https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/IsSalvationAssured.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n\tby Jeffrey W. Hamilton<\/p>\n\t
Text: I John 2:15-25<\/p>\n
<\/p>\nI. During the Reformation, a man named John Calvin came up with a system of belief that\nhas impacted a large portion of the denominational world.\n A. The ideas were not original with Calvin. He based his work on many that\npreceded him.\n B. What Calvin did was to organize the beliefs into a consistent whole. Each idea\nflowed from one point to the next. Each idea supported the other ideas. They\nstood and fell together.\n
C. The main problem is that each idea was wrong.<\/p>\n
II. One tenant of Calvinism is called the “perseverance of the saints”.<\/p>\n
A. It means that when God saves people, they are permanently saved.<\/p>\n 1. Calvin saw it as an affront to the sovereignty of God to say that man could\nundo what God had done.\n 2. Westminster Confession of Faith<\/i>, Presbyterian Church: “They whom God\nhath accepted in His Beloved, effectually called and sanctified by his\nSpirit, can neither totally nor finally fall away from the state of grace: but\nshall certainly persevere therein to the end, and be eternally saved.”\n 3. Sam Morris, First Baptist Church, Stamford Texas, Do a Christian’s Sins\nDamn His Soul?<\/i>: “We take the position that a Christian’s sins do not damn\nhis soul. The way a Christian lives, what he says, his character, his\nconduct, or his attitude toward other people have nothing whatever to do\nwith the salvation of his soul . . . All the prayers a man may pray, all the\nBibles he may read, all the churches he may belong to, all the services he\nmay attend, all the debts he my pay, all the ordinances he may observe, all\nthe laws he may keep, all the benevolent acts he may perform will not\nmake his soul one whit safer; and all the sins he may commit from idolatry\nto murder will not make his soul in any more danger . . . The way a man\nlives has nothing whatever to do with the salvation of his soul . . . The way\nI live has nothing whatsoever to do with the salvation of my soul.”\n
B. The last statement shows the severity this doctrine of Calvin can be taken.<\/p>\nIII. Some Calvinists argue that once a person is chosen to be saved, he is unable to sin so as\nto lose his soul.\n A. The difficulty in this position is the plain statements in the New Testament that all\nsin – Romans 3:10-18, 23\n
B. They counter by saying, “That was before they were saved.”<\/p>\n C. I John 1:5-10 – The people John is discussing those who walk in the light of God\nand cleansed from all sin.\n
1. Even though we are cleansed from sin, it is a lie to say we do not sin.<\/p>\n 2. I John 2:1-2 – Christians are not supposed to sin, but when we do we have\nan avenue of forgiveness.\n D. Trapped by the fact that people who they thought were saved committed sins, they\nwill argue that they never were actually saved. They only had an appearance of\nsalvation.\n 1. The Five Points of Calvinism<\/i>, Steele and Thomas: “Many who profess to\nbelieve fall away, but they do not fall from grace for they were never in\ngrace.”\n 2. Sometimes I John 2:19 is cited. The claim is that if they left, then they\nwere never truly one of us.\n
a. Notice the context speaks of those against Christ (I John 2:18).<\/p>\n b. In II John 7-9 speaks of the same matter, but notice the warnings\nagainst losing what we accomplished and remaining in the\nteachings of Christ.\n 3. What John is stating is that our fellowship with Christians can only exist\nwhen we first have fellowship with God and His Son – John 1:1-3\n a. That relationship with God can only come through Jesus – John\n14:6\n b. If we have a relationship with Jesus, then we will obey him – John\n14:15\n c. This is why sin on our part hinders our relationship with God and\nwith fellow Christians – I John 1:5-7; 2:3-6\n 4. What we have is the same situation as the parable of the sower – Luke\n8:11-15\n a. Notice the hard ground never accepted the word, but those in rocky\nsoil and among the thorns did accept the word, but lost due to trials\nand cares of this world.\n b. They left, not because they were never one of us, but because they\nlost what joined them to us – a relationship with God and the Son\nthrough the truth.\n 5. We can see this in I John 2:19 that states if they had not left, they would\nhave continued with us. \n
a. Continued in what? Continued in the fellowship of believers.<\/p>\n b. Notice verse 24, if the doctrine you heard from the beginning\nabides (or continues – same word as in I John 2:19), then you will\nabide (continue – again the same word) in the Son and the Father.\n
c. You cannot remain in something you never had.<\/p>\n
d. What hinders this relationship? A love of the world – I John 2:15-17 (notice there is that word abide or continue again).<\/p>\n 6. What we see is that John is not saying that those who left were never a part\nof us. \n a. He is saying they left because what bound them to us is no longer\nin them. \n b. What binds Christians is our relationship with God, His Son, and\nHis truth. – Colossians 1:21-23\n c. When a Christian severs his relationship with the truth, it severs his\nrelationship with his brethren. It may not show up immediately, but\nthey will soon drift off because the common ties no longer hold\nthem to the rest.\n
d. Demas left because he loved this world – II Timothy 4:10<\/p>\n E. II Peter 2:20 – People can escape the pollution of the world, yet be entangled\nagain.\n 1. This is not an illusion of salvation, but one who was saved returning to the\nfilth of sin.\nIV. Other Calvinists, like Sam Morris quoted earlier, will argue that Christians do sin, but\nthose sins will not affect the outcome.\n
A. Simon was saved – Acts 8:13 (noticed the word continued again)<\/p>\n
1. Yet he sinned and see Peter’s assessment – Acts 8:18-24.<\/p>\n
2. If he had not repented, what would have been the outcome?<\/p>\n B. When brethren altered the doctrine of Christ by attempting justification under the\nOld Law, they fell from grace and severed their relationship with Christ –\nGalatians 5:4\n C. James 5:19-20 – The restoration saved his soul from death. It was possible that his\nsalvation would have been lost!\n
