What the Bible says about Joan Rivers

This message was preached on Sunday night, September 7, 2014. The message audio is found posted on Podomatic here: http://brucetegg.podomatic.com/entry/2014-09-08T10_35_35-07_00

The Sermon notes are not an exact transcript of the sermon but will help to give the reader a sense of the message content.

As you know, Joan Rivers, went in for a simple “medical procedure” before everything was over, she died, unexpectedly.

There are so many stories and articles and news reports praising Joan Rivers for her courage and her sense of humor.  It is time you see the other side of Joan Rivers.

Joan Rivers was born Joan Alexandra Molinsky on June 8, 1933 in Brooklyn, New York to Russian immigrants Meyer and Beatrice Molinsky.  Her father was a doctor.

It doesn’t take long to hear or read a joke by Joan which was crude and vulgar.  I cannot and will not repeat the many “jokes” she had to say on the subject of body parts and about sex.

She was always trying to make the dirty into something funny.

When it came to God, she was not so funny:

"Everyone reaches God in any way they want to reach God.”

We know by this Joan was not a Christian in any sense of the word.  In John 14:6 Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

Sadly, Joan is finding out too late you do not reach God in any way you want to reach God.  You can only reach God through the blood of Jesus Christ.  No amount of joking will get Joan out of hell today.

Many people have forgotten Joan’s early years.  Joan Rivers was always openly pro-homosexual.  She did not believe homosexuality was wrong.  In fact she even played the part of a lesbian in a play at Greenwich Village in the 1960’s.  Even more interesting she the woman who played her lesbian lover was Barbara Streisand and they shared a romantic kiss as a part of the play.

“The first play I did was in Greenwich Village in the early ’60s. Barbra Streisand and I played lovers and we kissed,” Rivers recalls. “This was before she was singing, before anything. I knew she was talented, but you never know what someone will be. She was a fabulous kisser, that’s what I knew.”

Rivers previously revealed the play was titled Driftwood and it was performed in New York in 1959. Rivers, then known as Joan Sandra Molinsky, says that the play originally called for a male character, but producers couldn’t cast it and she offered to do the play if the characters were made lesbians. Rivers says Streisand was “really thrilled” with the idea. (Barbara Streisand was 17 years old at the time and Joan Rivers was 26 – what would we call that today?)

God calls homosexuality a sin.  It is the greatest insult a person can give to God’s invention called the family.  Scripture is clear what God thinks of homosexuality – look at Romans 1

Rom 1:18  For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;

Rom 1:19  Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.

Rom 1:20  For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

Rom 1:21  Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

Rom 1:22  Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

Rom 1:23  And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

Rom 1:24  Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:

Rom 1:25  Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

Rom 1:26  For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:

Rom 1:27  And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.

Rom 1:28  And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;

Rom 1:29  Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,

Rom 1:30  Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,

Rom 1:31  Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:

Rom 1:32  Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

Anyone in their right mind cannot be confused about God’s view of homosexuals after reading this passage.

Many people do not realize but although Joan Rivers was born of Jewish parents and was Jewish in her lineage, she was not Jewish in her faith.

Joan Rivers was an ordained minister of the Universal Life Church and as a minister, she performed the weddings of two different homosexual couples.

This from the Universal Life Church Monastery site, which lists not only Joan Rivers but over 31,000 other “ordained ministers” such as: Sammy Davis Jr.; Glenn Beck; Conan O’Brien; Ian McKellen (Gandolf on Lord of the Rings); Wendy Williams; Lady Gaga; Tony Danza; Kathy Griffin (another vulgar comedian); Hugh Hefner and John Lennon, Ringo Starr, George Harrison and Paul McCartney of the Beatles.

“The Universal Life Church Monastery strongly believes in the rights of all people from all faiths to practice their religious beliefs, regardless of what those beliefs are, be they Christian, Jew, Gentile, Agnostic, Atheist, Buddhist, Shinto, Pagan, Wiccan, Druid or even Dignity Catholics; so long as they do not infringe upon the rights of others and are within the law of the land and one’s conscience.

We ordain ministers, priests, rabbis and clergy worldwide who are totally non-religious or even anti-religious. This may seem contradictory, but we are looking to change the negative perceptions of religion, faith and spirituality, by encouraging people to take control, stand up and speak truth to power by fearlessly stating their personal religious beliefs.”

