CALVINISM: THE TRUE DOCTRINE OF SALVATION
PART 1 - INTRODUCTION
PART 2 - HOW IMPORTANT IS TRUTH AND DOCTRINE?
PART 3 -
NUTSHELL SUMMARY OF CALVINISM’S FIVE POINTS
PART 4-
ARMINIANISM IS DECLARED HERETICAL PART 5-
CASE STUDY ON THE USE OF DOCTRINE PART 6-
THE LEAVEN OF ARMINIANISM PART 7-
WILL ARMINIANS BE SAVED? In recent years, we have witnessed the explosion in growth of
nondenominational churches under such labels as community churches, fellowships,
and mega-churches. Although some of these churches are excellent, some of these churches are not
only rejecting denominational standards, they are also rejecting or ignoring
well-established doctrinal standards as well. Some of these churches primarily market themselves to seekers who want to feel good without truth or doctrinal
restraints. Even though doctrine is simply defined as
"teachings", some of these nondenominational churches, and even some
denominational churches, portray doctrine as unnecessary, divisive, or worse. However, doctrine cannot be avoided unless a preacher or teacher just quotes
Scripture without making any summary or other comment. We need to determine how important is truth. We need to determine how
important is sound doctrine. We need to determine which doctrine of salvation is best
supported by Scripture. We need to determine how important it is to believe and
teach the true doctrine of salvation. Although I grew up in the Christian Reformed church with my family having
deep Reformed roots, I moved to an area of the country which had few Reformed
churches. For almost 20 years, I attended, was a member, and even a lay leader
in a wide-range of churches from Assembly of God to Calvary Chapel to Baptist to
a very large United Methodist church to a small nondenominational
"fellowship" to "community" churches. Some of these churches did not
label their doctrine as Arminian. I was disturbed by some of the sermons, but I
could not pinpoint what was wrong. Often, I thought the problem was just the
particular minister. Eventually, a friend asked me if I remembered
"TULIP", the acronym for the Five Points of Calvinism which is
the most important part of Reformed Doctrine. I began to study the differences
between Calvinism and Arminianism. I then understood that it was Arminian
doctrine presented in some of these churches. I realized
Calvinism’s importance, not only for how it made me appreciate God’s grace
more, but for how Calvinism is
the true doctrine of salvation. PART 2 - HOW IMPORTANT IS TRUTH AND DOCTRINE? Here are some Scriptural references on the importance of truth:
So, how important is truth?
1 Samuel 12:24
"Only fear the LORD and serve Him in truth
Psalm 15:1-2
"O LORD, who may abide in Thy tent? Who may dwell on Thy holy hill? He
who walks with integrity, and works righteousness, And speaks truth in his
heart."
Psalm 25:5
"Lead me in Your truth and teach me, For You are the God of my salvation; For
You I wait all the day."
Psalm 25:10
"All the paths of the LORD are lovingkindness and truth To those who keep
His covenant and His testimonies."
Psalm 51:6
Behold, You desire truth in the innermost being, And in the hidden part You will
make me know wisdom."
John 3:21
"But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be
manifested as having been wrought in God."
John 4:23
"But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship
the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His
worshipers."
John 4:24
"God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."
John 8:32
"and you will know the truth, and the
truth will make you free."
John 14:6
"Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth
Psalm 40:10
"I have not hidden Your righteousness within my heart; I have spoken of
Your faithfulness and Your salvation; I have not concealed Your
lovingkindness and Your truth from the great congregation."
HOW CAN CERTAIN “PROTESTANTS” PRIORITIZE THEIR FEELING GOOD OVER TRUTH?
IF TRUTH IS NOT THAT IMPORTANT TO THEM, THEN ARE THEY SAVED?
Webster’s New Standard Dictionary simply defines the word “doctrine” as “that which is taught”. Every preacher and teacher presents doctrine, because he or she teaches. No preacher or teacher just quotes Scripture and then sits down. Thus, we cannot avoid doctrine. Rather, we are commanded to follow sound doctrine.
Some of these churches have a disdain for doctrine and take pride in being non-denominational and not bound by doctrinal standards. Many of these churches
will present their own Faith Statements.
It is always difficult to "reinvent the wheel". But, it is downright dangerous to
do so with doctrine and faith statements.
I. There are those who worship God in vain who teach or believe in doctrines
based on the ideas of man. Those who worship God in vain are not saved.
"BUT IN VAIN DO THEY WORSHIP ME, TEACHING AS DOCTRINES THE
PRECEPTS OF MEN." Matthew 15: 9.
"BUT IN VAIN DO THEY WORSHIP ME, TEACHING AS DOCTRINES THE
PRECEPTS OF MEN." Mark 7: 7.
"For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to
have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance
to their own desires," 2 Timothy 4: 3.
II. We should not be carried about by every kind of doctrine. Doctrine does matter,
and we need to establish our faith on sound doctrine.
"As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and
carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in
deceitful scheming;" Ephesians 4: 14.
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Consider what the Founder of Calvary Chapel, Chuck Smith, said in his final concluding paragraph in his writing:
CALVINISM, ARMINIANISM & THE WORD OF GOD
A CALVARY CHAPEL PERSPECTIVE
"I would rather have the wrong facts and a right attitude, than right facts and a
wrong attitude".
Unbelievable! This is one example of how doctrine is being dismissed or
minimized. The prevalent attitude today in many Protestant churches seems to be:
"It doesn't really matter what I believe, so long as I love everybody."
Doesn't that seem a lot like the position of the Jews - that zeal is more important than truth? In Romans 10:2, Paul states about the Jews: "For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not in accordance with knowledge. For not knowing about God's righteousness, and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God."
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The following portions of Calvin’s Commentary on Galatians 1:6-9 show how
important doctrine is, especially the doctrine of salvation.
