Total Depravity
Nobody desires God- we are all total enemies of God and everything He stands for.
Is. 64:6
Unconditional Election
We have done nothing to deserve our election
Romans 3:11
Limited Atonement
Christ only bore the sins of those whom God has chosen
Jesus’ blood is sufficient for all, but he only bore the sins of those God had chosen. He did not die to make everyone saveable but to save. He was a literal substitute for those God has chosen.
To say that Christ died a vicarious death in the place of all sinners but that not all sinners will be saved is a contradiction. Christ’s atonement was limited in its intent or purpose, it was unlimited in its power. Had God willed the salvation of every single person, the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus would have been sufficient.
Christ would have been ‘punished’ on the Cross for those sins, and yet the unbeliever is still punished in Hell.
Mark 10:45
Rom 3:22
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Arminianism
While Calvinism emphasises God's sovereignty, Arminianism is based more around man's responsibility when it comes to responding to the Gospel. It is named after a guy called Jacob Arminius, who like Calvin came up with five points to lay out his argument.
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Calvinism
Calvinist's subscribe to the principles set forth by this chap called John Calvin who said that essentially God was in total control of a persons eternal destiny. Calvin said that as humans we can't respond to God in any way of our own accord because we are totally sinful and don't Want to be saved. He set his argument out in what is now know as the Five Points of Calvinism.
Eternal Salvation
Christians love their debates don't they! And what debate can be bigger than one that includes questions such as:
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whether we have free will or not?
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whether we can lose our salvation?
Basically there is a massive split in Christianity- Calvinism and Arminianism. You've probably heard of these words, but if not, here's the basics of both sides of the debate.
Irresistible Grace
If God has chosen you, no matter how much you fight you will meet Jesus
John 6:37
Perseverance of all the saints
Every single true believer is a believer forever
Eph. 1:13,14
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Free Will
You choose God, it is a decision on your part
Rev 3:20
Conditional Election
God looked down the passage of time, and saw who would trust him and therefore chose them
John 1:12-13
Universal Atonement
Christ bore the sins of all
Luke 19:10
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Resistible Grace
If God has chosen you, you can still say no
Rev 3:20
Perseverance of some of the saints
Only believers who are 'overcomers' and live Godly lives will go to Heaven
James 1:12
Rev 3:5
Another Key Point before we go any further...
There is a difference between standing and state. These are two words that often get muddled up, especially when understanding ideas about enternal security.
Standing: your eternal position before God- basically, are you saved/unsaved?
State: your current enjoyment of the things of God in your walk here? This can be affected by how much you read the Bible, how much you pray, your moral life etc.
A Case for Eternal Security
Salvation is not Ours to Lose!
According as he has chosen us in him before [the] world's foundation, that we should be holy and blameless before him in love; having marked us out beforehand for adoption through Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will (Eph. 1:4-5)
The question is not 'Can I lose my salvation?', but seeing as (Jonah 2:9) ‘…Salvation is of the Lord.’ Can Jesus loose a Christian?
Look up:
John 10: 28, 29
2 Cor. 5:17
THINK: When the Children of Israel crossed the Red Sea (a type of us leaving the world behind), what part did they play? No part at all! Could they physically go back? No!
Not By Good Works
There are some who believe that good works are required in order to be saved. This would, again, cast doubt on their salvation. If salvation is based on something as shaky as our own doings, it would not be a very firm foundation.
Look up:
Titus 3:5
Ephesians 2:8,9
Romans 4:5
Was Christ's sacrifice so inefficient that it only takes one sin on my part to undo? No! The work on the cross was completed to God's eternal satisfaction.
Our Salvation is based upon Christ, the Person and His finished work.
