The 3 Major Ways of Salvation - Only One is Correct!

[SteveDr]

The 3 Major Ways of Salvation Compared​

There are three major ways people consider salvation to take place in the kingdom of heaven. No regard is given to open theism as a fourth way, since it rejects God's infinite foreknowledge. While the first two ways are not God's way, the third way is, since there can only be one way. It is quite easy to explain.

1) Calvinism. In this belief, its adherents claim that a person is totally deprave so they could never choose the cross unless God acted first to cause them to choose. But this belief is found to be wrong on at least two fronts.

Firstly, we are not totally deprave. Yes we are fallen, but not totally deprave. The difference is that someone who is totally deprave is not made in God's image to be able to choose the cross, whereas someone who is fallen can still choose the cross because they are still made in God's image and alway will be. A person who is fallen is going to hell unless God provides a way out, which He does by the cross of His redemptive design. The fallen person can not choose the cross by their flesh, because God would never accept it. Therefore, the only way to salvation is for the person to choose by the gift given in being made in His image so that he can be drawn by God, receive the gift of faith and redemption of the cross. If we really were totally deprave then it would make God unrighteous because He would arbitrarily save some without regard to their first having the choice, and He would not save others by arbitrarily refusing to save them first before considering their choice. It would make God evil if He made people for hell without first regard for their choice.

Secondly, God wants to walk with His creation, but for God to just make robots whom He causes to choose Him rather than saving those who would first receive Him, then He becomes a weak God who can't allow the person to choose freely. This could never give glory to God for there is something very special in letting the person choose that God values so much. The only way this free-choice was attainable was by making man in His image. Making man anything less than this would not give the man a real sovereign free-will. Since we find no verses in the Bible to support calvinism robots, we must reject it by the Holy Spirit.

2). Non-OSAS. The reason this is wrong is because when God gives eternal life by saving the person at new birth, He foresees infinitely whom to give His life too so that He never takes it away. If man comes along and then says he can lose that life, isn't he abrogating God's Word and not trusting in what God said? Since we can find no verses in the Bible that teach a person can lose salvation and eternal life at new birth, we must conclude God's way is OSAS.

3) God's way of salvation is to predestinate (Rom. 8.29) by foreknowing (v.29) our free-choice (John 3.16) made in His image (Gen. 1.26,27): a conditional election, unlimited atonement, resistible grace, for preservation of the saints.

 

[CaliforniaJosiah]

You left out a 4th view (which happens to be mine).


That we are saved by God's grace through faith in Jesus Christ.


See John 3:16, 1 Timothy 2:4, Romans 5:8, Titus 3:5, Acts 10:43, Acts 16:30-31, Romans 6:23, Romans 3:26, Ephesians 2:8, Romans 5:1



Thank you.


Pax!


- Josiah



.

 

[onmybelief]

You left out a 4th view (which happens to be mine).


That we are saved by God's grace through faith in Jesus Christ.


See John 3:16, 1 Timothy 2:4, Romans 5:8, Titus 3:5, Acts 10:43, Acts 16:30-31, Romans 6:23, Romans 3:26, Ephesians 2:8, Romans 5:1



Thank you.


Pax!


- Josiah



.

Yes, agreed. We must have faith in Jesus Christ and know he is Lord in order to be saved and redeemed from our sins. But it is important to know that we can lose our salvation if we continue to consciously sin. But, yes, Christ's love is potentially for all people.

 

[BigNorsk]

Hmm...

I would have split the three ways of salvation quite differently.

1. Works. You are told or believe you must do certain works to be saved. Normal in man made religions. Basically religion of the law.

2. Feelings. You just feel so good and wonderful and everything that you must be saved. Basically religion of the feelings or heart.

3. Gospel. For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son that whomsover believes shall not perish but have eternal life. I would call it salvation through scripture, God's revelation. You hear what Jesus has done for you and you believe. You are not saved because you are good enough or done enough to be saved, you are not saved because you are happy and feel good, you are saved because you believe that Jesus died for you.

I suppose a 4th could be added, and that's mixes of the previous 3. While it is possible that people are saved as long as the gospel is included in the mix, it is dangerous because the tendency is to hide the gospel and give the false paths to God dominance, yet in the mixed religions one can always expect to find some true Christians, who basically through not being consistent or anything in their beliefs turn to God and stand there with nothing but their faith in Jesus, so their "head knowledge" would basically put them in category 1 or 2, but when it comes down to it, they truly do have faith.

