101 BIBLE REASONS PROVING ETERNAL SECURITY

 

1. The believer has everlasting or eternal life.

John 5:24: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”

John 10:28: “And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.”

2. The believer is born of God.

John 1:12-13: “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”

3. Christ will raise every believer up at the last day.

John 6:44-47: “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the prophets, and they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me. Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father. Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that believeth on me hath everlasting life.”

4. The believer has already passed from death unto life.

John 5:24: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”

5. The believer is not the object of God’s wrath.

John 3:36: “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.”

6. Believer are God’s sheep.

John 10:2-4: “But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.”

7. The believer will not listen to nor follow a stranger, but will flee from him.

John 10:5: “And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.” (The stranger here is Satan and his false teachers.)

8. The believer is known of God.

John 10:14: “I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.”

9. The believer listens to the voice of the shepherd.

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

10. The believer is in Christ’s hand and cannot be plucked out.

John 10:28: “And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.”

11. The believer is in the Father’s hand and cannot be plucked out.

John 10:29: “My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.”

12. The shepherd is charged with the responsibility of keeping the sheep.

John 10:11-14: “I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.”

13. The believer is not condemned.

John 3:18: “He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”

14. The believer shall never thirst.

John 4:14: “But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.”

15. The believer will keep Christ’s commandments.

John 14:23: “Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.”

16. The believer is secure because of Christ’s prayer.

John 17:9-12: “I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine. And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them. And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee, Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are. While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.”

17. The believer shall never die.

John 11:26: “And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?”

18. The believer to be kept from the evil.

John 17:15: “I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.”

Jesus prays that the believer may be kept from the Devil. Was this prayer answered?

19. The believer to be with Christ in glory.

John 17:24: “Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.”

20. The believer shall never hunger.

John 6:35: “And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.”

21. The believer will in no wise be cast out (Not under any circumstance).

John 6:37: “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.”

22. Christ will not lose a single believer.

John 6:39: “And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.”

23. Christ will raise up the believer at the last day.

John 6:38-40: “For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.”

24. Whosoever eats the bread of life shall never die.

John 6:51: “I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live forever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”

25. Because the Holy Spirit abides in the believer forever.

John 14:16-17: “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever; even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.”

26. Because it is the Father’s will that Christ should lose nothing.

John 6:39: “And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.”

27. Because one cannot be unborn.

John 3:5: “Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.”

28. The believer will follow Christ.

John 10:27: “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” Following Christ, can one be lost? Have we any right to add to God’s Word by inserting if” to the passage?

29. The believers continue with God.

1 John 2:19: “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.”

30. Because it is the believer’s faith that overcomes the world.

1 John 5:4: “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.”

31. Because of the record that God hath given.

1 John 5:10-11: “He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.”

32. The believer is to be like Christ.

1 John 3:2: “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.”

33. The believer is kept by the power of God.

1 Peter 1:5: “Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”

34. The man who believes shall be saved.

Acts 16:31: “And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.”

35. The believer has been saved.

Ephesians 2:8-9: “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast.

36. The believer is hid by God in Christ.

Colossians 3:3: “For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.” Can the devil find that which God hides?

37. The believer shall not come into condemnation.

John 5:24: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”

38. There is now therefore no condemnation for the believer.

Romans 8:1: “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”

39. The believer is sealed by the Holy Spirit.

Ephesians 1:13: “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 the Holy Spirit of promise.”

40. The believer is sealed for a definite time, the day of redemption, or the resurrection of the body.

Ephesians 4:30: “And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.”

41. The believer liveth and abideth forever.

1 Peter 1:23: “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth forever.”

42. The believer is dead to sin.

Romans 6:2: “God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?”

43. The believer will appear with Christ in glory.

Colossians 3:4: “When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.”

44. The life of the believer is Christ’s life.

Colossians 3:4: “When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.”

45. Since Christ cannot die again, the believer is eternally secure.

Romans 6:9-10: “Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.”

46. The believer is saved through faith not by works.

Ephesians 2:8-9: “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

47. This faith a gift from God.

Romans 6:23: “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Ephesians 2:8-9: “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

48. The believer is not saved by what he does, but by what Christ has done for him.

Titus 3:5: “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.”

Romans 4:5: “But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.”

49. Salvation is a gift, not a wage.

Romans 6:23: “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

50. The believer’s hope is a living hope.

1 Peter 1:3: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”

51. The believer’s hope will not fade away. Will not grow dim.

1 Peter 1:4-5: “To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”

52. The believer’s hope is reserved (set aside) in heaven for him.

1 Peter 1:4: “To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you.”

53. The believer’s inheritance is incorruptible.

1 Peter 1:4: “To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you.”

54. The believer’s inheritance cannot be defiled.

1 Peter 1:4: “To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away reserved in heaven for you.”

55. The believer is kept through faith.

1 Peter 1:4-5: (See reasons number 36 and 37): “to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”

56. The believer to be revealed in the last time.

1 Peter 1:5: “Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”

The believer is more than conqueror through Christ.

Romans 8:37: “Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.”

57. The believer justified by faith, to be saved from wrath.

Romans 5:9: “Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.”

58. Nothing can separate the believer from Christ.

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.”

59. Christ will complete salvation until the end.

Philippians 1:6: “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.”

60. The believer to be preserved spirit, soul, and body.

1 Thessalonians 5:23: “And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

61. God cannot lie.

Titus 1:2: “In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began.”

62. Jesus is able to save unto the uttermost.

Hebrews 7:25: “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.”

63. The believer is born of incorruptible seed.

1 Peter 1:23: “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth forever.” Can the devil corrupt that which God says is incorruptible?

64. The believer is perfected forever.

Hebrews 10:14: “For by one offering he hath perfected forever them that are sanctified.”

65. The believer believes unto the saving of his soul.

Hebrews 10:38-39: “Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.”

66. The believer made righteous through Christ’s obedience.

Romans 5:18-19: “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. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.”

67. Because all things work together for good to the believer.

Romans 8:28: “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”

68. Because the believer is so helpless that he cannot place his sins upon Christ. God must do it for him. Therefore salvation is by grace.

Isaiah 53:6: “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.”

69. Because Christ did not come to help us, but to save us.

Luke 19:10: “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

70. Because God, not being a man, cannot lie.

Numbers 23:19: “God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?”

71. Because His mercy endureth forever.

Psalm 136: Twenty-six times in this Psalm it is written His mercy endureth forever.”

72. Because the believer has not yet borne the image of the heavenly.

1 Corinthians 15:49: “And as we have borne the image of the earthly, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.”

73. Because the believer is preserved unto the heavenly kingdom.

2 Timothy 4:18: “And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory forever and ever.”

74. Because the believer is the object of God’s mercy, not His wrath.

Ephesians 2:4: “But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us.”

John 3:36: “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.”

1 Thessalonians 5:9-10: “For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.”

75. Because a sealed and witnessed transaction is final.

Ephesians 1:13: “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 the Holy Spirit of promise.” Sealed by the Spirit.

Hebrews 10:15: “Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us.”

76. Salvation is obtained, not attained.

Hebrews 9:12: “Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.”

77. Because the believer is a new creation. Created in Christ Jesus. Therefore eternal in righteousness.

Ephesians 4:24: “And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.”

78. Because the Father reckons the sinner:

Romans 6:3-5: “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection.”

Ephesians 2:4-6: “But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved); And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.”

79. Because all believers will be changed at Christ’s coming.

1 Corinthians 15:51-52: “Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.”

80. Because of the “MUST” of 1 Corinthians 15:53.

1 Corinthians 15:23: “For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.”

81. Because the power of God is not limited.

Matthew 28:18-19: “And Jesus came and spake to them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.”

1 Peter 1:5: “Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”

82. Because the saints are preserved forever.

Psalms 37:28: “For the Lord loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved forever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.”

83. Because nothing can separate us from the love of Christ.

Romans 8:35: “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?”

The answer NO” is demanded by the passage to the question.

84. Because God will not forget the believer.

Isaiah 49:15: “Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet I will not forget thee.”

85. Because the new covenant in His blood, is an everlasting covenant.

Jeremiah 32:40: “And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; but I will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from me.”

86. Because the believer has ceased from his own works.

Hebrews 4:10: “For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.” It is God that works in the believer.

87. Because we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Christ once for all.

Hebrews 10:10: “By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”

88. Because the believer has already been redeemed (Past tense).

2 Peter 1:18-19: “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.”

89. Because the believer’s salvation is begun and finished by Christ.

Hebrews 12:2: “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

90. Because salvation is by grace, and not by any mixture of grace and works.

Romans 11:6: “And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.”

91. Because Christ died. rose again, and intercedes for born again believers.

Romans 8:37: “Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.”

Hebrews 7:25: “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.”

92. Because God predestined believers in His Truth according to His foreknowledge before the foundation of the world to be conformed to the image of his Son, and then, in time, He calls and justifies us, and finally He will glorify us.

Romans 8:29-30: “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. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.”