Joan Rivers was an agent of Satan who degraded the holy as well as honoring the profane with her humor. 

The Bible warns us

Eph 6:10  Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11  Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

In 2 Corinthians 2:11 we are told we are not ignorant of Satan’s devices and don’t be fooled by the world’s humor.  God enjoys humor and pleasure – it was His invention, but Satan has taken Godly humor and corrupted it so we may embrace sin with a smile on our face.

Why a sermon about Joan Rivers?  Because you will not hear the truth from the TV, radio or news sources.  We need to tell “the rest of the story” and let people know, Joan Rivers is not in a better place today.  The worse place on earth, even if you are experiencing excruciating pain for years, is still better than one day in hell.  Sadly, Joan knows this now better than anyone.

It is too late for Joan – but it is not too late for you.  Are you saved?  Does your humor serve the Lord Jesus Christ, or Satan?  Who will you tell the truth to this week?

Can You Lose Your Salvation?

Can you lose your salvation?  Is it possible to be born again and then to do something to make you “unborn”?  What does the Bible say about the concept of “Once Saved, Always Saved”?  What about “Perseverance of the Saints”?  Are they both the same doctrine?

In John 3:16 Jesus said, “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.”  The life we receive at salvation is “everlasting life”, but there are people who believe this “everlasting life” can be taken away.  They say since you decided to accept it, you can also reject it.  What they don’t realize is the contradiction this makes.   If this everlasting life is removed from the recipient, then it cannot be truly everlasting life.  Only life which lasts forever and can never be removed can be called everlasting life, otherwise it would be temporary life.

Another passage speaking about the durability of salvation is found in Romans 8:38-39, “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  Clearly nothing present, nor nothing to come can separate us from the love of God.

Believe it or not, I have heard some people say, “Well, although nothing can separate us from the love of God, it does not mean nothing can separate us from His salvation.”  OK, let’s look at this possibility for a moment.  For the sake of argument, imagine you could lose your salvation. 

How many sins would it take to lose your salvation?  One? Five? Ten? One Hundred?  What scripture would you use to validate a certain number?  How would you know your salvation was gone?  Is there a warning?  Again, what Bible passages would you use to substantiate your theory?  If you could lose your salvation, wouldn’t the Bible be clear as to when and how it happens?

God addressed the idea in Hebrews 6:4-6 when He said, “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, 5  And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, 6  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.”

Here the passage says it is impossible, if you could lose your salvation to get saved again seeing it would require a re-crucifixion of Jesus Christ.   So if you could lose your salvation, don’t bother getting saved again because it is “impossible” to get another Christ to die for you.  Clearly since it says, “if they shall fall away,” it is referring to a “what if” situation.

 Some may say, “But what about people who get saved and then they go away from the faith?  Are they still saved?”  They are afraid if people start believing you cannot lose your salvation they will just get saved and then go rob a bank or commit adultery since there is no fear of losing their salvation.  They believe the doctrine of “Once Saved, Always Saved” will cause great freedom to sin.

In 2 Corinthians 5:17,the Bible says, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”  If a person becomes truly saved, they are a new creature.  If they claim salvation and they live like the old creature, according to the Bible, they never really got saved.

The problem here is not if they lost their salvation, the problem is they were never truly saved.  If they attended church, were moved by the sermon, raised their hand, walked the aisle, prayed a prayer, and even became a deacon, it does not guarantee they were ever authentically saved. 

John warns us about these people in 1 John 2:18-19, “Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. 19  They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.”

Jesus said it this way in Matthew 7:21-23, “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22  Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”

Jesus did not say they were saved and lost it, He says He NEVER knew them.  The people here were never saved.   Jesus promises to never cast out those who come to Him when He said, “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.”  John 6:37 

Later in John 10:27-30 Jesus said, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28  And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 29  My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. 30  I and my Father are one.”

When we are saved, we are sealed by the Holy Spirit as it says in Ephesians 1:13-14, “In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, 14  Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.”

According to this passage, how long are we saved?  “Until the redemption of the purchased possession.”  Since the Christian is the “purchased possession”, this means we are saved and sealed until we are redeemed.  The Holy Spirit is there sealing our salvation until God redeems us.  Ephesians 4:30 confirms, “And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.”