PORTIONS OF CALVIN’S COMMENTARY ON GALATIAN’S
TREATMENT OF PREACHING OR TEACHING
FALSE DOCTRINE
Galatians 1:6-9 |
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6. I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: |
See Calvin’s Commentary below. |
7. Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. |
|
8. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. |
|
9. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. |
|
(Note: Bill has deleted portions to emphasize the remaining portions. Bill has also added bold, italic, and underline to Calvin’s commentary.)
Calvin’s comments about Paul’s statements in Galatians 1:6-9:
“ his greatest severity of language is directed, as we shall see, against the false apostles. He charges them with turning aside, not only from his gospel, but from Christ; for it was impossible for them to retain their attachment to Christ, without acknowledging that he has graciously delivered us from the bondage of the law. But such a belief cannot be reconciled with those notions respecting the obligation of ceremonial observance which the false apostles inculcated. They were removed from Christ; not that they entirely rejected Christianity, but that the corruption of their doctrines was such as to leave them nothing more than an imaginary Christ.
On the same principle, he calls it another gospel, that is, a gospel different from the true one. And yet the false apostles professed that they preached the gospel of Christ; but, mingling with it their own inventions, by which its principal efficacy was destroyed, they held a false, corrupt, and spurious gospel.
When he says that they were called by Christ through grace, this tends to heighten the criminality of their ingratitude. To revolt from the Son of God under any circumstances, is unworthy and disgraceful; but to revolt from him, after being invited to partake salvation by grace, is more eminently base. His goodness to us renders our ingratitude to him more dreadfully heinous.
The gospel of Christ. To know what are the leading points of the gospel, is a matter of unceasing importance. When these are attacked, the gospel is destroyed. Paul enjoins them to stand steadfastly by his doctrine. He demands such unhesitating belief of his preaching, that he pronounces a curse on all who dared to contradict it.
In order to destroy more completely the pretensions of the false apostles, he rises so high as to speak of angels; ... It is impossible, no doubt, for angels from heaven to teach anything else than the certain truth of God.
But when the credit due to doctrines which God had revealed concerning the salvation of men was the subject of controversy, he did not reckon it enough to disclaim the judgment of men, without declining, at the same time, the authority of angels.”
Final note by Bill on this Scripture and Calvin’s Commentary:
We need to stand steadfast by the true doctrine of salvation. No one is beyond the realm of suspicion, not the angels, not Paul, not the Pope, not John Wesley, not Charles Finney, not Billy Graham, and not even John Calvin. In other words, we cannot conclude that just because a leader reaches a position of highest power and authority in the Christian world or seems to be most zealous and most effective, that such accomplishments cause the preaching of any other gospel to be acceptable. If they do preach another gospel, they are to be considered accursed.
PART 3 - NUTSHELL SUMMARY OF CALVINISM’S FIVE POINTS
Here is a brief summary of the Five Points of Calvinism known by the acronym "T U L I P":
"T" in "T U L I P" - TOTAL DEPRAVITY OR TOTAL INABILITY
"U" in "T U L I P" - UNCONDITIONAL ELECTION
"L" in "T U L I P" - LIMITED ATONEMENT
"I" in "T U L I P" - IRRESISTIBLE GRACE
"P" in "T U L I P" - PERSEVERANCE OR PRESERVATION OF THE SAINTS
Here is the "T"” - TOTAL DEPRAVITY
Man is spiritually dead in his sin, not just wounded. Man does not possess “free will”. Man is bound to Satan who has taken man’s will captive. Man is hostile to God. Man cannot please God. Man cannot understand the things of God. Man is in bondage to sin and Satan. As a result of the fall, sin has totally affected all the faculties of man, making man unable to contribute anything towards his own salvation. As the following Scriptures state, man does not seek after God, but rather man is dead in sin.
Romans 3:10-11:
" as it is written,
"THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE;
THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS,
THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD;
ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME USELESS;
THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD,
THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE." (Emphasis added by bold, italic underline)
Ephesians 2:1: “And you were dead in your trespasses and sins,” (Emphasis
added by bold, italic underline)
Here is the "U" - UNCONDITIONAL ELECTION
Election is unconditional in the sense that there is no condition of man that motivates God to choose or elect that person to salvation. God elects based on His own purpose and choice before the foundation of the world. There certainly is not the least bit good in man which motivated God to choose that person. Rather, God has mercy on whom He desires or loves according to His sovereign will.
Romans 9:10-21
“And not only this, but there was Rebekah also, when she had conceived twins by
one man, our father Isaac;
for though the twins were not yet born and had not done anything good or bad, so
that God's purpose according to His choice would stand, not because of works
but because of Him who calls,
it was said to her, "THE OLDER WILL SERVE THE YOUNGER."
Just as it is written, "JACOB I LOVED, BUT ESAU I HATED."
What shall we say then? There is no injustice with God, is there? May it never be!
For He says to Moses, "I WILL HAVE MERCY ON WHOM I HAVE MERCY,
AND I WILL HAVE COMPASSION ON WHOM I HAVE COMPASSION."
So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on
God who has mercy.
For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, "FOR THIS VERY PURPOSE I RAISED YOU
UP, TO DEMONSTRATE MY POWER IN YOU, AND THAT MY NAME
MIGHT BE PROCLAIMED THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE EARTH."
So then He has mercy on whom He desires, and He hardens whom He desires.
You will say to me then, "Why does He still find fault? For who resists His will?"
On the contrary, who are you, O man, who answers back to God? The thing
molded will not say to the molder, "Why did you make me like this," will it?
Or does not the potter have a right over the clay, to make from the same lump
one vessel for honorable use and another for common use?”
(Emphasis added by bold, italic underline)
Here is the "L" - LIMITED ATONEMENT
Christ died only for the Elect, and all of them, and only them, will be saved.
Matthew 1:21:
“... He ... will save His people from their sins.”
