Presenting The Opposite View On Predestination And Election

When the Most High divided

their inheritance to the nations,

when He separated the sons of Adam,

He set the boundaries of the peoples

according to the number of the

children of Israel.

For the LORD's portion 

is His people;

Jacob is the place of His inheritance

Deuteronomy 32:8-9

     Having given the theology of Jacobus Arminius and with my notes, I now will present the theology of John Calvin. As a side note, this blog is late due to me having to be in Sacramento at 10:00 am and just now returned. John Calvin wrote in The Institutes of the Christian Religion chapter 21, paragraph #5: The predestination by which God adopts some to the hope of life, and adjudges others to eternal death, no man who would be thought pious ventures simply to deny; but it is greatly caviled at, especially by those who prescience its cause. We, indeed, ascribe both prescience and predestination to God; but we say, that it is absurd to make the later subordinated to the former. when we attribute prescience to God, we mean that all things always were, and ever continue, under his eye; that to his knowledge there is no past or future, but all things are present, and indeed so present, that it is not merely the idea of them that is before him (as those objects are which we retain in our memory), but that he truly sees and contemplates them as actually under his immediate inspection. This prescience extends to the whole circuit of the world, and to all creatures. By predestination we mean the eternal decree of God, by which he determined with himself whatever he wished to happen with regard to every man. All are not created on equal terms, but some are preodained to eternal life, others to eternal damnation; and, accordingly, as each has been created for one or other of these ends, we say that he has been predestinated to life or to death. (Italics mine).

     With Calvin's theology on predestination and election outlined I will begin to examine this doctrine in light of what he says and looking at what he states with the magnifying glass of Scripture.

     The gospel of salvation is preached to all yet, the message is not received equally by all. This inequity of diverse reception tends to a fact that the message is not preached equally to all. Is this inequity of reception due to the will of men or is it due to the divine judgment of God? Arminius would admit, as does Pelagianism, that this inequity of reception is due to man. But is it? The problem leads to questions that seem inexplicable that this diversity of reception is owing to the mere pleasure of God and in owing its subordination to God’s eternal purpose. Those who find these questions of predestination and election to be inexplicable also find that the views of predestination and election are not entertained justly. Therefore, predestination and election seem to be a perplexing subject(s). Is it that those who would cavil at this doctrine simply entangling themselves? Or, by their very obscurity, the doctrines are a deference whereby the examiner will come to find its utility and most wonderful fruits? Yet, we will never come to a positive persuasion that our salvation flows from God by His free mercy, until we become acquainted and knowledgeable with eternal election that the grace of God is illustrated in the contrast between those who are elected by predestination and those who are not elected by predestination. Until we come to know that God does not promiscuously adopt all the hope of salvation and of the others He does not adopt. It is clear, and plain that ignorance of this principle doctrine detracts from the glory of God, and for man this ignorance denigrates their humility. While it is necessary for us to know, we cannot unless God throws out works entirely and elect those whom He has predestinated. “Even so then, at this present time there is a remnant according to the election of grace. And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work” (Romans 112:5–6). Therefore, for us to come this understanding, that salvation flows entirely from the mercy of God, we must examine the origin of election. Paul makes it very clear that when salvation of a remnant is ascribed to gratuitous election then we will be able to arrive, by this knowledge, a conclusion that God saves whom He will, and this according to His good pleasure. If it is by works that God elects some, then all that has been done is to place God in debt, to be a debtor who must pay a debt owed to man by His Good mercy so that He must pay this debt. This makes man not bound to God, rather it makes God bound to man and causing man a means to have pride in his superiority over God. This would degradation of humbleness in man and man would not have the means to be humble to God. Furthermore, we would not have any foundation towards confidence in God. If this doctrine of predestination and election is an unfounded doctrine, for where lies the certainty of our salvation? By what works, what level of works, what number of works, is required to secure salvation? And, if our works falter would we lose our salvation? There would be no safety for man that man would be delivered from sin to salvation. Yet, this is what Jesus Christ promised: “And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand” (John 10:28–29. Would Jesus Christ have the authority to make such a promise if it were not true? Would Jesus Christ be able to deliver us from all fear and render us invincible amid the many dangers and snares? Would Jesus Christ protect us? By holding onto the Arminian view that salvation comes by the will of man, then there is no way to be sure that we are saved or kept in salvation. All that would be left for man is trepidation and all those who oppose the doctrine of predestination and election is to overlook the advantages that this doctrine of predestination and election have provided. The very origin of the Church may be recognized because of this doctrine of predestination and election.

   Augustine in his Homilies in Joann states: We have come by faith, let us constantly adhere to it. It leads to the chambers of the King in which are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. For our lord Jesus Christ did not speak insidiously to His most great and select disciples where He said, ‘I have yet many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now” (John 16:12; Italics mine). How are we to comprehend the hidden words of Jesus, those we cannot comprehend? It is by walking, advancing, increasing, that our hearts may be able to comprehend these hidden truths. Even if on the Last Day we are found to be wanting in our comprehension, we shall learn them in completion. For us to comprehend the words of Jesus, we must first give them weight to the consideration, that the word of God is the only way that we can conduct an investigation for whatever is lawful for us to hold in regard to Him. It is by this light, the word of God, that will enable us to discern what it is that we ought to see, and it is by the light of His word that will restrain all presumption. For if we go out of bounds of His word, we will find ourselves in darkness and we will go astray and fall. Then, our first principle is to desire firstly, to know and understand that which is expounded by the word of God. We are not to be ashamed of any ignorance in this matter for one is only truly ignorant that will not investigated to be able to learn. We set aside our predeterminations, though some are forever traveling paths that seem to lead them in search of knowledge and for them it is both foolish and perilous, they will not aspire to life, rather to death. Do not allow unrestrained urges to alter your course of the first principle, those words that would oppose the words of God: “It is not good to eat much honey; so to seek one’s own glory is not glory” (Proverbs 25:27). Dread any presumption that would plunge you headlong into ruin.

