THE PLACE OF DOCTRINE AND RELATIONSHIP
I don’t know what sort of description you would give this blog, it is a testimony, but also an expression of what I believe. I wrote in FB this morning “I am so blest, it is all undeserved, THANK YOU JESUS”. It is now over 67 years I have known Jesus as my personal Saviour and Lord, and live in the daily assurance, I have eternal life, ” I am a new creation, old things have passed away and all things have become new. My name is engraved in the palm of His hand (Isaiah 49:16) He knows my name, and loves me with and everlasting love. I have failed the Lord so many times, but he has never forsaken me, for which I will thank Him throughout eternity.
We are all a product of our church environment and what they teach, we simply picked it up consciously or unconsciously and accepted it, and to a great degree not even checking what the Word of God says.
I was gloriously saved in an Arminian believing church, and in my late teens was exposed to the Pentecostal Movement (which is also strongly Arminian). The Second Blessing teaching that was birthed nearly 300 years ago, saw the development/addition at the start of the 20th century of people “speaking in unknown tongues” as recorded on the day of Pentecost. This second experience again was life changing thrusting me into the realm of the Holy Spirit”s moving and giftings . I already had a “call of God” on my life so entered Bible College, and begun to be exposed to the truths found in the Word of God. I also had some friends who quietly and lovingly encouraged me to “search the Scriptures” and I began to see that both the Arminian and Calvinist positions (on some aspects of truth) were not as balanced as many people would suggest. Regarding these 2 Theological positions I am somewhere in the middle.
IT IS SAID IT IS DANGEROUS TO BE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD AS YOU WILL GET RUN OVER!!!
So some of my readers are already preparing to challenge me as they read this.
I believe in Mass evangelism and thank God for men like Billy Graham, and Reinhard Bonnke who have seen millions of people make “decisions” for Christ, but I came to see, that it is one thing to make a “decision” it is another thing to know if “they have passed from death unto life and are truly born again. That is why Biblical Discipleship is essential, and the “decision” may simply be the beginning of a pilgrimage until they come to that place that “they know because they know because they know”.
2 Peter 3:9 NKJV tells us The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. THE GOSPEL IS FOR THE WHOSOEVER.
Three important components we must recognise in the Salvation process is:
THE TRINITY IS INVOLVED, FATHER, SON AND HOLY SPIRIT.
- John 6:44 NKJV No one can come to Me unless the FATHER who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day.
- THE HOLY SPIRIT must convict the Sinner of his lost estate.
- JESUS CHRIST died and shed His blood to deal with the sin question once and for all.
There are some words that it appears Arminians seem to hate like:
ELECT/ELECTION/CHOSEN/PREDESTINATION, all I can say is they are Bible words, and if they are in the Bible they must be significant, although sadly Hyper Calvinists seem to take these words to extremes. Romans 8:29 NKLV helps me understand these words. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.
GOD’S CHOOSING IS SEATED IN HIS FOREKNOWLEDGE
Our God knows everything (about everything) He saw us in eternity past and on the basis of His foreknowledge He chose us Hallelujah.
Oh that more Believers were like Spurgeon who said something like this, it is not my business who is “elect’ I must simply fulfil the great Commission.
I am so sad that the some of the Reformers felt that what they declared was everything we need to know and believe, as within a few short years God continued to shed light on His Word and important truths like Believer’s Baptism (by immersion) was revealed. Then truth after truth continued to be restored to us including for example the Gifts and ministries of the Holy Spirit like Divine Healing, Prophecy, Speaking in Tongues, the Five fold ministries (Ephesians 4:11) most Reformers said these ceased when the last Apostle died.
I believe there is more Light going to be shed on the Word of God as we come closer and closer to the Lord’s return, so let us not be inflexible, and be closed minded, but be like the Bereans in Acts 17:11 NKJV These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.
I have joined many Reformed and Pentecostal forums on FB and enjoy the discussions very much, but am extremely saddened (and I trust) righteously angry when I read questions like Can an Arminian be saved?
DOCTRINE IS IMPORTANT BUT IT WON’T GET YOU TO HEAVEN
I totally agree with Paul when He wrote to Timothy 2 Tim. 1:12 NKJV for I know WHOM I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.
Knowing Biblical truth is very important but knowing Jesus is the essential thing. I somehow think we may all be surprised when we get to heaven that what we thought about a certain truth, was not completely correct.
This blog is not a Theological treatise, I may not have made myself as clear as I should or could, I am most happy to receive your comments and responses, but I WILL NOT ARGUE with you ok?
LET US HAVE COMMITMENT ON THE ESSENTIALS AND LIBERTY ON THE NON-ESSENTIALS