John 10:14-15 and John 10:26:
“I am the good shepherd; and I know my own, and My own know Me. ... I lay down my life for the sheep. ... But you do not believe, because you are not of my sheep.”
Throughout John Chapter 17, in Christ’s intercessory prayer, Christ prays for only those whom God gave to him and manifested God’s name to them and guarded them so that not one of them perished. See particularly verses 2, 6, 9, 12, and 24.
Ephesians 5:25-28:
"Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave
Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the
washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all
her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy
and blameless.
So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies."
This is a peculiar love, a special love just for His church. Just as a husband should
not love and give himself up for all women, but only his own wife, Christ loved
the church and gave Himself up for the church, not for all the world.
In Christ's intercessory prayer in John 17:9, we see Christ praying for only those
whom God gave Him, not for the world: "I ask on their behalf; I do not ask on
behalf of the world, but of those whom Thou hast given Me; for they are Thine;"
When we believe that Christ died only for us, His elect, not for the world, His love
and substitutionary sacrifice is appreciated more by us. We appreciate all the more
His passion, suffering, and death, because it literally took away our sins, not for
the world, not just possibly took away our sins depending on our free will of
whether or not we get and keep faith till our death:
"But He was pierced through for our transgressions,
He was crushed for our iniquities;
The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him,
And by His scourging we are healed." Isaiah 53: 5.
Here is the "I" - IRRESISTIBLE GRACE
God acts in graceful ways in His elect to make them alive, make them born again,
and to draw them to Christ in an irresistible way and that the Elect also find Christ
irresistible.
John 6:
37 "All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I
will certainly not cast out."
39 "This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose
nothing, but raise it up on the last day.
44 "No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I
will raise him up on the last day.
65 And He was saying, "For this reason I have said to you, that no one can come
to Me unless it has been granted him from the Father." (Emphasis added by
bold, italic underline)
Isn't it irresistible to cause something that is dead to be made alive? Notice
how God made us alive from the state of being dead in our sins.
Ephesians 2:1-9:
“And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked
according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the
air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. Among them we
too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh
and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.
But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,
even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with
Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us
with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He
might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ
Jesus.
For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is
the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. (Emphasis
added by bold, italic underline).
Isn't it irresistible to be “born again”, “born of the Spirit”? See John 3: 3-8.
Here is the "P" - PERSEVERANCE OR PRESERVATION OF THE SAINTS
God preserves the Elect to His heavenly kingdom. God protects their salvation
through His power. No one is able to snatch the Elect out of God’s hands. God
handles all the points of salvation as described in the golden chain of salvation
described in Romans 8:29-30.
Romans 8:29-30:
“For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the
image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;
and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He
also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.”
How much assurance do we need of Perseverance or Preservation of the
Saints???
If it is not enough to assure us that no one can snatch us out of Jesus' hands,
Jesus goes over the top by stating as additional assurance and protection or
preservation that no one is also able to snatch us from God the Father's hand:
John 10:27-29:
"My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me;
and I give eternal life to them, 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.”
The five points of Calvinism should not be isolated from each other, but rather
they do combine to teach of a God who saves from predestination to glorification.
See the golden chain of salvation in Romans 8: 29-30.
Throughout Scripture, we see that "salvation belongs to the Lord". His own
arm brought salvation to Him.
Isaiah 59: 15-16:
“Yes, truth is lacking;
And he who turns aside from evil makes himself a prey.
Now the LORD saw,
And it was displeasing in His sight that there was no justice.
And He saw that there was no man,
And was astonished that there was no one to intercede;
Then His own arm brought salvation to Him,
And His righteousness upheld Him.”
Psalm 3:8:
“Salvation belongs to the LORD; ...”
If God controls the smallest details of life on earth so that not even a sparrow falls to the ground apart from the will of God (Matthew 10:29), then do you really think that God is giving up any control over salvation to man's free will? Are sparrows more important than the salvation of man?
No, God saves according to His purpose according to His choice, not because of
works or even the will of man. Salvation does not depend on the man who wills or
the man who runs, but on God who has mercy on whom He desires. See Romans
9: 11-18.
TOTAL PERFECT TRIUMPH:
God has made a perfect plan: total in scope, perfect, and designed for His
glory and triumph. God perfectly executes his plan: totally accomplishing
every detail, perfectly accomplishing every detail, and triumphantly
accomplishing every detail, all in a way which perfectly brings God total
perfect triumph.
We can exult in total perfect triumph in Christ.
Consider Isaiah 46: 9-11:
"Remember the former things long past,
For I am God, and there is no other;
I am God, and there is no one like Me,
Declaring the end from the beginning,
And from ancient times things which have not been done,
Saying, ' My purpose will be established,
And I will accomplish all My good pleasure';
Calling a bird of prey from the east,
The man of My purpose from a far country.
Truly I have spoken; truly I will bring it to pass.
I have planned it, surely I will do it.”
Consider John 6: 28-29:
“Therefore they said to Him, "What shall we do, so that we may work the works of
God?" Jesus answered and said to them, ‘This is the work of God, that you
believe in Him whom He has sent.’ "
In summary: Psalm 115:3 states:
"But our God is in the heavens;
He does whatever He pleases."
John 1:12-13:
"But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of
God, even to those who believe in His name,
who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man,
but of God. " (Emphasis added by bold, italic underline)
So, our response is:
"Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God;" Revelations
19: 1b.
"Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns." Revelations 19: 6b.
Final conclusion:
Calvinism focuses on understanding God and His work! Let us seek to
understand how great God is and how he actively and sovereignly brings forth
lovingkindness, justice, and righteousness, because God delights in these things.
"Thus says the LORD, "Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the
mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches;
but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am
the LORD who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth; for
I delight in these things," declares the LORD. Jeremiah 9: 23-24 (emphasis
added).
