How do I know if I'm saved?

[UnclePaul]

I have recently joined a study group. One of our members is from a Calvinist tradition. He teaches that if I am truly saved I will believe in predestination as taught by Calvin. If I hold a different view of predestination and human responsibility then that shows that I am not of the elect. Is that a correct teaching? Could I be of the elect and not believe as Calvin taught? This man is very knowledgeable of the Bible and truly lives a holy life, so it is hard for me to totally disregard his words.

 

[GrinningDwarf]

I have recently joined a study group. One of our members is from a Calvinist tradition. He teaches that if I am truly saved I will believe in predestination as taught by Calvin. If I hold a different view of predestination and human responsibility then that shows that I am not of the elect. Is that a correct teaching? Could I be of the elect and not believe as Calvin taught? This man is very knowledgeable of the Bible and truly lives a holy life, so it is hard for me to totally disregard his words.

That would be a view held by hyper-Calvinists, and it is not true. You do not have to have all of your theological i's dotted and t's crossed to be saved. Just trust Jesus, and Jesus alone, for your salvation.

This is what the Westminster Confession of Faith, an important Reformed, or Calvinist, document has to say:

I. Although hypocrites and other unregenerate men may vainly deceive themselves with false hopes and carnal presumptions of being in the favor of God, and estate of salvation[1] (which hope of theirs shall perish):[2] yet such as truly believe in the Lord Jesus, and love him in sincerity, endeavoring to walk in all good conscience before him, may, in this life, be certainly assured that they are in the state of grace,[3] and may rejoice in the hope of the glory of God, which hope shall never make them ashamed.[4]

1. Micah 3:11; Deut. 29:19; John 8:41
2. Amos 9:10; Matt. 7:22-23
3. I John 2:3; 3:14, 18-19, 21, 24; 5:13
4. Rom. 5:2, 5

What does the bold part of that say? I don't see anything about having all of our theological ducks in a row.

The Westminster Confession goes on to say:

II. This certainty is not a bare conjectural and probable persuasion grounded upon a fallible hope;[5] but an infallible assurance of faith founded upon the divine truth of the promises of salvation,[6] the inward evidence of those graces unto which these promises are made,[7] the testimony of the Spirit of adoption witnessing with our spirits that we are the children of God,[8] which Spirit is the earnest of our inheritance, whereby we are sealed to the day of redemption.[9]

5. Heb. 6:11, 19
6. Heb. 6:17-18
7. II Peter 1:4-11; I John 2:3; 3:14; II Cor. 1:12
8. Rom. 8:15-16
9. Eph. 1:13-14; 4:30; II Cor. 1:21-22

III. This infallible assurance doth not so belong to the essence of faith, but that a true believer may wait long, and conflict with many difficulties before he be partaker of it:[10] yet, being enabled by the Spirit to know the things which are freely given him of God, he may, without extraordinary revelation, in the right use of ordinary means, attain thereunto.[11] And therefore it is the duty of everyone to give all diligence to make his calling and election sure,[12] that thereby his heart may be enlarged in peace and joy in the Holy Ghost, in love and thankfulness to God, and in strength and cheerfulness in the duties of obedience, the proper fruits of this assurance;[13] so far is it from inclining men to looseness.[14]

10. I John 5:13
11. I Cor. 2:12; I John 4:13; Heb. 6:11-12; Eph. 3:17-19
12. II Peter 1:10
13. Rom. 5:1-2, 5; 14:17; 15:13; Eph. 1:3-4; Psa. 4:6-7; 119:32
14. I John 1:6-7; 2:1-2; 3:2-3; Rom. 6:1-2; 8:1, 12; Titus 2:11-12, 14; II Cor. 7:1; Psa. 130:4


IV. True believers may have the assurance of their salvation divers ways shaken, diminished, and intermitted; as, by negligence in preserving of it, by falling into some special sin which woundeth the conscience and grieveth the Spirit; by some sudden or vehement temptation, by God's withdrawing the light of his countenance, and suffering even such as fear him to walk in darkness and to have no light:[15] yet are they never utterly destitute of that seed of God, and life of faith, that love of Christ and the brethren, that sincerity of heart, and conscience of duty, out of which, by the operation of the Spirit, this assurance may, in due time, be revived;[16] and by the which, in the meantime, they are supported from utter despair.[17]

15. Psa. 31:22; 51:8, 12, 14; 77:1-10; Eph. 4:30-31; Matt. 26:69-72 and Luke 22:31-44
16. I John 3:9; Luke 22:32; Psa. 51:8, 12; 73:15
17. Micah 7:7-9; Jer. 32:40; Isa. 54:7-14; II Cor. 4:8-10

Try listening to this, too. Listen to it all the way through to the end, and they address your very question.

By the way...can this teacher show you where Calvin taught that?

 

[wnwall]

I have recently joined a study group. One of our members is from a Calvinist tradition. He teaches that if I am truly saved I will believe in predestination as taught by Calvin. If I hold a different view of predestination and human responsibility then that shows that I am not of the elect. Is that a correct teaching? Could I be of the elect and not believe as Calvin taught? This man is very knowledgeable of the Bible and truly lives a holy life, so it is hard for me to totally disregard his words.