Ephesians 1:5, 7, 11, 13: "Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will ... In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace ... In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: ... In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation ..."

2 Corinthians 2:13: "... God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth."

93. Because salvation IS salvation.

Hebrews 5:9: "And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec."

Hebrews 7:25: "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."

94. The believer cannot perish.

John 3:16: “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.”

95. Because God’s promise that through the offering of Christ He will put away the believer’s sins, and will remember them no more.

Hebrews 10:17: “And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.”

96. Because God is for us!

Romans 8:31: "What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?"

97. God chastens His children rather than exiling them to Hell.

1 Corinthians 11:31-32: "For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world."

98. God allows His children to suffer loss of rewards in Heaven rather than exiling them to Hell.

1 Corinthians 3:11-15: "For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire."

99. God allows His children to suffer shame at His coming rather than exiling them to Hell.

1 John 2:28: "And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming."

100. Because God is greater than our heart.

1 John 3:20: "For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things."

101. God is able to save and keep us.

2 Timothy 1:12: "... 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."

Jude 1:24: "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."

Source: http://doctrine.landmarkbiblebaptist.net/

Does Hebrews 10:26 mean that a believer can lose salvation?

Question: "Does Hebrews 10:26 mean that a believer can lose salvation?"

Answer: “For if we are willfully sinning after receiving the full knowledge of the truth, there remains no more sacrifice concerning sins.” Hebrews 10:26-29 warns against the sin of apostasy. Apostasy is an intentional falling away or defection. Apostates are those who move toward Christ, right up to the edge of saving belief, who hear and understand the Gospel, and are on the verge of saving faith, but then reject what they have learned and turn away. These are people who are perhaps even aware of their sin and even make a profession of faith. But rather than going on to spiritual maturity, their interest in Christ begins to diminish, the things of the world have more attraction to them rather than less, and eventually they lose all desire for the things of God and they turn away. The Lord illustrated these types of people in the second and third soils of Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23. These are those who “receive with joy” the things of the Lord, but who are drawn away by the cares of the world or turned off by difficulties they encounter because of Christ.

“Willful sinning” in this passage carries the idea of consciously and deliberately rejecting Christ. To know God’s way, to hear it preached, to study it, to count oneself among the faithful, and then to turn away is to become apostate. Sinning willfully carries with it the idea of sinning continually and deliberately. Such a person does not sin because of ignorance, nor is he carried away by momentary temptations he is too weak to resist. The willful sinner sins because of an established way of thinking and acting which he has no desire to give up. The true believer, on the other hand, is one who lapses into sin and loses temporary fellowship with God. But he will eventually come back to God in repentance because his heavenly Father will continually woo and convict him until he can’t stay away any longer. The true apostate will continue to sin, deliberately, willingly and with abandon. John tells us that “No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him and he cannot sin, because he is born of God” (1 John 3:9).

Apostates have knowledge, but no application of that knowledge. They can be found in the presence of the light of Christ, mostly in the church, among God’s people. Judas Iscariot is the perfect example—he had knowledge but he lacked true faith. No other rejector of the truth had more or better exposure to the love and grace of God than Judas. He was part of Jesus’ inner circle of disciples, eating, sleeping, and traveling with Him for years. He saw the miracles and heard the words of God from Jesus’ very lips, from the best preacher the world has ever known, and yet he not only turned away but was instrumental in the plot to kill Jesus.

Having turned his back on the truth, and with full knowledge choosing to willfully and continually sin, the apostate is then beyond salvation because he has rejected the one true sacrifice for sins: the Lord Jesus Christ. If Christ’s sacrifice is rejected, then all hope of salvation is gone. To turn away willfully from this sacrifice leaves no sacrifice; it leaves only sin, the penalty for which is eternal death. This passage is not speaking of a believer who falls away, but rather someone who may claim to be a believer, but truly is not. Anyone who apostatizes is proving he never had genuine faith to begin with (1 John 2:19).

Source: http://www.gotquestions.org/

Once saved always saved?

Thanks for all of your questions to me via email. I hope some of you are convinced that we cannot be saved by works and that there is no salvation in joining  a religion or fellowship neither being a member of a church. So, here again I copy and paste a portion from Got Questions website pertaining if we are eternally saved or we can lose our salvation. It is also known as OSAS or "ONCE SAVED ALWAYS SAVED". Pls. read and study this re post I made from Got Questions especially to Cathy, Bem and Gabby. Shalom!  - Raino

Question: "Once saved always saved?"

Answer:Once a person is saved are they always saved? When people come to know Christ as their Savior, they are brought into a relationship with God that guarantees their salvation as eternally secure. Numerous passages of Scripture declare this fact.

(a) Romans 8:30 declares, "And those He predestined, He also called; those He called, He also justified; those He justified, He also glorified." This verse tells us that from the moment God chooses us, it is as if we are glorified in His presence in heaven. There is nothing that can prevent a believer from one day being glorified because God has already purposed it in heaven. Once a person is justified, his salvation is guaranteed - he is as secure as if he is already glorified in heaven.

(b) Paul asks two crucial questions in Romans 8:33-34 "Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died more than that, who was raised to life - is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us." Who will bring a charge against God's elect? No one will, because Christ is our advocate. Who will condemn us? No one will, because Christ, the One who died for us, is the one who condemns. We have both the advocate and judge as our Savior.

(c) Believers are born again (regenerated) when they believe (John 3:3; Titus 3:5). For a Christian to lose his salvation, he would have to be un-regenerated. The Bible gives no evidence that the new birth can be taken away.

(d) The Holy Spirit indwells all believers (John 14:17; Romans 8:9) and baptizes all believers into the Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:13). For a believer to become unsaved, he would have to be "un-indwelt" and detached from the Body of Christ.

(e) John 3:15 states that whoever believes in Jesus Christ will "have eternal life." If you believe in Christ today and have eternal life, but lose it tomorrow, then it was never "eternal" at all. Hence if you lose your salvation, the promises of eternal life in the Bible would be in error.

(f) For the most conclusive argument, Scripture says it best itself, "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:38-39). Remember the same God who saved you is the same God who will keep you. Once we are saved we are always saved. Our salvation is most definitely eternally secure!

Source: http://www.gotquestions.org

MGA DOKTRINA NG MGA DEMONYO

DOCTRINES OF DEMONS

ni Dr. R. L. Hymers, Jr.

Isang pangaral na ipinangaral sa Baptist Tabernacle ng Los Angeles, Gabi ng Araw ng Panginoon, Ika-4 ng Hulyo, taon 2010

“Nguni't hayag na sinasabi ng Espiritu, na sa mga huling panahon ang iba'y magsisitalikod sa pananampalataya, at mangakikinig sa mga espiritung mapanghikayat at sa mga aral ng mga demonio; Sa pamamagitan ng pagpapaimbabaw ng mga tao na nagsisipagsalita ng mga kasinungalingan, na hinerohan ang kanilang mga sariling budhi ng waring bakal na nagbabaga” (I Ni Timoteo 4:1-2).

Sa kanyang pambukas sa aklat ni Dr. Merrill F. Unger, Biblical Demonology (Kregel Publications, 1994 edisyon), si Dr. Wilbur M. Smith ay nagsalita tungkol sa naunang mga Ama ng Simbahan, at kung anong isinulat nila tungkol sa mga demonyo. Sinabi ni Dr. Smith,

Sa unang apat na mga siglo ng Kristiyanong Simbahan, iyong mga makapangyarihang mga teyolohiyano, na marami sa kanila’y nakakitang malalim sa Salita ng Diyos, ay nagsulat ng matindi sa kapangyarihan ng demonyo (Isinalin mula kay Unger, ibid., p. vii).

Isinipi ni Dr. Smith mula kay Justin Martyr (103-165) na iginiit na ang paganong mitolohiya ay nagmula sa demonikong panloloko. Isinipi rin ni Dr. Smith si Lactantius (240-320) na nagsabi na ang mga demonyo ay,

Ang mga imbentor ng astrolohiya, at mga mistiko, at paghuhula…at ang sining ng salamangka, at anonmang masamang pagsasagawa maliban sa mga sinasanay ng mga kalalakihang ito, lantaran man o palihim…Ang mga ito ang nagturo sa taong gumawa ng mga imahen at mga estatwa; na, upang mapatalikod ang mga isipan ng tao mula sa pagsasamba sa tunay na Diyos, ay nagsanhi sa mga [imahen] ng mga patay na mga hari upang maipatayo at benditaduhin, at ipinalagay sa kanilang mga sarili ang kanilang mga pangalan (Isinalin mula kay Unger, ibid.).