In
TULIP - The Five Points of Calvinism in the Light of Scripture by Duane
Edward Smith, 2nd Edition, Baker Books, 2003, pages 13-14, it is stated:
"... in 1618, a National Synod of the Church was convened in Dort to examine the
teachings of Arminius in the light of Scripture. After 154 earnest sessions, which
lasted seven months the Five Points of Arminianism were found contrary to
Scripture and declared heretical (heresy)." Calvinism was the accepted sound
doctrine of the leaders of the Reformation and its Protestant followers. We,
Protestants, need to be reformed and go back to our root doctrine of Calvinism.
Here is a briefest summary and comparison of the doctrines, mostly comparing the
third point ("Universal Atonement" in Arminianism compared to "Limited
Atonement" in Calvinism). But, the reader should study all Five Points of
Calvinism and compare it to the Five Points of Arminianism in light of Scripture.
In regards to this third point, Arminianism believes that God loves everyone,
Christ died for everyone, and God wants to save everyone, and that the only
difference between the unsaved and saved is that some take what I will call "a leap
of faith" from that wide bridge of universal atonement (which wide bridge
illustrates that Christ died for everyone). Arminians believe that everyone has an
equal opportunity to be saved (at least in comparable situations), but that Christ's
death saved no one, only those who take the leap of faith (to the other shore as the
illustration) will be saved. Thus, the bridge is wide, but it only goes halfway
across the stream.
In contrast, Calvinism believes that God only loves His elect and only wants to
save them. Christ died only for the elect, and God does everything necessary for
the salvation of His elect. In comparison to the wide bridge of Arminianism,
Calvinism is the narrow bridge because salvation is only available for the Elect,
but unlike the Arminian bridge which only goes half-way across the stream,
Calvinism’s narrow bridge completely crosses the stream because God handles all
the points of salvation. Because Man is so totally depraved (first point of
Calvinism) that he is "dead" in sin, hostile to God, cannot please God, cannot
understand the things of God, and is in bondage to sin and Satan, God must make
His elect "born again" or "alive" or "draw" them to Christ, or else no one would
believe and be saved. God does everything for the elect, including giving them
faith, sanctifying them, and preserving them to salvation, so that all the elect will
be saved. See the golden chain of salvation in Romans 8: 29-30.
Arminian doctrine believes that man's work of faith is the only variable which can
bring man from universal atonement to salvation; whereas, Calvinist doctrine
believes that God's work is the only variable which brings man from total
depravity to salvation. What appears to be "a doctrine of the precepts of man"?
Remember also Jesus' words in Luke 13: 24: "Strive to enter by the narrow door;
for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and not be able." Likewise, Jesus tells us in
Matthew 7: 12: "Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide, and the way is
broad that leads to destruction, and many are those who enter by it. For the gate is
small, and the way is narrow that leads to life, and few are those who find it."
These Scriptures should cause us to pause and consider whether or not Arminian's
doctrine in universal atonement and a doctrine based on "man's leap of faith" may
be the broad way that leads to destruction.
Arminianism appears to rest on "the wisdom of man" while Calvinism appears to
rest on "the power of God"? Is it true faith to believe that salvation is dependent
on man's choice - “the wisdom of man”? Certainly, Arminianism is more
attractive and wise and just to our natural human mind to believe that everyone has
an equal opportunity to be saved and to believe in free will and to believe in
sufficient goodness in man and to believe that salvation is ultimately controlled by
us as to whether or not we will choose Christ and be saved. However, our faith
should not rest on the wisdom of men (Arminianism) but on power of God
(Calvinism). See I Corinthians 2: 5.
PART 5- CASE STUDY ON THE USE OF DOCTRINE
Here is a case study on the use of doctrine.
I have included an actual Faith Statement of one such nondenominational “fellowship”. Here is my reply to its Faith Statements. Due to its length, I will only include part of its Faith Statement and parts of my reply. You may disagree with some of my comments to the Faith Statement, but hopefully you will at least agree with the two major points that I am trying to make by the use of this case study:
"Dear Friends:
To put beliefs side by side in contrast is a good way to understand differences.
This e-mail may be the best way to contrast some points of Reformed doctrine (in
which I believe) with ----------------- Fellowship's Faith Statement.
On the one side, you can accept Reformed doctrinal standards that have stood the
test of time for 400 years: The Belgic Confession, The Heidelberg Catechism, and
The Canons of Dort. Or, on the other side, you can accept a two page Faith
Statement (which was written in the last year).
Below, I have copied ------------- Fellowship's Faith Statement below and have put
in italics both my Comments following each paragraph and put in bold, underlined
italics those statements within ------------- Fellowship's Faith Statement that I want
to make a comment. Reformed doctrine emphasizes that salvation is by grace
alone. To God alone, be glory for our salvation!
Yours truly,
Bill Hornbeck
------------ Fellowship
Statement of Faith
What is The Bible?
The Holy Spirit inspired human authors to write both the Old and New Testaments.
The Bible is God's love letter to all of humanity and is the final authority in every
issue. It is complete truth, and is the only trustworthy source of understanding God.
Comment by Bill:
The Bible most definitely is NOT God's love letter to all of humanity. Any reading,
particularly of the Old Testament, particularly the prophets (Isaiah to Malachi)
shows God's judgment, justice, and fierce wrath, not only toward the heathen, but
also to the Jews, although there is a promise of lovingkindness in the Old Testament
toward a remnant of the Jews. Even in the New Testament, hell is mentioned much
more frequently than heaven.
...
Who is God?
The first person of the Godhead orders and directs all things according to His own
purpose and pleasure. He authored, created, and sustains all things in the universe
without any means other than His own pure power. By His grace, He involves
Himself in the affairs of men, hears and answers prayer, and saves from sin and death
all that come to Him through faith in His Son, Jesus Christ.
Comment by Bill:
God is better described as the Trinity: God the Father, God the Son, and God the
Holy Spirit.
