

October 23, 2007 8:39 AM

 
Blogger jazzycat said...

Susan,
Logic, synergism! These are incompatible.........

October 23, 2007 9:44 AM

 
Blogger Scribe said...

How does the synergist logically believe he can't lose his salvation if it was his choice in the first place? If he made the decision for Christ, can't he undo his own decision?

Ha! Great minds do think alike! That's what I've been telling the arminian who holds to eternal security...they will themselves "into Christ", so to speak, so it would be logically tenable to will yourself out as well. If salvation does not begin and end w/ God, we have no reason to hold to etrenal security, and neither does the synergist.

October 23, 2007 9:45 AM

 
Blogger Scribe said...

eternal**

October 23, 2007 9:45 AM

 
Blogger Matthew Celestine said...

I may not agree with every expression, but this is a good post.

October 23, 2007 10:35 AM

 
Blogger mark pierson said...

James Lush, THIS WAS EXCELLENT!!!

October 23, 2007 10:41 AM

 
Blogger Daniel said...

I don't like the word substitution, I think it obfuscates more than it illuminates. But otherwise I am in.

October 23, 2007 10:50 AM

 
Blogger unnerved said...

The article is really good. Amen to it.

Some of these comments are strange.
The Bible teaches that faith is needed for salvation. Expecting faith out of hearts desiring reconcilliation is not "synergism" (WORKING together with God for salvation).

[Romans 5: 1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.]

Faith is just the empty hand that receives salvation and eternal life - or that which accesses it. Once you receive Christ and are born again, you can't be un-born. So this idea that if faith got us into Christ - then lack of faith can get us out - is a non-starter. Arminians believe that. Anyone who understands the nature of the regeneration God works in the believer knows that it can't be undone.

October 23, 2007 1:34 PM

 
Blogger Even So... said...

1 Corinthians 1:30...

October 23, 2007 2:00 PM

 
Blogger donsands said...

"Faith is just the empty hand that receives salvation and eternal life - or that which accesses it."

Sounds so nonchalant to me, to say it this way.
I don't think a soul, which is in complete darkness, can see to have an open hand.

The Gospel causes people to gnash their teeth when they hear the truht of it.
The Gospel causes people to be convicted of their sin, and to cry for mercy, because God is touching their heart, and opening it.

The human heart is hard. The human mind will not listen to the truth.

The natural man can not hear the Gospel which is spiritual. Humans are spirit-dead. Only God can quicken, or make a dead spirit alive.
He does this because He's merciful, and because He loves us.

We cry out for mercy and trust Christ only because the Lord sought us out, and restored us. We love Him only because He first loved us.

October 23, 2007 2:04 PM

 
Blogger donsands said...

I forgot to say good post.

Assurance is such a wonderful truth for the soul.
Jesus said, "Come unto Me, and I'll give you rest for your soul!"

October 23, 2007 2:24 PM

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I am not going to send comments individually but will post a thank you to all for your affirmation. Sound scriptural teaching certainly speaks to the heart. Thank you for allowing me to join the group on BlueCollar.

Resting in Him

October 23, 2007 8:46 PM

 
Blogger Mary said...

Here ya go Mark, I'll play this morning. Look at this quote


"""And therein is one of the big differences between monergism and synergism. The monergist will depend on God for his/her sanctification, knowing it is a work of God, and can rest therein. The synergist will struggle to do so on his/her own - carnally struggling against carnal sins. The latter can claim some measure of his/her own success for doing so, whereas the monergist knows that *He* is completing the work that *He* began"""

Now do you people actually know anyone who believes like this? I'm a nonCalvinist and know a lot of nonCalvinist and I can't think of one person who fits this description of "synergist" But then throwing around a phrase like synergist is becoming synonmous with Arminian, it simply means some dumb person who is either not really saved are is just too "incompetent to study the Bible" and have been enlightened into the DOG.

Now I'll leave you all to it, since I'm sure someone from this blog will come in with a condescending arrogant full of pride response to what I've just written - oh wait I know call me the one who's being arrogant. At least I know to be careful with all the straw what with all the fires and all.

October 24, 2007 1:07 PM

 
Blogger Daniel said...

Mary, welcome to the blog!

Here is a link to a recent and brief "BlueCollar" blog entry I wrote on Monergism.

In discussing monergism, I mention synergism, and I would really like to hear your opinion about whether I am painting synergism accurately. Perhaps there is room in my explanation for improvement? I look forward to your thoughtful correction.

I want to warmly thank you for popping in too. I know how difficult it can be to comment in a place when we feel that no matter what we say it will be used to ridicule us. I hope that you find grace here.

October 24, 2007 3:35 PM

 
Blogger Mary said...