Our sin can grieve the Holy Spirit but never drive Him away.  Why?  Every Christian faces discipline when they sin, and this discipline can be quite severe.  Hebrews 12:5-8 teaches, “And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: 6  For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. 7  If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? 8  But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.”

According to this passage, a Christian cannot enjoy sin for long because they will face being rebuked and chastised by God who “scourges every son.”  If there is no correction for sin, then, God calls them, “bastards” and not sons.  Notice too, there is no loss of salvation mentioned.  Either they are saved and they receive correction when they sin, or they are not saved and are only claiming to be saved.

What did Paul say about his salvation?  In 2 Timothy 1:12, “For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.”  Paul did not fear losing his salvation, he was confident, not in his own ability but in the ability of God to keep him.  This was in spite of Paul’s claim in 1 Timothy 1:15, “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.”  If you could lose your salvation, wouldn’t the “chief” of sinners have lost his salvation?

Jude expressed the same confidence in verses 24-25, “Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, 25  To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.”

This doctrine, often called, “Once Saved, Always Saved” is not to be confused with the Calvinist philosophy of “Perseverance of the Saints”.  The “Perseverance of the Saints” is based upon the other points of Calvinism: Total Depravity, Unconditional Election, Limited Atonement, and Irresistible Grace.  These five points of the “TULIP” are only able to be taken as a whole and cannot be divided.  It is one inseparable chain of logic which proceeds from the Westminster Confession of Faith.  The primary difference between “Once Saved, Always Saved” and “Perseverance of the Saints” is found in their foundation.

“Once Saved, Always Saved” is based upon the salvation covenant entered into by the sinner and made available by the Grace of God, through the faith of the individual, visible in repentance.  “Perseverance of the Saints” is based on the erroneous concept of Christian fatalism.  Calvinists claim God has, in eternity past, chosen who would be saved, and, because of His choice from before creation, the saved will persevere in salvation.  One is based upon the concept of covenant, the other is based upon decision.

These two views are similar, but they are clearly not the same.  In salvation, God makes a covenant in the blood of Jesus Christ concerning the forgiveness of the sinner.  Jesus Christ is not only the Perfect Sacrifice, but He is the Great High Priest who sprinkles His own blood on the Mercy Seat and Atones for sin. 

Salvation is not based upon God’s choice applied only to some people.  God wants everyone to be saved.  2 Peter 3:9, “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.”  God does not want any to perish.

This thought is confirmed in 1 Timothy 2:1-4, “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; 2  For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. 3  For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; 4  Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.”

No you cannot lose your salvation, neither is this doctrine “permission to sin”.  When we are saved, we are kept, not by our decision, but by God’s Covenant.  We are kept in salvation not by our righteous living but because Jesus Christ applies discipline until we repent and, once we repent, we are forgiven and restored.  Hebrews 7:25 says, “Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.”

May the Lord bless you as you keep studying the Bible. 

Where is America Going?

At one time one of our mottos was “Land of the Free, Home of the Brave.” Are we? Really? If we are free, why is there no longer private property? That’s right. There is no truly private property in America. Please allow me to explain.

Ownership is determined by several components. One of the major components of ownership is the power to destroy. Not power as in strength, but power as in authority. If I own a chair, I am free to destroy it. If I own an article of clothing I am free to destroy it. Destruction of property is reserved to the owner of the property. Someone else may destroy your property but they would owe you for the destruction of your property.

Now lets consider taxes. We are bound by both law and God to pay our taxes. We are to render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and to God the things that are God’s. When in 1819, Chief Justice John Marshall observed in McCulloch v. Maryland, “The power to tax is the power to destroy,” it should have set off some major warning bells about private ownership of property, if the property is taxed.

What do we own that is not taxed? Additionally, when our private property is taxed on an annual basis, are we nothing more than holders of the property and not owners of it? When my forefathers came to this land from Wales, they were true property owners. There was no property tax, and they could dispose of it in any method they wanted. They could improve it, plant trees, cut trees, build a house, or just let it lay with no obligation to the government.