D. Perhaps the clearest passage is Hebrews 6:4-6<\/p>\n
1. Notice that this is not a temporary backsliding. <\/p>\n
2. It is impossible to renew them. They fell permanently away!<\/p>\nV. Our salvation is not a guarantee that we will be saved no matter what we do. Our\nsalvation does not stop temptation and it will not keep you from sinning.\n
A. We must work out our salvation – Philippians 2:12<\/p>\n
B. If we do sin, we have means to return – I John 2:1; 1:9<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: I John 2:15-25 I. During the Reformation, a man named John Calvin came up with a system of belief that has impacted a large portion of the denominational world. A. The ideas were not original with Calvin. He based his work on many that preceded him. B. What Calvin did was to…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[119,32],"tags":[757,59,1308,61,58,60,47],"class_list":["post-42128","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-audio","category-sermon","tag-assurance","tag-calvinism","tag-falling-away","tag-falling-from-grace","tag-once-saved-always-saved","tag-perseverance-of-the-saints","tag-salvation"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":50951,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/the-sovereignty-of-god-2\/","url_meta":{"origin":42128,"position":0},"title":"The Sovereignty of God (Hamilton)","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"August 13, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: I Timothy 6:13-21 \u00a0 I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0When looking at the history of the development of the denominational world, one issue that has significant impact revolves around understanding God\u2019s sovereignty. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Sovereignty is being above or superior to others; to be chief, greatest, or supreme. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0B.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The question is: Can\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Audio"","block_context":{"text":"Audio","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/audio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":91290,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/election\/","url_meta":{"origin":42128,"position":1},"title":"Election","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"October 16, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"by Kenneth Frazier via Sentry Magazine, Vol. 18 No. 1, 31 March 1992 John Calvin is well known for his views on election and predestination. Qualben's \"A History of the Christian Church\" gives this evaluation of Calvin's belief. \"As a logical tonsequence, Calvin asserted that God had from eternity foreordained\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":65101,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/irresistible-grace\/","url_meta":{"origin":42128,"position":2},"title":"Irresistible Grace","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"December 31, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Matthew 23:34-39 \u00a0 I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0John Calvin and his followers believe that God is so totally sovereign in His will that no one can change His creation. He is all powerful and irresistible \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The Westminster Confession of Faith states, \u201cGod from all eternity, did ... unchangeably ordain\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Audio"","block_context":{"text":"Audio","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/audio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":28769,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/spiritual-illumination\/","url_meta":{"origin":42128,"position":3},"title":"Spiritual Illumination","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"April 4, 2010","format":false,"excerpt":"by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: II Corinthians 3 \u00a0 I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0What does it take to understand the Bible? \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0I had one woman object to an article stating that the Ten Commandments were not directly in effect because they were a part of the Old Law. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a01.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0She told me to read several\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Audio"","block_context":{"text":"Audio","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/audio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":39621,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/how-can-sins-keep-you-from-getting-to-heaven-if-you-are-saved\/","url_meta":{"origin":42128,"position":4},"title":"How can sins keep you from getting to heaven if you are saved?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"July 6, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Hi, I'm confused with the passage I Corinthians 6:9-10. Because if these things send a person to hell, then wouldn't that go against what the churches teach today when they say you just have to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior and you are going to Heaven? Answer:\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":57469,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/irresistible-grace-and-matthew-2337\/","url_meta":{"origin":42128,"position":5},"title":"Irresistible Grace and Matthew 23:37","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"December 30, 2006","format":false,"excerpt":"by Bryan Sharp In Matthew 23:37 Christ proclaims: \"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not!\" Jesus is bemoaning\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42128","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=42128"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42128\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=42128"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=42128"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=42128"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}