There are a number of other verses that are used by the anti-calvinist in an attempt to overthrow the direct words of Christ, in order to say that God attempts to save everyone in the world, without prejudice.
And based on that presupposition, salvation then, must be entered into and exited out of, by the will of man.
This is the doctrine that they maintain.
Unfortunately, this means that salvation is no longer by grace, but a combination of grace and works.
For God has to do His part, and man has to do his part.
And once man has done his part, and has entered into the position of being saved, then man must work to maintain that position, else man will fall away.
With that, scripture becomes false in many points.
Romans 9:16 (ESV) So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy.
This verse, where the context is specifically speaking about salvation (those who become part of the promised seed), becomes false.
Along with Jesus' many words.
Before i bring this brief series to a close, i wanted to revisit a point that the anti-calvinist that i was speaking to brought up.
They held the position that, not only can a person lose their salvation, but some can possibly not get it back.
They base this on the well known, but often misapplied, verses in the book of Hebrews.
Hebrews 6:4-6 (ESV) For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt.
They see these verses as showing that one can indeed lose their salvation. And that once it's lost, it cant be gotten back again.
Now, they didn't articulate why a person can't be saved again, only that they wouldn't actually be able to identify who these people are.
So they would still call to backsliders because they wouldn't know those who would fall into this condemnation.
Also, they hold that a believer can commit the unforgivable sin.
So, a person who is presently being indwelled by the Holy Spirit, isn't prevented from blaspheming the Holy Spirit by His very act of indwelling the person.
Therefore, the Holy Spirit can, and will leave if this sin is committed.
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Now, what is the problem with this, keeping in mind, that we're looking at this from the pov of the anti-calvinist?
The problem is that this understanding directly contradicts the foundational belief of the anti-calvinist.
I pointed this out in my discussion, but they did nothing to address it.
How does this bring a contradiction?
The foundational presupposition for the anti-calvinist is that God is trying to save everyone.
The ones who aren't saved are those who chose not to be.
The verses in Hebrews pose a problem with this view. However, because they didn't explain why it is that a person can't be brought back, we can't really bring an accusation.
But, the verses regarding blasphemy of the Holy Spirit are crystal clear what is going on.
The person who commits this sin, will not be forgiven.
That is the primary issue.
How can you have a God wanting to save everyone, but withholding forgiveness from people?
You can't.
Those are two contradictory positions.
What makes it worse is that they apply this to the christian.
So, in their view, the christian who commits this sin, could be repenting, and asking for forgiveness, but Jesus directly tells us that they will not be forgiven.
God refuses to forgive these people, while at the same time, supposedly trying to save "all people".
Again, when i pointed this contradiction out, they dodged it.
"All", could never truly mean all people everywhere, when God actively refuses to forgive some people.
Which means that everytime the anti-calvinist goes on and on about God desiring to save "all", they are being deceitful, because they know full well that it's not true.
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How should a calvinist view these verses?
Now, i've dealt with the verses in Hebrews before. But i'll reiterate how a christian should be viewing them.
The christian reading, should not be jumping straight to Hebrews.
First, they should ground themselves in what Jesus directly says about salvation.
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John 6:35-40 (ESV) Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.
But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe.
All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.
For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me.
And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day.
For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”
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John 10:25-30 (ESV) Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father's name bear witness about me, but you do not believe because you are not among my sheep.
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.
I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.
My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand.
I and the Father are one.”
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These two portions of scripture, are so direct and unambiguous, that to contradict, is to say that Jesus isn't God.
This is what Christ says about salvation, from God's perspective.
So, according to Christ, people cannot lose their salvation. Those whom the Father has given to Him, cannot be lost or perish.
Now that we know this to be true, because Christ said it, we can look at the verses in Hebrews.
We know that all scripture is inspired by God. So there cannot be any contradictions between what Jesus and the apostles say.
When we look at Hebrews then, we have to conclude that this is a "what if" situation.
We know this the case by how the scenario ends.
Hebrews 6:7-9 (ESV) For land that has drunk the rain that often falls on it, and produces a crop useful to those for whose sake it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God.
But if it bears thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to being cursed, and its end is to be burned.
