Week of March 27, 2011
Do you believe that Arminians are saved? I came accross a troubling article entitled `Three Reasons why Arminians are not saved` by Christopher Adams. http://www.outsidethecamp.org/three.htm Here are a few statements from the article that I would like your thoughts on, the first statement I have listed below I find to be the most disturbing: Reason Number Two: Arminians are not saved because they do not believe the truth. This is related to the previous reason but has more to do with the evidence of a person`s salvation. Any Calvinist who defends the salvation of Arminians must explain 2 Thessalonians 2:12, which says, `That they all might be damned who believe not the truth ...` Some use the excuse that Arminians believe the important, essential doctrines of Scripture. But do they? Reason Number One: Arminians are not saved because they worship an idol. By an idol, I mean `a god who cannot save.` But wait a minute, you say, don`t they worship Jesus? No, as a matter of fact, they don`t. They may say they worship Jesus, but the jesus they worship simply cannot save. The Pharisees said they believed in God and even convinced themselves they believed in God, but their faith was really in a god who could not save them; their faith was not in the one true God. This is obvious from the fact that when the one true God come to live among them, they blasphemed him and had him executed. Reason Number Three: Arminians are not saved because they hate the truth. This reason also has more to do with the evidence of a person`s salvation.
***In responding I thoroughly read the article by Adam’s that you referenced.
Revelation 12 v 10
“And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.”
***Consider first this, THE ACCUSSER OF THE BRETHREN IS SATAN HIMSELF!!!!!!!
Are Arminians Christians? Are Baptists Christians? Are Catholics Christians? Are Methodists Christians? Are Protestants Christians? Are You a Christian? Am I a Christian? Is Christopher Adams a Christian???????
A Christian is a person WHO HAS A GENUINELY TRUE LOVE RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS CHRIST!!!
***Only God and the individual know whether they ARE TRULY CHRISTIAN…
We are saved by GRACE and GRACE alone through FAITH and NOT OF WORKS THAT NO MAN, NO WOMAN, NOR ANY CHILD CAN BOAST!
Ephesians 2 v 8-9
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9. Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
Titus 3 v 5
“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;”
The answer, in most Christian denominations and in Christianity as a whole, and in our local Churches, THERE ARE MORE PEOPLE PROFESSING THEIR SALVATION, THAN ARE ACTUALLY SAVED!!!!!!!
Matthew 7 v 13-14
“Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14. Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.”
It is not so much the details of what we believe, as MUCH AS IT IS IN WHO WE BELIEVE IN…
Its not so much what Church denomination we align ourselves with, as MUCH AS IT IS THAT WE ARE ALIGNED AND COMMITED TO THE LORDSHIP OF JESUS CHRIST IN OUR MOMENT BY MOMENT DAILY LIVES!!!!!!!
He quotes scripture, BUT HE DOESN’T SAY ANYTHING AT ALL. He just makes unspecified and ungrounded accusations. “They worship idols”, “They may say they worship Jesus, but the Jesus they worship simply cannot save.”
This is a LIE, and who is the father of LIES???
Absolutely those who come from the Arminian theological perspective WORSHIP THE ONE TRUE GOD, JESUS CHRIST!!!!
ABSOLUTELY!!!!!!!
ABSOLUTELY, JESUS CHRIST CAN SAVE!!!!!!!
THE ARMINIANS TEACH THAT, AND BELIEVE THAT!!!
The difference is those who come from the Calvinist Theological perspective put an emphasis on GOD’S SOVEREIGN WILL.
ABSOLUTELY GOD IS SOVEREIGN…
ABSOLUTELY!!!
The Arminians teach this, and believe it as well!!!
Arminians on the other hand stress and emphasis FAITH in God.
Remember, we are saved by GRACE(God and His SOVEREIGN WILL) through FAITH…
Calvinists stress GRACE, Arminians stress FAITH…
But both GRACE and FAITH are ESSENTIAL TO SALVATION!!!!!!!
The problem lies in the biblically incorrect extremes of BOTH PERSPECTIVES…
The truth is both GRACE and FAITH come from Jesus Christ, and we as fallen human beings can DO NOTHING AT ALL TO OBTAIN EITHER, WITHOUT GOD HIMSELF GIVING US THE POWER TO DO SO!
