2 of 4

Write now Article Tools

Page 2 of 2

Christ did?

Calvinists believe that only those previously chosen for heaven will be saved. If that were the case, then most prayers for salvation would be a potential waste of time. All people have the right to Christ based on His death and resurrection, John 3:16 and 1 John 1:7. The Bible says that Satan blinds the minds of the unbelievers so they can't see God, 2 Cor. 4:3-4. But the Bible also says in Luke 10:2 that prayers for the non-believer should include that the Lord of the harvest would send laborers into their harvest fields. The Bible states in James 5:16 that the effective fervent prayer of the righteous avails much. If the prayer of the righteous, which avails much, is prayed for the unbeliever to include God sending preachers to lead him to Jesus, what sense does it make if indeed God hasn't chosen the one being prayed for? According to Calvinists those prayers are in vain. Who can live life with that kind of uncertainty?

The security of the believer is backed by scripture. Calvinists call this the perseverance of the saints. Either way, once a person becomes a believer, he has eternal life that cannot be lost outside of the actual denial of Christ. But a person who truly loves God and is saved could not deny Christ. From experience, this would not be possible. 1 Peter 1: 3-5 says that believers are kept by the power of God by faith unto salvation. Ephesians 4:30 says that believers are sealed by the Holy Spirit until the day of redemption. Jesus gave believers eternal life at salvation as a guarantee. Christ would never save a soul and then allow him to lose what he never attained on his own. If Jesus offers the free gift then it is always free and is never dependant upon what a man does or does not do, Eph. 2:8. Once a person is even in part responsible for retaining his salvation, the salvation ceases to be a free gift.

Unfortunately the Bible does not offer a definite and clear teaching of salvation and its related issues that everyone can accept as true. Bible scholars have been trying to come to some agreement for a very long time, but to no avail. Calvinists and Arminians try to give good scriptural arguments for their beliefs, but unfortunately both fail at providing consistent truths. Acts 17:11 tells believers to search the scriptures daily. One must be able to provide their own reason for the beliefs they hold. Taking someone else's opinion as gospel is dangerous. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide your study giving you the spirit of wisdom and revelation, to provide you with greater understanding. May you have the mind of Christ, 1 Cor. 2:16.

Learn more about this author, Lacy Enderson.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

• << previous page
• 1
• 2

Add your voice

Know something about Calvinism and Arminianism: Election versus choice?
We want to hear your view. Write now!