     We have begun, take time to examine both views, read the Scriptures, listen to the word of God and the Holy Spirit will guide you into the truth. My words and explanation are just that my words, my explanation, and I do hope and pray they are useful in your search as my search was for me. We have much to write and this has begun the second part of the journey. May God bless your efforts.

For indeed, those who are far                                              from You shall perish;                                                       You have destroyed all those                                           who desert You for harlotry.                                             But it is good for me                                                           to draw near to God;                                                            I have put my trust in the LORD God.                              That I may declare all Your works.

                                  Psalm 73:27-28

May God Continue to Bless And Guide You

Richard L. Crumb

 

Continuing Jacobus Arminius With My Notes

 What then? Israel has not obtained what it seeks; 

but the the elect have obtained it,

and the rest were blinded. 

Just as it is written: 

"God has given them a spirit 

of stupor, eyes that they should 

not see and ears that they 

should not hear, to this very day."

Romans 11: 7-8 

     This examination on this doctrine is so important for what a person believes determines his theology, and his theology determines his religion, and his religion determines his character, and his character determines his actions. The foundation is our beliefs that have determined who and what we are, but these beliefs are not set in concrete, they are scratched into clay and are able to be remoulded if need be, therefore our study should be helping us to determine our beliefs.

Jacobus Arminius states:

3. Nor is it the foundation of the certainty of salvation:

For that is dependent upon this decree, "they who believe, shall be saved :" I believe, therefore, I shall be saved. But the doctrine of this Predestination embraces within itself neither the first nor the second member of the syllogism. (Let us understand the word “syllogism”: an argument containing a major premise and a minor premise connected with a middle term and conclusion” example: All A is C; all Be is A; therefore, all B is C; or deductive reasoning; or an extremely subtle, sophisticated, or deceptive argument: my insertion from Webster’s Dictionary).

This is likewise confessed by some persons in these words:

"we do not wish to state that the knowledge of this [Predestination] is the foundation of Christianity or of salvation, or that it is necessary to salvation in the same manner as the doctrine of the Gospel," &c.

1. My answer:
1. Salvation is not determined by Predestination, but it is necessary to exist as a decree for all that God wills, or decrees occurs, and has the ordination of God, and if God was to provide salvation for fallen men, which He does, and God is eternal and Jesus Christ is God, the Wisdom of God, and being Himself eternal, then the decree of Predestination is eternal, and by necessity of that decree that some men would be saved then in that sense salvation is determined by God, and all things that occur are by the decree of God, not by causation, rather that He has decreed and ordained all that occurs, further then, all who are saved are those having been decreed or ordained by God to be saved, therefore, God Predestined those who would be saved, and by that same decree those who would not be saved. Now, if, believing on the Lord Jesus Christ saves a man; then this needed belief begs a question as to how a person who has inherited sin for Adam could believe. For man to be able to believe and be sinful, so sinful that he is totally depraved and cannot save himself due to that total depravity, then the justice of God requires, for salvation a payment for that sin, and that payment is death for the sinner. How then does man have the ability to save himself by believing? This could only be true if man had within himself enough goodness to believe; this is the doctrine of Jacobus Arminius where in his doctrine there can be found Pelagianism; therefore, if this is true then the doctrine of Total Depravity is destroyed. Yet the Scriptures teach that man is totally depraved: “As it is written: “there is none, no, ( the Greek word for “no” is an absolute negative, in comparison to “μη” which word that is a qualified negative) not one; there is none who understands; there is none who seeks after God they have all turned aside; they have together become unprofitable; there is none who does good, no, not one” (Romans 3:10-12). Furthermore; if man is so good as to believe and save himself, then why the necessity for Jesus Christ to die on the cross. Why not man just believes that there is a God, even by living a good life? Why the need for propitiation if man, a man to die for another? Why does not that supposed goodness in man be enough for God to save him? What justice was paid, what debt did man owe to God that he could not pay unless man is so depraved and sinful that he could not save himself and needed a Savior. This God provided, and this provision is a Predestined fact, an eternal fact for God did not wait until man sinned and then decide to save him, for God salvation for his children was and is eternal and this by the Son of God providing the payment that man could not pay himself. Predestination is not necessary for salvation, only Jesus Christ’s death, and resurrection from the cross and grave is necessary: Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). There is still one more question that needs an answer: if man being totally depraved; how then could he ever have the faith needed to accept the Gospel, that Jesus Christ was the Messiah promised, the one who by His death provides salvation? Faith is needed and man cannot obtain salvation faith from his own being, he is totally depraved. Therefore for man to have faith it must be provided him and God by His election, by His decree, by His ordination, provided this faith for some and not others. This is what Arminius objects too, that only God can provide salvation faith, yet Scripture is plain and clear that all is up to God: “What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? Certainly not! For He says to Moses, ‘I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion. So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy. For the Scripture says to the Pharaoh, ‘For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth. Therefore He has mercy on whom he wills, and whom He will He hardens” (Romans 9:14-18). Arminius speaks as though god is at fault if only He elects some to salvation and not to others; Paul adds: “You will say to me then, ‘Why does He still find fault? For who has resisted His will?” But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, ‘Why have you made me like this?’ Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor? What if god, wanting to show His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, and that He might make know the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had prepared before hand for glory, even us whom He called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles” (Romans 9:19-24). Moses makes it clear when he wrote: “The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but hose things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law” (Deuteronomy 29:29).