Daniel, I have neither the time nor the inclination to play this game of one upmanship with you. This blog is full of evidence that the contributors here are not interested in learning nor do they have any respect for those who disagree with them. Your "synergist" post is full of the classic Calvinist straw men. I've never actually met anyone who could fit your definition of synergist. There may very well be those who fit that description, but unfortunately it has come to be a used in the same way as Arminian - an one size fits all insult to those who disagree with Calvinism. I am not a synergist - only God has the power to save. Now because I don't believe He does it in the way a 5 pointer says He does you would lable me. It's disrespectful and arrogant to lable and call names.

So let's look at would have to be one of the top 5 Calvinist strawmen:

"""The God of the synergist is wringing his hands in heaven hoping that some of us will hear about him, and hearing about him will then choose him so that he can possibly save them, and hopefully - if they are faithful - keep them saved."""

This statement says to me that there is a situation where God is not totally sovereign. God could not have left it up to humans to accept or reject tfaith because He would then be "wringing His hands" waiting for humans to choose, because God is like a man bound by space and time. This idea completely destroys omniscience and omnipresence.

Now I've thrown you a bone Aren't you the one who decided that someone was actually "incompetent" to study the Bible? Niiiiice.

Now continue talking amonst yourselves and patting yourselves on your backs.

October 24, 2007 7:10 PM

 
Blogger donsands said...

"Now continue talking amonst yourselves and patting yourselves on your backs." -Mary

There's truth in your statement here. not that we pat one another on the back, but we do try to edify one another in the truth of Scripture.

It's not Calvinism that brought forth the 5 points but Arminianism drew up 5 points against Calvinism, and the Reformed community responded with the TULIP.

We all have enough arrogance to go around methinks Mary.

Bu the brothers and siters on this blog are humble servants of the Lord Jesus Christ, who are trying to build one another up, by speaking the truth in love; the truth of the Holy Scriptures.

We can surely use labels like Calvinism to help, but there's no pride in this.
i personally don't like using Calvinist, but if it help's someone to understand wgere I'm coming from, then I'm happy to use it.

The main difference in the two "camps" is that Calvinists believe faith is a gift from God. God takes a dead spirit and makes it alive, and it then believes.
The Arminian says faith is something in man's heart already.

Do you agree with this?

October 24, 2007 8:03 PM

 
Blogger Mary said...

donsands, do I agree? No. #1 I'm not an Arminian #2 Classic Arminianism does not deny Total Depravity. #3 I do not deny Total Depravity, but I do not see the Bible teaching Total Inability. Salvation is by grace through faith - faith does not equal works and faith cometh by hearing not regeneration. Where do you think the Bible teaches man ever lost the ability to respond to God? Why did Jesus have to specify "Lazurus come forth!" Was it because even the dead hear God when He calls? Where is faith a "gift of God?" Eph 2:8 salvation is the gift not the faith which also supports the faith does not = works.

But thanks for showing another typical Calvinist strawman - rejecting Calvnism means you believe you had something good in yourself that helped save you.

October 24, 2007 9:37 PM

 
Blogger donsands said...

"But thanks for showing another typical Calvinist strawman"

You're welcome.

Although I don't know what you mean by that. Could you explain, please?

October 24, 2007 10:10 PM

 
Blogger Even So... said...

I love Jesus...

October 25, 2007 5:28 AM

 
Blogger mark pierson said...

Mary, welcome. Please feel free to become a regular here.

I work 2nd shift, 3 to 11, eastern. That is why I comment mostly in the morning.

Totall inability is a bit inaccurate in describing the issue. Total undesiring would be better. Romans 8:7 indicates that man's unregenerate mind is hostile against God, and John 3:19-20 teaches that man loves his sins too much to come to the light. Hence, regeneration provides him with new desires, desires to respond to God.

Let me know if that helps.
Mark

October 25, 2007 6:56 AM

 
Blogger Mary said...

donsand, I've found that people don't so much love Calvinism as much as they reject what they've been taught it means to not accept Calvinism. Take for example Mark's response to me - he missed that I accept Total Depravity completely and gave me verses to support the fact that man cannot and will not if left to his own seek out God. What the Bible does not teach anywhere is that man ever lost the ability to RESPOND to God. Quote total depravity verses all day, but they do not support "regeneration" Faith comes by hearing, hearing by the word of God, not by regeneration. Read the account of the fall - did God have to regenerate Adam? Gen 3:8 - no regeneration, Adam heard God. Jesus had to specify Lazarus because when God speaks people, even "dead" people hear, - no "regeneration" necessary.

Now my computer's on the blitz and I have a sick child - Mark I do not wish to participate here, because after lurking for quite some time I think you people are not all that nice - just couldn't believe that you had the unmitigated gall to go after Rose who never has an unkind word for anyone and then actually had the audacity to go to someone elses's blog and demand that they "know what it is you acutally believe" if they're going to post on it. Time and again through comments and blog post you show that you don't actually know what some of us who reject Calvinism actually believe. But it's your blog so do what you want but you can't expect other blogs to bow to your dictates.

October 25, 2007 8:54 AM

 
Blogger mark pierson said...

Mary, that the Holy Spirit ALWAYS acts in conjuntion with His word, and NEVER apart from it, in bringing about a person's regeneration is not a point that I disagree with. In that I differ with other Calvinists. That is my stand, almost alone.