Today the government, through the power of taxation, zoning and permits, has become the owner. Pay your taxes and you are permitted to live on the land. Refuse to pay and the government will kick you off and put someone there who will pay. In a sense, the tax has become a payment of rent. We no longer own, we rent. An additional proof of non-ownership is the permission you must have from the government to build or modify a building. In a sense, the “owner” asks permission if he can build an structure, even a shed, on the property before it can be built. Another foreign idea to our forefathers.

Oh, by the way, remember those “wild” animals our forefathers could shoot and eat at any time? They have also become the property of the government. The government regulates all aspects of the previously “wild” animals. Notice again, the aspect of destruction of an item helps you determine who owns it. Every deer, turkey, owl, and skunk is regulated. No animal may be killed unless at government approved times and using government approved methods, unless you are permitted by the government to have a waiver.

One last item, as I think of hunting and gun ownership, I think of the abolition of the Second Amendment. Yes, I said abolition. The Second Amendment says, “A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the People to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.” Notice the wording of the second part: “The right of the People to keep and bear arms SHALL NOT BE INFRINGED.” Just a question: Isn’t requiring a permit, like a CCW or a Concealed Carry Permit, an infringement? Yes, of course it is. Our forefathers understood this Amendment was not a permit from the government but a recognition of a RIGHT given by God. They knew they had the right to carry a weapon, concealed or not, when they wanted. Are not people who agree to getting the permit also agreeing to, or consenting to, the infringement of their Second Amendment right?

There are other amendments being violated too, but I come to the question: So what? What’s the point? The point is understood when you realize government ownership of property and the destruction of the Bill of Rights are all a part of a greater plan. These issues are all connected to a greater goal of a global government, a global economy and the control of the commerce of every human on the planet.

The government of the beast will require every person in the world to join it. Revelation 13:16 says this world government will have the power to force ALL to join it. The America of our forefathers, where private property was truly privately owned, where wild animals were truly wild, and arms could be carried any way they thought best, is no more. Those rights we have surrendered to the government will never be returned, but don't despair.

We don’t need to stock up on gold, guns or ammo. Remember the warning found in 2 Corinthians 10:3-5, “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: 4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;”

What is the best thing you can do to prepare for the future? 1) Get saved, commit your heart and life to Jesus Christ and trust Him to be your King; 2) Get right, repent of your sins and live a life obedient to God’s Word; and 3) Get busy, the world is being overtaken by the evolutionists, they need to be told of the Creation, the Creator and the Coming Judgment.

The Book

Once upon a time there was a book, a very important book. It was important because it was written by the Creator of All Things to His creation. It told the creation about the Creator and what the Creator expected from His creation. A long time ago, the book was a very rare book and very few people had one. It was so rare and so important people would come from miles around just to hear someone read the words of the book. Not just anyone was permitted to read the book, there were special people, Book Teachers, who read the book at special times and only in special places. The Creator wanted people to read the book often so they would understand good from bad and live a good life.

The Creator has an enemy. The enemy is called the Destroyer. The Destroyer hates the book and does not want people to read it. Having only a few books made him happy because he did not want anyone understanding good from bad. The Destroyer saw the people gathering often to hear the words of the Book Teachers and he was not happy. One day the Destroyer came up with a plan. The plan was a sneaky way to get the people distracted from the words of the book.

First, the Destroyer planted an idea in the minds of the Book Teachers. “This book is very special,” the Destroyer whispered in the Book Teacher’s ear. He continued, “It is so special it needs to have a special cover made to protect the book.” The Book Teacher’s eyes lit up and he started designing just the right cover for the book. “After all,” the Book Teacher thought, “this is no ordinary book, it is special.”

In the morning, instead of reading the book like he did each morning, the Book Teacher started designing the book cover. “It must have many expensive metals and stones, and it must have a lock to keep it safe.” Day after day the Book Teacher became more and more excited about making the book cover, and each day he studied the book a little less.

By the end of the week, the people gathered to hear the words of the book, but something was different. Instead of a nice long study of the book, the Book Teacher taught a short lesson and filled the rest of the time with a report on the making of the book cover. All of this made the Destroyer very happy and the Creator very sad.

