Appointed for the Defense of the Gospel (Part 7)

Calvinism’s Impossibility of Apostasy (Part 2)

In the first part of this article, “Impossibility of Apostasy”, I made a point to say, “Many years before my becoming a Christian, I was a Presbyterian”. I hope you can see how devastation that statement is. I studied the Bible with a young man of whom I would, without reservation, say genuinely loves Jesus as much as I do. Yet my heart breaks for his soul for the very reason before stated. You see he also was blinded by the devil to the truth as I was many years ago. He too would adamantly affirm, “I am a Christian”, then in the next breath say, “I am a Calvinist”. Jesus said, “…if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch” (Matt. 15:14).

Paul contrasting the light of Christ’s gospel, and the darkness of the devil said, “But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, 4 whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. 5 For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, John Calvin, and ourselves your bondservants for Calvin and Jesus’ sake. 6 For it is the God and John Calvin who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God and Calvin in the face of Calvin and Jesus Christ.” (2 Cor. 4:3-6). When you say, “I’m a Calvinist”, you are absolutely declaring that you are divided. It’s like twisting what Paul said it to the Galatians in chapter 2 and at verse 20: “I have been crucified with Christ and Calvin; it is no longer I who live, but Christ and Calvin lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God and Calvin, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Or, to pervert Paul’s words in Romans 16 at verse 27: “to God, alone wise, be glory through Jesus Christ and Calvin forever. Amen”. You live in your home, and you come out of your home. Calvin can’t come out with you unless he is in there living with you. Listen to me, I was once this person, but praise be to God I saw the light and came out of the darkness of division.

There is only Christ, and His house is not divided like every denomination is by the very premise of the word, which is divisive. If Calvin, claiming to be a Christian, would have been alive in the first century, Paul would have included him in his rebuke along with other’s at Corinth (1 Cor. 1:11-12). Thus, including Calvin Paul would have said, “For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of Chloe’s household, that there are contentions among you. Now I say this, that each of you says, “I am of Paul,” or “I am of Apollos,” or “I am of Cephas,” or “I am of Calvin”, or “I am of Christ.” Have you ever said, “I am a Calvinist”?

Take careful note of two things: One, the afore quotes have text that is underlined, that was added by me, not God. Two, adding anything to what God says to the practice of faith, such as the name of any other, makes you accursed by God, (Gal. 1:6-8). Paul warns the church to avoid divisive persons saying, “17 Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. 18 For those who are such do not serve our Lord [d]Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple. 19 For your obedience has become known to all. Therefore I am glad on your behalf; but I want you to be wise in what is good, and [e]simple concerning evil. 20 And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly.” (Rom. 16:17-20). Saying “I am a Calvinist”, is the personification of division.

Make no mistake! Every time you quote Calvin as a source for teaching doctrine within your religious life, you’re making him equal with Christ. Jesus said, “Whoever [a]transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son” (2 John 9). To “transgress”, Greek [προάγω] according to Thayer’s means, “[c. to go further than is right or proper]”, to take the lead, ahead of Christ going beyond what is written, (See: 1 Cor. 4:6). The words “not abide”, Greek [μὴ μένων], which according to Thayer’s means to opposite of, “not to depart, not to leave, to continue to be present”, in other words means, “to depart, to leave, to continue not be present”. In this case you do not have God or Christ.

Here are some more reasons that the Calvinist doctrine is so wrong. It Denies Possibility of a Sinning Christian. Calvinism affirms that sin will cause a person to be lost-yet denies that a Christian can be lost. What Calvinism, therefore, must support is that a Christian cannot sin. The John of the Bible, writing by inspiration of God would allow no Christian to affirm this, for he wrote of the Christian: “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us” (1 John 1:8; cf. v.10) Are the commands useless and senseless? In an effort to escape this difficulty, Calvinists will sometimes reply, “But this is the fleshly body of the Christian that sins, but the heart, that is the true part of the Christian, does not sin.” My master said, “For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies” (Matt. 15:19; cf. Jas. 4:5). My friends the bible heart controls the flesh for without a brain the physical body dies, whether a Christian or not.

Secondly, I’d point out that Calvinism Denies Necessity for a godly life. This doctrine would have us believe that a Christian could commit all manner of evil without falling from divine grace thus, being in danger of hell. Applying this practice of denying the necessity of godly living, demands these five things. (1) It discourages study of God’s word. Paul said, “…we must give [a]the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away” (Heb. 2:1) Why bother to study, if we cannot slip? (2) It discourages need to restore a sinning brother. James said, “Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, 20 let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save [a- his soul] a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins” (Jas. 5:19-20), and Paul wrote, “Brethren, if a man is [a- caught] overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted” (Gal. 6:1). I ask, if it’s impossible to error or fall, why bother working for the restoration of a brother’s soul? (3) It discourages confession of sins. John, not Calvin, said to the saved, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). If the stain of our sins cannot cause us to be separated from God and Christ and be bound to eternal hell, why bother confessing? (4) It discourages brotherly consideration. Paul said, “Therefore let us not judge one another [a]anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way” (Rom. 14:13; cf. Rom.14:15; 15:1-3; 1 Cor. 13:4-5; Gal. 6:1-2; Phil. 2:14) Why care for our brethren’s manner of life if it cannot cause them to stumble and fall from grace? (5) It discourages patient endurance. Jesus said, “He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels” (Rev. 3:5). What if we don’t overcome? Why “encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord” (Acts 11:23), if it makes no difference?

Why bother to overcome trials and temptations if yielding to these things will not in any way effect our  our salvation? Before you say it, I know your answer will be that we must follow the good teachings of the bible and that is true for every soul, Christian or not. But living moral and biblical lives can’t saves us: Obeying Christ’s commands does. But you cannot enter into eternity with Christ and Calvin.

Take time to study about the Nicolaitans who were “Christian” followers of Nicolas. Calvinism is very closely akin to the doctrine of the Nicolaitans in that there are those who profess to be “Christians”, yet follow the teaching of Calvin. The Nicolaitans’ basic philosophy was that the salvation of the Christian was secure, and therefore, the Christian was above any moral law of God. Of them Jesus wrote: “But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate” (Rev. 2:6). Every true believer will likewise hate the tenets of Calvinism and oppose them with all his might. May the words of Peter serve as the guideline for our lives: “Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble” (2 Pet. 1:10). And know with all certainty that “these things” are the things of God, not Calvin.

In Love

Dave Scarpino

What Must I Do to Be Saved?

• Hear the gospel———————————————- John 6:45; Romans 10:17
• Believe the gospel——————————————- John 8:24; Hebrews 11:6
• Repent of sins———————————————– Luke 13:3; Acts 17:30
• Confess Christ———————————————– Matthew 10:32; Romans 10:10
• Be baptized————————————————– Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38
• Remain faithful unto and until death——————– Revelation 2:10; Matthew 10:22