I came across this quote from Lewis Sperry Chafer. He contrasts the eternal salvation preached by Jesus with the “transient” salvation believed by Arminians:
“The Arminian’s difficulty is initial. To him salvation is no more than a state of mind, a good intention, a resolution, or an outward manner of life. Such passing or transient verities as these are far removed from the inviolable, divine creation which Christ pressed upon Nicodemus and that which is presented in every New Testament reference to this theme. It may be safely asserted that regeneration, as presented in the Scriptures, is an enduring actuality and the one who questions the eternal continuation of the child of God, questions the process (and its result) by which he becomes a child of God” (Systematic Theology, 3:336).
According to Chafer, Arminians do not believe in New Testament salvation. They do not believe in John 3 salvation. If you don’t believe that the salvation Jesus gives is an “enduring actuality,” then you have not believed that which is “presented in every New Testament reference to this theme.”
When GES preaches the necessity of believing in the eternality of salvation, sometimes people object: “Well I didn’t believe in eternal security when I was born again. You don’t need to believe in that benefit to have it.”
But eternal security is not just one benefit among others. As Chafer says, every conceivable way of presenting salvation includes eternality. Justification, adoption, redemption, forgiveness, reconciliation, pardon, the new birth, life everlasting, the indwelling of the Spirit, heavenly citizenship, etc., are all “enduring actualities.” They are all irrevocable, not “passing or transient.” If someone denies the eternality of salvation, if he only believes in a “passing or transient” salvation, then he does not believe in the salvation Jesus offers.
Mark Riggle
Amen! Thanks, Shawn. If eternal life is not eternal, is not a complete work, or is transient in any way, what could possibly be its appeal?
EternallySaved
Amen and Amen and Amen. The Arminians are lost and going to Hell and need to be evangelized and need to understand that eternal life is by faith alone in Christ alone in the church age dispensation.
Timothy Grady
Amen big time Shawn .
It’s so mystifying how otherwise well educated folks like Dr. Norm Geisler , Dr. Leighton Flowers , Dr. Wm . Lane Craig – and unhappily many more – so easily call others ‘brothers’ , when they promote this sort of soteriology .
Like Bob has stated: “Evangelicals need evangelizing”.
A supreme tragedy remains in reinforcing a misunderstanding . Without clarifying John 3:16,5:24,6:47,11:24-27 (etc.) , many could remain unregenerate. Thus , we have such a great responsibility in communicating the message of life .
Tim Amoroso
Amen, Timothy. We need to love the Word and all believers more and more. Let’s desire the Pure Milk, brother!
Timothy Grady
Thanks Tim .
Your kindness and encouragement is appreciated here .
His truth never gets boring .
Always more to learn so we can sharpen for harvest .
Blessings deeply to you .
KEN TAMASHIRO
Hi Pastor Shawn,
I’m hearing from you that Arminian’s overemphasize a state of mind, a good intention, a resolution, or an outward manner of life mixed with their Gospel. Which in my opinion causes one to fruit inspection of one’s self.
I think many Arminian’s confuse Christian living and Discipleship as part of the Gospel and see it as Christian works to Eternal Life rather than the Free Gift of Eternal Life given to you “as you are” without conditions.
Many try to replay the Old Testament loyalty game to God as a requirement means towards Salvation rather than the Free Gift of Eternal Life offered by Jesus to all whether good or bad. Loyalty can never bring one into Salvation, but rather Salvation comes about by Trusting in Christ as you are.
Grace and Peace to you,
Ken Tamashiro.
Mike
I agree, if there is a way to lose salvation then it would depend on the believer and it would mean Jesus didn’t pay for all their sins. If they don’t believe salvation is eternal ,then they are trusting in themselves. I never got saved by all those “accept Jesus as your personal saviour” gospels that never mentioned eternal security. I went over 20 years before hearing about eternal security, and only then did I get saved.
Tim Amoroso
Amen, Mike. Nice testimony. And, I’m the same as you, brother. I didn’t get saved from hell until I knew it for sure, and that it could never be undone… It’s like permanent lock and no one nor anything can lose it because it is kept by the power of God.
Chad
Thank you for your ministry. I see eternal security in many verses a scripture but I still have problems with many other verses. One in particular is 2 Cor 7:9, 10. It seems like these Corinthian believers’ salvation was resecured after they repented of their sins. Thank you
Timothy Grady
Good question Chad .
Salvation has shades of meaning depending on context .
This passage clearly demonstrates a sanctification issue.
Nowhere is eternal life lost , or regained here .
You may find some of these articles useful:
https://faithalone.org/?s=2+Corinthians+7%3A9-
Tim Amoroso
Amen. We need the Word of God. Desire the Pure Milk of the Word whereby we may grow. Word of God = strength. No Word = no strength. The Arminian view fails b/c it’s foundation is man’s works, and not God’s Word.
Rod Norville
Pastor Shawn, I read “The Arminian View of Security,” as well as the succeeding chapter containing the Chafer quotation. It is, in part, a detailed discussion and refutation of their use of scripture to support their view that a believer could somehow fall away and remain lost forever. I could not find in either chapter that Chafer concurs with your conclusion that “Arminians do not believe in New Testament salvation.” Rather Chafer concludes in part that “in the sphere of Biblical interpretation the Arminian advocates [have not] established their claims, and the insufficiency of their position will be further disclosed.” (Systematic Theology, 3:312). Arminian theology, and not lack of belief in Christ, is at issue.
I don’t think that Chafer is saying that one who questions the process “by which he becomes a child of God” is therefore not a child of God. Becoming a child of God is simple: “Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him.” (1Jo 5:1). Which could also answer the question raised about calling Arminians “brothers.” No theological system is perfect, but all of us have the perfect Savior. As Paul exclaimed: “What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached; and in this I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice.” (Phi 1:18).
Timothy Grady
Thanks Rod .
Can you help us understand what it is specifically that a person needs to believe in order to be a ‘brother’ – that is to say – born again ; regenerate ?
Rod Norville
Hi Timothy,
1Jo 5:1 is simple: “Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God.” Martha expressed such belief in response to Jesus in Joh 11:27: ” She said to Him, “Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.””
Paul told Timothy to pray for all mankind (1Ti 2:3-6): “For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time,” Thus the “truth” to be acknowledged is that Jesus is the Son of God.
Paul wrote to the Philippians (2:10-11): “ that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (See Isa 45:22-23: “Look to Me, and be saved, All you ends of the earth! . . . That to Me every knee shall bow, Every tongue shall take an oath.”) Paul expected all to eventually swear allegiance to Jesus as God’s Son and promised Savior.