Tapos isinipi ni Dr. Smith si Augustine (354-430) na “madalas nagpipilit sa teribleng kapangyarihan ng demonyo sa parehong panahon na nauna at sa mga araw na parating pa lang” (Isinalin mula sa ibid., p. viii). Sumipi si Dr. Smith mula sa The City of God, kung saan itinatanong ni Augustine ang tanong,

Anong espiritu ito, alin ay sa pamamagitan ng nakatagong inspirasyon ay pumupukaw sa mga kurapsyon ng tao, at ibinubunsod sila sa pangangalunya…maliban na lang kung ito’y ang pareho na nakahahanap ng kasiyahan sa ganoong mga relihiyosong seremonya, naglalagay sa mga templo ng mga imahen ng mga diablo…na bumubulong ng palihim ng ilang mga makatuwirang sabi-sabi upang linlangin ang kaunting mabuti, at…upang makakuha ng pag-aari ng milyong mga masasama? [Si Augustine ay nagpatuloy sa pagsasabi na ang Kristiyanismo, ang nag-iisang tunay na relihiyon] ay nakapaghayag rin na ang mga diyos ng mga bansa ay mga pinaka mahalay na mga demonyo, na nagnanais na maisip silang mga diyos…kina-iinggitan ang pagbabagong loob ng mga kaluluwa ng tao sa tunay na Diyos (Isinalin mula kay Unger, ibid.).

Si Dr. Smith ay nagpatuloy na nagsabi, sa kanyang pambukas sa aklat ni Dr. Unger, na ang demonolohiya ay pinaliit, at pati nakalilimutan, sa modernong mga panahon. “Sa ika-19 na siglo ang buong paksa ay inismid ng maraming bilang isang mapamahiing kaisipan” (Isinalin mula sa ibid.). Itinuro ni Dr. Smith na sa pamamagitan lamang ng pagdating ng dalawang pandaigdigang digmaan sa ika-20 na siglo, at ang mabilis na pagtaas ng ateyismo at ng mga kulto, na ang paksa ng demonolohiya ay nagsimulang mapag-usapan muli (Isinalin mula kay Unger, pp. viii-ix). Tapos ay sinabi niya,

Sa oras na tulad nito, hindi tayo matutulungan ng pilosopiyang maintindihan kung ano talaga ang nangyayari sa isipan ng di-napagbabagong buhay na sangkatauhan; at ni ekonomiya, sosiyolohiya, o psikolohiya ay makapagsabi sa atin kung ango parating. [Dapat] tayong tumingin sa oras na ito ng lumalalim na kadiliman sa ilaw ng nagmuumula sa Salita ng Diyos (Isinalin mula kay Unger, ibid., p. x).

Ito’y nagdadala sa atin pabalik sa ating teksto,

“Nguni't hayag na sinasabi ng Espiritu, na sa mga huling panahon ang iba'y magsisitalikod sa pananampalataya, at mangakikinig sa mga espiritung mapanghikayat at sa mga aral ng mga demonio; Sa pamamagitan ng pagpapaimbabaw ng mga tao na nagsisipagsalita ng mga kasinungalingan, na hinerohan ang kanilang mga sariling budhi ng waring bakal na nagbabaga”
       (I Ni Timoteo 4:1-2).

“Hayag na sinasabi ng Espiritu,” iyan ay, malinaw, naglalantad ng hindi maaring malaman sa pamamagitan ng pangangatwiran ng tao. At ang ibinubunyag ng Espiritu ng Diyos rito ay na mayroong isang pag-alis o pagtalikod mula sa Kristiyanong pananampalataya “sa mga huling mga araw.” Tapos tayo ay binibigyan ng dahilan para sa pagtalikod sa dating pananampalataya “mangakikinig sa mga espiritung mapanghikayat [mapanloko] at sa mga aral [pagtuturo] ng mga demonio.” Tayo ay sinabihan sa simula ng teksto na ang nakakatakot na pagtalikod sa pananampalataya ay mangyayari sa “huling mga araw.” Ito’y tumutukoy, sa kalahatan, sa buong Kristiyanong dispensasyon, at gayon ibang mga Kasulatan, gayun din ito, ay nagtuturo sa lumalaking inklinasyon papunta sa pagtalikod sa pananampalataya at demonikong pagtuturo, na tumataas ng pirmehan habang ang panahong ito’y papalapit sa isang pagsasara, na maabot ang rurok nito sa loob ng Matinding Tribulasyon, bago ng Pangalawang Pagdating ni Kristo.

Paniniwala ko na ang propesiyang ito ay nagsimulang matupad sa loob ng tinatawag na “Iluminasyon” ng ika-18 ng siglo, noong ang mga kalalakihan ay nagsimulang umasa sa kanilang sariling pagdadahilan kay sa sa Salita ng Diyos. Ito’y nagdala sa isang pagkasira ng teolohiya, at kasama ni C. G. Finney (1792-1875) – na ang kanyang mga panananaw na nahubog ng Iluminasyon kay sa ng Repormasyon – ay dumating ang pagbangon ng “desisyonismo,” na nagpuno sa mga simbahan ng mga di-napagbabagong loob na mga milyon, gayon gumagawa, mula sa mga rango ng mga di napagbabagong loob na mga ito, ng mga kalalakihan na nagturo ng mga liberal na pananaw, na ikinakait ang Banal na Kasulatan na,

“mga di banal, na pinalitan ng kalibugan ang biyaya ng ating Dios, na itinatatuwa ang ating iisang Guro at Panginoong si Jesucristo” (Judas 4).

Sa loob ng madaling panahon din, bago ng panahon ni Finney, si Johann Semler (1725-1791) ng Alemanya, ay nagsimulang magturo ng kritisismo ng Bibliya. Alemang kristisismo ng Bibliya, kasama ng “desisiyonismo” ay nagdulot ng matinding pagkalito sa mga simbahan. At sa loob ng panahon ni Finney, at di nagtagal pagkatapos, kakaibang mga kulto at huwad na mga kaisipan ay bumangon – gaya ng Campbellism, Mormonism, Seventh-Day Adventism, ang mga Saksi ni Jehovah at marami pang iba. Ito’y sinundan ng isang panahon sa loob ng huling bahagi ng ika-20 na siglo, noong Silangang relihiyosong mga kaisipan ay nagdagsaan, at “bagong panahong” mistisismo ay naging isang permanenteng bahagi ng Kanlurang sibilisasyon. Naniniwala ako na ibinibigay niyan sa atin ang makasaysayan at eskatokohikal na sakop ng ating teksto,

“Nguni't hayag na sinasabi ng Espiritu, na sa mga huling panahon ang iba'y magsisitalikod sa pananampalataya, at mangakikinig sa mga espiritung mapanghikayat at sa mga aral ng mga demonio; Sa pamamagitan ng pagpapaimbabaw ng mga tao na nagsisipagsalita ng mga kasinungalingan, na hinerohan ang kanilang mga sariling budhi ng waring bakal na nagbabaga”
        (I Ni Timoteo 4:1-2).

Ngayon ako’y sesentro, sa huling kalahati ng sermong ito, sa paksa ng demonismo at doktrinal na panloloko – o, doktrina ng demonyo. Nagsasalita tungkol sa ating teksto, sinasabi ni Dr. Unger, “Ang mga ‘espiritung mapanghikayat’ ay ang mga mapaglinlang na mga ‘demonio,’ na walang humpay na masigasig sa pagbibigay ng maling kahulugan ng katotohanan at nagdadala…sa mga taong maligaw mula sa tunog ng doktrina” (Isinalin mula kay Unger, ibid., p. 166). Muli, sinabi ni Dr. Unger,

Kahit na ang saktong anyo ng pagkakamali ay ipinalalagay ng mga “doktrina ng mga demonyo” sa partikular na pagkakataong ito [I Timoteo 4:3] ay tila…limitado sa ilang lokal na erehya na…nagbabanta sa…kadalisayan ng simbahan sa panahon, gayon ito’y dapat hindi ipapalagay na ang demonikong panloloko ay limitado sa…asetisismo, pagbabawal ng pagpapakasal, at pagsisimangot sa ilang mga uri ng pagkain. Ang [iba’t-ibang] mga anyo at halos walang katapusang pagkakaiba, na ang maaring ipalagay ng mga “doktrina ng demonyo” ay inilalarawan ng [maraming] kabuktutan ng dalisay na Kristiyanismo…at lalo ng sa pagkakagulo ng Babel ng mga kulto at mga pangkat na nagpapasakit sa modernong mga bansa ng Kristiyano (Isinalin mula kay Unger, ibid., p. 168).

Sinasabi sa atin ng Apostol Juan na ang demonismo ay ang kapangyarihan sa likod ng huwad na doktrina. Lumipat sa I Ni Juan 4:1-3, at basahin ito ng malakas.

“Mga minamahal, huwag kayong magsipaniwala sa bawa't espiritu, kundi inyong subukin ang mga espiritu, kung sila'y sa Dios: sapagka't maraming nagsilitaw na mga bulaang propeta sa sanglibutan. Dito'y nakikilala ninyo ang Espiritu ng Dios: ang bawa't espiritung nagpapahayag na si Jesucristo ay naparitong nasa laman ay sa Dios: At ang bawa't espiritung hindi ipinahahayag si Jesus, ay [naparito sa laman ay hindi] sa Dios: at ito ang sa anticristo, na inyong narinig na darating; at ngayo'y nasa sanglibutan na” (I Ni Juan 4:1-3) – KJV.

