John Cooper (@no_mark_ever)

In my last post I wrote that the whole 'sovereignty of God and human responsibility' debate was an example of the 'contradiction' that results from our inability to understand with our finite minds how the verses in the word of God which touch on these issues can be rationally harmonised. That in essence is my position. I avoid locking horns with those who hold to the two main schools of thought on these matters, and just try to put into practice the teachings that I find in the New Testament, leaving the theological problem in God's wise and capable hands. In my attempt to avoid the extremes I have unfortunately offended both parties at times, but have survived. In my opinion, party 'C' is a system of logic claiming to defend the glory of God whilst actually serving an ulterior need - assurance of unconditional salvation, based on predestination. The logic goes something like this. God unconditionally predestines some people to salvation before the foundation of the world. I believed the gospel. This was because God made me born again by his Spirit so that I responded to the irresistible call of grace and was enabled to believe the gospel. This must be because I am elect, predestined before the foundation of the world to salvation. The gifts and calling of God are without repentance. Therefore my salvation is secure. This undoubtedly leads to assurance of salvation. However some of the 'elect' fall into presumptuous and grievous sins, and do not appear to repent before they die. Does God's unconditional election allow such wicked people into heaven, whilst damning the good? Is it proven that such wicked people always repent on their deathbed? Is it possible that such people were never elect in the first place? Is it possible that they never actually really truly believed? And how can we know for certain, when to all intents and purposes they ran well? If we cannot know for certain whether they were truly elect, then how can we know for certain whether we are truly elect either? If the evidence of election is perseverance in the faith to the end, then doesn't that take us suspiciously back to the Scripture? My grandfather ministered in a congregation where there were both A and C people, and the C people had a tendency to worry over whether they were truly elect. So much for the assurance that comes from trusting in God's complete sovereignty over salvation! This is why we have checks on our spiritual state/condition in John's first epistle so that we can ascertain our current spiritual standing/position, so that having made correction, we may find ourselves to be amongst those who were chosen in Him before the foundation of the world. Justification (being made right with God) is usually synonymous with forgiveness in the New Testament. This is possible through the death and resurrection of Christ as are all our other spiritual blessings. Justification is not only our initial forgiveness - Romans 5:1,9 but also all the other instances - 1.John 1:7-9. Christ's shed blood covers all our possible sins, if repented of, and if we continue to believe in him. Otherwise there would be no need to pray 'forgive us our trespasses'. Some have forgotten that they were purged from their old sins - 2.Peter 1:9 who need to be diligent to make their calling and election sure. Some who were washed go back to their wallowing in the mire - 2.Peter 2:22. And some, having been sanctified by Christ's blood, receive a fate worse than death - Hebrews 10:29. The just shall live by faith. Let not any man draw back unto perdition - Hebrews 10:38,39. I believe very much in the sovereignty of God. I believe in predestination. I believe that salvation is all of grace. I do not believe that that means that there is nothing that we need to do. I do not try to reconcile this problem. It is God's problem, not mine. My responsibility is simply to obey him. If I do so, then this is because I was chosen in Christ to salvation before the foundation of the world. I do not doubt my salvation. I have assurance that my feet are currently on the narrow road that leads to eternal life. I wish with all my heart that all those who read these words have the same peace of mind over their salvation that I am blessed to have. 'Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.' (Jude 1:24,25)