Featured I've Made a Decision

Good post IT,

This post illustrates what is unfortunately all too common these days, people trusting in themselves, something they have done, either a decision, an altar call coming forward, or the so called "sinners prayer" to get them to heaven rather than trusting solely in the blood of Christ as atonement for their sins. Such a person is not born again.

 

Oh, I got it, the thread is two pronged. Is the theme about the error of 'free will decisional regeneration', or the error of the front-loaded works of Puritan Lordship Doctrine? It can go either way.

Concerning the error of "I made a decision" (you know, the thread title)"

27 but God chose the foolish things of the world, that he might put to shame them that are wise; and God chose the weak things of the world, that he might put to shame the things that are strong;
28 and the base things of the world, and the things that are despised, did God choose, yea and the things that are not, that he might bring to nought the things that are:
29 that no flesh should glory before God.
30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who was made unto us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption: 1 Cor 1

Scripture makes it plain, no one decides, or chooses, to place themselves in Christ Jesus. God 'decided' before the foundation of the world who would be in Christ.

 

Once again you accuse a poster of arrogance and saying things that he didn't say.
He said nothing about lordship salvation or anything else that you're accusing him of.
Another monster strawman attack.
This post really doesn't have to do with what the original post was talking about.

 

Icon,
The "freewillers" will never in this life understand anything regarding the sovereignty of GOD! I suggest they all read Isaiah 40. If that is too much to ask perhaps these "grasshoppers" can find time to read the following:

Isaiah 40:22
It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in:

 

"Internet Theologian

Yes....that seems to be the result.....he posts for the other person and projects what he thinks instead of what the person actually posts

Well yes....evidence had come forth to support this idea. a few weeks ago he claimed everyone in his church is saved.
If breathing is the only criteria then we could all make that statement.
Now it is true that all God has saved ,are saved. In any assembly unfortunately some attach themselves without the work of the Spirit.

I think this is the key point of the OP. They get talked into an emotional decision and after a time the emotion wears off. They return to a sinful lifestyle, except they try and cover sin with a sprinkling of religious activity.
While the cross work is once for all and complete....without the Spirit at work in the person they are not rightly related to it.

People rush in to offer a carnal assurance to this unconverted religious professor...they create the "carnal christian" heresy to give this goat false assurance. Even sometimes if the person themselves begin to have "doubts" as they observe real believers serving God, praying, etc....the doubts are quickly quenched .
They are told not to doubt at all.

.

It could be for these reasons, or it could be a sincerely mistaken view of salvation/sanctification as we see many offer here on BB.

Yes I have not seen any of this thought in the ODT. They erred on the side of caution and sometimes went to far and caused believers to be burdened and lack a proper assurance which is needful to be active in joyful service.;

yes

 

Yes brother indeed.....A small view of an infinite God can not lead to healthy truth.SickSickSick

 

Internet Theologian

Leave it to ODT to get at the truth of the issues....this is the kind of post that is helpful!

This is mature godly thought, the product of being the blessed man of psalm 1

this is the key right here....free grace/ free to serve joyfully as sons

indeed...

No doubt...

The Godly Man's Picture - Thomas Watson[/QUOTE]

 

The Holy Spirit will use the Scriptures to bring those in whom the Father has given to Christ into salvation. That some are influenced by messages on hell or on messages on heaven has little to do with who is redeemed and who is just emotively reacting in the moment.

The Scriptures state that some of the Word falls upon hearts that start to grow but end up worthless. That ground was never prepared for the seed, because the purpose of that ground was for other matters.

In the OP, the list of "I've made a decision" is not indicating that some may actually be saved or not.

To judge salvation is not the believer's responsibility, neither is judgment upon who is worthy of salvation, who is actually saved, and who will spend eternity in the Lake of Fire.

That some of the OP may actually be saved is not within the right of the believer to judge.

What the believer may judge is the matters concerning maturing and maturity - both of themselves and of others.

I am most certainly not of the "easy believism" group. Such is (imo) damaged the reputation and authority of believers, and watered down the message that one should mature as a believer.

But, how does the salvation revealed in a person? By vocal and overt belief.

Isn't that basic to what the brother of Jesus expressed when he wrote what we label James?

 

Agedman,

We are our brothers keeper and we are cautioned to be concerned but not overbearing if we see someone in a fault.
Gal.6.
Great care and wisdom should be taken in this even self examination.
Some error right here and try to do what only the Holy Spirit can do.

 

Agreed. This is Scriptural, but it does not apply to one believer making such judgement upon another who claims to be a believer.

There is no such permission given in Scripture. In fact, there is no such permission of one going to an elder for some kind of check up.

The Scriptures specify that it is the Scriptures that the believer must look to for determination.

2 John concerns itself with the teaching of those who are "cult leaders." NOT the membership of the cults. Some of the membership may actually be redeemed, that is not for the believer's to judge. One who publishes, teaches, and has influence over matters of doctrine is the thrust of 2 John.

Galatians 1: teaches the same principle as 2 John. The condemnation is directed toward one who publishes, teaches, and has influence.

Certainly, there is a matter of determination that can be made as to the validity of a teaching, and "whether one had (has) been exposed..." But that is NOT a mater of judgment of salvation, but a mater of judgment upon the teaching. IF that exposure brings salvation (or not) is the responsibility of the Father.

1) Believers may judge matters concerning maturing and maturity.
2) As shown above using the 2 Scripture references you provided, believers are warned about those who puff up as spiritual leaders yet teach contrary to the Scriptures. Such are (imo) not only already condemned, but are displaying such condemnation by their teaching.
3) Salvation is revealed,displayed, shown and open for all to witness by the vocal (the testimony) and the overt (the manner of living).

Do those three items show my post as error?

Nope, because at no point is it a matter of right for a believer to make the eternal state of another person a matter of their own ability to appoint. Such belief as the papists hold in "last rights, penance, confessionals..." sometimes writhes its way into the modern thinking of the Baptist, in that one may desire to point to sins committed at proof of the eternal estate assigned.

 

I agree,

But such judgment upon the life and living a person expresses and experiences does not extend to declaring a person is not saved.

If, that person, who is in error is a member of the assembly and approached by one or more members of that assembly, and the results are the one in error repents, they are then received, but if such repent not, they are to be put out of the assembly. The Scriptures state that it is not for loss of salvation, but for the destruction of the body of flesh - the soul yet redeemed.

There is a huge difference between making judgment of a person's living and conduct in comparison to their eternal estate of lost or saved.

 

So true, and as Spurgeon noted:

"God has not appointed salvation by Inquiry Rooms and talks with ministers, but by your laying your own hand upon the Sacrifice which He has appointed! If you will have Christ, you shall be saved! If you will not have Him, you must perish! All the talking to you in the world cannot help you one jot if you refuse your Savior! Sitting in your pew this morning, without speaking to me or any living man or woman, I exhort you to believe in Jesus! Stretch out your withered hand, God helping you, and lay it on the head of Christ, and say, “I believe in the merit of His precious blood. I look to the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world.” Why, Man, you are saved as sure as you are alive, for he that lays the hand of faith upon this Sacrifice is saved thereby!" —"Putting the Hand Upon the Head of the Sacrifice"