Week after week the people heard less and less about the words of the book and more and more about the book cover. Finally after many weeks the book cover was done and it was ready to be shown to the people. At the end of the week, the people gathered to hear the words of the book. Instead of teaching the book, the Book Teacher unwrapped the book cover and showed it to all the people. “Oooooooo,” said the people, “look at all the gold and diamonds and rubies.” “I have never seen such a beautiful book cover,” they said, “surly a book cover like that must cover an important book.” But instead of teaching the book, the Book Teacher started explaining about the process of making the book cover.

The Destroyer was never so happy. That night the Destroyer spoke once again into the mind of the Book Teacher. “If only the people knew how important the book is,” he whispered, “then they would want to hear it more.” Of course the Destroyer did not want the people to hear the words of the book more, he wanted to distract them once again. “What needs to be done is a Book Opening Ceremony to bring out the book in the beautiful book cover, then the people would know this book was very special,” the Destroyer breathed into the ear of the Book Teacher.

Every day of the whole next week the Book Teacher decided to spend designing the Book Opening Ceremony. There had to be trumpets and banners and music and a small parade to carry the book to the place for reading. Of course all these events took time and practice to get them just right. So instead of studying the book, and teaching the book, the Book Teacher designed elaborate costumes and ceremonies to honor the book. Each week the people were taught less and less of the book and each week their Creator became more and more sad. As the people learned less of the book, they broke more and more of the Creator’s laws. They could not see the difference between right and wrong or between good and bad.

One day, just like it says in the book, the Creator is going to return and hold the Book Teachers responsible for listening to the Destroyer. The Creator is going to punish the bad people, but He will punish the distracted Teachers much more severe. It is time the Book Teachers, also known as Pastors, Preachers and Evangelists get back to teaching the Word of God instead of seeking more and more exciting ways of embellishing its contents.

God through Paul in 1 Corinthians 2:4-5 tells us, “And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: 5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.”

Perseverance of the Saints – The P of “TULIP”

What the Calvinist says about Perseverance of the Saints: (Taken from: http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/Articles/ByDate/1985/1487_What_We_Believe_About_the_Five_Points_of_Calvinism/#Grace)

We mean that the saints will and must persevere in the obedience which comes from faith. Election is unconditional, but glorification is not. There are many warnings in Scripture that those who do not hold fast to Christ can be lost in the end.

This means that the ministry of the word is God's instrument in the preservation of faith as well as the begetting of faith. We do not breathe easy after a person has prayed to receive Christ, as though we can be assured from our perspective that they are now beyond the reach of the evil one. There is a fight of faith to be fought. We must endure to the end in faith if we are to be saved.

This is why we believe in eternal security--namely, the eternal security of the elect. The implication is that God will so work that those whom he has chosen for eternal salvation will be enabled by him to persevere in faith to the end and fulfill, by the power of the Holy Spirit, the requirements for obedience.

Nevertheless, we must also own up to the fact that our final salvation is made contingent upon the subsequent obedience which comes from faith. The way these two truths fit together is that we are justified through our first act of faith because God sees in it (like he can see the tree in an acorn) the embryo of a life of faith. This is why those who do not lead a life of faith with its inevitable fruit of obedience simply bear witness to the fact that their first act of faith was not genuine.

We are not left to ourselves and our assurance is very largely rooted in the sovereign love of God to perform that which he has called us to do.

Therefore we should be zealous to make our calling and election sure.

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Most people claiming to be a less than five point Calvinist say they agree with the teaching of the Perseverance of the Saints. In order to come to this decision they reject Calvinist definitions and embrace definitions they invent. This causes confusion about what is meant or what the person believes. In order to understand the term properly, you must go to the people in this system and ask for their definitions.

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Confusion abounds in the Calvinist explanation of the Perseverance of the Saints when they say, “…God will so work that those whom he has chosen for eternal salvation will be enabled by him to persevere in faith to the end…” and then saying, “…our final salvation is made contingent upon the subsequent obedience which comes from faith.”

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Even if we are, according to them, Unconditionally Elected, are included in the Limited Atonement, we come to have faith because of our Election, and we are not left to ourselves because of the power of the Holy Spirit, BUT then they say our final salvation is contingent on works? This is being said by a Calvinist? Should they have not said, “…our final salvation is made evident by the subsequent obedience…” and not, “…made contingent upon…”?

