Remaining

It is as if some of the branches from an olive tree have been broken off, and the branch of a wild olive tree has been joined to that first tree. If you are not a Jew, you are the same as that wild branch, and you now share the strength and life of the first tree. But don’t act as if you are better than those branches that were broken off. You have no reason to be proud of yourself, because you don’t give life to the root. The root gives life to you. You might say, “Branches were broken off so that I could be joined to their tree.” That is true. But those branches were broken off because they did not believe. And you continue to be part of the tree only because you believe. Don’t be proud, but be afraid. If God did not let the natural branches of that tree stay, he will not let you stay if you stop believing. So you see that God is kind, but he can also be very strict. He punishes those who stop following him. But he is kind to you, if you continue trusting in his kindness. If you don’t continue depending on him, you will be cut off from the tree. Romans 11:17-22 (ERV)

We have the makings of an age old problem right here in these verses. Paul is reminding the church in Rome that, as Gentiles, they have all the same rights to salvation as the Jews. So far so good. Then the Apostle Paul, veteran of many missionary trips and epistles, seems to suggest that both the Jews and the Gentiles can be denied salvation if they don’t keep believing. Correction, he doesn’t ‘seem to suggest’, he says it outright and unambiguously.

Although the chosen and promised people were close to God’s heart as a nation, some individuals within the tribes were disobedient, and therefore cut off from the root. So, some Jews will be lost eternally, and therefore some who once were saved can indeed be lost too.

The first 8 chapters of Romans are often, and almost exclusively, used to show that when you are saved, you are saved forever….no matter what. Likewise chapters 12 to the end of the book. But when you read chapters 9,10 and 11, you get Paul’s argument to counter that belief. It is true that God’s love is unchanging towards us, and nothing can diminish it, but Paul compares the Jews who stepped out of His will to the Gentiles who stop believing. In each case, not all do, but some will.

When it comes to the free gift of salvation and choice, the old saying is true. Keep short accounts. Stay close, obey, and confess our failings often. Pray that God removes the heart of stone, and replaces it with a heart of flesh as recorded in Ezekiel 36:26 “And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.” My only careful warning is that your prayer will be answered, and what a difference it will make to your Christian life. In fact you may never slip back from the salvation Jesus the Christ earned on your behalf.

A Choice or Chosen?

This debate and discussion has been going on for centuries. It has never been resolved and there is no sign that it will stop anytime soon. Talking about it is ok as long as the opposing parties are civil as they present their convictions and interpretation of Scripture. Unfortunately, that seldom happens and the heated arguments mostly come from one side who take an elitist approach. They usually ask, why can’t you see what is so obvious in the Bible? It is now my turn to enter the drama with (hopefully) some balance.

First and foremost, being a Calvinist, or an Arminian will not keep you out of heaven. It is not a matter of sin, more a matter of opinion and personal judgement. Sin can only enter into it when we become proud, hostile, unloving, critical, unforgiving, arrogant, and the list could go on. Let’s provide a very brief summary of the two belief systems, because I find that most people who attend church, do so because the gospel is preached, and those folks who become our friends, show love one to another which is a commandment from Jesus.

The Calvinist basic belief can be summed up that God chooses those who are saved, and once chosen, they cannot and will not ever be lost, no matter what happens to you, or what you do. You have no choice in the matter, and it is binding in this life and the next. John Calvin developed Luther's doctrine of justification by faith alone, into an emphasis on the sovereign grace of God and centres on the doctrine of predestination. Thousands have come to faith through the preaching and teaching of Godly Calvinist men and women.

The Arminian basic belief is that God gave the human race free will to accept or reject His gift of salvation, and that the gift is binding for as long as you continue to believe in Jesus as the author of your salvation, have confessed and repented of your sin and turned your life around to follow Him. Therefore it is possible to reject the gift, and later accept it while maintaining a firm belief in God’s grace and sovereignty. Arminianism is based on the beliefs of the Dutch Reformed theologian Jacobus Arminius who lived at the same time as Calvin. They knew each other but Calvin forcibly dismissed all other theological views to the cost of Arminius’ health, who died a broken man. John Wesley notably advocated this theology and preached it across the country bringing many souls into the Kingdom as have many others since.

Both sides can and do present Scripture verses which support their own view which in essence are poles apart in theology. So, what to believe? In many ways it can come down to your own reading and understanding of Scripture. All of Scripture that is, and not selective verses. Of course, that means making your mind up, by reading and studying the whole Word of God. It is wrong to take a position based on the say so of someone else’s opinion of what the Bible means to them, no matter how sincerely they present their view. These are only opinions, and we are all allowed to have those, and still maintain our salvation.

So, Calvinist or Arminian, we are all brothers and sisters in Christ, and bear His name. We should do so with care and grace because we are collectively under scrutiny by the world who already know what a Christian should look like. I pray we are all worthy of His name.

Therefore, my beloved, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. Philippians 2:12