     It is plain for all to see by any simple examination of the works of Jacobus Arminius that he objects to the doctrine of Predestination that comprises within that doctrine, the doctrine of election. Arminius does not seem to have a problem with the fact that God saves, only in the manner by which God saves. The Scriptures are clear that God’s patience is not His permission for an example all one has to do is look at the great flood that destroyed the ancient world, yet God in His mercy saved eight souls, even though they too were totally depraved. It was by decree that the flood did not destroy these eight souls, and God to by His predestination had decreed that they be saved and also gave them the means to be saved, the ark. God has given to man, those to whom he chose, those elected before the foundation of the world (Romans 8:28-29), the Gospel whereby those chosen can apply that God given faith to a person who is the propitiation for their sins, a debt that only can be paid by God.

Therefore we also pray always

     for you that our God would count

you worthy of this calling, and fulfill

     all the good pleasure of His goodness

and the work of faith with power.

                                       2Thessalonians 1:11

Give Thanks to God

Richard L. Crumb

          

The Arminian View With Notes

All these things Jesus spoke 

to the multitude in parables;

and without a parable He did

not speak to them, that it

might be fulfilled which was

spoken by the prophet, saying:

"I will open My mouth in parables;

I will utter things kept secret

from the foundation of the world."

Matthew 13:34-35 (cf. Psalm 78:2)

     After speaking to the multitude and in parables the disciples came to Him for explanation (vs. 36). There are things that are hard, at least at first, to understand and an explanation must be had, but for Jesus Christ who being God in the flesh, spoke truth: this may not be so with man. Therefore, I will give the proposals, those proposals that are claimed to be true and will give my notes on those proposals and will give Scriptures so that you can go to the source of truth, the Bible and determine for yourself whether a proposal is founded upon God's word or man's thinking. I welcome any comment, so feel free to present any objection or agreement. Here goes!

 In Section #3 Arminius gives his reasons for his rejection to the doctrine of Predestination. I will give what I have found in the Bible that will either support his objection or refute his objection that I will give as an answer and be clearly marked as that of what I have found or of my opinion so that the reader will not be confused my opinion will be clearly marked.

 Jacobus Arminius:       

 Section #3: “I Reject This Predestination For The Following Reasons:”

1. “Because it is not the foundation of Christianity, of Salvation, or of its certainty.” (Italics mine).

1. It is not the foundation of Christianity: (1.) For this Predestination is not that decree of God by which Christ is appointed by God to be the saviour, the Head, and the Foundation of those who will be made heirs of salvation. Yet that decree is the only foundation of Christianity. (2.) For the doctrine of this Predestination is not that doctrine by which, through faith, we as lively stones are built up into Christ, the only corner stone, and are inserted into him as the members of the body are joined to their head.

My Answer:

1. As to Section #3; subsection 1.; point (1): Arminius gives no Scriptural reference to support this statement from his own opinion or presupposition, that which apparently he has predetermined. There are four uses of the word in Greek where the word is translated Predestinate: Romans 8:29,30: Ephesians 1:5,11: Romans 8:29:  ὅτι οὓς προέγνω (foreknew: this word is in the aorist tense, third person, indicative which means a simple statement of fact: which indicates that an event actually happened) καὶ προώρισεν (To mark out beforehand, to foretell, translated in English as Predestined: This Greek word is in the aorist tense, third person, indicative)  συμμόρφους τῆς εἰκόνος τοῦ υἱοῦ αὐτοῦ εἰς τὸ εἶναι αὐτὸν πρωτότοκον ἐν πολλοῖς ἀδελφοῖς (Literal English translation: Because whom He foreknew, He also predestinated to be conformed to the image of His Son, for Him to be the firstborn among many brothers.) It is clear from this passage that God foreknew who would be saved, and action or event already completed as shown by the word being in the aorist tense. God conformed them to be in the image of His Son who would be the firstborn among many brothers. Thus, predestination came before man had sinned and before the incarnation of Jesus Christ and His death, and resurrection on the cross. Arminius may be of the opinion that God already knew who would sin and who would not, and knew before creation who would be saved. This is pushing the envelope, as a pilot might say, because Jesus Christ is infinite, and is God, He is the Wisdom of God: “To Him who by wisdom made the heavens…. Psalm 136:5a.” John the Apostle writes: “All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.” It is plain and clear, Wisdom and Jesus Christ is synonymous. Jesus Christ being eternal and as eternal there is no time except for the sequential time created for creation, then He was always the Savior, and as God He did not wait for man to sin or to know who would be saved or not. The actions of God are not determined by the actions of man, so that He must wait upon man to decide. Yet, by the decree of God who knows all possibilities, all probabilities, decreed or ordained all events for if He did not decree them, then those events would not have happened. Therefore, Predestination is not the only foundation of Christianity, it is a doctrine of Christianity, but the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the grave and that bodily, is the foundation of salvation. Without the resurrection, and that bodily, there would be no salvation, or all that Christianity would have become as other religions, and Christianity that is based upon a dead Messiah, is not Christianity at all, and disposes of the prophecies concerning Him, His life, His suffering, His death on a cross, His resurrection and His ascension into heaven. Arminius makes a point that God who appointed Jesus Christ to be the Savior for all, who would be made heirs of salvation, is not a decree of God. This fact must be restated and laid down at the onset for any apologetic against Arminius’ statement that Jesus Christ could not have been predestinated before all creation: God is eternal, there is no time with God other than time He created for His creation and time has only reference to man and man’s subsequent events. God being without time and being eternal would see all things in the present and not in subsequent events even though having all knowledge of things would know that for His creation and for time for them, He would see them in the element of time. Being eternal and having all knowledge would necessitate the Son of God, the Savior, and was already present with Him, as His Wisdom, and this along with the Holy Spirit that proceeds from Him and from Wisdom, and that Wisdom would have already been the Savior, The Son of God, and being so would then be present in creation and being the creator, would be sent in man’s time for their salvation, there would be no need of Predestination for Him as Savior, for He was always present with God being One Person of the Godhead. Jesus Christ was slain from the foundation of the world: “All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world” (Revelation 13:8). The Greek is clear that the word translated as “from” denotes a separation from something as the Greek word for ‘from” follows a verb of motion “slain” which is in the perfect tense, passive, and is a participle. Jesus was departing from His place with the Father as His Wisdom and being entirely eternal in being, without form, to being in human form and in human time. Jesus was loved by the Father before the foundation of the world: “Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world” (John 17:24). God did not love an idea, a thought, a prescience, God loved a reality, and that reality was His Wisdom and that Wisdom was with God before the foundation of the world and God loved His Wisdom. It is further noted that God chose the saints before the foundation of the world, that the saints would be holy and without blame, and this God did in love: “Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love” (Ephesians 1:4). Who is the “us” spoken of in this verse? Verse one of this chapter makes it clear that it is “to the saints who are in Ephesus, and faithful in Christ” (Ephesians 1:1b). Point #2: That the faith of the saints is predicated upon the Doctrine of Predestination; No, it is not, yet it is true that God draws and enables those He has chosen and this by the giving of Grace and faith, it is a gift: “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.” Therefore, it is faith on the Person of Jesus Christ who is the foundation for the faith of Christians and it is because of Him that man can have redemption from sin: “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace” (Ephesians 1:7). Faith being the gift of God then it is clear that He does not give that faith, or grace to everyone, and everyone is not drawn and enabled by God, and the Gospel. This being so, then some are elected to salvation and others are not. This fact must reign high in our minds, that if God had determined men to choose salvation and they didn’t, if it was God’s will and desire that men everywhere, all men, not just certain ones, to be saved and they did not become saved, then God failed, and the death of Jesus Christ was unnecessary. This Arminian theology denigrates God, and reduces Him to a being that is not in total control or is not omniscient. The Bible does not teach this!
2. Arminius could not be using Scripture to support his claims. There is some measure of the Mystical Method or theology in his suppositions, that man can by some means outside of Scripture, outside of God’s enabling them, drawing them choose salvation. It is this theology that has led to liberalism, and for Churches to exercise various events, and use the application of emotional appeals to the person drawing them by that emotion so they can to evangelize people and this they do often by over emotionalism, selling of special item; i.e. prayer cloths, etc.

Let me add this: there is great emotion when one takes the time to meditate on what God has done even before we had the chance to do right or wrong. That God desired to save some, and God being Good, all that He desires and decrees is good. This should be the highest of emotion that God loves you and me that much, what other emotion can match that emotion? 

      This was long but necessary to give as good an explanation as I can for a blog. Take time to read it more than once, think upon the supposition and answer to the supposition, then decide. The Gospel is simple, it is the death, resurrection, and ascension into heaven that is the foundation for salvation. Yet, men and women, even children are being taught that theology at times without aiding them and explaining to them the truth of God's word. We have the example of the disciples asking Jesus for an explanation, therefore use that example for yourselves.

O Lord, by these things 

     men live;

and in all these things

     is the life of my spirit;

so You will restore me and

     make me live.

                       Isaiah 38:16

Live today in the light of eternity

Richard L. Crumb

Proper Tools Are Needed For A Correct Analysis

As many as desire to make

a good showing in the flesh,

these would compel you 

to be circumcised, only that they

may not suffer persecution 

for the cross of Christ. 

For not even those who are

circumcised keep the law,

but they desire to have you

circumcised that they

may boast in your flesh.

Galatians 6:12-13

     This age old problem where men desire to promote their ideas, only by doing so they mislead others so that they may have a showing to the world, both Christian and secular. I know that in the last blog I stated that I would give my comments on Jacobus Arminius's views, and I will, only, I have become aware that you need more tools, tools that will aid you in your examination. This tool will be as though you have stepped into a time machine and going back in time, retracing some steps into the present. Beginning with the onset of the Christian Church some men have attempted to thrust their theology onto the Church, but from where have they obtained and learned their theology? I have faced this theological position in the University I attended and found it to be wanting, yet many students were accepting it as the way for Christians. What is this way? It is called: "Contemplative Christianity." It's foundation is in what is called: "Mystical." Little is said on this teaching, yet, from the beginning it had an affect upon the Church and it is affecting the Church today, so then, we must know what it is and what it teaches, then, we must examine this theological ideology with Scripture. From your understanding of it you can examine both theological positions, Arminius, and Calvin. Here are my notes on Mysticism.

     There are two methodologies that many Churches adhere and is to be found in their sermons, and in their practices. The first is: Speculation. In a sense Mysticism is antithetical to speculation, yet there will be found some methods that are the same. Speculation is a thought process that is a conclusion or opinion reached by some form of contemplation, here we find a method that is used by the mystics. Also, speculation assumes that the thinking faculty is that by which we attain knowledge of truth. Furthermore, speculation is a conjecture that forms or expresses an opinion or theory without sufficient evidence of proof. In our examination of the two major theological positions we must determine if either are simply speculative in the suppositions.