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For most Calvinists, Perseverance of the Saints is a direct result of the other points of Calvinism. According to their view, God has chosen the elect from before the foundation of the world. Since only the elect have their sin forgiven through the Limited Atonement of Christ, and the blood of Christ is effectual only for the elect, only the elect will have a persevering relationship with Christ. According to the Calvinists, if someone “falls away” it shows they never were chosen in the first place.

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So how can they say, “…our final salvation is made contingent upon the subsequent obedience which comes from faith…”? How can that statement fall into alignment with their view of God’s Unconditional Election? It can’t. Or how can it mesh with their understanding of God’s sovereignty? It doesn’t. As an out they say obedience comes from faith, and faith only is given to the elect, so only the elect will have faith, but they don’t stop there.

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In one place they say salvation is 100% God and 0% man, then describe Perseverance as some mixture of God and man, maybe a 50/50 or a 60/40 ratio, if you are saved. Remember, according to the Calvinist, “There is a fight of faith to be fought. We must endure to the end in faith if we are to be saved.” Sounds like an erroneous Arminian view of salvation retained by works, to me.

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Do I believe a person can loose his salvation? No. Do I believe retention of a person’s salvation is based upon his behavior? No. Does the Bible teach either of these ideas? No. Do I embrace the Calvinist teaching of “Perseverance of the Saints”? No. Why not? What does the Bible teach?

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Romans 8:38-39 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

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2Timothy 1:12 For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

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John 10:27-29 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 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.

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Jude 1:24-25 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

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Clearly once you are truly saved, you are always saved. There is no loss of salvation to those who have salvation. We are secure by the blood of Christ and the strength of God’s Word.

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If someone was claiming to be saved because they were chosen, how could they have any confidence in their sanctification? A Calvinist has no real ground to stand on when claiming salvation because the ultimate test will come at judgment and then it is too late. Until judgment, a Calvinist can only hope they have been chosen.

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I know I am saved, not because of what I have done but because I have placed my faith in what Christ has done for me. I was given the promise: “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” Romans 10:9-10 and Romans 10:13 says, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” I did that and based upon the strength of God’s Holy and Infallible Word, I am saved.

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Now that I am saved I have the confidence of God’s promise, “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.” Romans 8:29 and then there is 1John 3:2-3, “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.”

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Additionally, I know God will actively “help” me to become more like Christ as He said in Hebrews 12:6-11:

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“For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.”

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I rest secure in the knowledge I am in Christ and He is in me because if I have truly committed my life to Christ and repented of my sin, there is a relationship that can never be broken. This is not the Perseverance of the Saints but the Perseverance of the Promise.

Limited Atonement – The L of “TULIP”

What the Calvinist says about Limited Atonement: (Taken from: http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/Articles/ByDate/1985/1487_What_We_Believe_About_the_Five_Points_of_Calvinism/#Grace)

The term "limited atonement" addresses the question, "For whom did Christ die?" But behind the question of the extent of the atonement lies the equally important question about the nature of the atonement. What did Christ actually achieve on the cross for those for whom he died?

If you say that he died for every human being in the same way, then you have to define the nature of the atonement very differently than you would if you believed that Christ only died for those who actually believe. In the first case you would believe that the death of Christ did not actually save anybody; it only made all men savable. It did not actually remove God's punitive wrath from anyone, but instead created a place where people could come and find mercy—IF they could accomplish their own new birth and bring themselves to faith without the irresistible grace of God.

For if Christ died for all men in the same way then he did not purchase regenerating grace for those who are saved. They must regenerate themselves and bring themselves to faith. Then and only then do they become partakers of the benefits of the cross.

In other words if you believe that Christ died for all men in the same way, then the benefits of the cross cannot include the mercy by which we are brought to faith, because then all men would be brought to faith, but they aren't. But if the mercy by which we are brought to faith (irresistible grace) is not part of what Christ purchased on the cross, then we are left to save ourselves from the bondage of sin, the hardness of heart, the blindness of corruption, and the wrath of God.

In the Calvinist view Jesus only died for those he Unconditionally Elected. According to them there are only two choices, either someone is saved by the total activity of God or they are saved by the total activity of man.

Read again their claim in the last paragraph describing what remains if Limited Atonement is not true. According to their explanation, Jesus not only purchased salvation, He also purchased the means of delivering salvation. Where do they get that out of God’s Word?

