Can a Calvinist know for sure?

Hello philg.

I believe the Lord Jesus died for my sins. End of story. That I trust in Christ is the result of election. I was not seeking God when I was saved.

john.

 

16 And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness;

17 and have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended
MARK 4:16-17
These also recieved the word.
They delighted in the word.
But they did not persevere til the end.
No time frame is given here.
So how do you know?
Also do you believe in what Calvin termed evanescent grace?

 

I believe the Lord Jesus died for my sins. End of story. That I trust in Christ is the result of election. I was not seeking God when I was saved.

john. </font>[/QUOTE]What about Mark 4 :16-17
Are you saying that anyone claims to believe is saved?

 

Hello Roy.

Yes. Trusting in Christ is all that is required of us. John 6:29.
Php 1:6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in...(me)...will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
Heb 12:2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
He authored my faith and He will perfect my faith I trust Him not me.

Has guaranteed my salvation.

It's done. I am the Temple of God and He is in residence.

Nice to meet you Roy.

john.

 

Philg,
Notice in verse 17, there is no root in them.
Jesus is that root. So obviously the sower was not God, otherwise there would be a Root in them.

This will answer your other question about people claiming to be saved. Yes there are people who think that they are saved, and are not. But when a person is truly saved (born again (no stoney heart)) they know because they are different, through Christ(the Root) living in them.

 

Hello philg.

Anyone who believes is saved. I know I am saved because I believe. Anyone who believes is saved. Believe in Jesus, believe He died for you, and He did. Easy peasy.

It is for the sheep to claim the promises of God. It's for the sheep to take salvation for granted.

What about Mark 4:15?
Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them.
They have it taken away from them. Where's the free will there?
But I think I said already that God brings some very close and still does not save them. Heb 4:9 There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; 10 for anyone who enters God's rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his. 11 Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following their example of disobedience.
That lot in the wilderness were within spitting distance but they all died on the wrong side of the Jordon.

john.

 

Scott, 1st I am not a arminian. </font>[/QUOTE] OK. But you are apparently a critic of calvinism... in the wholesome sense of the word.

Yes and because scripture gives evidences for me to look at like loving the brethren, sanctification, and even chastisement.

Galatians 5 gives us a list of the fruits of the Spirit.

Genuine belief of a regenerate person? Yes. False belief? No.

per·se·ver·ance ( P ) Pronunciation Key (pûrs-vîrns)
n.
Steady persistence in adhering to a course of action, a belief, or a purpose; steadfastness.

I agree that perseverance is of the Holy Spirit but how do you know you are of the elect and that you will continue to persevere? [/QB][/QUOTE]
See above.

... and I will persevere because God has promised.

 

Since Christ has begun a good work in me, I can rest secure that he will complete it. That is perseverance- and it is a greater comfort than almost any other Bible doctrine.

When I was an Arminian- though I believed in 'eternal security' I still had the occasional doubt of my salvation. The reason was that I was putting too much faith into my decision for Christ rather than Christ himself.

As a Calvinist, I have no more doubt. This is not an arrogant statement or a boast- it's just so obvious to me by the changes God has wrought in my life, I cannot help but see it.

 

Yes. 1 John teaches that one can know by persisting in good works until one dies.

 

Gal 2:19 For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God. 20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21 I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!"

 

amen john.

 

Hello Here Now. I think I pretty much agree with what you have said here.
How do you think they are diffrent?

 

Anyone who believes is saved. I know I am saved because I believe. Anyone who believes is saved. Believe in Jesus, believe He died for you, and He did. Easy peasy.</font>[/QUOTE]Some say they beleive yet we dont see any of the Fruits of the Spirit in them.

Well lets look at the seed sown by the wayside.

A parallel passage is Luke 8:12 Those by the wayside are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.

Compare this with Mark 11-12 and Matt 13:14-15

14 And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah, which saith,
By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand;
and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:


15 for this people's heart is waxed gross,
and their ears are dull of hearing,
and their eyes they have closed;
lest at any time they should see with their eyes,
and hear with their ears,
and should understand with their heart,
and should be converted, and I should heal them.

It is pretty clear from the context that the seed that fell by the wayside was talking about the seed that fell on Israel who were under judical blindness at this time.
When a person continually rejects there comes a point where he can no longer beleive.
I dont think you can use this passage to teach that man has no freewill

 

If you truly believe something, will it change your behavior?

I contend that if you truly believe something it will not only change your behavior but also your thought patterns and attitudes.

 

[/QUOTE]Scott, 1st I am not a arminian. [/QUOTE]

Critic,, hmmmm, Well maybe like you say in a wholesome sense. I admit I find the doctrine fascinating. I enjoy discussing it.

 

Did the ground choose to be inhospitable to seeds or was that simply its nature?

 

Did the ground choose to be inhospitable to seeds or was that simply its nature? </font>[/QUOTE]I think it choose to be inhospitable in this case.
Look at the verses.
14 And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah, which saith,
By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand;
and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:


15 for this people's heart is waxed gross,
and their ears are dull of hearing,
and their eyes they have closed;
lest at any time they should see with their eyes,
and hear with their ears,
and should understand with their heart,
and should be converted, and I should heal them

Why would there be any chance of a totally depraved person being converted? Why does God or Satan have to blind a totally depraved person?

 

Why would there be any chance of a totally depraved person being converted? Why does God or Satan have to blind a totally depraved person?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1) Only by the Grace of God


2)the depraved man is not only deaf and blind.......HE'S DEAD

Last BUT not least.........AMAZING GRACE

 

But why must God blind them if they are born spirtually dead?