Eternally Saved
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Eternally saved- Reformed Theology uses the term 'Perseverance of the Saints.' However, the reason I used the term 'Eternally Saved' is because this is how most present the salvation of a believer today when discussing whether or not they can fall away. They usually use this term or 'once-saved-always-saved' when discussing this doctrine. My page has been up for many years. I challenged Dan Corner on this topic many years ago and have not gotten a response for a debate in all these years. So, even though I have named this page eternally saved I am using that term only in response to Dan Corner. The website that Dan Corner runs and maintains is www.evangelicaloutreach.org Eternal salvation- is basically defined as the belief that once someone is saved, then they cannot lose that salvation. Perseverance of the saints is the doctrine that once God saves a person, then God will persevere in that person and preserve him so that he does not fall away.
There are some who misrepresent the Calvinist's doctrine known as the Perseverance of the Saints and propagate that Calvinists are teaching that a man can be saved and called of God and then live as he pleases. This is totally absurd. I came across this website, that just dogs Calvinists and the teachings of the Bible but lifts up Arminius. I suppose that Dan Corner thinks that Arminius was the only one in church history that had any truth, even though his doctrine of conditional salvation was voted out of the Synod of Dort ,(1618-1619), because it was unscriptural. After we are quickened of God and saved, then we are lead by the Holy Spirit to perform good works. We are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works. Eph.2:10. According , as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Eph. 1:4 God works in us both to will and to do of his good pleasure Phil. 2:13. I challenged the owner of this site to do a lot more studying because he evidently does not know the scriptures. I saw nothing on his website to convince me otherwise. We are saved by grace through faith alone Eph. 2:8. Eph 2:4 plainly declares that this faith is given by God as a gift to those whom he loved with a great love. These are those whom God chose from the foundation of the world Eph. 1:4. The fact is that Dan Corner thinks that everyone who says Lord, Lord is saved. This fellow believes that everyone who makes a profession of faith, raises their hands, or signs a card has met Jesus and became one of the children of God. However, the elect do not lose salvation. Those of whom God has called are eternally saved. So if someone goes to the front of a church, raises their hands during prayer, or signs a card and then continues not in the faith, then they were never born again.
The fact that I know that God's elect is eternally secure is that Jesus said, Those he loves he rebukes and chastens. Rev.3:19. Also the book of Hebrews says, "For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth....." and again, "if you are without chastisement then you are not a son, because you are an illegitimate child Hebrews 12:6,8. Paul goes on to say in 1 Corinthians 11:31 if we would judge, {examine}, ourselves we should not be judged, {examined} verse 32. But when we are judged ,{examined}, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world. The elect of God will not be condemned with the world. Here Paul is getting on to the Corinthians for coming to church drunk and taking communion. He said because you have done this many of you are sick , and many of you sleep vs.30. They incurred a sin unto death. Dan Corner the owner of the website www.evangelicaloutreach.org wants to condemn Charles Spurgeon for smoking a cigar. I guess he is trying to say that Charles Spurgeon is in Hell. Anyway I challenge him to show me one scripture in the Old Testament that speaks good about Lot. Lot backslide and also got drunk and lay with his own daughters, but the Bible calls him just and righteous. 2 Peter 2:7 And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked. 2 Peter 2:8 For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds. Also on David's death bed he commanded his son Solomon to kill a man. 1 Kings 2:8,9 Also Peter was rebuked by Paul and I can't find no where, were it is written that he repented. Gal.2:11. You say well these men had faith. Well, that is what I am saying. The gift of faith is given to God's elect and even though at times God has to rebuke and chasten us we are still his. God had to rebuke and chasten David for adultery and murder. Dan Corner may think that everyone who repents is saved but the reformers did not teach that. True faith produces good works. The Bible makes it clear , Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his..........2 Tim.219.