Tayo ay sinsabihan na subukin ang mga “espiritu” sa likod ng mga bulaang propeta. Tayo gayon ay nabibigyan ng pagsubok. Kung ang pagtuturo ay naniniwala na si Hesu-Kristo ay “naparito sa laman” ang pagtuturo ay mula sa Diyos. Sinabi ni Dr. Norman L. Geisler ang pariralang “ay naparito” (eleluthota sa Griyego) ay nasa “Perpektong panahunan, ibig sabihin, si Hesus ay dumating sa laman sa nakaraan at nananatili sa laman” (Isinalin mula kay L. Geisler, Ph.D., The Battle for the Resurrection, Wipf & Stock Publishers, 1992 edisyon, p. 164). Ngunit kung ang pagtuturo ay nagsasabi na si Hesus ay isang espiritu, o ngayon ay isang espiritu (hindi ang nagkatawang-taong Kristo) gayon ang pagtuturo ay nanggagaling mula sa isang demonikong espiritu. Sinabi ni Dr. Unger,

Ang di-kailan mang nabibigong pagsubok upang ipagkaiba ang huwad mula sa tunay ay ang saligang katotohanan ng pagkatawang tao ni Hesu-Kristo…ang masama at manghikayat na mga espiritu ni Satanas ay nagtatago, at binibigyan ng maling kahulugan at tinatanggihan ang maluwalhating katotohanan na ito, tinatanggap, gaya ng pagtanggap nito, ng natapos na pagtutubos na gawain ni Kristo (Isinalin mula kay Unger, ibid., p. 172).

Inililista ni Dr. Unger ang “humanism, Mormonism, ateyismo, agnostisismo, mga Saksi ni Jehovah” bilang mga nagkakaroon ng “iba’t-ibang mga antas ng demonikong panloloko” (Isinalin mula kay Unger, ibid., p. 178). Inililista rin ni Unger ang “Unitarian-modernism, at iba pa [bilang nagpapakita] ng kanilang mahalagang demonikong karakter” (Isinlain mula kay Unger, ibid., p. 178).

Ang modernismo (liberalismo) na lumusot sa dakilang Protestante at Bautismong denominasyon ay nanggagaling mula sa isang demonikong pagtatanggi ng II Timoteo 3:16. Isa sa mga “doktrina ng mga demonyo” ay ang pagkakait sa pagkawalang pagkakamali ng Bibliya, at upang “suplementuhin” ang Bibliya ng mga karagdagang pagsusulat tulad ng Koran, mga aklat sa Tekstuwal na Kritisismo, ang Aklat ng Mormon, literatura ng Saksi ni Jehovah, at iba pa. Naniniwala ako na dalawang demonikong doktrina, higit sa lahat ng iba, ay nakagawa ng katakot-takot na pinsala sa ating mga simbahan – sila’y ang (1) Mas Mataas na Kritisismo ng Bibliya (Isinalin, tignan ang The Battle for the Bible ni Dr. Harold Lindsell, Zondervan, 1976), at (2) Desisyonismo – na pumapalit sa tunay na pagbabagong loob na may mababaw na makataong pagkilos (Isinalin, tignan ang Today’s Apostasy ni R. L. Hymers, Jr. at C. L. Cagan. I-klik ito upang basahin ito online). Paki lipat sa II Ni Timoteo 3:16 at basahin ang berso ng malakas.

“Ang lahat ng mga kasulatan na kinasihan ng Dios ay mapapakinabangan din naman sa pagtuturo, sa pagsansala, sa pagsaway, sa ikatututo na nasa katuwiran” (II Ni Timoteo 3:16).

Bilang resulta ng pagtatanggi ng mga dakilang Protestante at Bautismong denominasyon sa salitang inspirasyon ng Bibliya, “Ang resulta ay isang humina, makamundong Simbahang walang kapangyarihang magbagong buhay, walang kapangyarihang makapag-akit, at di masagot ang namimighating hiyaw ng makasalanang sangkatauhan para sa espiritwal na katotohanan. Isang biktima sa mga nanghihikayat na mga espiritu, isa lamang mahapyaw na muling pagkabuhay ng Espiritu ng Diyos ang makakapigil sa nagpapahayag na Simbahan mula sa pagkahulog ng higit sa…kalagayang iyon, kung saan ang binabantaan ng ating Panginoon na Kanyang ‘isusuka’ ang Laodiceang mga propesor palabas ng kanyang bibig, Apocalipsis 3:16” (Isinalin mula kay Unger, ibid., p. 179).

Kaya nakita natin ang dalawang paraan na ibinibigay sa atin ng Bibliya upang mawari ang doktrina ng mga demonyo (I Ni Timoteo 4:1). Ang unang pagsubok na ating nakita ay nasa I Ni Juan 4:1-3. Itinuturo ba nila na si Hesu-Kristo ay ang nagkatawang taong Diyos na “naparitong nasa laman” (perpektong panahunan)? Ang pangalawang pagsubok ay nakita natin sa II Ni Timoteo 3:16. Sinusundan ba nila ang Kasulatan na hindi nagdaragdag ng karadagang pagsusulat na bumabaluktot ng Kasulatan o nagwawasto ng mga ito?

“Ang lahat ng mga kasulatan na kinasihan ng Dios ay mapapakinabangan din naman sa pagtuturo, sa pagsansala, sa pagsaway, sa ikatututo na nasa katuwiran” (II Ni Timoteo 3:16).

Sinabi ni Dr. Unger,

Sa gitna nitong kakilakilabot na pagkalito ng modernong mga kulto…ang Bibliya, ang nabubuhay na Salita ng katotohanan ng Diyos, ay ang nag-iisang tiyak na proteksyon ng Kristiyano laban sa doktrinal na panloloko…si Satanas at kanyang mga karamihan ay maaring maiwasan ang mga makataong opinion at interpretasyon ng tao, ngunit hindi nila matatagusan ang di magugubong depensa ng Banal na Salita ng Diyos! (Isinalin mula kay Unger, ibid., pp. 179-180).

Sinabi ni Dr. J. Vernon McGee,

Ang nag-iisang paraan ng kaligtasan ay sa pamamagitan ng kamatayan ni Kristo, at ito’y sa pamamagitan ng katotohanan na maari nating masubok ang mga doktrina ng mga demonyo (Isinalin mula kay J. Vernon McGee, Th.D., Thru the Bible, Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1983, volume V, p. 447; sulat sa I Ni Timothy 4:1).

Paulit-ulit naming sinasabi sa inyong basahin ang Bibliya at makinig sa pangangaral ng Salita ng Diyos. Paulit-ulit naming sinasabi sa inyong magpunta kay Hesu-Kristo ang minsang napako sa krus ngunit ngayon ay bumangong Tagapagligtas. Pakinggan ang Salita ng Diyos. Lumapit kay Kristo. Nakipag-bayad siya para sa iyong kasalanan sa Krus. Siya’y nabubuhay ng kailan man sa kanang kamay ng Diyos Ama. Lumapit kay Kristo at ika’y Kanyang ililigtas mula “sa likong lahing ito” (Mga Gawa 2:40). Sinabi ni Hesus,

“Ako ang ilaw ng sanglibutan: ang sumusunod sa akin ay hindi lalakad sa kadiliman, kundi magkakaroon ng ilaw ng kabuhayan” (Juan 8:12).

Hango sa websayt na:http://www.rlhymersjr.com/

Invention of the ‘Rapture’ idea

Featured Video: Pre-Tribulation Jesuit Rapture debunked (with Kent Hovind)

 Perhaps a short true history of who, how, and when the pre-tribulation rapture doctrines originated would be helpful for you to help those whom you know to be in denial or failing to prepare because of this JESUIT DOCTRINE. Jesuit? Yes, two Jesuit priests laid the foundations of the pre-trib rapture doctrine, largely unknown in the history of the Church, prior to the Reformation. At the time of the Reformation, the vast majority of Protestants were convinced that the Pope was the personification of the antichrist. Most today, now understand the pope to be the ―second beast‖, the ―false prophet‖ of the antichrist prince. However, at the time of the Reformation, it was universally believed by all Protestants, that the Roman Church was the Harlot Religion System of Revelation seventeen. Today there is still good cause to see the Roman Church as the religious component of Babylon. This understanding that the Roman Church is the ―Religious Babylon‖ brought millions of believers out of the Roman Catholic religious system during the Reformation period. Because of how many, during the Reformation, saw the Roman Church as the Babylon harlot of Religion, it became expedient for certain Roman theologians to turn the attention of the people away from the Papacy. Indeed the Jesuits were responsible for the popularization and propagation of the pre-tribulation rapture doctrines. It was two Jesuit priests who rightly deserve the title as the founders of pre-tribulation rapture doctrines. These two Jesuits invented a counter-interpretation to that that was held unanimously by the Christians. In the entire history of the Church prior to the writings of these two Jesuit priests virtually all Christians believed that the eminent Resurrection, Rapture, and Return of the Lord was a single simultaneous event, happening in the twinkling of an eye, on the last day, at the last trump. When is the Last Day? When is the Last Trump? Before we expose the these two Jesuits. The first concept of the rapture, in connection with premillennialism, was expressed by the 17th-century American Puritan father and son Increase and Cotton Mather. They held to the idea that believers would be caught up in the air, followed by judgments on the Earth, and then the millennium.[13][14] The term rapture was used by Philip Doddridge[15] and John Gill[16] in their New Testament commentaries, with the idea that believers would be caught up prior to judgment on the Earth and Jesus' second coming.