Marv

 

[gentlestorm]

The 3 Major Ways of Salvation Compared​

There are three major ways people consider salvation to take place in the kingdom of heaven. No regard is given to open theism as a fourth way, since it rejects God's infinite foreknowledge. While the first two ways are not God's way, the third way is, since there can only be one way. It is quite easy to explain.

1) Calvinism. In this belief, its adherents claim that a person is totally deprave so they could never choose the cross unless God acted first to cause them to choose. But this belief is found to be wrong on at least two fronts.

Firstly, we are not totally deprave. Yes we are fallen, but not totally deprave. The difference is that someone who is totally deprave is not made in God's image to be able to choose the cross, whereas someone who is fallen can still choose the cross because they are still made in God's image and alway will be. A person who is fallen is going to hell unless God provides a way out, which He does by the cross of His redemptive design. The fallen person can not choose the cross by their flesh, because God would never accept it. Therefore, the only way to salvation is for the person to choose by the gift given in being made in His image so that he can be drawn by God, receive the gift of faith and redemption of the cross. If we really were totally deprave then it would make God unrighteous because He would arbitrarily save some without regard to their first having the choice, and He would not save others by arbitrarily refusing to save them first before considering their choice. It would make God evil if He made people for hell without first regard for their choice.

Secondly, God wants to walk with His creation, but for God to just make robots whom He causes to choose Him rather than saving those who would first receive Him, then He becomes a weak God who can't allow the person to choose freely. This could never give glory to God for there is something very special in letting the person choose that God values so much. The only way this free-choice was attainable was by making man in His image. Making man anything less than this would not give the man a real sovereign free-will. Since we find no verses in the Bible to support calvinism robots, we must reject it by the Holy Spirit.

2). Non-OSAS. The reason this is wrong is because when God gives eternal life by saving the person at new birth, He foresees infinitely whom to give His life too so that He never takes it away. If man comes along and then says he can lose that life, isn't he abrogating God's Word and not trusting in what God said? Since we can find no verses in the Bible that teach a person can lose salvation and eternal life at new birth, we must conclude God's way is OSAS.

3) God's way of salvation is to predestinate (Rom. 8.29) by foreknowing (v.29) our free-choice (John 3.16) made in His image (Gen. 1.26,27): a conditional election, unlimited atonement, resistible grace, for preservation of the saints.

THis is far too rationalistic to come anywhere near His Presence. You can not define or mark out God's way of operation so easily or logically.
If you know Him then live Him. I will see your light and follow. If you don't then surmising is a futile ego event.
Pray.

 

[epistemaniac]

really, there are only 2 ways to be saved... monergistically or synergistically.... there is the supernatural way of salvation, God taking out the heart of stone and replacing it with a heart of flesh, or there is the natural man's appraoch where man does his part and then God is supposed to do his....

see BB Warfield's excellent article on this at http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Delphi/4027/warfieldsalvation.html

blessings,
Ken

 

[SteveDr]

There are two views of monergism, and one view of synergism, so that one of the views of monergism is wrong. Monergism means God alone saves.

In synergism, Christians don't say that God alone doesn't save. Calvinists therefore are not even monergists because they still think they were saved before they could believe, but that is unrighteous.

 

[SteveDr]

Never trust those who say God's simple way of salvation is too much this or that, for they are just labelling accusations without conscience or reason. If He does He does it which He discloses in His loving Word as was shown. The proof is in noticing the accuser doesn't actually respond to that information, but rather goings on an accusing torrent.

 

[SteveDr]

Calvinism is a feeling in the mind, but not by the spirit of God-consciousness to employ their free-will made in God's image to accept the drawing of God to receive the Gospel.

It is also inordinately rationalizing oneself into a box that they rarely are able to extricate themselves from because of the assumed position, which has no basis.

 

[SteveDr]

We can never lose eternal life at new birth because it is given with eternity in mind. God is not fickle. He does not change His mind.

 

[Wizzer]

... Since we can find no verses in the Bible that teach a person can lose salvation and eternal life at new birth, we must conclude God's way is OSAS.

I believe it would be more correct for you to say that since you see no such verses that teach loss of salvation, that you conclude OSAS. I myself believe such loss of salvation passages exist. But should you ever be willing to consider the possible existence of such passages, I would be willing to point out some possibilites. I do believe they are there, but one must be willing to accept them.