God doesn't just involve Himself in the affairs of men, God sovereignly reigns! This
weak faith statement of "involvement" portrays God as a reactor rather than as an
initiator. It also infers limits to God's involvement to just showing grace.
God is also more "involved" in showing justice than in showing grace. Only the Elect
receive such grace of salvation as described above. In comparison, justice is applied
everywhere, even for the Elect who are saved, in the sense that the Elect were not just
forgiven without the application of just punishment. God's holiness and justice
demanded that even his sinless only Son had to bear ultimate horrible punishment on
behalf of and in substitution for the Elect in order that His grace may be shown to the
Elect. The non-Elect will bear their own horrible punishment, including but not
limited to hell.
Who is Jesus Christ?
...
The statement that Christ died "for every human being who ever lived" is false. It is
clearly and undoubtedly the doctrine of Arminianism's Third Point of "Universal
Atonement". Generally, The Canons of Dort concluded that the Five Points of
Arminianism were "heresy".
If Christ died for every person, then Christ's death is a failure, because most (at least
some) will go to hell. It infers that man's sin is not that bad, and that everyone
deserves eternal life. If Christ loved and died for the world, such love and death
would be promiscuous and adulterous, because it would be given outside of Christ's
marriage to the Church.
...
Who is Man?
Man is the pinnacle of God's creation, and the only being on the earth whom God
made in His own spiritual image, with the moral ability to choose right from wrong.
Every person, although endowed with the image of God, inherited a disobedient
heart from Adam, the very first man. This attitude of disobedience (called sin in the
Bible) - unless rectified through faith in Christ - forever keeps man from forming a
relationship with his Creator. This attitude also keeps us from being the kind of
person God created us to be.
Comment by Bill:
Rather than the pinnacle of creation, Man is much more described in the Bible "as
grass". See for example I Peter 1: 24. Romans 3: 10-18 is also a better description
which is quoted below. Adam and Eve were the only humans with the moral ability
to choose right from wrong. As a result of the fall, everyone else lost that ability. It
is misleading to just infer that as a result of the fall, man only has a disobedient
heart.
The effect of the fall is much more far-ranging, and every part and faculty of man has
been totally effected and corrupted by sin to the extent that Romans 3:10-18
describes man as '"As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one; there
is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have
together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one." “Their
throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit.” "The poison of vipers is on
their lips". ”Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness." ”Their feet are swift to
shed blood; ruin and misery mark their ways, and the way of peace they do not
know.” "There is no fear of God before their eyes.”
...
How Will I Spend Eternity?
God, in His own time, and in His own way, will bring the world to its appropriate
end. According to His promise, Jesus Christ will return personally and visibly in glory
to the earth; the dead will be raised; and Christ will judge all men in righteousness.
God made you to exist forever. Heaven is a perfect place, and since none of us are
perfect we were all headed for an eternity of separation from God. That's why God
sent Jesus: to pay the price for our sins so that we can spend eternity with Him. What
you decide about Jesus in this life will determine where you will spend eternity.
Comment by Bill:
Nothing is mention here about hell, and therefore this paragraph is very misleading.
If Christ "offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for every human being who ever
lived" as stated in the above paragraph "Who is Jesus Christ?", and if Christ "paid the
price" for everyone's sins, then everyone would be saved.
Again, the statement, "What you decide about Jesus in this life will determine where
you will spend eternity" shows the belief that salvation is ultimately dependent on
man's choice, "What you decide".
However, Scripture shows that salvation is ultimately dependent on God's election.
Romans 9:11-20 states: "for though the twins were not yet born and had not done
anything good or bad, so that God's purpose according to His choice would stand,
not because of works but because of Him who calls, it was said to her, "THE OLDER
WILL SERVE THE YOUNGER." Just as it is written, "JACOB I LOVED, BUT ESAU
I HATED." What shall we say then? There is no injustice with God, is there? May it
never be! For He says to Moses, "I WILL HAVE MERCY ON WHOM I HAVE
MERCY, AND I WILL HAVE COMPASSION ON WHOM I HAVE
COMPASSION." So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who
runs, but on God who has mercy. For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, "FOR THIS
VERY PURPOSE I RAISED YOU UP, TO DEMONSTRATE MY POWER IN YOU,
AND THAT MY NAME MIGHT BE PROCLAIMED THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE
EARTH." So then He has mercy on whom He desires, and He hardens whom He
desires. You will say to me then, "Why does He still find fault? For who resists His
will?" On the contrary, who are you, O man, who answers back to God? The thing
molded will not say to the molder, "Why did you make me like this," will it? Or does
not the potter have a right over the clay, to make from the same lump one vessel for
honorable use and another for common use?"
Conclusion:
Yes, it is easier to "nit-pick" than it is to form a Faith Statement. But for that reason,
doctrinal standards such as The Belgic Confession, The Heidelberg Catechism, and
The Canons of Dort are so important and useful. It is always difficult to "reinvent the
wheel". But, it is downright dangerous to do so with faith statements and doctrine.
The danger that any non-denominational church faces is that the church is the
tendency for that church to be dependent on just the Pastor and one or two others for
the Faith Statement. I respectfully submit that Reformed doctrine, such as is stated
The Belgic Confession, The Heidelberg Catechism, and The Canons of Dort, is more
true and sound doctrine and should be accepted as doctrinal standards. Thank you.
Yours truly,
Bill Hornbeck
PART 6- THE LEAVEN OF ARMINIANISM
Jesus described the teachings of the Pharisees and Sadducees as leaven and strongly warned His followers to beware of it. See Matthew 16: 12-13. Leaven is “yeast, the substance that causes dough to ferment and rise.” In the Bible, “leaven usually symbolizes corruption.” “It was strictly forbidden in any sacrifices to God. Also, every Jewish household had to be purged of leaven in preparation for the Feast of Unleavened Bread.” Quoted from the Concordance under the word “leaven” in my New American Standard Bible.