The PDF goes much deeper than the movie and exposes the pre-trib doctrine laid by two jesuits who are the foundation of it. PDF by Dr Scott Johnson from www.contendingfortruth.com  DOWNLOAD HERE - http://st4.divshare.com/

Invention of the ‘Rapture’ idea

Rapture-removal is not the historic teaching of the Church. One of the more astonishing facts in the history of eschatological thought, and one that most Christians are unaware of, is that the idea of “a secret pre-tribulation, Rapture removal from the earth of the Church” is a fairly recent theory in Church history. In theological circles, it’s a “Johnny come lately.” Even the historic creeds, conspicuously, don’t mention it. In fact, it was relatively unheard of and never taught until the early 19th century, and it didn’t become widespread until the 20th century. Since then, it has spread like wildfire. But the many failed predictions of its coming have made it an embarrassment.

The first known reference may have appeared in two obscure but contestable sentences from a 4th century A.D., 1500-word sermon written in Latin by someone called “Pseudo-Ephraem.” If so, this idea went essentially unknown and undeveloped for fourteen centuries. According to most researchers, the idea of a Rapture-removal from planet Earth prior to a “great tribulation” period began to surface in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Possible but only slight and vague mentions of it may have been published in the writings of a famous Calvinist theologian Dr. John Gill (1748), an early American Baptist pastor Morgan Edwards (1788), a Jesuit priest Emmanuel Lacunza (1812), and Edward Irving, who translated Lucunza’s book (1826).

Most scholars, however, agree that the secret Rapture theory was launched into prominence around 1830 by a group of people in Scotland who had become known as the Plymouth Brethren. Under the direction of John Nelson Darby (1800-1882) and others, they began to hold Prophetic Conferences. Supposedly, during one of those conferences, or from a sick bed during those conferences, a charismatic utterance came forth as a prophetic message from the Lord through a young, fifteen-year-old Scottish girl named Margaret Macdonald. While in a trance, she received a private vision and revelation that only a select group of believers would be removed from the earth before the days of the Antichrist. But she also saw other believers enduring the tribulation¾something most rapturists nowadays do not teach.

Soon thereafter, Darby coupled this highly questionable vision of a secret, pre-tribulation Rapture with another idea originated by the Jesuit priest, Francisco Ribera. In 1585 A.D., Ribera was the first to introduce the idea of interrupting Daniel’s 70-week, end-time prophecy and inserting a “gap” between the 69th and 70th weeks. This was done to deflect apocalyptic heat from the Reformers who were fueling reformation fervor by claiming the Pope was the Antichrist and the Catholic Church the beast of Revelation. Ribera surmised that the first 69 weeks (483 years) concluded at the baptism of Jesus in 27 A.D., but God had extended the 70th week into the future. Therefore, the Pope and the Catholic Church could not be so accused. Darby grabbed hold of Ribera’s severance idea, connected his “Rapture” to the beginning of that final week, and changed that week from a 7-year period of covenantal confirmation to one of tribulation¾big difference! (Notably, the Bible never mentions a future 7-year period of tribulation.) He then introduced this now fully developed, pre-tribulation Rapture view (theory) in Europe and later in America. It was popularized in American by inclusion in the notes of the Scofield Reference Bible in 1917 and by elaborate End Time event charts published in Clarence Larkin’s Dispensational Truth in 1918.

Of course, the relative newness of the “Rapture” theory in Church history (180 some years ago) neither proves nor disproves its biblical correctness. But it certainly shouldn’t be blindly accepted nor excluded from being questioned and tested (1 Thess. 5:21). Ultimately, the truth can only be found in the Scriptures. But what began as a result of one woman’s private vision and charismatic utterance became widely taught, accepted as the truth, and popularized in the thinking of millions. It has become so deeply entrenched that many pastors and Christian leaders assume it is an essential teaching of Church history extending back to apostolic times. It is not. What’s more, it is not believed by the majority in the Church today, and with good reasons.

Sources:

1 Shattering the ‘Left Behind’ Delusion by John Noē (out-of-print)

2 Unraveling the End (future book – est. 2012) by John Noē

3 End Times Fiction by Gary DeMar

4 Last Days Madness by Gary DeMar

5 The Rapture Plot by Dave MacPherson

6 Rapture Fever by Gary North

This post is originally from ( youtube video is not included) - http://prophecyrefi.org/rapture/invention-of-the-rapture-idea/

The Antichrist in the New Testament

By Richard Gunther

In my first article I tried to present the case for the Historicist view of the book of Revelation. I compared the prophecies with history and matched as closely as possible the words of Scripture with the actual events of the past. I leave it to the Reader to make up his or her mind as to whether the Historicist view is the correct interpretation of course.

   The question may now arise as to whether God has said anything else about the Antichrist? Well, yes He has, and you will find it in 2 Thessalonians 2.

   “Now we beseech you brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ . . .  that you be not shaken in mind . . .as that day of Christ is at hand. Let no man deceive you by any means; for that day shall not come, except there come the falling away first”.

   The expression “the falling away” is straight from the Greek. THE falling away is accurate because the Greek has the definite article here. It is not “A” falling away.

    The words “falling away” come from the Greek “apostasia” from which we get the English word “apostasy”. This word apostasy does not mean ‘a falling away from a religion into atheism.’ It means ‘a falling away by corruption from the truth’. In other words, Paul is here predicting some great event in which many true Christians would become corrupted, perhaps through strange teaching, and lapse into a state of spiritual pollution. The Church, Paul said, was to crumble into a corrupt counterfeit form of its true form before Jesus returned.

    History confirms this prediction exactly. For three hundred years after the Day of Pentecost, and for as long as the Roman Empire made life difficult for Christians, the Church stayed reasonably pure. Perhaps it was because of the opposition which Christians encountered that they hung on to their beliefs, but for whatever reason, there was a thriving Christian community throughout the Roman Empire for the first few centuries. But then, in 313 AD, when the Emperor Constantine was converted, there was a union between Church and State, which opened the way for pagan beliefs to come into the Church.

   This is not the place for a discussion about whether Christians should be in politics, but it ought to be pointed out that Church and State can be joined with great success under some circumstances, and there are many Christians who have maintained their integrity while at the same time holding high offices in the State.

   However, in 313 there was a co-mingling of compromising Church with pagan State and the following things resulted from it:

1.                      The pagan Priest in pagan Rome was called Pontifix Maximus, which means “High Priest”. This title was later transferred to the Pope, who is still called “Pontifix Maximus” even today.

2.                      The name of the mother of Jesus was changed. In Jeremiah 44:17 a pagan goddess is called the “Queen of Heaven”. This name goes back to Judges 2:13 and comes from the Phoenician goddess Ashtaroth. Her name has also been changed to Ashtar, and Ester, and today we know it as Easter. This “Queen of Heaven” was offered cakes, which we now know as Easter buns. But the Roman church gave the name Mary to the Queen of Heaven, making her into a goddess. This suited the pagans, who continued to worship Ashtaroth with cakes, and it suited the corrupted Church because they had now gathered into the fold a large number of ‘converts’.

3.                      Over the years the Roman church also gathered in many other pagan teachings, or invented and elaborated her own. Such corruptions as the Mass, Purgatory, Limbo, Prayers to saints, Penance, Earning salvation through self-immolation, Popery, the Priesthood of only a few select men, Military power, Celibacy, Flagellation, Rosaries, Monks, Nuns and many other abuses of the truth – and these were all brought in under the name of Jesus.

   The result of this contamination by pagan errors was a great apostasy – “the falling away”.

   Paul says in Thessalonians that after this falling away “that man of sin (shall) be revealed, the son of perdition”.

    It was the unanimous opinion of the Christian commentators from the Reformation onwards that Paul’s “man of sin” was identical with the Papacy.

   Incidentally, as a third witness to the accuracy of these predictions, the same sequence of events is outlined in Daniel 7 where the “fourth beast” is foretold, out of whose mouth comes a “little horn” which, Daniel says will “speak great words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High.”

