Things New and Old

Ancient truths revealed in the Scriptures are often forgotten, disbelieved or distorted, and therefore lost in the passage of time. Such ancient truths when rediscovered and relearned are 'new' additions to the treasury of ancient truths.

Christ showed many new things to the disciples, things prophesied by the prophets of old but hijacked and perverted by the elders and their traditions, but which Christ reclaimed and returned to His people.

Many things taught by the Apostles of Christ have been perverted or substituted over the centuries. Such fundamental doctrines like salvation by grace and justification have been hijacked and perverted and repudiated by sincere Christians. These doctrines need to be reclaimed and restored to God's people.

There are things both new and old here. "Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things" 2Ti 2:7.

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Damnable Heresy 8: Considered



September 22
(8th in a series)
A brother who calls himself a 'true Calvinist' said:
I must admit I was once a Hyper-Calvinist of the Hardshell type, but through the grace of our Lord was brought back again to believe once more the Bible by correct and scientific exegesis, especially in rightly dividing the Word of truth. While actually answering you by and bye, I would like to show Hardshell Hyper-Calvinism is characterized by the following common presuppositions

8. Hyper-Calvinism in separating justification from the ordinary ministry of the Word, has given way to unbiblical assumption that a man can be justified without hearing the Gospel preached in a pagan country, while believing and practicing the best light of his pagan religion as long as he is one of God’s elect.

(the 8th of 11, 3 other points to follow)
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Any real hyper-calvinists out there?
Then come, and let's reason together.
What do you think of the 4th point?
Is that what you believe?
Are you rightly represented?

And Calvinists, please join in to enlighten us.


Sing F Lau
"Hyper-Calvinism in separating justification from the ordinary ministry of the Word..."
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1. This statement betrays a sad and pathetic IGNORANCE of the "true Calvinists" concerning the belief of those they denounce as H-C. They are very intelligent on a lot of things... but on this point they are COMPLETELY ignorant, or deliberately misrepresenting, which is wicked!

My dad knocked into my tender head since young, "if you can't represent your opponent accurately, you have not earned the right to dispute. It is disgraceful and foolish to open your mouth and misrepresent them." He also insisted, "It is always wicked to misrepresent your opponent."

"True Calvinists" represented by sincere men like Rocky are very deficient in their understanding of the doctrine of justification.
Those he slanders as H-C do not SEPARATE justification from the ordinary ministry of the word.
Those he slanders as H-C do DISTINGUISH the different and distinct aspects in the doctrine of justification!

The "true Calvinists" themselves are indeed deceived and self-conceited in this particular doctrine.

I do believe the Scriptures teaches these distinct aspects on the doctrine of Justification"
1. There is justification by the decree of God before the foundation of the world - decretal justification, justification purposed.
2. There is justification by the blood/faith/righteousness of Christ at the cross - legal justification, justification accomplished.
3. There is justification by the free grace of God at effectual calling - vital/personal justification, justification applied personally
4. There is justification by the faith of God's children - practical justification, justification manifested/experienced

Those slandered by "true Calvinists" as H-C do believe that practical/experiential justification IS IS IS through the ordinary ministry of the word. They MOST CERTAINLY JOIN practical/experiential justification with the ordinary ministry of the word.

"True Calvinists" are obviously ignorant of the various distinct aspects of justification taught in the Scriptures.
What's worse, they confuse practical/experientail justification through believing (no. 4 above) with justification by the free grace of God (no. 3 above) and justification by the blood/faith/righteousness of Christ at the cross!!!

A man's faith in Jesus Christ certifies/demonstrates/evidences/vindicates his justified state by God's free grace. A man's faith is NOT the means whereby he is justified before that! That's a lie of the devil!

It is those already justified by God's free grace that are able to believe.
It is those already justified by God's free grace that are able to believe.
It is those already justified by God's free grace that are able to believe.

So, justification before God CANNOT be by faith alone (faith being man's act of believing.)
Faith, man's act of believing, is not the instrument whereby a condemned man is justified by God.
You just don't find such damnable heresy in the Holy Scriptures.

You do find "the just shall live by faith" - a declaration that those justified by God's free grace are the one who shall live by faith. The "true Calvinists" want to insist that those not justified (therefore still in a condemned state) through believing is justified by God!!!

Those whom Rocky claims as "true Calvinists" are really ignorant of this basic truth of free grace!

The doctrine of justification by faith (man's act of believing) alone is, at best a very deficient doctrine, and at worst, is truly a damnable heresy! It is a doctrine invented by man, and not found in the Scriptures.

Sing F Lau
The Scriptures DOES teach justification by faith alone BUT by the faith OF - OF - OF Christ alone, and not by the faith of men in - in - in Christ alone. There is a whole world of difference between the two.

See here: http://things-new-and-old.blogspot.com/2008/01/saved-by-grace-through-faith-whose.html

Sing F Lau
A condemned man's justification before God, to be declared righteous and not guilty and to be forgiven of all his sins is either by his own righteousness or through the righteousness of a substitute. Righteousness is the absolute prerequisite in justification.