Though we speak in this way, yet in your case, beloved, we feel sure of better things—things that belong to salvation.---
Here, we see the writer getting to the heart of the issue.
A good tree, produces good fruit. A bad tree, produces bad fruit.
Someone who is in Christ, will not bear bad fruit. The one who is not in Christ, will not bear good fruit.
This is why the writer continues on to their intended audience by saying that they are sure of better things that belong to salvation.
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Let's say, for arguments sake, that those verses weren't there. Would that mean that someone could lose their salvation?
No. This is because God has already spoken. Jesus has already told us how salvation works.
This doesn't mean that the verses are false, as they are true.
If someone could fall away, i.e. lose their salvation, they could not be saved again.
The question is why, and the answer is two-fold.
One, to fall away, means that there are now sins present that Christ has not paid for, is stands condemned.
Remember, to be saved means that one is not only seen as innocent before God, but completely righteous. As though the person had not sinned once in their life, but all at times was obedient to God's command.
So, for someone to once again be seen as guilty, to be deserving of the righteous wrath of God again, means that they now have sins that have not been atoned for.
So Christ would need to come down once again, to die once again, for these new sins that have come up (v.6).
Not only that, but this would make Christ an open shame (v.6).
Why? Because it shows that His atonement was not sufficient. That, "it is NOT finished".
All that talk about Christ dying once for all sins and taking a seat, indicating that His work was complete, becomes false.
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Now, lets move unto the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit.
How should a christian see this? Can a christian even commit it?
Well, unlike arminians, calvinists have no need to fear committing this sin.
Why? Once again, its because the words of Christ tell us that He doesn't lose anyone the Father has given to Him.
If a christian could commit this sin, then He could lose people. Some people would perish.
Now, its not simply that God knows we wont commit this sin, but rather, He prevents us from doing so.
We see a similar thing happen in regards to the beast written in the revelation.
Revelation 13:5-8 (ESV) And the beast was given a mouth uttering haughty and blasphemous words, and it was allowed to exercise authority for forty-two months.
It opened its mouth to utter blasphemies against God, blaspheming his name and his dwelling, that is, those who dwell in heaven.
Also it was allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them. And authority was given it over every tribe and people and language and nation, and all who dwell on earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain.
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Notice who does not worship the beast. All those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life.
Many believe that christians who take the mark will lose their salvation.
But scripture says none of the elect (those whose names are written before the foundation of the world), will worship the beast.
How is it that none of the elect will be deceived into doing this?
Because God causes us to overcome...
1 John 4:4 (ESV) Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.
1 John 5:4-5 (ESV) For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.
Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
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Not only that, but God makes moves in order to protect His elect from such things.
Matthew 24:22-25 (ESV) And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short.
Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There he is!’ do not believe it.
For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.
See, I have told you beforehand.---
Notice. The level of deception is so strong that even the elect would go astray... if it was possible. But, God cut those days short for the sake of the elect.
So, not only does God prevents us inwardly, by the Holy Spirit doing His work in us, but outwardly, God changes times to prevent us as well.
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With this, i feel satisfied ending this brief series.
It is always worth looking at the arguments from the other side from time to time.
Even if one has gone over the same verse before, it is always worth going over it once again.
The doctrines of grace, which are known as calvinism, and expressed in the acronym T.U.L.I.P., are not simply a biblical possibility - but rather, are the only conclusion one can come to if they simply let the scriptures speak for themselves, and not read it with presuppositions.
From the declaration of the angel to mary and joseph, all the way through to the new heavens and earth, the doctrines of grace are repeatedly shown to be at work, instead of the arminian view of salvation.
Not only is the arminian view self-contradictory (re: unforgiveable sin), not only does it turn important people into blasphemers by lying on God (the angel who proclaimed Jesus' birth, and john the baptist), but it makes Jesus no longer God - as His claims become false.
So, it was 100% correct that the church denounced the doctrines of arminianism as heresy, as they certainly strike at the very heart of the biblical gospel on all fronts.
With that being said, let us be praying for one another.
Salvation is granted to those who have all their theological tees crossed and is dotted.
Let us continue to grow together in the knowledge of the faith that God has given to us.
Amen
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