Comments on: What is your explanation on predestination, election, and free will as it pertains to salvation? http://christianity101online.com/blog/2006/08/13/what-is-your-explanation-on-predestination-election-and-free-will-as-it-pertains-to-salvation/ Just another WordPress weblog Sat, 11 Feb 2012 11:06:55 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.3 by: Stan Jantz http://christianity101online.com/blog/2006/08/13/what-is-your-explanation-on-predestination-election-and-free-will-as-it-pertains-to-salvation/#comment-100 Fri, 08 Sep 2006 01:04:33 +0000 http://christianity101online.com/blog/2006/08/13/what-is-your-explanation-on-predestination-election-and-free-will-as-it-pertains-to-salvation/#comment-100 Curtis-- Well thought-out response. We respect the classic Wesleyan Arminian viewpoint in this area, and we have friends in theological circles who would agree with your viewpoint. Our view (the classic Reformed view) is that God is the one who saves. It is His gift, and there's nothing we can do to earn our salvation (Eph. 2:8-9). There is consequently nothing we can do to "lose" it. If we can lose our salvation our works, then why can't we earn it as well? As for the people you mention (Judas, Annanias and Saphira), they had knowledge of God, but had not received God's salvation gift by faith. Stan Curtis–

Well thought-out response. We respect the classic Wesleyan Arminian viewpoint in this area, and we have friends in theological circles who would agree with your viewpoint. Our view (the classic Reformed view) is that God is the one who saves. It is His gift, and there’s nothing we can do to earn our salvation (Eph. 2:8-9). There is consequently nothing we can do to “lose” it. If we can lose our salvation our works, then why can’t we earn it as well? As for the people you mention (Judas, Annanias and Saphira), they had knowledge of God, but had not received God’s salvation gift by faith.

Stan

]]> by: Curtis Turner http://christianity101online.com/blog/2006/08/13/what-is-your-explanation-on-predestination-election-and-free-will-as-it-pertains-to-salvation/#comment-78 Sun, 03 Sep 2006 12:09:03 +0000 http://christianity101online.com/blog/2006/08/13/what-is-your-explanation-on-predestination-election-and-free-will-as-it-pertains-to-salvation/#comment-78 As a Wesleyan Arminian our denomination stresses holiness as the appropriate protection against backsliding. Backsliding (sinning habitually and without remorse) is an unfortunate reality for many people. Holiness is not our holiness gained by effort or striving. It is the convergence of all the scriptures we have read with the realization that God's Holy Spirit is not only with us but in us at sanctification when we are "filled with all the Holy Spirit" . . . i.e. the fullness of God. Many in our camp call this "full salvation." That may be a misnomer because if God saves us we are adopted into the family of God and some would say that an adoption is an irrevocable covenant of ownership. I don't believe that God will reject us in an easy manner after we are saved. But someone who willfully disbey God repeatedly can be lost. I don't believe that salvation takes away our free will. Examples include Judas Iscariot, Annanias and Saphira, and numerous others who fell out of favor with God and, in my opinion, lost their salvation and went to hell. Some would argue that God's transcendent love overlooks these sins and thereby we will go to heaven on Christ's merits. While I believe that this is true for a child before the age of accountability, I do not believe this holds for people who are in their right mind while in a state of disobediance. As a Wesleyan Arminian our denomination stresses holiness as the appropriate protection against backsliding. Backsliding (sinning habitually and without remorse) is an unfortunate reality for many people. Holiness is not our holiness gained by effort or striving. It is the convergence of all the scriptures we have read with the realization that God’s Holy Spirit is not only with us but in us at sanctification when we are “filled with all the Holy Spirit” . . . i.e. the fullness of God. Many in our camp call this “full salvation.” That may be a misnomer because if God saves us we are adopted into the family of God and some would say that an adoption is an irrevocable covenant of ownership. I don’t believe that God will reject us in an easy manner after we are saved. But someone who willfully disbey God repeatedly can be lost. I don’t believe that salvation takes away our free will. Examples include Judas Iscariot, Annanias and Saphira, and numerous others who fell out of favor with God and, in my opinion, lost their salvation and went to hell. Some would argue that God’s transcendent love overlooks these sins and thereby we will go to heaven on Christ’s merits. While I believe that this is true for a child before the age of accountability, I do not believe this holds for people who are in their right mind while in a state of disobediance.

]]> by: doug sowter http://christianity101online.com/blog/2006/08/13/what-is-your-explanation-on-predestination-election-and-free-will-as-it-pertains-to-salvation/#comment-60 Wed, 16 Aug 2006 23:50:43 +0000 http://christianity101online.com/blog/2006/08/13/what-is-your-explanation-on-predestination-election-and-free-will-as-it-pertains-to-salvation/#comment-60 thanks so much for your explanation of this tough subject. How do you respond to catholics who claim at the communion table is where we receive salvation? and also Catholics seem to believe that Mary is partly to rteceive credit for our salvation. One more thing, in reference to catholics explanation of receiving salvation they quote John 6:53-56 as scripture reference, thanks again, yours in Christ, Douglas K Sowter. thanks so much for your explanation of this tough subject. How do you respond to catholics who claim at the communion table is where we receive salvation? and also Catholics seem to believe that Mary is partly to rteceive credit for our salvation. One more thing, in reference to catholics explanation of receiving salvation they quote John 6:53-56 as scripture reference, thanks again, yours in Christ, Douglas K Sowter.

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