Devoted to the Propagation and Defense of New Testament Christianity
VOLUME 9
January 2, 1958
NUMBER 34, PAGE 3a

Is Your Calling And Election Sure?

Dudley Ross Spears, Cookeville, Tennessee

There are a few pitifully confused religionists in our land who have the idea that any doubt about one's relationship to God is an evident token that salvation is not real. These people are the victims of the superstitious idea that one must have "an inward experience of grace" in order to know salvation is real. This idea stems from the ancient tombs of Calvinism which basically taught doctrines of unconditional salvation — pre-destination and fore-ordination which cannot be changed or altered in the slightest way. Inter-woven into this theory is the teaching that the soul of an alien sinner (non-elect) is so depraved by inheritance that it cannot hear or obey the word of God until the "regenerating power of the Holy Spirit" comes mystically upon him to enable him to do these things. Very few teach this doctrine today, but many teach the results of it. The result of this theory is the mistaken notion that one must have an "inward working of the Spirit" in order to be converted. Such a "notion" is foreign to the Bible. However, regardless of the Bible, people are instructed to have no doubts about their conversion, for this might admit that salvation is not real after all. On the contrary to this, an examination and re-examination of one's relationship to God is wise and according to the New Testament teachings.

Our Lord's apostles continually taught Christians to beware the temptations of the wicked one. Christians were warned over and over about the danger of falling from grace. Apostasy was a constant possibility in their day as well as it is in ours. Peter said: "Wherefore the rather brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure, for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall." (2 Peter 1:10.) The apostle had just completed his admonition to Christians to add to their faith the various attributes that would lead them toward a fully developed child of God. (Please read verses 6-9). This passage teaches us that our security from falling is conditioned upon our faithfulness. Faith is the condition that justifies the alien sinner from his past sins when it "obeys from the heart that form of doctrine" and faith is still the condition that insures one of remaining in God's favor if it continues to obey His will. Faith justifies the alien when it works and obeys the righteousness of God, and faith will keep us in the narrow way and bring us to the end of it when it works and obeys until death. (Rev. 2:10.) "Faith only" cannot justify either the sinner or the saint.

Some "Pastors" completely disregard these conditions and warnings by instructing their followers to believe that their "calling and election" is so sure that it cannot possibly be lost. They seem to think that salvation comes in one dose and cannot be added to or diminished from. Thus, they make it useless to try to "grow in the grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ." (2 Peter 3:18.) Salvation comes in two places in the life of every accountable person whose ultimate destiny is Heaven. One is the place when past sins are gone by obedience to the doctrine of Christ from the heart, and the other is when obedient and submissive faith leads one to "receive the end of your faith, even the salvation of our souls." (Please read carefully Romans 6:17,18 — also 1 Peter 1:9.)

Paul taught the Christians in the church at Corinth: "Let him that thinketh he standeth, take heed lest he fall." (1 Cor. 10:12.) Again, along comes some creed-bound "Pastor" who says it is impossible to fall. The only motive for this is that the "Pastor" thinks more of John Calvin as authority than he does of either Paul or Peter. It is dishonest and deceiving to tell people that they cannot fall when both Paul and Peter told them they could!

Be not deceived, dear reader; increase daily your faith by living for the Lord as diligently as it is possible for you to live. Walk by faith in God and not by sight. The path to heaven is lighted by the rays of God's word. There is but one way to see the path and that is through the eyes of obedient and submissive faith. Paul would tell you: "Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God." (Romans 10:17.) Mark your life here on earth with an intent desire to conform to what God says to you through His word. The Bible is God's word which has been revealed to us by His Holy Spirit and is sufficient for your every spiritual need. By reading it and applying it to your life, your "calling and election will be sure" and eventually Heaven will be your reward. May the Lord bless all readers with an open heart that will submit to the Divine Will.