     Mysticism can be seen in the early Church with such movements as Montanism, the Quakers, Quiteism, and others, and mysticism is a matter of feeling. Many so-called preachers today prey upon the feelings of those listening to them, and this they do in many ways. Some ways are in the songs that are nothing more than little "dittys" that are sung over and over and over, and calls to come forward and accept Jesus Christ, by tears, and shouts, and pleas, over and over and over. Mysticism distrusts reason and teaches that feelings alone are to be relied upon, at least in the sphere of religion. The systems of Mysticism of theology have been constructed in such a way making Mysticism independent of Scripture. In fact these systems of Mysticism have either eliminated or have greatly modified and perverted doctrines of the Bible. Doctrines are what we are studying, so this is important.

     We are not to deny that there is great authority that is due to our moral natures in matters of religion, yet, within Mysticism will be found an allowance so that by logical understanding or by reason (Those theories proposed by men as Plato, or Immanuel Kant) men have been led to conclusions that are contrary to Scripture and do violence to our moral nature. It is true that we reason upon things, and that by reason we do come to conclusion to truth, but it is not just reason alone and that our conscience alone is to be relied upon unless our conscience is being led by the Holy Spirit and is according to His word. It is wrong, as that which the Mystics teach, that conscience is much less liable to err than reason, making reason to have the highest authority. The truth is that when reason and conscience are in conflict, real or apparent, our moral nature is stronger, and this is true if our moral nature is being led by the Holy Spirit and the teaching of His word, and not simply our conscience or just by our reasoning. If our reasoning and our conscience is based on God's word then our conscience will assert its authority in spite of all we can do. When we are in absolute subjection to God who is infinite reason and infinite moral excellence, our reason and will reign supreme in our souls.

     Mysticism as applied to theology assumes these principle forms: First: Supernatural, in which it is taught that God, the Spirit of God, holds direct communion with the soul. This communion functions by exciting the souls religious feeling and gives it intuitions of truth and enables it to attain a kind, a degree, and an extent of knowledge, and this knowledge is unattainable in any other way. Looking back in time we find that the theory of Mysticism with those called "Christian Mystics" are found in ancient and even in modern times. Christians would have no objection to being called "Mystics" if all that is meant is that the Spirit of God gives illuminating influence. If all that "Mysticism" meant to believers is that it is by the knowledge found in the Scriptures, which is peculiar, certain, and saving; but this is not what is meant in this blog and in my essay.
     Mysticism in its supernatural form assumes that God by His immediate intercourse with the soul reveals truth and this is done by appealing to feelings, by means, such as ways that many Churches approach evangelism, by music bands playing loud music, and looking as drug infested as many secular bands, etc., or as has been mentioned, by the way of intuitions. In this method truth is revealed independently of the outward teaching of God's word. These Mystical methods speak of an inward light and not the Scriptures that reveals truth and it is this light that we are to follow. In Mysticism by the Natural form, it is not God, but rather, it is by the natural religious consciousness of men, and by this Natural then it is that which is excited and influenced by the circumstances of the individual, so then by the Natural then is that which becomes the source of religious knowledge. It is by this Natural that gives the deeper and purer religious feelings, and a clearer insight into truth.
     Now for a look at what problems this Mysticism Methods have that causes concern: This illumination or spiritual intuition is a matter of degree. It is this matter of degree whereby men in different ages and nations under diverse influences have developed different forms of religious thought and different forms of religions; Pagan, Mohammedan, Christian, etc.  
     The incarnation of Jesus Christ had an effect on the minds of men and their religious feelings were more deeply stirred, those men who gave themselves up to His influence, who had intuitions of religious truth of a higher order than attained ever by any other men. This influence of the appearance of Jesus Christ continues today and all of God's children are its subjects. It is by the authority of the Holy Spirit, by His word, that in proportion to the purity and elevation of their religious feelings, have intuitions of divine things, such as the did the Apostles and what other Christians have enjoyed. It is not by some inward feeling, conjured up by one's own presuppositions, or predeterminations, that are founded on such as is Mysticism.
     There are consequences of the Mystical Method. From this theory follows that there are no such things as revelation and inspiration in the established theological meaning of those terms. It must be noted that revelation is the supernatural objective presentation or communication of truth to the mind by the Spirit of God. Yet, by this Mystical theory there is and cannot be, no such communication of truth because religious feelings are providentially excited and that by reason the mind perceives this excitement as truth. It is also true that inspiration, in the Scriptural sense, is the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit which renders its subjects infallible in the communications of truth to others. But, according to the Mystical theory no man is infallible as a teacher because men have revelations and inspiration in different degrees, so that they have no reason to expect them to agree and be perfect, although there are, to them, some who are perfect and are "Apostles." The problem is exacerbated because the Bible has no infallible authority in matters of doctrine. This Mystical method teaches that the doctrinal propositions that are contained in the Bible are not revelations by the Spirit, they are only forms under which men, those Apostles of Jesus Christ, those of Jewish culture gave expression to their feelings and intuitions and not by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit and that they wrote the words that were from God. These Mystics teach that men of different cultures, and under different circumstances, would have used other forms or adopted other doctrinal statements. Therefore, by this Mysticism Christianity neither consists in a system of doctrines, not does it contain any such system. For these Mystics Christianity is a life, an influence, a subjective state; or by whatever term it may be expressed or explained. The Mystical Method or theory teaches that it is a power within each individual Christian determining his/her feelings and views of divine things. Consequently the duty of a theologian is not to interpret Scripture, rather, each is to interpret his/her own Christian consciousness to ascertain and exhibit what truths concerning God are implied in his/her feelings toward God, toward Jesus Christ, how their feelings teach concerning sin, redemption, eternal life, etc. Unfortunately, these methods found adherence among some influential and distinguished advocates. It is these methods that have influenced the Church by influencing the thinking of many theologians and have been a major factor in the liberalization of Christianity.
     By means of this tool, this understanding of that which has and is influencing the Church we can examine the doctrines that are part of the foundation of Christianity, and determine if those doctrines are Scriptural.