Wizzer

 

[SteveDr]

Wizzer,

The correct thing to say is that since a person (you) who believes in non-OSAS can find no verses to substsantiate this idea, know that it is wrong and became an assumed position. It goes against God's infinite foreknowledge to foresee all whom to give His life to if He changed His mind after giving salvation.

 

[CaliforniaJosiah]

Wizzer,

The correct thing to say is that since a person (you) who believes in non-OSAS can find no verses to substsantiate this idea, know that it is wrong and became an assumed position. It goes against God's infinite foreknowledge to foresee all whom to give His life to if He changed His mind after giving salvation.

I'm not sure how this got off into yet another discussion of the Calvinist theory of OSAS but, here's my view:



VIEWS ON 'ONCE SAVED, ALWAYS SAVED'

I accept ALL of these Holy Scriptures.
ALL of them.
EQUALLY.
Literally.



Gospel:


Romans 8:29-39, For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all--how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died--more than that, who was raised to life--is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered." No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. "

Mark 13:22, "For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and miracles to deceive the elect--if that were possible.

John 4:14, "but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life."

John 20:28, I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.

1 Thess. 5:24, "The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.

Hebrews 10:14, "because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.

Rev. 3:5, "I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels."



Law:


John 15:4-7, "Remain in me, and I will remain in you... If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned."

Rev. 2:10, "Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life.

Matthew 10:22, "He who stands firm to the end will be saved."

1 Timothy 4:1, "The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons."

Luke 8:13, "They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away."

John 8:31, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really My disciples."

Luke 21:19, "By standing firm you will gain life."

Hebrews 8:9, "They did not remain faithful to My covenant, and I turned away from them"

Gal. 5:4, "You who are trying to be justified by law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace."

Col. 1:23, "If you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel."

Hebrews 10:26, "If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God."

2 Peter 1:8-10, "But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins. Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure."

2 Peter 3:17, "Be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of lawless men and fall from your secure position."

Rev. 3:5, He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white.

Luke 12:8, "He who disowns Me before men will be disowned before the angels of God."


As so often in theology, we find there are "two sides of the coin." To ME, the approach is NOT to take all the Scriptures, subject them to my limited, fallable, sinful, human LOGIC and force them to "fit" and "make sense" to ME.

To ME, the approach is to accept ALL of the Holy Scriptures at their face value and allow them to stand in all their truth and power just as God inspired them.

The approach, then, is in how to APPLY them rather than in how to force them to fit together according to our fallible, limited logic. Not in accepting one "set" and explaining away the other in the light of it.

Therefore, I do not accept OSAS.



Thank you for the discussion.



MY view...


- Josiah

 

[Wizzer]

I believe it would be more correct for you to say that since you see no such verses that teach loss of salvation, that you conclude OSAS. I myself believe such loss of salvation passages exist. But should you ever be willing to consider the possible existence of such passages, I would be willing to point out some possibilites. I do believe they are there, but one must be willing to accept them.

Wizzer

Wizzer,

The correct thing to say is that since a person (you) who believes in non-OSAS can find no verses to substsantiate this idea, know that it is wrong and became an assumed position. It goes against God's infinite foreknowledge to foresee all whom to give His life to if He changed His mind after giving salvation.

The Parable of the Hard-hearted Servant in Matthew 18 is an example of biblical teaching which indicates that true loss of salvation is possible. So in what sense can you claim that I "can find no verses to substanciate this idea"? And I could quote many others. So what would you have me do with this passage? I can't ignore it, and I can't simply reinterpret it because I don't like what it says.

Wizzer

 

[Oblio]

If you are given a poker hand that is a Royal Flush you cannot win the hand if you discard it.

I tried to explain this to a Baptist friend once, but he said .... What is this Poker ?

 

[SteveDr]

Californiah,

The once saved always saved view in the Bible is not the same as the calvinist view. The Bible shows OSAS given at new birth based on the choice you make to come to the cross to receive salvation. The calvinist view says you are saved before having to make the choice, so this makes one a robot in calvinism and could never glorify God.

 

[SteveDr]

The Parable of the Hard-hearted Servant in Matthew 18 is an example of biblical teaching which indicates that true loss of salvation is possible.