    Why did Paul use the language he did? Why did he not simply spell out what was going to happen, instead of using such veiled language? Because the message had to be hidden from the Romans, to protect the Christians. Paul says, in verse 5 “Remember . . . when I was yet with you, I told you these things.” He did not want to write plainly that the Roman Empire was not going to last for ever, as the Romans believed. Here, in Thessalonians he hints at the fall of the Roman Empire in verse 6, but he does so in such a way as to obscure his meaning from any casual reader.

    The Antichrist is also called the “son of perdition”. Only one other person in the Bible has been given this title – Judas Iscariot. Jesus, in his prayer for the disciples (John 17:12) refers to Judas “None of them is lost, but the son of perdition”. We can therefore expect the “man of sin” to be similar to Judas.

What was Judas like?

1 He was, to all outward appearances, an apostle and a faithful follower of Jesus, but inwardly he was not committed to Jesus, and was always looking for personal gain instead,

2. He lost his place as a bishop for the Early Church because of his transgression (Acts 1:20)

3. While posing as an apostle, he was also a thief. The Bible says he was “a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put in there.”

4. For money he betrayed the Lord.

     The Papacy and Roman church had all these marks too. The Roman church proclaimed itself to be the true church, while at the same time it greedily gathered money which was meant for God’s work. It helped itself to the offerings, often given by the poorest people, and built itself up with fabulous wealth. In the Middle Ages incredible riches poured into the Papal coffers, and went into the swelling pockets of the Popes and cardinals, Bishops and Priests. Huge sums were spent on lavish palaces and grand houses for the leaders of the Roman church, instead of being employed in the welfare of the poor and needy.

      Furthermore, for the love of money, the Popes shamefully betrayed Jesus. They did this by taking money in return for prayers, Masses, special services for the dead, pilgrimages to shrines, holy relics, indulgences for sins and so on.

       A general estimate of the value of the Roman church, even today, including assets and investments, is approximately $2,000,000,000 (2 trillion)

      Paul goes on to describe the “man of sin” (2Thess.2:4)

   “(He) opposes and exalts himself above all that is called a god, or that is worshipped; so that he sits in the Temple of God, showing himself that he is God.”

      Futurists tend to take prophetic language literally, so should not come as a surprise to know that many Futurists believe the “Temple” here is the same rock and wood Temple which once stood in Jerusalem. This is why many of these folk are expecting the literal Temple to be rebuilt, so some world-leader can sit in it and show himself that he is God.

   The Temple of God.
   See 1Cor.3:16, 2Cor.6:16 and Eph. 2:20 – 22.

       In these passages the expression “Temple” is used. In Greek the word is ‘naos’, which, according to Baxter’s Lexicon, means “a dwelling, or the dwelling of a deity, or the Holy Place of the Temple in Jerusalem. So, just as we differentiate between the “front porch, the back door, the hallway, the lounge and the kitchen’, the Greek makes a difference between the Temple building and the Holy Place in the Temple. So “naos” does not mean the actual building, or literal Temple – it means the Sanctuary, or special place of Holiness.

        The different words used in the Greek make a lot of sense when read in context. For example, when Jesus said to the Jews “Behold your house is left to you desolate”  he used the word ‘naos’.(Mat.23:38) He could have used the word ‘heiron’ which means the whole Temple building, but he wanted to convey the meaning of the Sanctuary, where the Holy place was, where God was supposed to dwell when the High Priest entered. It was in the ‘naos’ where the curtain or Vail ripped from top to bottom, and it was the ‘naos’ which God left, in order to dwell instead, inside His Church.

         For other verses which use the word ‘naos’ see Mat.23:16, 17, 26:61, 27:5, 40, 51, Mark 14:58, 15:29, 38, Luke 1:9,21, 22, 23:45, John 2:19, 20, 21, Acts 7:48, 17:24, 1Cor.3:16, 17, 6:19, 2Cor.6:16, Eph.2:21, 2Thess. 2:4, Rev. 3:12, 7:15, 11:1, 2, 19, 14:15, 17, 15:5, 6, 8, 21:22, 16:1, 17.

       In every case where the word ‘naos’ is used it means the ‘sanctuary’ or ‘Holy Place’. If ‘Naos meant the old Jewish building, the actual stone and wood Temple, it would make nonsense of most of the references using ‘naos’. For example Eph.2:21 – how could the Church grow into an holy ‘heiron’, that is, an actual sone and wood building? The word used is ‘naos’ because God wants the Church to grow into a ‘Holy Sanctuary’.

        Returning to the subject, let us see what history shows.

   The following is an actual extract from the words used by Pope Boniface VIII in his bull of 1303 entitled “Unum Sanctum”:

       “The Roman Pontiff judges all men, but is judged by no-one . . . we declare, assert, define, and pronounce that to be subject to the Roman Pontiff is to every creature altogether necessary for salvation . . . that which was spoken of Christ “Thou hast subdued all things under his feet” may well seem verified in me . . .  I have the authority of the King of kings. I am all in all and above all, so that God Himself and I, the Vicar of God, have but one consistory, and I am able to do almost all that God can do. What therefore can you make of me but God?”

 (Compare these words with 2Thess.2:4)

       The Roman Empire.

   The King James version says “And now you know what withholds that he might be revealed in his time. For the mystery does already work, only he who now lets (or hinders) will let, until he be taken out of the way”.

      Expanded, this verse could read: “Now you know that the Roman Empire constrains the coming of the Papacy, but the Papacy will come in its correct time. For the spiritual corruption has already begun to work, but it will not come to fruit until the Roman Empire is taken out of the way.”

   The word “let” is an old English word, meaning “to hinder” or “hold back”. Today the word means quite the opposite. Many modern versions of the Bible use the correct word.

        Having identified the coming apostasy and the future rise of the Papacy, Paul goes on to say that something is holding back the appearance of this “man of sin”. The hindrance was the Roman Empire, which had to be destroyed before Satan’s incredible counterfeit, the false Church, could be born. Paul was very careful and very clever in his choice of words. He revealed enough for the alert to understand, but hid the truth well enough to protect the Church from needless harm.

    History’s great Bible students show a perfect fulfilment of Paul’s prophecy:
·        Chrysostom, Bishop of Constantinople, 390 AD said “By “the hindrance” Paul means the Roman Empire”.
·        Jerome in 400 AD said “If Saint Paul had written openly and boldly that the man of sin would not come until the Roman Empire was destroyed, a just cause of persecution would then appear to have been afforded against the Church in her infancy”.
·        Elliot, an eminent Protestant historian said “We have the consenting testimony of the early Fathers, from Irenaeus, the disciples of John, to the effect that it (the hindrance) was understood to be the Imperial Power ruling and residing in Rome”. (Horae vol.3 page 101)
·        Bishop Wordsworth in 1850 wrote “The earliest Christian writers declare almost with one voice that HE WHO LETTETH was the heathen Roman Empire”. (Apocalypse page 520)
·        Dr. Smith in his ‘Standard Bible Dictionary’ on page 1483 says “Many of the fathers regarded the Roman Empire as the restraining power”.

    John also writes about the Antichrist.
   See 1 John 218 and 2:22, 4:3 and 2 John 7.
   N 1 John 2:18 we are told that the Antichrist is an apostate Christian. The Antichrist goes out of the Church, or away from true Christian beliefs. The character of the Antichrist is revealed, and the evidence is that he will be someone who calls himself a Christian, but who is not in fact a true Christian.

   For example, the Roman church has long claimed to be faithful to Christ. It carries many crosses, celebrates many festivals. It pronounces many prayers and owns many church buildings. It constantly speaks of giving glory to God and so on, yet it includes Mary in the Godhead and prays to her as well as to God. This breaks the first of the Ten Commandments about idolatry. The Bible says that Jesus alone is the one and only mediator between God and men (1Tim.2:5) but the Roman church includes Mary, (and many saints as well), so what are we to think? Is the Roman church really Christian, or is it a counterfeit, on the same level as a cult?

    Another example is the contradiction by the Roman church of the means to salvation. Is it by Grace we are saved, or by Grace plus payment for prayers, self-immolation, indulgences and so on. There was a time when Pope Leo X used a German priest called Tetzel, who went through Germany selling indulgences for money. Tetzel cried out “He who drops a coin in the box will have his sins forgiven for ever!” It was this selling of indulgences which stirred Martin Luther to write to Pope Leo X naming him as the Antichrist.

   One could also list the many other heretical and unscriptural beliefs and practices which are part of the Roman church system, but that would be too tedious. C.S.Lewis described it as a “jungle” - so overgrown with false teachings that the original true church has disappeared.

   Can the Roman church be changed?

   Yes, of course it can. Any human, of whatever creed, religion, cult or community may become a Christian. But no Roman Catholic can be saved - not as long as he or she holds to the doctrines of the Council of Trent, which were ratified by the Roman church in 1545. These essential doctrines, or statements of belief, have never been rescinded, removed or recanted either by the Papacy or the will of the people within the Roman church. In fact, as the years have gone by, and successive Councils have been held, the doctrines of the Council of Trent have been verified and accepted.

