Calvinism says: Because of being born in sin, all of us are spiritually dead, so dead we are unable to even have faith (Total Depravity). Therefore, in order for us to be saved, God alone had to save us. We know that everyone doesn’t “get saved,” so, God had to choose those to whom He would give grace (Unconditional Election). Jesus couldn’t have died for everyone or everyone would be saved. So, because some are lost, we know Jesus didn’t die for everyone (Limited Atonement). If you’re one of the ones God picked, you can’t change it (Irresistible Grace). And since God picked you to be saved and you can’t do anything about it, there is no sin that you could ever commit that would cause you to lose your salvation (Perseverance of the Saints).
However, as we have shown, the Bible says: We all are born spiritually alive to God and innocent to sin. But there comes a point of accountability, a time when we are responsible for understanding and doing the will of God. There comes a time when we lust, commit sin (Romans 3:23), and, therefore, lose our fellowship with a holy God (spiritual death). As sinners we then need to hear (Acts 15:7), believe (Mark 1:15; 16:16), and obey the gospel (2 Thessalonians 1:8). [This includes repentance (Acts 17:30), and confessing Christ (Matthew 10:32).] When we obey the gospel, we are “redeemed” (1 Peter 1:18-19) and placed “into Christ” (Galatians 3:26-27). Once “in Christ,” we are responsible to grow in “knowledge” (2 Peter 3:18), all the while keeping our body and mind obedient to what we have learned (1 Corinthians 9:27). We are aware that we can lose our salvation through careless sin (2 John 1:8; Matthew 12:36-37; Hebrews 10:26-29). If we sin, as a child of God we have the privilege of penitently calling upon our Father for forgiveness (1 John 2:1-2; 1:9; Hebrews 4:15-16). If we abandon our Father, we must find repentance, come back to our Father in prayer and confess our unfaithfulness; like the penitent prodigal son (Luke 15:11-24). If our sin has caused a breach in our fellowship with our brethren, we must let them know of our change of heart (James 5:16).
We are not born “Totally Depraved” but have a free will, an ability to choose right from wrong, that we will give an account for in the judgment; the election is not an “Unconditional Election” but conditioned upon our abiding in the body of Christ; the atonement of Christ is not a “Limited Atonement” but is offered to all; we can insult the Spirit of grace, therefore, it cannot be an “Irresistible Grace”; and we can lose our salvation through sin, therefore, the concept of “once saved, always saved” or “Perseverance of the Saints” is not Biblical. The reasoning of Calvinism is not of God.
The Scriptures teach that salvation is of grace:
“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men” (Titus 2:11). The Scriptures also say, speaking of Jesus, “And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation” (Hebrews 5:9).
We can correctly conclude that: Jesus, through grace, offers salvation to all, but only those who choose to obey Him will receive God’s grace and eternal salvation.
Will you obey Him?
– Glen Osburn