Dan Corner said that he would debate over the television, eternal security. How can anyone put God down? Our salvation rests upon God's all powerfulness. In other words if God can lose His elect then he would not be all powerful. Dan has confused what Jesus done on the cross. He quotes Jude and says that we should contend for the faith that was once delivered to the saints Jude 4. I agree. I can also show that the ancient church fathers taught that Christ only died for his elect. Jesus himself said that his blood was shed for many Mt 26:28. He said that he laid down his life for his sheep. John 10:11,15. He said his sheep know him and another they will not follow. John 10:4,5. I challenge Daniel Corner to refute what Jesus said in John 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. Vs. 28 And I give to them eternal life: and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 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. Dan Corner tries to pluck them out of God's hand. Every time he enters a debate to tear down his brothers and sisters in Christ. Instead of debating abortion, evolution, or some other worthy cause , he tears down God's flock instead. Jesus even said, 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. John 6:44. 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 everyone that seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day. John 6:39, 40 So all that God draws will come to him and God's will is that they have eternal life and his omni-potence or all powerfulness assures that they will be kept and will never be lost. Christ plainly stated that of all which the Father gave him he would lose nothing. However, Dan Corner believes that someone can be given to Christ and then later lose their salvation and this would make Christ lose something and not nothing. Jesus himself is sitting beside the Father interceding, not for the world, but for those of whom the Father gave him. John 17:9,20.Rom.8;34. Dan Corner believes that Christ's prayers before the Father has no effect. According to his doctrine, Christ is not a Saviour who can save to the uttermost, but instead is a Saviour who doesn't even have the ability to intercede for those of whom he represents. Hebrews 2:13 proclaims that Christ and the children which God has given him will place their trust in God. Matt.7:15 mentions false prophets and goes on to tell us what kind of fruit they bear. Then in Matt. 7:21 they will stand before the Lord and try to make it in by their own works and the Lord will say in vs. 23," I never knew you." Did Jesus develop amnesia? How could he tell those that once had salvation and then lost it that he never knew them? He couldn't. These never had salvation but were mere professors of the Christian faith. Too many sincere ministers have used Matt 7:15 or 2 Peter 2:22 which speaks about a dog going back to his vomit and a pig to mud, to tear down God's elect. Even though in both places the scriptures are speaking about false prophets. In conclusion Everyone of us could stand before the Lord and be casted into Hell with those in Matt. 7:21- except it were not for God's grace. He told them to depart for they were workers of iniquity. The Bible says in Rom 3:10 - that there is none righteous no not one. We all have sinned and come short of God's glory, but God has given us mercy and grace. He is not treating us according to what we deserve. Those he chose from the foundations of the world, he gives saving faith and imputes Christ righteousness to them. God no longer sees them as unrighteous, but as righteous as Christ himself. One more thing to deal with is this. Daniel Corner said, "That God has not forgiven us of our future sins, but only the past." I guess this is why he is working for a righteousness that God will accept instead of submitting himself to God's righteousness. This is Catholicism. Daniel Corner's Arminianism is nothing but the road back to Rome as Augustus Toplady declared. Daniel Corner has rejected God's word . He is expecting Christ to come back and die again. If God has not forgiven us our future sins then Christ has not died for them. God has accepted Christ sacrifice so he has accepted us. Eph. 1:6 Christ has died for all our sins and God has forgiven us of all of them. Colossians 2:13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses. Rom.8:30 I am justified { declared not guilty and legally made righteous}. I am kept by the power of God thru faith 1 Peter 1:5 God keeps me from evil 2 Thess . 3:3 and preserves me blameless before his coming 1 Thess. 5:23,24 God also is keeping me from falling and will present me faultless before his presence Jude 24 God has preserved me unto his kingdom 2 Tim. 4:18; Jude 1;1 This means I am held in a fortified prison, look up the word preserved. Eph 5:27 says that Christ will present the Church to himself having neither spot nor wrinkle; but that it will be holy and without blemish. Christ is not coming back for a Church like that as some teach, but will present it to himself without blemish. However, the reason Christ can present the church holy and without blemish is because he is the elects surety. His righteousness is their righteousness. Now if you know of a church that is without blemish then let me know and I will move my letter there. But you will never find one until Christ presents it to himself. Prov. 24:9 says, "even the foolish thoughts we have are sin." But God has also forgiven us for the remnants or traces of that old nature that remains in us and that is contrary to him. Now if one can lose salvation, then the eternal life they received was not eternal. However, 1 John 5:13 John writes “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life....” It's not a possession to come, but a present possession. I have the promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come. 1 Tim. 4:8 |