Your justification before God - to have your deserved and righteous condemnation removed from you and be declared righteous by God - is either by your own righteousness or through the righteousness of a substitute. Righteousness is the absolute prerequisite in justification. 'NO righteousness, no justification' is the holy and righteous and exact demand of God's justice. Without righteousness, condemnation must remain, justly and righteously; there can be no just and righteous acquittal.

The righteousness absolutely needed for your justification before God is either by your own faithfulness in keeping God's law perfectly or through Christ's faithfulness in keeping God's law perfectly. It is either by your own works of obeying the law completely and perfectly, OR by Christ's works of obeying the law completely and perfectly.

The faith of Jesus Christ speaks of the faithfulness of Jesus Christ in keeping God's law completely and perfectly, thus securing the indispensable righteousness which is necessary for the justification and salvation of His people.

Your justification is NOT by or through the instrument of your own faith, i.e. your act of receiving and resting in Christ Jesus. You must be justified and saved by God first before you have the life and ability to believe in Jesus Christ. Your believing in Jesus Christ is A CONSEQUENCE and AN EVIDENCE of God having effectually called you out of your state of sin and death to grace and salvation; i.e. justified you (removed your condemnation, and imputed Christ's righteousness to your account), regenerated you (removed your spiritual death by giving you eternal life), and adopted you (bring you into His family and gives you His Spirit to dwell in you, and who works the fruit of salvation in you.) That is why you are able to believe in Jesus Christ. That is why anyone is able to believe in Jesus Christ.

Jonas NOg ..
we r saved/justified by d faith of Christ .. and our Lord has fulfilled all righteousness for us!.. righteousness?.. is it not equivalent to/synonymous with right/true worship!

Sing F Lau
"righteousness?.. is it not equivalent to/synonymous with right/true worship!"
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Jonas NOg, you need to write more precisely.
Are you asking a question, or making a statement?
If righteousness is equivalent/synonymous with right/true worship, then please demonstrate that to us please!

Sing F Lau
Where are the Hyper-Calvinists of the Hardshell type whom Rocky was formerly associated with?
What has happened to all of them? Does Rocky represent them accurately?
Or is what he say his own uninformed idea?

And where are the 'true Calvinists" represented by men like Rocky?
You are so bold to call others "damnable heretics.... but you have not the honour to back up your bold charge?
Is that the antics of "true Calvinists'???

Robert Cook
Sing, the demonstration or expression of faith in Christ is the outward sign of Justification, no man can call Jesus Christ Lord except by the Holy Spirit. much like the Holy Spirit falling on the Gentiles in Acts 10 it added nothing to their acceptance with God only demonstrated their position to others, ie a declaration of God that they are righteous thru Jesus Christ.

Jonas NOg
:)..Matt.5:20..unless ur righteousness exceeds that of the Pharisee,,,, this a sarcastic remark thrown by r Lord .. intending to rebuke the enforcers of the LAW .. caretakers of the temple @jerusalem..now observe.. true worship=righteousness .. is implied here.. as Matt.15:8.. a verse was quoted from Isaiah.. they honour GOD superficially.. but hearts are not truly for GOD .. verse 9 .. in vain they worship GOD .. r Lord continued .. matt. chapter 16 .. saying to His disciples: beware the leaven(doctrine) of the Pharisees.. d gospel of Matthew is replete with themes .. kingdom of GOD.. .. n righteousness lastly all of John chapter 4 ,, true worshippers worship GOD ..in spirit and truth .. not already @ mt. gerizim.. where they pronounced blessings and mt.ebal .. where the Israelite pronounce their curses against their enemies.. no longer in the mountains.. or in Jerusalem .. now analyse we, who are incorporated in Christ!.. do live in constant worship/communion with the Father!.. ..oops this supposedly an outline and this resulted not by conventional hermeneutics..

Sing F Lau
Jonas, that's one VERY LONG sentence... I don't know what you want to say.
If you have endeavoured to demonstrate that righteousness = right/true worship, then I fail to see the connection.
Try again... in brief complete sentences, please.
THANKS.

Robert Cook
I think that Jesus in Matt. 5:20 is not talking about what we do to establish our righteousness but what He has done for us.

Jonas NOg ..
:)thanks :).. much of Judaism..ritualistic traditions,ordinances or so as they claimed established by Moses .. and the patriarchs has deviated from the true worship/right knowledge of GOD .. whereas, our Lord Jesus the Christ whom the Jews rejected.. refused to recognise by His passion; death, imputes righteousness to us, His believers are able to recognise Him as the Messiah! like that Samaritan woman John chapter 4 .. we are then able to recognise and truly worship/ serve GOD....we are not veiled , burdened by pretentious services,. hypocrisy of the self-serving caretakers of the temple. who has their version of righteousness . our version is none other but Christ's!.. that righteousness = true and right worship!


Continue to Damnable Heresy 9 here:
https://things-new-and-old.blogspot.com/2012/10/damnable-heresy-9-considered_15.html
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