Now, what are your thoughts on what I provided, Romans 8:7; John 3:19-20?

Also, did you take notice of my very PUBLIC apology to Rose, and that I deleted that post in question, as I said I would?

Please calm down. Nobody here means you any harm.

October 25, 2007 9:09 AM

 
Blogger donsands said...

"What the Bible does not teach anywhere is that man ever lost the ability to RESPOND to God."

We are dead in our sins. Children of wrath. Blinded by the god of this world.
The natural man doesn't know the things of the Spirit, neither can he know them.

We have hearts of stone, and God has to change them.

The Gospel is an offense to Gentiles, because it's foolish. It's an offense to jews, or religious people, because it's a stumbling block to their own works of righteousness.
BUT, to those who are being saved, the Gospel is sweet indeed.

God hardens whom He wants. He is the Potter. And God has mercy on whom He desires. For He is the Potter, and we the clay.

The Bible clearly teaches that man will not respond to the Gospel, ecept with contempt, and mockery. Unless God with His great mercy QUICKENS US FROM THE DEAD, or makes us alive to His truth.

He receives all the glory. We receive none, not even responding can be ours, and how I used to hate that fact, but now I see a God who takes a filthy sinner like me, and makes me His own, and I'll never know why.
He saved me from hell, and from my sin.
What a Savior.

Mary, you also seem to not be so nice.
I have argued with other's who call me a Calvinist, and they wre much kinder and showed more respect for me than you do.

October 25, 2007 12:11 PM

 
Blogger Daniel said...

Mary,

I want to be open and honest with you.

I am a husband and a father. I have four children and preach at a small church every Sunday. I cry when I watch sad movies, and very often when I pray. My heart aches for God, and my desire for my wife, and for my children is that they would love God and glorify him with everything they have in their life. This is the same desire I have for my local church, and for the church at large.

My soul aches to see God glorified in my own life - and whatever sin I find in my life torments me more than I can ever explain to anyone. I know something of my own wickedness - how I love to be right and thought of as wise and clever, how I love the praise of men, and how I love to steal God's glory, and you cannot know the self loathing I go through when I give vent to that.

So please believe me when I say that I am not playing a game with you. I am not trying to one up you in any way that I am aware of, and if I am God help me, because I don't want to be blind about it.

All I can do is ask you from my heart to yours, to not write me off so quickly as just some buffoon who likes the sound of his own opinion rattling in his ears. If I have offended you with my comments or my posts it was probably my pride getting away from me, and I ask only that even if you are indeed pure enough to cast the first stone at me, that you might look on me with some grace and pity me, for I am not yet above pride and vanity, but I strive to honor the Lord with what strength I am given.

I can only speak for myself, but I am sincerely interested in learning, and I regard every brother and sister in Christ as my teacher. I am not pretending that this is where I stand because I want people to have a good opinion of me, because when I admit to this I am admitting to my own ignorance. I am full of deceit in my heart, and am utterly blinded to my own errors. God grant that his children might share their crumbs with me, and before God I say this, and judgment day will confirm it - that even as I type this the tears are in my eyes, for so my heart is rent by the truth of it. I have no room in me for playing games with you.

When I say that my understanding of synergism is that the salvation of an individual depends upon two things instead of one. Those two things are [1] God's provision for salvation, and [2] man's decision to appropriate God's provision. I hold this to be synergistic because unless a man makes the right decision he will by no means be saved - thus it would be folly to pray that God save anyone, since God is utterly powerless to do anything more than provide men with enough information to choose him, but that He will by no means do more than this. When I look at it this way, man becomes either the author of his own faith, or the finisher of it, and God seems to be just the one who enables it. Synergism simply means that God cannot do it unless men help.

Believe me when I say that I am not interested in the praise of these people who post on this blog, I don't care if they laugh at me, and I don't care if they have no respect for me - all I care about is that if I have misrepresented synergism in some way, that God will give you the grace to correct me, and give me the grace to have my eyes open that I might see it.

I have no desire in me to insult you, or anyone else, and I regret that my word choice was so patronizing. God has much room to work in sanctifying me.

Yet my post on monergism was never intended to insult but to instruct - to identify that if a man can take credit for any part of his salvation, then his salvation was not an act of monergism but rather an act of synergism.

My comments about competency were deleted by Mark when he deleted the post, though I have asked him if he had saved a copy that I might examine them and see what I had said. Not because I like the sound of my voice but because I am willing to repent of my ignorance if I say something boorish, or insulting. My hope is that you will not judge anyone else for any insult I have carelessly and pompously intoned.

My hope is that you will not find false humility here, but genuine servant hearts - imperfect though they are, but being sanctified from faith to faith by God's grace.

October 25, 2007 2:30 PM

 
Blogger mark pierson said...

Greetings to our visitor from San Diego who comes to us through Jonathan's blog.

October 31, 2007 11:42 AM

 

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