*******IT IS ALL GOD, AND THE TRUE ARMINIAN PERSPECTIVE WOULD BE IN AGREEMENT WITH THAT!!!
What
I know a truly SAVED PERSON CANNOT LOSE THEIR SALVATION, THAT IS THE BIBLICAL TRUTH!!!!!!!!!!!
In this respect, the Arminians ARE ABSOLUTELY WRONG!!!!!!!
But we are not saved by the details of what we believe, but in the reality of OUR LOVE RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS CHRIST!!!
We are not saved because we know we cannot lose our salvation, WE ARE SAVED BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST!!!
We are not saved because we stress the sovereignty of God, but again by LOVING HIM!!!!!!!
Truth, what truth??? His truth, meaning
What truth???
He again quotes scripture, BUT TO WHAT END??? Satan also miss-quoted scripture to both Eve in the garden and even attempted to miss-quote scripture to Jesus Christ Himself!!!
2 Thessalonians 2 v 12
“That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”
Again what truth, the text is referring not to John Calvin’s truth, or Arminius’ truth, or my truth, your truth, nor
*******Certainly Arminians teach and ABSOLUTELY BELIEVE IN THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD, AND THE RIGHTEOUSNESS THAT GOD EXPECTS OF HIS SAVED CHILDREN!!!
Matthew 5 v 48
“Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.”
1 Thessalonians 4 v 7-8
“For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness. 8. He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit.”
***The doctrine of God’s righteousness and God’s expectation of His childrens’ righteousness and holy living is perhaps the Arminians strongest belief, and for many Calvinists perhaps OUR WEAKEST BELIEF!!!!!!!
So are Calvinists not Christians???
Is
Holiness of heart and life IS GOD’S TRUTH!!!
Once again he quotes scripture, JUST LIKE SATAN DID TO JESUS, just like many people; Adams very carefully picks and chooses scriptures to attempt to prove not God’s Plan, but
God’s glory is the only reason He (God) does anything???
What about:
John 3 v 16
“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.”
God does what God does because HE LOVES US!!!!!!!
God’s LOVE for us was HIS MOTIVE TO SAVE US!!!!!!!
Save who? WHOSOEVER BELIEVES!!!!!!!
The person is not predestined to Heaven or Hell; THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE TO BE SAVED IS PREDISTINED!!!!!!!
God in His SOVEREIGN WILL PREDISTINED THE WAY TO BE SAVED, THE ONLY NAME TO BE SAVED BY; JESUS CHRIST!!!
Acts 4 v 12
“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”
All those who are willing to accept Jesus Christ as their LORD, GOD, and SAVIOR: WILL BE SAVED!!!!!!!
Even that willingness is by the GRACE of GOD!!!!!!!
What truth???????????????????????????????
With all his talk he DOES NOT IN THE SLIGHTEST UNDERSTAND THE TRUTH…….
Arminians ABSOLUTELY BELIEVE IN THE TOTAL DEPRAVITY OF MAN, man in NO WAY WOULD EVER SEEK GOD ON HIS OWN…
That seeking is the GRACE OF GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Certainly the Arminians teach and believe ONLY GOD CAN SAVE!!!!!!!!
***I HAVE FOUND THE MOST BITTER PEOPLE TO BE THOSE, WHO THINK THEY ARE JUST CHOSEN BY GOD, AND THEIR FAITH HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THEIR SALVATION…
I have also found those who believe the extreme of Calvinism, ARE THOSE WHO ONLY LOVE THOSE WHO AGREE WITH THEM. Even then, do they really love those who agree with them, or do they only pretend???
Salvation is a gift and an act of God’s SOVEREIGN WILL, how God accomplishes His will is not by the Calvin method, or the Arminian method, BUT BY HIS METHOD; AND THAT METHOD ALONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
John 3 v 17
“For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.”
If the Arminians cannot be Christians because of some of their wrong understandings, then ALL THE CHRISTOPHER ADAMS ARE LOST, FOR THEY TRULY LACK THE TRUTH OF GOD IN THEIR OWN LIVES… And he, they, can rant and rave all they want, BUT THEY ARE STILL WRONG…….