   In essence, these doctrines reveal the apostate Roman Catholic church, the “beast” of Revelation, the ”little horn” of Daniel, the “man of sin” of Thessalonians and the Antichrist. As long as the Roman church continues to reject the Bible doctrines, which are plain to read and easy to understand, it will remain a counterfeit and apostate system.

   Please note, none of the above is a personal attack on any individual Roman Catholic.  God loves all people, and is “not willing that any should perish” but that all should come to repentance and faith in His Son. Jesus died for all people, no matter how wicked or misguided, and his free salvation is available to all to him the right way.

The Uniqueness Of Christ in History

In this lecture, Dr. Zacharias addresses the teachings and person of Christ against the curtain of history. Quoting historians and such artists as George Frederick Handel and William Cowper, he examines four distinctives of Christ's teachings which are unique in the span of history. This message was part of a forum on the uniqueness of Christ held in several major cities in the Republic of South Africa.

Ravi Zacharias On THE TRINITY

Ravi Zacharias explains the Trinity

Ravi Zacharias Q & A: The Contradiction of the Trinity and DesCartes

Ravi Zacharias answers questions from college students about the whether or not the concept of the Trinity is self-contradicting and what his views of Rene DesCartes are.

The meeting took place at Cornell University.

The audio can be downloaded from www.rzim.org under the "Let My People Think"

Word of Faith Teachers: Origins and Errors of Their Teaching

Question: "Is the Word of Faith movement biblical?"

Answer: Word of Faith teaching is decidedly unbiblical. It is not a denomination and does not have a formal organization or hierarchy. Instead, it is a movement that is heavily influenced by a number of high-profile pastors and teachers such as Kenneth Hagin, Benny Hinn, Kenneth Copeland, Paul and Jan Crouch, and Fred Price.

The Word of Faith movement grew out of the Pentecostal movement in the late 20th century. Its founder was E. W. Kenyon, who studied the metaphysical New Thought teachings of Phineas Quimby. Mind science (where "name it and claim it" originated) was combined with Pentecostalism, resulting in a peculiar mix of orthodox Christianity and mysticism. Kenneth Hagin, in turn, studied under E. W. Kenyon and made the Word of Faith movement what it is today. Although individual teachings range from completely heretical to completely ridiculous, what follows is the basic theology most Word of Faith teachers align themselves with.

At the heart of the Word of Faith movement is the belief in the "force of faith." It is believed words can be used to manipulate the faith-force, and thus actually create what they believe Scripture promises (health and wealth). Laws supposedly governing the faith-force are said to operate independently of God's sovereign will and that God Himself is subject to these laws. This is nothing short of idolatry, turning our faith—and by extension ourselves—into god.

From here, its theology just strays further and further from Scripture: it claims that God created human beings in His literal, physical image as little gods. Before the fall, humans had the potential to call things into existence by using the faith-force. After the fall, humans took on Satan's nature and lost the ability to call things into existence. In order to correct this situation, Jesus Christ gave up His divinity and became a man, died spiritually, took Satan's nature upon Himself, went to hell, was born again, and rose from the dead with God's nature. After this, Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to replicate the Incarnation in believers so they could become little gods as God had originally intended.

Following the natural progression of these teachings, as little gods we again have the ability to manipulate the faith-force and become prosperous in all areas of life. Illness, sin, and failure are the result of a lack of faith, and are remedied by confession—claiming God's promises for oneself into existence. Simply put, the Word of Faith movement exalts man to god-status and reduces God to man-status. Needless to say, this is a false representation of what Christianity is all about. Obviously, Word of Faith teaching does not take into account what is found in Scripture. Personal revelation, not Scripture, is highly relied upon in order to come up with such absurd beliefs, which is just one more proof of its heretical nature.

Countering Word of Faith teaching is a simple matter of reading the Bible. God alone is the Sovereign Creator of the Universe (Genesis 1:3; 1 Timothy 6:15) and does not need faith—He is the object of faith (Mark 11:22; Hebrews 11:3). God is spirit and does not have a physical body (John 4:24). Man was created in the image of God (Genesis 1:26, 27; 9:6), but this does not make him a little god or divine. Only God has a divine nature (Galatians 4:8; Isaiah 1:6-11, 43:10, 44:6; Ezekiel 28:2; Psalm 8:6-8). Christ is Eternal, the Only Begotten Son, and the only incarnation of God (John 1:1, 2, 14, 15, 18; 3:16; 1 John 4:1). In Him dwelt the fullness of the Godhead bodily (Colossians 2:9). By becoming a man, Jesus gave up the glory of heaven but not His divinity (Philippians 2:6-7), though He did choose to withhold His power while walking the earth as man.

The Word of Faith movement is deceiving countless people, causing them to grasp after a way of life and faith that is not biblical. At its core is the same lie Satan has been telling since the Garden: “You shall be as God” (Genesis 3:5). Sadly, those who buy into the Word of Faith movement are still listening to him. Our hope is in the Lord, not in our own words, not even in our own faith (Psalm 33:20-22). Our faith comes from God in the first place (Ephesians 2:8; Hebrews 12:2) and is not something we create for ourselves. So, be wary of the Word of Faith movement and any church that aligns itself with Word of Faith teachings.

Source: http://www.gotquestions.org/Word-Faith.html#ixzz2WwtnJ8Re




Are you or someone you know a follower of the likes of Joel Osteen, Kenneth Hagin, Joyce Meyer, Kenneth Copeland, Creflo Dollar, Benny Hinn, or T. D. Jakes etc? This film takes a responsible look at the major doctrines which separate this movement from historic biblical Christianity. Its origins and errors are documented with evidence and fact. Feel free to upload this film to your channel and please pray for the repentance and salvation of the false teachers critiqued in this film as well as those who follow them.

Introduction
Section 1.) Are we little gods? 6:39
Section 2.) Preaching a Different Jesus 1:06:10
Section 3.) Declaring Health, Wealth, and Happines 1:58:24
Section 4.) Questionable Origins of the Movement 2:45:00
Conclusion

W A R Word of Faith & Reformed Theology

W A R Word of Faith & Reformed Theology Part 1

Pastor Saiko Woods (Reformed) & Pastor Fred Price Jr (Word of Faith) sit down to have a candid, FACE to FACE conversation concerning the teachings of Word of Faith & Reformed Theology.

W A R Word of Faith & Reformed Theology Part 2


Pastors Saiko Woods (Reformed) & Fred Price Jr. (Word of Faith) meet again along with Pastor Tim Craig, Bro. Alfonzo Neal & Bro. Daniel Glaser to have a face to face discussion concerning the teachings of Word of Faith & Reformed Theology.

The Reformation and Man

Introduction

A struggle for the honor and integrity of God lay behind the central Reformation conflict over justification by faith alone. The Roman view of justification embraced one picture of God. The view of justification expounded by the Reformers embraced another picture of God.

The Reformers struggled to preserve the biblical view of God. They held that the true significance and glory of God are found within God Himself. While it is gloriously true that God goes out of Himself in blessing to His creatures, He is not dependent upon anyone or anything outside Himself for His sufficiency. This fundamental tenet lay behind the Reformers' opposition to such Roman doctrines as grace, the mass and the church.

But the Reformation was not only a struggle between two opposing views of God. It was also a struggle between two opposing views of man. We do not mean that after the doctrine of God was settled, the Reformation moved on to settle the nature of man. Rather, the being and character of God and the being and character of man were so bound together in the thought of the apostles and the Reformers that to settle one doctrine was to virtually settle the other also.

The Reformers' fundamental proposition concerning God was that God is totally self-sufficient. He is not in the least degree dependent upon anyone or anything outside Himself for His own well-being. The basic affirmation of the Reformers concerning man was that the true significance and glory of man are not found within man himself. Man is not self-sufficient. He is dependent upon Someone outside himself.

The Reformers and Rome were at variance both theologically and anthropologically. According to the Reformers, Rome's view of grace, the mass and the church threatened the biblical doctrine of God. So also, her view of man was opposed to the biblical picture of man and, in the final analysis, sought to destroy man.

We shall now set forth the Reformers' basic view of man.

Man's Knowledge of Himself

John Calvin's famous statement about man's self-knowledge sums up the basic Reformation position on man's knowledge of himself.  

    Man never attains to a true self-knowledge until he has previously contemplated the face of God and come down after such contemplation to look into himself.1

Man can only know himself in the light of God's revelation of Himself. The unveiling of God brings the unveiling of man. For a true knowledge of himself man must first contemplate the face of God and then descend to look at himself. Thus man's self-knowledge is reflexive. It proceeds from the revelation of God about Himself and about the creative activity of His love. To "come down" indicates the essential direction and motion of all Christian thought. Calvin is reiterating the biblical dictum, "In Thy light do we see light."2

Man's knowledge of himself does not lie within himself. Hence his knowing-activity is directed outward, not inward. The knowing-activity of man is not only specific mental activity but the comprehensive life-activity of man.