Twice in Scripture, we are warned that even a little leaven can affect the whole. “A little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough.” Galatians 5: 9. See also I Corinthians 5: 6. You know the concern was not about cooking, but rather the concern was about the effect of false teaching.
In other words, even just a little false teaching can corrupt the surrounding good teaching so that taken together the whole teaching is bad. For example, we know that the Word of God is true and good, but we also know that false teachers can give false teaching that can corrupt their entire message even if part of the message contains quotes from Scripture or good common sense.
Many false teachers will quote from Scripture, but just because they do so does not make their whole message true and good. In fact, just the opposite occurs, even a little false teaching corrupts the whole surrounding teaching.
In the same Galatians Chapter 5 passage that tells us that a little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough, Paul very strongly warns us: “You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law, you have fallen from grace.” Galatians 5: 4. Paul even wishes that those who are troubling the Galatians would even mutilate themselves.” Galatians 5: 12.
We are called to “purity in doctrine”. Titus 2: 7. Scripture warns us against tolerating even a little false teaching. Such false teaching can corrupt the whole surrounding “good” teaching.
We have to ask ourselves if Arminianism is like salt or if Arminianism is like leaven. With salt, we are only concerned if we add too much, and even then, there is no real damage. We can just brush it off. Is Arminianism like salt where there is no real harm if we add to it surrounding “good” teaching? NO! Can we just brush off Arminianism? NO! Or, is Arminianism like leaven that can corrupt the whole? YES!
In comparison, why did Paul state that “if you receive circumcision, Christ will be of no benefit to you.” Likewise, wouldn’t circumcision be a harmless addition? NO! Wouldn’t Arminianism be a harmless addition? NO! Neither circumcision nor Arminianism is a harmless addition.
Once we try to justify ourselves by the Law, then we are under obligation to keep the whole Law, and we are severed from Christ, and we fall from grace, not in the sense that we lose our salvation, but rather that we show that we never had that salvation.
Likewise, once we try to secure our salvation by “free-will” to which the Arminians cling, then as one example, we are under obligation to not only self-generate enough faith to be saved but also to keep enough faith to be saved until we die. Do we really think that we can get and keep enough faith through our “free will”? NO!
Arminianism may have an appeal and appearance of truth in quoting from the Law, pointing out the Law’s goodness and pointing out that we should be righteous. However, it implies that we can attain righteousness by knowledge of the Law and exercising our “free will” to obey it. Such Arminianism, even in small dosages using words like “free will”, “God wants, but it is up to you”, and words like “obey”, “yield” or “submit” which put the focus on man and man’s work, rather than on God and His work, contaminate the whole surrounding teaching making it all bad.
Arminianism is Leaven, and just like the Jewish households in the Old Testament, we should purge our Protestant churches of the Leaven of Arminianism. We should pursue purity of doctrine. Abhor what is evil (don’t tolerate it- shun it -run away from it if necessary); cling to what is good. Romans 12: 9.
PART 7- WILL ARMINIANS BE SAVED?
I realize that even posing this question may seem arrogant to the reader, but even if this question is not expressed, many churches and leaders think that they are the keeper of the keys to heaven. Each group tends to scoff at another group in front of them who they think are too liberal and let too many people think that they are in the kingdom, and yet they will criticize the group behind them as being too conservative and too strict and too narrow-minded and too not caring. Each group on the spectrum thinks of themselves as moderate and true. So, hopefully the reader will be patient with me. Maybe, I am too conservative and too strict and too narrow-minded and too not caring, but reader, please remember that another group in front of you may be thinking the same thing about you as you try to warn them and bring them into the kingdom.
So then, will Arminians be saved? As true Calvinists, our simple answer is “Yes, if they are God’s elect.” But, Scripture says more, much more, and warns us of false prophets and misleading claims to be saved. Scripture exhorts us to distinguish the good from the bad “by their fruits”. See Matthew 7: 15-23.
Because Scripture does not specifically include Arminian doctrine in any of its passages concerning doctrine, I can only give my opinion as to whether or not Arminians are saved. Yet, I do think it is a good question to tackle. As stated in the Introduction, we need to determine how important it is to believe in the doctrine of salvation best summarized by Calvinism. Scripture warns us to not be complacent about our salvation, to “enter by the narrow gate”, so we will tackle this difficult question. "AND IF IT IS WITH DIFFICULTY THAT THE RIGHTEOUS ARE SAVED, WHAT WILL BECOME OF THE GODLESS MAN AND THE SINNER?" 1 Peter 4: 18.
I certainly think some (or maybe even many) Arminians will be saved. There are
some "Arminians" who may be taught but do not believe enough of the Arminian
doctrine. They may be "tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every
wind of doctrine,” as stated in Ephesians 4: 14,
but not "fall from the faith". I think
I have been in this class in my travels between various Protestant churches where
Arminianism was taught, and even today I struggle to avoid the subtle influences of
Arminianism and stay true to Calvinism. I struggle to avoid the temptation of seeking
to be perfected by the flesh. I struggle to hear with faith. See Galatians 3:1-5. Thus,
I think that there are “Arminians” who believe or teach Arminianism from lack of
understanding of Scripture but who will be refuted by knowledge of the truth and who
will repent and come to the truth.
But, I also think that there are some Arminians who stubbornly believe or teach
Arminianism in "vain worship of God" and are not truly saved. They cling to “free
will” and their own feelings of justice above Scripture and stubbornly hold to their
belief that their God would not unconditionally elect certain people to salvation.
They cling to their own image of God that fits their own sense of “free will” and
justice. To the God revealed in Scripture which is best summarized by the doctrine
of Calvinism, they declare: “That is not the God I serve!”
