Eight Years in the Faith, All Because of The God of Calvinism!

Eight years in the faith. June 5 is the day. Everyone who knew me ten years ago could easily spot the difference. I still wonder how I got here each time I think of it. I just know it wasn't because of me.

Sure, I did a lot of things, met and mingled with a lot of people, and learned a lot of things --- all of which became factors for this drastic change.  But the socio and the logic wouldn't suffice to alter one's nature (Jer. 13:23). There must have been a supernatural intervention. Far be it from me to give the credit to myself. Everything I am now is all by the grace of God (Eph. 2:8-9; 1 Cor. 15:10) so the glory is due to Him alone. And, aside from the fact that I find it biblical, I believe this is the main reason why I fell in love with this theological system known as "Calvinism", which was introduced to me in the early months of my Christian life.

Some people think the doctrine of Total Depravity downplays mankind's integrity. I see it as a biblical rationale for the domination of evil in my past and in this world. We may keep a blind eye towards this tragic reality but the dudes in the news confirm that sin often has the upper hand. Many think man is naturally good but in God's eyes,

“None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.” (Romans 3:10-12)

The more I acknowledge this fatal disease, the more I appreciate its cure. (see Rom. 3:21-26)

Most people deem Unconditional Election as hazardous to the justice and love of God. There God chose some for salvation while leaving others to condemnation. But to me it as a great display of both (Rom. 9:22-24). That God did not choose all shows his justice in punishing sinners. That God would choose me, rather than let me in my sinful nature choose him (as if I will) exalts God's love more. Like Spurgeon, I do not wonder why he chose to save some. I wonder more why he chose to save at all (for nobody deserves salvation) and why he chose me (for I don't deserve salvation).

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will." (Ephesians 1:3-5)

While others find Limited Atonement as an insult to Christ's great salvation,  I find Christ's cross more magnified through this doctrine. That Christ's death is intended and efficient only for His people[1] shows more of its power. It was Christ's cross that saved me, not I using the cross. Limited atonement implies that the cross of Christ actually saves, not just makes salvation possible. It actually saved me. 

"She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21)

"...the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood." (Acts 20:28)

Some think Irresistible Grace does no justice to man's freedom. I believe it marvelously restores it. Our will is free only insofar as it does what we decide and what we desire. Our will is just a servant of our intellect and affections. The problem is that both of these are captivated by sin (TD). Hence, that God would 'irresistibly' make me believe by changing my nature Him is freedom (i.e., from sin's power), not captivity.

"All that the Father has given me shall come to me..." (John 6:37)

"Your people shall be willing in the day of your power..." (Psalm 110:3)

Finally, while some think that Perseverance of the Saints discards man's responsibility, I believe it puts man's responsibility and God's sovereignty in a balance. Left on my own, I could've given up on this battle long ago. God knows that I can hardly finish anything worthwhile, let alone salvation! But thanks be to God who gives me security that can endure against all odds.

"And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ." (Philippians 1:6)

For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:38-39)

If only the five points of Calvinism (aka TULIP) would be understood in their proper contexts, they would beautifully shine 'cause Calvinism, biblically and logically, (1) exalts the grace of God the most, and (2) gives the glory to God the most. 

I praise God that I am now eight years in the faith (and counting). This is all because of Calvinism. Not the concepts themselves but the reality of them at work in the world and in my life. I believe that I have gone this far only because I have this God of Calvinism, who elected me despite my radical sinfulness, sent His Son to effectively die for me, called me by His powerful Spirit and will preserve me to the end.

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[1] This does not discard the truth that Christ died sufficiently for all. (e.g., John 3:16; 1 John 2:2)

The Biblical Warnings are Mine and Yours

I have at least five drafts of blog posts. I can hardly finish one. My time is being consumed by theologizing on a Pinoy Pastors' Theological Forum. My college life is about to end. I want to pursue theology more. But I know that something's wrong with my spirituality now. I thank the Lord for this video (although I might differ in some of Conway's points about assurance):

This video made me think of the place of the biblical "warnings" and how it fits with "assurance" and "eternal security".
  
I. The Comfort of Eternal Security

I always believe that true Christians who were saved by grace through faith will persevere to the end. No real Christian can lose his salvation. This is often called Eternal Security.