Man was created by God to have a special relation to God's Word. Man is dependent upon the communication of that Word for his very existence as man. His true life consists in lifelong and "life-wide" answers to that Word. Man's true life and dignity are found in this response to the Word of God. Calvin captures this responsive motion beautifully in his commentary on Genesis 2:9.

    As often as man tasted of the fruit of that tree, he should remember whence he received his life, in order that he might acknowledge that he lives not by his own power, but by the kindness of God alone; and that life is not (as they commonly say) an intrinsic good, but proceeds from God.... The life of all things was included in the Word, but especially the life of men, which is conjoined with reason and intelligence . . . . Wherefore by this sign, Adam was admonished that he could claim nothing for himself as if it were his own, in order that he might depend wholly on the Son of God, and might not seek life anywhere but in him. . . . He possessed life only as deposited in the Word of God, and could not otherwise retain it, than by acknowledging that it was received from him.

True knowledge of ourselves consists in the knowledge of God's light. Without His light we are in darkness and cannot be said to live. True knowledge of ourselves consists in the knowledge that the Known (God) is Master and Lord of our entire being and that we are utterly dependent upon His grace for our entire existence. Man is only truly man when he realizes his creaturely dependence upon the grace of God. The fundamental characteristic of man's true life is therefore thanksgiving and celebration.

Man's Knowledge of God

Man cannot know himself without knowing God. And he cannot know God unless God freely reveals Himself to man. God has done this in the gospel of Jesus Christ. For the Reformers the gospel was the definitive source for the knowledge of God. Hence the knowledge of God, like the true knowledge of man, is outside man. It is in Jesus Christ that man comes to know both God and man. In Jesus Christ God reveals Himself as the God of man and as the Man of God.

For Calvin, understanding man as the image of God could only take place from the standpoint of man renewed in Jesus Christ. Only when we see man face to face with God in Jesus Christ can we understand that man is made in the image of God.

From this standpoint it is clear that the image of God is not any natural property of the soul.3 Rather, it is a spiritual reflection in holiness and righteousness which should characterize all human existence. The image of God is seen in man's response to God the Father. This response is brought about by the Word in the power of the Spirit.

The image of God is man's intelligent life-answer to God's grace. At best it is only a shadow in this world until man reaches perfection. Hence the image of God may also be said to be God's destiny for man, God's goal for man.4

In summary, God's true significance and meaning are not dependent upon any reality outside Himself. On the other hand, man's true meaning and significance are found outside himself. Man can only know himself when he knows God. Man's true meaning is reflexive of the Word which God addresses to him. In order to know God, man is dependent upon God's revelation of Himself in Jesus Christ. When man views man renewed in Jesus Christ, he discovers that the image of God does not consist in any natural property of the soul but in the faithful life-response to the sheer goodness and kindness of God. The image of God is God's mind (communicated by His Word) reflected in the obedient response of the faithful covenant partner.

Man's Knowledge of His Sin

When man is viewed as the renewed man in Jesus Christ, man is seen as a sinner. This is not because Jesus Christ was a sinner. It is because the manhood of Jesus Christ throws into contrast the manhood of every other person.

Hence, for the Reformers the knowledge of sin, its nature and extent, was derived from the gospel. The knowledge of sin follows rather than precedes the grace of God. Thus the knowledge of sin comes from an external source and not from within man.

    If the death of Christ be our redemption, then we were captives; if it be satisfaction, we were debtors; if it be atonement, we were guilty; if it be cleansing, we were unclean.5

The gospel speaks of man's salvation in total terms. So also it speaks of the depravity of man in total terms. The gospel tells us that man can be restored only by going outside himself to Christ, the very image of God. Man himself must then be bereft of that image. And if anything of it does remain, it is but a fearful deformity.

In the light of the gospel, total perversity is an existence continually turned away from God. All man does, even in the exercise of his God-given gifts, is against God. Instead of imaging the glory of God by faithful response to the will of God revealed in His Word, man does God constant dishonor.6

It is a dubious apologetic which thinks that the only way to bring about a consciousness of sin is to inspire men with terror in order to force them to seek refuge in Christ. In his French Catechism of 1537 Calvin shows that the supremely powerful demonstration of the bondage of the will and of man's predicament comes when we view what God has done to save us in the Mediator. This should help correct those who want man to understand his plight by turning within himself.

Man's Righteousness

For the Reformers the gospel was the ultimate negation of all attempts by man to find meaning and significance in himself even with God's help. The gospel revealed the total extent of man's plight. It also revealed the total nature and extent of God's provision. For the Reformers the grace of God in Christ was more than a message. It was victory over all obstacles, the achievement of total restoration. In the gospel, sin is totally conquered, the new man is totally recreated, life is reestablished, and God and man are fully reconciled. The gospel is the consummation of everything that needed to be done to effect the new heavens and the new earth. The Reformers were captive to the Christ event. They saw it as the ultimate criterion by which man is to measure all things and to adjudicate all reality.

In the gospel the Reformers saw the ultimate demonstration of the true significance of man. The God who created man and gave him purpose and destiny came in the person of His Son to restore man. It is of the highest significance, then, that this God did not come to dwell in man by His Spirit to effect the restoration. That would have suggested that man's real significance is constituted by something within him, even if it is divinely engendered. The fact is however, that God came for man and not in man.

Man's sin has consisted in a dreadful inversion of the God-given perspective. Man has looked to himself as the final arbiter of meaning. His sin has consisted not least in his attempt to call the divine into the service of his quest to make himself the center of meaning. Hence man has from time to time been only too happy to acknowledge divine assistance. This is sinful man's version of "grace alone."

Of course, this is quite different from the understanding of "grace alone" which the Reformers received from Holy Writ. That "grace alone" orients man exclusively to the activity of God outside of man on his behalf. The "grace alone" of redemption in Jesus Christ was as outside of man as was the divine activity in the original creation. The "grace alone" of the re-creation of man in Christ has provided man with as extrinsic a focal point as did the initial creation. The God who gives man his true meaning is the God who is outside of man and over man, not a God who is in man and under him.

Luther agrees with this perspective when he says:

    You are righteous through steadfast love and mercy. . . . This [being righteous] is not [a matter of] my disposition or a quality of my heart, but something foreign, namely the steadfast love of God.7

The most fundamental thing that can be said about man must be said not in terms of man himself, but in terms of God. The righteousness of the human person must be defined in terms of the activity of the divine person.

A moment's reflection on something that takes place every day will help us understand this. Someone speaks of a child and says, "That child is precious." This statement points to the fact that the child stands in a peculiar relationship to someone else. The child is being defined in terms of the attitude of someone else toward the child.

So the believer is defined in terms of what God has done in Christ and not in terms of the believer as such. Hence, "You are righteous" is equivalent to "You are precious." Neither statement says anything about the person in himself. Both statements speak about the person in terms of the relationship of attitude and assessment of someone outside that person. This is the fundamental method of the biblical-Reformational definition of man. This is why the gospel brings into clearest relief the true nature of man.

The Reformers opposed the Roman Catholic Church so strongly because she wished to find the significance of man at least partly within himself. It was not that Rome asserted that man gave significance to himself without divine aid. Rather, with divine aid man and his actions were given significance within man. Rome was more or less consistent in this position. She asserted that man could know something about himself without the aid of God. She also taught that man could know certain things about God without God's special revelation. And Rome taught that the righteousness of God was not only the saving action of God in Christ but also that righteousness whereby God makes us righteous in ourselves, albeit by the power of His Spirit.

The Roman Catholic view of man has led to much introspection and consequent misery of spirit and mind. Likewise, in much evangelicalism—which has followed a Roman doctrine of man in more than one area—there has been all too much inward-looking piety. Even the Roman Catholic veneration of the saints has its popular evangelical counterpart in the well-known testimony meeting where the focus is "what the Lord is doing in my life."

For the Reformers a proper biblical understanding of man resulted in giving glory exclusively to God and bringing certainty and comfort to the conscience of man. Concern for the glory of God and the stability of man constituted the heart of the pastoral mission of the Reformation. Only when man finds the true meaning of his existence outside himself will God's grace shine with biblical brilliance and man's conscience rest in the peace and joy of the Holy Spirit.

By Geoffrey J. Paxton

Footnotes:
1 John Calvin, Institutes, I.I.2.
2 Cf. Ps. 36:9 and Calvin's commentary on the same.
3 To think of the image of God as a natural possession of the soul is an act of impiety which does despite to the grace of God.
4 This is yet another reason why the image of God cannot be seen as a static property of man's being which can be handed on from man to man by the will of the flesh (cf. Calvin's Sermons on Job).
5 Cf. Calvin's commentary on Gal. 2:21 and Eph. 1:10 For a variation of this theme cf. Ap. IV.12ff.; Ap. IV.392 in the Book of Concord.
6 Cf. Calvin's commentary on Eph. 4:24.
7 Luther's Works, 12:328.

Source: http://www.presenttruthmag.com