No, it doesn't say loss of salvation, but loss of rewards. He is saved and always will be, but he may not return with Christ to reign in the millennial kingdom. He would lose rewards in outer darkness until the new city arrives at the end of the 1000 years. Just as you are wrong about Matthew 18, you are wrong about any other verse you try to use to substantiate your idea.

 

[SteveDr]

If you are given a poker hand that is a Royal Flush you cannot win the hand if you discard it.

I tried to explain this to a Baptist friend once, but he said .... What is this Poker ?

Christians say you can't discard a hand you are already committed to at new birth forever, otherwise it was not real new birth committment graced and acknowedged by God. In otherwords, new birth has no optional clause to come out. Rather, it is contract for eternity to receive eternal life at new birth.

 

[JimfromOhio]

Ephesians 2:8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.

Regarding Salvation... its a tough issue and often I leave this with the Lord. From the "surface", so-called Christians are looking doctrines the way people WANT to hear so they could give their time to pursuits more to their liking.

When a person do NOT acknowledge the Holy Spirit, that is explained in Mark 3:29 "But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; he is guilty of an eternal sin." Acts 7:51 "You stiff-necked people, with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are just like your fathers: You always resist the Holy Spirit!" Acts 15:8 "God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us."

Salvation is free through Grace (undeserve kindness) of God and His unconditional love.

Biblically, it is very clear that no one seeks God on their own (Romans 3:11) and God calls and saves us by the Holy Spirit, not according to our works but according to His own Will and Grace which were granted us in Christ Jesus (2 Tim. 1:8-9). God chose us and gave us saving grace (Eph. 2:8-9). Ungenerated people have no capacity to understand God's spiritual truth; instead they created God in their own image that they are calling God's truth foolishness (1 Cor. 2:14). They are spiritually blind (2 Cor. 4:4), spiritually dead (Eph. 2:1) and spiritually ignorant (Eph. 4:18)

Becoming a disciple, following Jesus Christ requires personal cost, giving up your selfish "me" and become like Christ.

People get saved because Jesus said in John 16:8 "When He (Holy Spirit) comes, He will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment." Later in the New Testament, 1 Thessalonians 1:5 "because our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction."

People can talk all they want what they think about Doctrine of Salvation. People who don't discern regarding salvation are those who are spiritual "ignorance". Ephesians 4:18 They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. 1 Thessalonians 4:13 "Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope." No matter how sincere Christians may be, Christians without discernment are sure to err. Christians speaking, even quoting Scripture, are not the same as practicing their faith. Faith will express itself in faith deeds not just words.

So, maybe is not about Calvinism nor any other man's "doctrine of salvation" but rather this is about people reaction to God's Soveriegn decisions in our salvation? We can continue to debate about Arminianism vs Calvinistic doctrines... and so on... on.... Proverbs 16:33 The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD. The Bible clearly teaches that no one has true "freewill" except God Himself. God is in control and He will allow us to have freewill only if its according to His will. The "freewill" is always subject to God's sovereignty and His divine freewill. God let's each of us chose whether they will be obedient to Him or not according to His will. The key is that God is ALWAYS in control even in our own freewill. Those of us given the free gift of faith, we have escaped eternal punishment that we rightly deserved because of the mercy and grace of God, and we should be eternally grateful.

 

[SteveDr]

Salvation, ie new birth, is not unconditional, but it is conditional on you choosing the cross. I agree it is not about calvinism since calvinism is just one of several false ways of salvation. What it is about is truly choosing the cross (John 3.16) to receive eternal forgiveness.

The Bible clearly teaches we are all made in God's image with a free and sovereign will just like God's and God tries to save us all (universal atonement), but not all want it, and that is their choice. God is in control, but we have true free-will.

Who are those who receive the gift of faith? It is those who truly come to the cross and so receive to be saved by grace.

Therefore, as the OP proves, God's way of salvation is to predestinate us according to His infinite foreknowledge of our free-choice: a conditional election, unlimited atonement, resistible grace, for preservation of the saints.

This is the only way, and all other ways fail. Remember God does not require you to understand all things, but to make a choice given to you. If you don't choose, how can He save you since you don't fulfill the condition He requires. Because you want to do it your own way-calvinism! This would be choosing by the flesh which God says won't work, for the flesh lusts against the Spirit. You will have to choose by the gift given to you made in His image.