The realization of this security through faith produces assurance in us.

But don't get me wrong. I'm not an antinomian or a quietist. I believe that God's commands are ours to keep. Moreover, this video reminded me of the many warnings about losing our "faith". I remembered the fact that, although the genuine Christians will endure to the end, from the human perspective, some people in the visible churches are losing the Christian race. Those who fall perfectly portray the seeds who fell on rocky ground. We see them seemingly visibly just like us for a while (Mt. 13:20-21).

II. The Warnings against Falling Away

There are lots of these in the scriptures. Few examples are: 

"Timothy, my son, I am giving you this command in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by recalling them you may fight the battle well, holding on to faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and so have suffered shipwreck with regard to the faith." (1 Tim. 1:18,19) 

"The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons." (1 Tim. 4:1)

"If we endure, we shall also reign with Him; If we deny Him, He also will deny us." (2 Tim. 2:12) 

"We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away." (Heb. 2:1)    

"Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it." (Heb. 4:1) 

"For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remains no more sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?" (Heb. 10:26-29) 

"Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; by which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain" (I Corinthians 15:1-2)

Granted, conditionality does not imply eventuality but these warnings are meant to produce fear in the believers especially when they're starting to pace away from righteousness to sin.

III. Seeking the Balance
We know that if both I and II are biblical then we can reconcile them. The fear given by the warnings (II) does not contradict the assurance given by Eternal Security (I). It balances it. It complements it.

 Let me explain. 

 A. Evaluating Our Assurance
Our only ground of assurance that we won't lose our salvation and we're surely go to heaven is Christ's work on the cross (Rom. 8:1). Our only ground of assurance is Christ, not our works or our obedience to Christ. And we experience this assurance by faith alone. (1 Jn. 5:13)

 However, there are people who feel lots of "assurance" but will be condemned in the end. (Mt. 7:21-23) So how do we know we don't that kind of assurance? It's by evaluating our assurance through evaluating our faith. And since faith is invisible, we can evaluate our faith by evaluating its fruit. The book of 1 John (1 Jn. 1:6-10; 2:3-6; 3:16,19; 4:2; 5:18-19; etc.) and the book of James discuss this. We are to ask ourselves: "Is my assurance still grounded upon a true faith in Christ manifested by sound doctrine and godly living, or is it already being grounded upon a distorted faith in Christ manifested by my ungodliness? Is my assurance from a sin-killing, God-glorifying faith in Christ in my life or is it a faith that gives license to sin?"

 So the "assurance" in I and the "fear" in II are reconcilable because we have the tendency to get our assurance from a distorted faith in Christ. If we are already doing this (marked by our faithless ungodliness) then we should fear, take heed the warning, repent, and hold firm what true faith in Christ is.

 B. Secure in the Hands of the Shepherd
John 10 is one of my favorite chapter in the Bible. The believers' Eternal Security is very clear there:

"My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand." (John 10:27-29)

If you're a true believer, you are Christ's sheep. And a sheep of Christ is safe in His hand, as well as in the Father's hand. "[The Father] is greater than all" suggests that there is no greater person or thing that may overpower the Triune God who secures His people.

There is security bringing us assurance. 

But, at the same time, the sheep here are not passive. They follow the Shepherd. They listen to the voice of the Shepherd. It is their nature to submit to the Shepherd. At times, the sheep may come near the pit or other dangerous places, but the good Shepherd warns them. He is even wise enough to strike them with the rod for their safety.

 There is warning bringing us fear. Yet such fear is part of God's securing grace. It is one of God's means to secure us. Our fleeing away from sin and hell is God's work in us, keeping us from dead faith and apostasy. 

When I'm into sin, it is just right to fear our holy God's warnings. It might shake my "assurance" for awhile but it will soon reaffirm true assurance and even strengthen it had I truly repented. I thank Christ whenever he strikes me and says "Sheep Donnie, where are you going? You're starting to go away from the pasture of communion with God in His word and prayer. You're getting away from Me through your sins. Yes, pursue theology but don't forget pursuing it for Me. Don't forget making Me the center of your life." The biblical warnings are indeed mine and yours.

Praise God for the warnings! Praise God for assurance! Praise God for His power to secure us and preserve us to the end.