"Come now, and let us 
     reason together," 
says the LORD, though
    your sins are like scarlet,
they shall be as white as snow;
     though the are red like crimson,
they shall be as wool. If you are willing
      and obedient, you shall eat the good
of the land.
                                 Isaiah 1:18-19

Prayer, Intercessory Prayer: God will bless

Richard L. Crumb
     

                                                                                  

                                                                                                                      

I  

The Truth Is To Be Found In God's Inerrant And Infallible Word

God is not a man,

that He should lie.

Nor a son of man,

that He should repent.

Has He said, and will

He not do?

Or has He spoken,

and will He not

make it good?

Numbers 23:19

O ye who have undistempered intellects,

Observe the doctrine that conceals itself

Beneath the veil of mysterius verses.

Dante's The Inferno; Canto IX

"Ah! so hereafter may your seed repose," 

I him entreated, "solve for me that knot,"

Which has entangled my conceptions here.

It seems that you can see, if I hear rightly,

Beforehand whatsoe'er brings with it,

And in the present have another modes."

"We see, like those who have imperfect sight,

The things." he said, "that distant are from us;

So much still shines on us the Sovereign Ruler.

Dante's The Inferno; Canto X

     Dante's The Inferno applies first to those in hell, yet the words he uses applies to us, for the doctrines seem to conceal themselves in mysterius verses. Our conceptions become entangled and other modes of religious thought become the things we can see bringing close to us from the distant reaches and giving what is touted as light to our imperfect minds; yet when our eyes darkened by the light of false teaching (That may seem like a contradiction, but here is an illustration, look at a bright light and then close your eyes, and you will see a brightness even though your eyes are closed and obscured from the true light) are manifested to us, it is then by the power of our Sovereign God, it is He that gives us light and not those who shine false teachings upon an unsuspecting flock. God will not lie and the truth will be found in His Word, the Bible. 

     The only way for us to find the truth is to examine those teachings that are in contradiction and to examine those contradictions by God's word. We must know what suppositions are held by each major theologian, Jacobus Arminius, and John Calvin for most Churches hold to one doctrine of salvation or the other. We will look at Jacobus Arminius first.

Section #2: My Sentiments On the Preceding Scheme Of Predestination; (Italics mine). In this section Arminius outlines the four principle heads that to him are of the greatest importance in this doctrine. They are the following:

 "I. That God has absolutely and precisely decreed to save certain particular men by his mercy or grace, but to condemn others by his justice: and to do all this without having any regard in such decree to righteousness or sin, obedience or disobedience, which could possibly exist on the part of one class of men or of the other.

"II. That, for the execution of the preceding decree, God determined to create Adam, and all men in him, in an upright state of original righteousness; besides which he also ordained them to commit sin, that they might thus become guilty of eternal condemnation and be deprived of original righteousness.

"III. That those persons whom God has thus positively willed to save, he has decreed not only to salvation but also to the means which pertain to it; (that is, to conduct and bring them to faith in Christ Jesus, and to perseverance in that faith ;) and that He also in reality leads them to these results by a grace and power that are irresistible, so that it is not possible for them to do otherwise than believe, persevere in faith, and be saved.

            "IV. That to those whom, by his absolute will, God has fore-ordained to perdition, he has also decreed to deny that grace which is necessary and sufficient for salvation, and does not in reality confer it upon them; so that they are neither placed in a possible condition nor in any capacity of believing or of being saved." 

     Listed are those parts of the Doctrine of Predestination and Election that Arminius objects and following is his reasons for such objections. 

Section #3: “I Reject This Predestination For The Following Reasons:”

1. “Because it is not the foundation of Christianity, of Salvation, or of its certainty.” (Italics mine).

       1. It is not the foundation of Christianity: (1.) For this Predestination is not that decree of God by which Christ is appointed by God to be the saviour, the Head, and the Foundation of those who will be made heirs of salvation. Yet that decree is the only foundation of Christianity. (2.) For the doctrine of this Predestination is not that doctrine by which, through faith, we as lively stones are built up into Christ, the only corner stone, and are inserted into him as the members of the body are joined to their head.

    2. It is not the foundation of Salvation: 

            (1.) For this Predestination is not that decree of the good pleasure of God in Christ Jesus on which alone our salvation rests and depends. (2.) The doctrine of this Predestination is not the foundation of Salvation: for it is not "the power of God to salvation to every one that believeth :" because through it "the righteousness of God" is not "revealed from faith to faith."  

3. Nor is it the foundation of the certainty of salvation:

For that is dependent upon this decree, "they who believe, shall be saved :" I believe, therefore, I shall be saved. But the doctrine of this Predestination embraces within itself neither the first nor the second member of the syllogism.This is likewise confessed by some persons in these words: "we do not wish to state that the knowledge of this [Predestination] is the foundation of Christianity or of salvation, or that it is necessary to salvation in the same manner as the doctrine of the Gospel," &c. 