Salvation is a Love relationship with Jesus Christ, and that LOVE originates from the GRACE and LOVE of God!!!
God provides us with the choice, and it is God’s SOVEREIGN WILL that our ETERNAL ESTATE IS DEPENENT ON THAT DECISION…
All is by His Grace, and the FAITH to believe in Him is also by His SOVEREIGN WILL…….
If the Christopher Adams of the “world” are correct, and THEY ARE NOT, but if they were, THEN NO ONE COULD TESTIFY TO THEIR OWN SALVATION; FOR SINCE IT IS ONLY GOD’S DECISION, ONLY GOD COULD REALLY KNOW.
***But since God by His SOVEREIGN WILL provides all humankind the grace and the ability to make the choice, and God demands WE MAKE THE CHOICE, then both God and the individual CAN KNOW THAT THEY, WE, ARE SAVED…
This making John the apostle truthful and not a liar.
1 John 5 v 13
“These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.”
If God simply picks and chooses, then we can never know we are saved. For since we are saved by Grace through Faith, our works, our lives still prove nothing…
For many seem to be His, but few really are…
Matthew 7 v 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.”
The works are only an indication of salvation, but God, and the repentant sinner KNOWS THE HEART…
But if our repentance means nothing, THEN WE CANNOT KNOW IF WE ARE TRULY SAVED!!!
So again, whose truth, Christopher Adams’, or God’s???????
Arminians believe in Jesus Christ, and the individuals are indeed Christians, if, they TRULY LOVE JESUS CHRIST, that is true of all professing Christians; even when they are wrong about some things, even true of Christopher Adams…
For ONLY GOD and the individual KNOW THE TRUTH OF THEIR SALVATION!!! That is true of any individual in any denomination, Baptist or otherwise… For any Christian faith that believes in the ABSOLUTE SUPREMACY OF THE ATONING BLOOD SACRIFICE OF JESUS CHRIST……………………………………………………………..
So I end as I began:
Revelation 12 v 10
“And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.”
The accuser of the brethren is Satan!
Answered by: a servant of Jesus Christ, Harold Chris Smith
Question: i am a lutheran since im young in our country philippines,since i go abroad i attend born again church till present.is there a difference?coz i often hear that i choose the right path.what do they mean? lutherans will not be saved?im just confused coz what i know is there`s no correct religion or religion wil not save us, as long as we have personal relationship with GOD.no one should judge other faith...coz only JESUS who sees our heart.i just want confirmation because of those word i oftenly hear frm them
I feel your frustration, and I feel your heart; you are a good person!
Some times Christians say things, and they mean well, but they do not really mean what they say, or even understand what they are saying.
Yes Lutherans can be Christians, yes Lutherans can be saved!!!
What your friends may have been trying to explain to you, is the “right path” is Jesus Christ.
Jesus said:
John 14 v 6
“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
Jesus said, He was the ONLY WAY to God, the ONLY WAY to Salvation, the ONLY WAY to have EVERLASTING JOY in ETERNITY.
All people, every nationality, every denomination, every religion MUST COME TO JESUS. Accept Jesus as their ONLY LORD, ONLY GOD, and ONLY SAVIOR!!! ***Any other way is wrong, every other path leads NOT TO GOD, BUT TO HELL…
That is what they are trying to say. They are trying to say, being a Lutheran does not save you, being a Baptist does not save you, being a member of Their Church DOES NOT SAVE YOU!!!!!!!
But LOVING JESUS CHRIST WITH YOUR WHOLE MIND, BODY, and SOUL SAVES YOU!!!
That is why Jesus said HE IS THE TRUTH, and the LIFE, and that is why JESUS IS the ONLY WAY TO GOD THE FATHER!!!
Acts 4 v 12
“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”
Salvation comes ONLY from LOVING JESUS CHRIST, THERE IS NO OTHER WAY, NO OTHER PATH…
Certainly if your
But not all churches teach that, not all religions teach a person MUST LOVE JESUS CHRIST!!!!!!!
Those churches are wrong, and are leading people down a wrong path!
That is all your friends in your present Church should be trying to tell you. ***You are on the right path, the right way, because YOU KNOW AND LOVE JESUS CHRIST!
Answered by a friend, Dr. Harold Chris Smith, sbc