I have finished reading Laurence Vance's The Other Side of Calvinism - at least the 600 pages of text (besides the 200 pages of appendices that I didn't read). This is a really long post. Forgive me. All I can say is, You have the whole weekend to read it.
In this chapter, Vance explains that the Calvinist doctrine of the Perseverance of the Saints is more than the doctrine of Eternal Security. The doctrine of Perseverance does contain the fact that God will "preserve" His saints, but it also contains the teaching that God's saints will "persevere" in the faith until the end.
Five 'conclusions' of this doctrine were given:
- The saints will persevere in the faith
- Only those who persevere in the faith are true Christians
- Those who do not persevere in the faith are lost
- Real Christians will return to the faith before their demise
- Those who do not return to the faith were never saved
He demonstrates how that both Calvinists and Arminians have essentially the same conclusions on this point. That is, if a man is not continuing in the faith, then that man is not saved. A Calvinist would say that he never was saved, and an Arminian would say that he lost it. (Though Vance quotes Arminius himself who said that though there are some Scriptures that could lead him to that conclusion, there are those on the other side too and that he could not be sure.)
Vance takes some time in talking about Lordship Salvation (in a nutshell, the teaching that you must submit to Jesus as Lord in order to receive Him as Savior). Vance attempts to disprove Lordship Salvation, and uses all of the verses that say that works are unrelated to faith (he does not touch James 2). He implies that suggesting that works are necessary to salvation, whether they are considered part of faith or not, is adding to the Gospel.
Ok, my thoughts... Vance has successfully put the Calvinist and Arminians on the same side of the story on this one, and presented a position contrary to both of them. My apologies to him if I misrepresent his position, but I believe he would hold to: If in a moment in time, a man "believes" on Jesus (not sure what he would say would be necessary to know or to accept) then that person is saved regardless of how he lives the remainder of his life. Here's the deal, he's right... technically.
Ok, here's why the words he says (well, actually I said in his stead) are correct. Many of you will be so familiar with these verses that you will probably just skip them. There are more of my thoughts after the list of verses - isn't it a shame that most of you (exactly as I would do) are probably going to skip or at most skim through the following verses until you get to the rest of my thoughts? (Maybe a thought for a different day.)
(Joh 1:12) But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
(Joh 3:15) That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
(Joh 3:16) For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
(Joh 3:18) He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
(Joh 3:36) He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
(Joh 5:24) Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
(Joh 6:29) Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.
(Joh 6:40) And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.
(Joh 20:31) But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.
(Act 13:39) And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.
(Act 16:31) And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
(Act 20:21) Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
(Rom 3:22) Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
(Rom 3:25) Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
(Rom 3:26) To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
(Rom 3:28) Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.
(Rom 4:3) For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
(Rom 4:5) But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
(Rom 4:16) Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,
(Rom 4:24) But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;
(Rom 5:1) Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
(Rom 5:2) By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
(Rom 9:30) What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith.
(Rom 10:9) That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
(Rom 10:10) For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
(Gal 2:16) Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
(Gal 3:8) And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.
(Gal 3:14) That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
(Gal 3:22) But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.
(Php 3:9) And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
There are more, but these ones were easy to just drop in here...
I took the time to put them all down, because I wanted to demonstrate that the Bible is clear that a man is justified, given righteousness, or saved by faith - through believing in Jesus Christ.
Now, the result of the teaching of Lordship Salvation is that if you are saved, you will obey God, and there will be a change in your life. - This I agree with. Vance... I'm not too sure. He doesn't touch the following verses:
(Rom 6:16) Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
(Jas 2:14) What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
(Jas 2:15) If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
(Jas 2:16) And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?
(Jas 2:17) Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
(Jas 2:18) Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
(Jas 2:19) Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
(Jas 2:20) But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
(Jas 2:21) Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
(Jas 2:22) Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
(Jas 2:23) And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.
(Jas 2:24) Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
(Jas 2:25) Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?
(Jas 2:26) For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
(1Jn 2:3) And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
(1Jn 2:4) He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
(1Jn 2:5) But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.
(1Jn 3:4) Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
(1Jn 3:5) And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.
(1Jn 3:6) Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.
(1Jn 3:7) Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.
(1Jn 3:8) He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
(1Jn 3:9) Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
(1Jn 3:10) In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.
(1Jn 3:14) We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.
Ok, here's my conclusions on this subject. Christians are not perfect, and they do fall into sin - (Even though we are supposed to be perfect.) There is such a thing as a carnal Christian, there is such a thing as a battle between the Spirit and the flesh, and it is not immediate complete sanctification when a sinner is born again. That being said, there also will be a change in a person's life. When a man believes that the Creator of the universe loved him when all he was doing was offending that very God that gave him life, and when he believes that in His love He sent His only Son to suffer horribly and die as a substitute as a payment for his sins, then the result will be a repentant attitude toward sin. After a man believes, his body becomes the temple of the Holy Spirit. The fruit of the Spirit, or the result of the Holy Spirit dwelling in a man, is love, joy, peace, etc. A saved person will have this fruit in his life (by his fruits ye shall know him). 1 John 5:13 says that a man can know that he is saved. But that same verse tells us that "these things" (in my opinion, "these things" refers to the whole book of 1 John) were written to tell a man how to know that he is saved. A man has assurance that he truly believes in Christ when he keeps God's commandments (not the 10 Commandments, but that's also another post), when he loves the brethren, and more of what 1 John says.
It is true that when a man is born again, he can never become un-born. The question would then become how could that man know if he truly was born again? 1 John tells us that it will be manifested by the fruit in his life. The fruit, the 'works,' have no part in his persevering, but they will be the result of his conversion.
Again, my apologies for a long post. I expect that most won't take the time to read it and digest it, but I would appreciate feedback on different things mentioned here...
I leave you with this verse. Notice the present tense of the verbs: (Joh 3:36) He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