     In every effort to be fair and present each view I have listed Arminius's views in his section #3 and in tomorrow's blog I will give my answer to each of those parts that he objects. This manner I have chosen may not be exciting, and even a bit boring, but it is necessary so that each view can be compared and Scripture then applied so that the light of truth will be manifested. God has made it clear and plain, we are to study His word, and to be informed so we will not become engulfed by false teaching. He may seem to be hidden, but let us turn to Him as Dante writes:

"Thereon he hid himself; and I towards

The ancient poet turned my steps, reflecting

upon that saying, which seemed hostile to me.

He moved along; and afterward, thus going,

He said to me, "Why are thou so bewildered?"

And I in his inquiry satisfied him.

Dante's'; The Inferno, Canto X

 But if you do not

     believe his writings,

how will you believe

     My words?

                      John 5:47

Do All In Love And Stand Fast

Richard L. Crumb

Christianity Is Battling Against A Diverse Form Of Christianity

 Little children, it is

the last hour;

and as you have heard

that they Antichrist is coming,

seven now many antichrists

have come, by which we know

that it is the last hour.

They went out from us,

but they were not of us;

for if they had been of us, 

they would have continued

with us; but they went out 

that they might be made

manifest, that none of 

them were of us. 

1John 2:18-19

 

     It is so very clear, the antichrists are not coming from the world, rather they are those within the body of Christ, those that proclaim that they are of the body of Christ, a part of the Church, but they are not! These antichrists use the same terminology as do Orthodox true believers in Christ, they do much the same in their exercise within the Church, but upon close examination they are found wanting, they are teaching doctrines that are far removed from what the Bible actually teaches. But how does the average person know what is true and what is false? Paul advises under the power and inspiration of the Holy Spirit: "Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy--meditate on these things" (Philippians 4:8). We cannot just sit by and accept whatever is thrown at us and call it truth, to be apathetic brings into question your devotion to God, and calls into question; what Jesus do you follow? Christianity has continually appealed for the truth. It is obvious when a truthful person looks at the world around him, and at the divisions of thought in the Church, there is a need that the past be subject to searching criticism; Paul, Peter, all early Christian men search out what was being taught, and called attention to those teachings that they found that were in contradiction to what was taught by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. They were not afraid to speak for the truth, even though, at times, they were put to death. Think of Ignatious riding in the back of a cart, bound, knowing that he was going to Rome to die in the arena while thousands would watch and cheer his death. Riding from city to city he still wrote much to the Christian Church, mile after mile, time to think, to ponder on his fate, and yet he was not deterred, only on his mind was the Church and the fact that false teachings were invading the Church, and leading people away from the truth. You may object at this study of doctrines, you may think it a waste of time, and if this is so, then you do so at your own peril. Jehovah Witnesses fall into such a category, they object to any reading of books, or other Bibles by those who call themselves Jehovah's Witnesses, just try to read from the King James Bible, John 1:1, and see how for you get! One sided knowledge is just that, one sided, and the truth will not shine it's light upon our minds, even scientist will agree with this, that they must examine all possibilities to find the facts, the truth. 

     Many people are running to and fro looking for the "secret" that if discovered will restore them and the Church to a right relationship to God. And where are they getting these "secrets" these better ways to worship God? Preachers today have their higher learning from universities that teach those things that are derived from so-called men of enlightenment, Immanuel Kant, Kirkegaard, John Dewey, etc. and the Bible is not considered to be the infallible word of God, that God has preserved His word, and have followed their own ideologies. In the last 200+ years many denominations have formed, and this is not all bad, but the underlying premises are to be examined, such a movement by many, even today is a movement away from traditional Orthodoxy, from true Biblical doctrines. This can be seen by the invasion of music that is more like the world's drug infested culture, tatoos, rings that placed everywhere possible and the music is played so loud, in fact last week two separate people from two far apart places told me that they had to wear ear plugs as the music was so loud. It reminds, this loud music, of a saying from my past, "if it doesn't go fast, chrome it."  Many Churches are very prideful, they call themselves, "non-denominational" as though they have no doctrinal positions so that anyone can attend and feel welcome, but is that true? No! They have doctrines, they have tenents, they are nothing more than a denomination that has the name: 'Non-Denominational." But people flock to them as though to be traditional, such as Presbyterian, Lutheran, Anglican, even Baptist, or Methodist, etc, is not good, they are teaching those things that are not according to the culture of today, they are "old-school." So, they run away from the Church, for various reasons, seldom do they turn away from their Church due to theological reasons, it is either the pastor doesn't teach what they want to hear, or the music is wrong, or the Sunday Schools, are just not right, too much of this or that, but they have not even taken time to look at the tenants, of the Church and they have not examined the Church's doctrinal positions, and certainly they have, even if they have looked, examined them in the light of Scripture. They are looking for the "new" way, that "new secret", those "hidden" things that they believe need to be found, that those men of the Reformation had it all wrong, that is if they even know what the Reformation is all about. Where is honest teaching, where are those teachers that teach from the Bible? Not those who seem to teach from the Bible, rather those men who will teach properly by leading those attending Church to become devoted to God, not just some psychological babble. It may sound good, but it is nothing more than the tickling of ears. 

     I started this week with this blog, because many find this study on doctrine boring, and so unnecessary, they are so satisfied with the status quo, they don't want to be bothered, they are getting what they want out of their attendance at Church. Yet, what they are sitting under, that teaching from men who do not hold to the Bible as absolute truth, no matter what they say, what comes out of their mouths, they are secular in their approach to how their Church operates, leading people to perform or exercise their faith that is not Biblical faith. True doctrinal faith will give to you a freedom that you seek, freedom to live and enjoy life, and to not worry that what you do will be offensive to God, this is the goal of this study on doctrines, are return to the true faith of the Bible. 