However, whether we are an Arminian or a Calvinist, Scripture does exhort us to not
be complacent about salvation. For one example, we are told to add moral qualities
to our lives so that we "make certain His calling and choosing you". 2 Peter 1: 5-11.
But, we may claim that we love the Lord! Will having a zeal for God be enough to
be saved? Paul states that for the Jews, zeal was not enough - "For I testify about
them that they have a zeal for God, but not in accordance with knowledge. For not
knowing about God's righteousness and seeking to establish their own, they did not
subject themselves to the righteousness of God. Romans 10: 2-3.
Jesus said: “Not everyone who says to Me, “Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of
heaven; ...Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord’ did we not prophecy in Your
name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’
“And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU
WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.’” Matthew 7:21-23.
The point of the foregoing is to show that salvation is not easy. We should not be complacent, certainly not as an Arminian, and not even as a Calvinist. We should seek the truth and the soundest doctrine and follow all of Scripture with all of our mind, heart, and soul.
Proverbs 2: 4-5 generally exhorts us to seek for wisdom as one would seek for silver
or hidden treasure. If we are to so seek for wisdom with all of our heart,
how much more should we seek the true doctrine of salvation with all of
our heart!!! "If you seek her as silver And search for her as for hidden treasures; Then you will
discern the fear of the LORD And discover the knowledge of God."
Scripture does not tell us to be casual about our faith or doctrine. Scripture does not
use words like "moderation" or "tolerance" or "love and acceptance" for describing
how we should handle doctrine. Just the opposite, Scripture pounds the table
repeatedly that we should seek God, love and serve Him, "with all of our mind, heart,
and soul". Deuteronomy 4:29: "But from there you will seek the LORD your God,
and you will find Him if you search for Him with all your heart and all your soul."
(Emphasis added.)
We should seek the soundest doctrine as we would seek hidden treasure.
Just because some Arminians are saved in spite of their doctrine does not mean that
it is wise to follow Arminian doctrine. Just because some students drop out of school
and become successful does not mean that it is wise to drop out of school. Just
because Christ knocked Paul to the ground on his way to persecuting Christians does
not mean that any of us should continue following false doctrine until Christ knocks
us to the ground. Just because we are given grace does not mean that we should
continue in sin. Romans 6: 1-2.
There are very stern warnings in Scripture!!!
“Thus says the LORD, ‘Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind And makes flesh his strength, And whose heart turns away from the LORD. For he will be like a bush in the desert And will not see when prosperity comes, But will live in stony wastes in the wilderness, A land of salt without inhabitant. Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD And whose trust is the LORD.’ ” Jeremiah 17: 5-7.
Arminians will deny being like this man who trusts in mankind, but the Arminian trusts in his “free will” to be the determining factor as to whether or not he will be saved. He chooses Christ through his “free will”. He keeps his faith through “his free will”. He turns away from the LORD of Scripture who unconditionally elects and declares: “That is not the God I serve!”
On the other hand, the Calvinist trusts in the LORD alone to handle all the points of salvation. The Calvinist continually seeks the LORD and focuses on the LORD and His works. Salvation is not a joint accomplishment between God and man to the Calvinist. The Calvinist knows that if salvation was dependent even as little as 1% on himself, that he would not be saved. He truly trusts in the LORD alone for his salvation and attributes his salvation to grace alone.
Scripture also sternly warns us:
"For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain terrifying expectation of judgment, and THE FURY OF A FIRE WHICH WILL CONSUME THE ADVERSARIES. Anyone who has set aside the Law of Moses dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled under foot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know Him who said: "VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY." And again, THE LORD WILL JUDGE HIS PEOPLE." It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God." Hebrews 10:26-31.
I think this Scripture applies to Arminians who steadfastly continue to hang on to Arminianism despite receiving knowledge of the truth of Calvinism. They hang on to the false doctrine that Jesus died for everyone ("Universal Atonement" - The Third Point of Arminianism) and they love to speak about the power in Christ's blood. But, Arminians realize that their doctrine forces them to conclude that Christ's blood (as they claim, shed for everyone) by itself did not save, "purchase", or "redeem" anyone, because they admit that most people are not saved. Arminians claim that it is up to man to generate his own faith through his own free will in order to make Christ's blood effective to save. They claim that the only difference between the saved and the unsaved is not Christ’s blood, because everyone gets the blood, but rather the only difference is whether or not a certain individual will generate his own faith through his own free will to make the blood effective. According to this logic of these Arminians, man's faith, not Christ's blood, is the determining factor as to whether or not one will be saved.
Because Arminians talk about the blood all the time, it is true that in a sense they are
trampling it, not in the sense of being hateful to it but in the sense of treating it as
ineffective by itself, like the description in Matthew 5: 13: "...if the salt has become
tasteless, how will it be made salty again? It is good for nothing anymore, except to
be thrown out and trampled under foot by men."
This Hebrews 10:26-31 Scripture does not apply to the person who steadfastly rejects
Christ. That person did not receive the knowledge of truth as stated in Hebrews
10:26. That person is not sanctified, so to speak, as is stated in Hebrews 10:29. That
person does not talk about the blood of Christ. Rather, this Hebrews 10:26-31
Scripture speaks about those received or were exposed to knowledge of the truth and
were sanctified so to speak but nevertheless denied the power of the blood and
insulted the Spirit of grace. Rather, this Scripture applies to Arminians who love to
talk about Christ’s blood all the time, but who really treat Christ’s blood as
ineffective by itself , that it does not actually “save”, "purchase", nor "redeem"
anyone, because they teach that most people are not saved and that it is up to man to
generate his own faith through his own free will in order to make Christ's blood
effective to save.
Likewise, the Arminian can be compared to the one who insults the Spirit of Grace
as is mentioned above in Hebrews 10:29. Think of a situation in which your father
took you out to a very expensive dinner and even left the tip in addition. However,
you did not think that the tip was sufficient so you add your $5 to the tip. Wouldn't
your father be insulted that you thought that what he did was not enough?