I would like to echo GrinningDwarf in saying that the belief that only Calvinists are saved is an extreme position and is found to be a repugnant and arrogant position by the majority of leading Calvinists. I would also like to add how the Bible answers the question of how to know whether you have been saved or not:

If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. . . . By this we may know that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked. . . .

Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness. Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling. But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes. . . .

And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming. If you know that he is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him. . . .

Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. You know that he appeared to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God. By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother (1 John 1-3).
​

Nathan

 

[mlqurgw]

I have recently joined a study group. One of our members is from a Calvinist tradition.

That covers quite a bit of different views and may not be an accurate description of his theology. Very often, as in my case, men hold closely with the Biblical Doctrines of Grace commonly called Calvinism without actually being Calvinists. The label is used by many as a simple way to identify oneself without going into a detailed explanation of our theology. We identify with TULIP as it is revealed in the Scriptures but not with Calvin in reality.

He teaches that if I am truly saved I will believe in predestination as taught by Calvin.

Hmm. Is that something he actually said or something you assumed because you think all Calvinists follow Calvin? I ask because it is a common mistake made by those who hold to a different view. As far as believing in predestination in the Calvinistic sense I would agree with him though not because they were things taught by Calvin but because they are Biblical truths. God does not leave His people in darkness. When He saves a person He brings them into the light of His truth. That doesn't mean that they automatically know all truth but that when they hear it they do not reject it.

If I hold a different view of predestination and human responsibility then that shows that I am not of the elect.

No, it shows that you may not be. Perhaps God has brought you into contact with this man in order to bring you out of darkness because you are elect.

Is that a correct teaching?

Not in the way in which you worded it but true in the sense that I gave above.

Could I be of the elect and not believe as Calvin taught?

Yes! Calvin taught many things I strongly disagree with but none of them have to do with the Doctrines of Grace. Salvation isn't following a theology but resting in Christ alone. Every saved sinner knows that he didn't save himself. God doesn't give them complete understanding when He gives them faith but He does bring them into all truth. Election, God's sovereignty in salvation, is the second most prominent doctrine in the Scriptures and no saved sinner continually rejects it.

This man is very knowledgeable of the Bible and truly lives a holy life, so it is hard for me to totally disregard his words.

Then don't.

Edit: Hope you had a wonderful birthday.

 

[heymikey80]

I have recently joined a study group. One of our members is from a Calvinist tradition. He teaches that if I am truly saved I will believe in predestination as taught by Calvin. If I hold a different view of predestination and human responsibility then that shows that I am not of the elect. Is that a correct teaching? Could I be of the elect and not believe as Calvin taught? This man is very knowledgeable of the Bible and truly lives a holy life, so it is hard for me to totally disregard his words.

Happy Birthday!

For what it's worth, I'm a Reformed Christian too -- and I've examined Reformed Theology quite a bit.

If this person's assertion were true then the likes of people as varied as Chrysostom, Thomas Aquinas, Westphal, Thomas a Kempis would not be saved. Not to mention a number of more recent people I'm sure I'll meet in heaven.

My advice (worth every electron!): you may safely leave off his teaching and get into something real at any time.

He may appear knowledgeable and he may certainly practice a life of holiness, but I would be very suspicious at this point. It seems to me from your statements about his knowledge and holiness that he hasn't opened up to you about the facts of his own sinfulness and how humbling that can [and according to Scripture, absolutely must] be. And to me that's a bright red flashing light of warning about his ministry. (cf Col 2:8-eoc)

But me? Well, I'm no one you know, right. All I know is what God tells me. But you can look in Pp 2 and see what humility of mind Paul is telling people to have. If he's really got this unassuming humility, then peace. Go on and ask him to point out where Scripture says a lack of knowledge (gnosis) will kill you. To me, 1 Corinthians 13 says the reverse. "Where there is knowledge, it shall pass away."

As we decline in years, we know less. I wonder what would happen to God's election if we couldn't keep in mind that He predestined us.

No, I can't be concerned about such a religious viewpoint. Rely on Christ. He said He'll handle it if you're relying on Christ. He didn't have much to say about your embracing predestination.

Consult John about how you can know that you know Christ (1 Jn 2:2-3) and really, the entire letter is written about how you can know you have eternal life (1 Jn 5:13).

 

[UnclePaul]

Thank all of you for your answers. They were very helpful.

 

[kj7gs]

I've got a thought to add to this. Your Calvinist "opponent" is partially right. If you think about it, and get really into it, I think Arminianism can lead to a faith that does not save. Same with a hubristic "I'm chosen" view of Calvinism. But there is also the childlike approach that tosses it all and says, "Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so." And then Calvinism vs. Arminianism doesn't matter at all.

 

[UMP]

I've got a thought to add to this. Your Calvinist "opponent" is partially right. If you think about it, and get really into it, I think Arminianism can lead to a faith that does not save. Same with a hubristic "I'm chosen" view of Calvinism. But there is also the childlike approach that tosses it all and says, "Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so." And then Calvinism vs. Arminianism doesn't matter at all.

That is a good point! Regardless of my theology, however correct or incorrect, I'm hanging onto my Lord's leg and won't let go !!! In my view, He is all I have. I have nothing else.