11/04/22 FINDING LIGHT IN SPITE OF THE DARKNESS

11/04/22 FINDING LIGHT IN SPITE OF THE DARKNESS

I saw a meme with this imagined conversation between a false"Jesus" who holds to a supposed "Calvinist" (or Reformed Theology), and a person seeking salvation. Though it is dangerous to use Jesus in an imaginary way, the doctrinal issue was valid and presents some important considerations.

Up front, I do believe in Election and Predestination, as it is revealed in the Bible, BUT NOT as it is misrepresented and explained by Reformed and Calvinist proponents. But this post specifically addresses a point brought up in the imagined conversation.

THIS IS THE IMAGINED SCENARIO...

The false "Jesus" and seeker are conversing.

Seeker:
"Master, what must I do to inherit eternal life?"

False Jesus:
"Nothing, as I have assigned you to hell."

DLG says, I know, this is abrupt and offensive. However, the concept is in keeping with the actual teachings of many of the leaders and founders of the belief in a god who unilaterally, unconditionally chooses who will be saved.

Stop right here. I am not guilty of "works salvation" or "salvation by works" as the proponents of sinning religion will say at this point. This is about the question of election.

The god of unilateral election supposedly chose who will be saved, without providing or offering salvation to anyone else, which results in Double Sided, Unilateral Election. In other words, no one can be saved without Divine provision, invitation and atonement (which is true), however, the god of this false religion claims that their god withholds salvation from most people. According to this terrible doctrine, all men have sinned because they had no real choice or opportunity not to sin. All men are lost because of Adam's sin and they have no desire to be saved, they could not be saved if they had a desire to be saved and God is not going to give them that opportunity. In other words, all men are irretrievably lost because God does not provide for them (in His mercy), even though they were unable to keep from sinning. In fact, this blasphemous doctrine says that God predestined, elected the unsaved to not be saved, to commit the most grievous of sins, so that God could reprobate them and punish them forever, FOR HIS OWN GLORY.

Also, this supposed salvation, provided by this false god, represented by this false Jesus in this scenario, is without any conditions, such as faith, repentance, confession, obedience. This god not only chooses who will be saved, he does not require faith, repentance or confession (which the God of the Bible does require). 

This is why the false Jesus of this meme tells seeker that he (seeker) cannot do anything to be saved. False Jesus says that he has assigned seeker to hell.

Here are a few thoughts about this.

Point One
Many who claim to follow this false religion also claim that this false religion does not actually teach these heresies. I understand that. I would be ashamed to tell anyone I believed these heresies too. And maybe the particular person does not believe these lies, but that does not change the historic documents of Augustine, Luther, Calvin, Westminster Confession, The 1689 Baptist Confession.

Those of us who believe the word of God rather than the word of men are falsely accused of, "not understanding," "not honestly stating their position," being either RCC or LDS or some other cultic group who believes in works salvation instead of the work of Christ on the cross.

Point Two
Their god did not elect some to hell, he simply let them continue in the sins that they chose. Wrong. To withhold the only possible way of salvation, while condemning someone for doing that which was not their own free will, is not justice, it is not loving, it is not Divine.

Point Three
The end result is the same in this scenario, whether they were deliberately doomed to hell or not. If their god predetermined who would be saved, he also predetermined who would be reprobated. If he did not provide for their salvation, then he condemned them to eternal damnation, without hope, without Divine intervention or provision for salvation.

Point Four
Don't forget, this false salvation does not allow men to participate in the redemptive work of their god. God requires faith, repentance, confession, obedient following.

No man can save himself, but no man can be saved by the work of God unless he responds in faith and obedience.

So yes, if the god of sinning religion is real and if the doctrines of sinning religion are true, it is true that no seeker can ever do anything to be saved.

But, that is not what the Bible teaches.

If you want to trust the lies of sinning religion, don't believe, don't repent, don't confess, don't follow, don't obey (although the Bible clearly commands these actions from us). Just keep on doing what your doing and you will still go to heaven, if sinning religion is right.

However, if the revelation of God contradicts these teachings, then you cannot save your self by these actions, but neither can you be saved if you don't do these things.