Likewise, Arminians insult God by their doctrine that believes that the blood of
Christ is not enough, they feel that they must add their own tip of faith. The
Calvinist thinks of faith as a gift of God; the Arminian thinks that faith is their
own gift to God which is necessary to secure salvation.
Other Arminians may not go as far as to cling to the doctrine of Arminianism, but they do not think that doctrine nor even truth is that important. They may seem righteous by claiming and even acting as if only love is important and that they only need the Bible, but they really don’t have a love of the truth. They don’t diligently continue in their search for God with all their heart and soul. They rest on their image of God and show no or little desire to search the Scriptures to learn more about God and His works. In summary, they have not received a love of the truth. I also do not think that this other class of Arminians are saved.
2 Thessalonians 2: 10-13 may describe these Arminians: “and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved. And for this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they might believe what is false, in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness”.
John 16: 13 describes the work of the Holy Spirit in the saved: “But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; ...” If these certain Arminians steadfastly continue to refuse or ignore the truth, then they demonstrate by their fruit that they do not have the Spirit of truth in them and that they are not saved.
Spurgeon said: "..I will go as far as Martin Luther, in that strong assertion of his,
where he says, If any man doth ascribe of salvation, even the very least, to the free
will of man, he knoweth nothing of grace, and he hath not learnt Jesus Christ
aright. It may seem a harsh sentiment; but he who in his soul believes that man
does of his own free will turn to God, cannot have been taught of God, for that is
one of the first principles taught us when God begins with us, that we have neither
will nor power, but that he gives both; that he is `Alpha and Omega' in the
salvation of men." [Free Will - A Slave, A sermon delivered Sunday morning,
December 2, 1855, at New Park Street Chapel, London, England.]
Augustus Toplady (1740-1778) was chiefly known as a writer of hymns including “Rock of Ages”. He ministered in London, England. Although he was originally a follower of John Wesley, in 1758 he adopted strong Calvinist convictions. Some comments by Wesley upon Toplady’s presentation of Calvinism led to a bitter controversy between them. The following is an article by Augustus Toplady that shows his opinion that Arminians are not saved.
The 'god' of Arminianism by Augustus Toplady
“I dare say, that, in such an auditory as this, a number of Arminians are present. I
fear, that all our public assemblies have too many of them. Perhaps, however, even
these people, idolaters as they are, may be apt to blame, and, indeed, with justice,
the absurdity of those who worship idols of silver and gold, the work of men's
hands. But let me ask: If it be so very absurd, to worship the work of other men's
hands what must it be, to worship the works of our own hands? Perhaps, you may
say, 'God forbid that I should do so. Nevertheless, let me tell you, that trust,
confidence, reliance, and dependence, for salvation, are all acts and very solemn
ones too, of divine worship: and upon whatsoever you depend, whether in whole
or in part, for your acceptance with God, and for your justification in his sight,
whatsoever, you rely upon, and trust in, for the attainment of grace or glory; if it
be any thing short of God in Christ, you are an idolater for all intents and
purposes.
Very different is the idea which Scripture gives us, of the ever-blessed God, from
that of those false gods worshipped by the heathens; and from that degrading
representation of the true God, which Arminianism would palm upon mankind.
Our God (says this Psalm, verse the third) is in the heavens: he hath done
whatsoever he pleased. This is not the Arminian idea of God: for our free-willers
and our chance- mongers tell us, that God does not do whatsoever he pleases; that
there are a great number of things, which God wishes to do, and rags and strives to
do, and yet cannot bring to pass ... Is their god the Bible-God? Certainly not. Their
god 'submits' to difficulties which he 'cannot help' himself out of, and endearours
to make himself 'easy' under millions and millions of inextricable embarrassments,
uncomfortable disappointments, and mortifying defeats. ...This said scheme
ascends, on the ladder of blasphemy, to the mountain top of atheism; and then
hurls itself from that precipice, into the gulf of blind, adamantine necessity, in
order to prove mankind free agents!
... One great contest, between the religion of Arminianism, and the religion of
Christ, is, who shall stand entitled to the praise and glory of a sinner's salvation?
Conversion decides this point at once; for I think that, without any imputation of
uncharitableness, I may venture to say, that every truly awakened person, at least
when he is under the shine of God's countenance upon his soul, will fall down
upon his knees, with this hymn of praise ascending from his heart, Not unto me, O
Lord, not unto me, but to thy name, give the glory: I am saved not for my
righteousness, but for thy mercy and thy truth's sake.”
In conclusion, love of truth is essential to salvation and is evidence of salvation. We have seen that zeal is not enough. Claiming Jesus as your Lord is not enough. Doing miracles is not even enough. Scripture keeps coming back to the importance of truth. As the Scripture states, there are those who worship God in vain who teach or believe in doctrines based on the ideas of man. As Scripture states, those who worship God must worship in spirit and in truth. As Scripture states, the Spirit of truth guides the saved into all the truth. On the other hand, there are those who “did not receive the love of truth so as to be saved”.2 Thessalonians 2: 10-13.
Take warning, you Protestants! Reform back to Calvinism! Truth and doctrine are supremely important; failing to believe the truth can be evidence that one is not saved (“worshiping God in vain”). Truth is revealed by Scripture, not by our feelings as to what is just and true. Scripture reveals that the truth that salvation is a work of God alone, by grace alone, and that God handles all the points of salvation from unconditional election through limited atonement through irresistible grace, including both making us born again and giving us faith, through preservation of the saints. The Five Points of Calvinism is the best doctrine of salvation, because it best summarizes Scripture.
Believe and teach the Five Points of Calvinism, the truth and doctrine of salvation!!!
Very truly yours,
William J. Hornbeck, II “Bill”
St. Petersburg, Florida 2006