Not therefore, listen to me,

     my children, for those

who keep my ways. Hear

     instruction and be wise,

and do not disdain it.

                    Proverbs 8:32-33

May this day be blessed, live it, and love God

Richard L. Crumb

False Teaching Finds Its Source From False Ideologies

As I urged you when I Went

Into Macedonia--Remain in Ephesus

that you may charge some that they

teach no other doctrine nor

give heed to fables and endless

genealogies, which cause disputes

rather than Godly edification

which is from faith.

1Timothy 1:3-4; cf. Titus 1:14

     This problem within the Church is not a new problem, even Paul had to address this issue of doctrinal errors. Beginning with the liberalization of Christianity, especially in the early days of this country, by men who held to a doctrine that are nothing more than fables derived from men who are held in high regard today, men such as Plato, Aristotle, Socrates. These Greek teachers have had a tremendous influence upon certain leaders within the Church and you and I have been affected by such false teaching. But, it is not enough for me to say that this is true, it is up to me to give the viewpoints of the two men, Jacobus Arminius, and John Calvin, so that you can make up your mind. The man who had a great influence upon the Church and the secular world was Plato who taught that by reason man could know, know God. We will see how that teaching has affected certain theology.

      From the works of Jacobs Arminius, The Works of James Arminius, Vol.I; I will extract what he wrote and his position on Predestination I. This extract has been retrieved from http://www.ccel.org/Arminius/works I/iii.ii.; 4/7/2012. 

Arminius in Section #1; states: The first opinion, which I reject, but which is espoused by those [Supralapsarians] who assume the very highest round of this Predestination, (Italics mine). 

     Let me give this: First, so that there is no misunderstanding I will define the word Supralapsarianism and also three other views of Soteriology, i.e., Infralapsarianism, Amyraldism, and Arminianism; these are summary of these views. First: Supralapsarianism: Elect some, reprobate the rest; create, permit the fall, provide salvation for the elect, and call elect to salvation. Two: Infralapsarianism: Create, Permit the fall, elect some, pass over the rest, provide salvation for the elect, and call elect to salvation. Three: Amyraldism, allow me to address this view for it is not often mentioned: "Amyraldianism . . . implies a twofold will of God, whereby He wills the salvation of all humankind on condition of faith but wills the salvation of the elect specifically and unconditionally. The theological difficulty of God's will having been frustrated by the fact that not all are saved is met by the argument that God only willed their salvation on the condition of faith. Where an individual has no faith, then God has not willed the salvation of that person?" Amyraldism is an offshoot of Calvinistic theology (sometimes called “4-point Calvinism” or “moderate Calvinism”). It is named after its creator, Moses Amyraut, a 16th-century French theologian, who was influential in the development of the doctrine of “hypothetical redemption” or “hypothetical universalism.” This doctrine, in essence, softens the Calvinistic doctrine of limited atonement. This doctrine holds: Create, permit fall, provide for salvation for all, elect some, pass over the rest, and call the elect to salvation. Fourth: Arminianism: Create, permit fall, provide salvation for all, and call all to salvation, save those that believe.

            For further clarification between the two views of Soteriology, Supralapsarianism, and Infralapsarianism: The distinction between the two views has to do with the logical order of God’s eternal decrees and not to the timing of election because neither view is held that the elect were chosen after Adam’s fall; God had made His choice before the world: “Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will” (Ephesians 1:4-5). Not only do the proponents of these two views agree, so do many of the Arminians. For further clarity the Supralapsarianism view is that God contemplated man as yet having fallen, and chose some to receive eternal life and rejected all others. In this view then, the reprobate are the non–elect and are vessels of wrath fitted for destruction: “What if God, wanting to show His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, and that He might make know the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had prepared beforehand for glory” (Romans 9:22-23). All were first ordained to that role, and then the means by which they fell into sin was decreed, or ordained, therefore this suggests that God’s decree of election preceded His decree to permit Adam’s fall, so that their sin which brought upon them damnation is first of an act of divine sovereignty, and only secondarily an act of divine justice. Some would mistakenly call Supralapsarianism “double predestination” but this is misleading and ambiguous for all that is decreed is eternally settled for it is clear Biblically the destiny of the reprobate: “they stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they were appointed” (1Peter 2:8b; cf. Romans 9:22). To declare that Supralapsarianism is a form or double jeopardy or Predestination is not true for historic Calvinism does not hold to that view. It is interesting to note that Supralapsarianism has gained in popularity in the past decade. Infralapsarianism gives the suggestion that God’s decree to permit the fall of Adam preceded His decree of election. So when God chose the elect and passed over the non–elect, He had already determined them to be fallen creatures.

     In the opinion of Jacobus Arminius he rejected Supralapsarianism. 

     I will go slow so that you can study what is written and due to some names, and words that may be foreign to you. You may not understand all that these men hold for their theology, but, you are being taught one of these in your Church, to you, your spouse, your children, relatives, and friends; so you must take this serious as will be shown how these theologies are being exercised in the Church and in the congregants. How important? Let Paul speak: "Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron" (1Timothy 4:1-2). 

     The groundwork has been laid, starting next week I will give the theological position of Jacobus Arminius, then I will follow with that of John Calvin. Finally, I will give comments on both views. Get ready, this is exciting because this study is what has been commanded: "Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of hearers. be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth" (2Timothy 2:14-15).

But you must continue in 

    the things which you have]

learned and been assured of,

    knowing from whom you have 

learned them.

                           2Timothy 3:14

Grace be with you

Richard L. Crumb