They unsuccessfully try to use Scripture to support their position like Mark 10:45, Matthew 26:28 and Hebrews 9:28, but none of these passages speak about Christ purchasing the means of delivering salvation.

In fact, Matthew 26:28 says, “For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” The blood of Christ was shed, not for the means of delivery of salvation but for the remission of sins. Even Hebrews 9:28 said, “So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many…”. Again, no mention of the method of delivery of salvation.

In Hebrews we are given an analogy, a comparison, between what happened in the fall and what happened on the Cross. Let’s take a few minutes to examine the passage:

Romans 5:12-16 says: “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

The analogy begins with showing how sin was applied to the entire human race, by one man.

13 (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.

Sin is the transgression of the law. Where God has not established law, sin is not imputed.

14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.

Although no one else ate of the Tree of Knowledge, they were still going to die because of the sin nature handed down through the generations. Notice the final phrase: “…who is the figure of him that was to come.” Here comes the comparison.

15 But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.

Observe here the term used, “free gift.” If someone has a deadly disease and I purchase them a free (free to them, expensive to me) gift what good will it do them if they refuse the offer? No good at all. Must someone accept a free gift? No. If someone refuses a free gift does their refusal mean they will ultimately get the gift by working for it? No.

Also pay careful attention to the use of the term, “many.” “For if through the offence of one many be dead…” means how many are dead? A few or all? All. Therefore the gift, purchased by Jesus Christ has abounded to the same number impacted by the sin, “many.” The term, “many” does not exclude the meaning of “all.”

Does, “Many of my children are in the house,” cancel the possibility they are all in the house? No. Or if I say, “The sun arose on many days,” am I saying the sun did not rise on some days? No. “Many” does not have to exclude the possibility of “all”.

16 And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification.

The gift, the free gift, is not like the sin. Adam sinned once and his judgment led to the condemnation of all (many sins). In contrast, the many sins did not need many payments. The one free gift provides justification for the many (all) offences (sins). When a sinner is saved, how many of their sins are forgiven? Many? Yes, since we have already seen many is inclusive of the term all and not necessarily exclusive.

Romans 5:17 For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)

“They which receive abundance of grace…” are not receiving the means of delivering salvation, it is salvation. Righteousness for mankind is only possible after salvation has occurred.

18 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.

Here again is the comparison: condemnation came upon all men; by Christ the free gift (free to us, costly to Him) came upon ALL men. Is this saying all men receive the free gift? No. The free gift came upon them by being accessibile.

19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.

Here we are again, when one man disobeyed, how many were made sinners? Many? Yes! Was there anyone who was not made a sinner? No. How many will be made righteous? Many? Yes! Is there any sinner Christ did not die to save? No. Just as many as were made sinners, those are the ones made righteous (all who believe).

Does the passage above mean all people will be saved? Of course not! Just because all people can be saved does not mean all people will be saved. It means all people have the opportunity to be saved because of the payment Jesus made for all sin.

Look at John 3:16 from the Analytical-Literal Translation: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only-begotten [or, unique] Son, so that every [one] believing [or, trusting] in Him shall not perish, _but_ shall be having eternal life!”

Calvinists misunderstand the application of the death of Christ. The death of Jesus Christ must apply to the entire human race just as the sin of Adam. Through one man, Adam, sin and death came to the entire human race. The one God-man, Jesus Christ, died once to purchase redemption for those same people.

Just as Adam’s sin was a one time event having eternal consequences for all, so too Jesus’ payment was a one time event offering eternal forgiveness as wide as the curse was found.

“Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.” Hebrews 9:25-26

“For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.” 1Corinthians 15:21-22

“And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.

Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.”

1John 4:14-15

“The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” John 1:29

“For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.” 1Timothy 2:5-6

“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.” 2Corinthians 5:14-15

Just as Adam in his sinless state had the ability to choose sin, sinful man has the ability to choose salvation. How? Because of Christ. Christ calls, Christ draws, Christ initiates, Christ paid, Christ convicts and when man responds in repentance and faith, Christ chooses him.

I close here with one final passage from Isaiah 53:

4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Unlimited Atonement –Unlimited Love – Unlimited Grace – Amazing Grace!