The Highway Forums General Discussion Open Forum Mark 4: 11-12

Actually, the problem isn't Limited Atonement, nor is it even Unconditional Election (aka: Predestination), albeit those two doctrines surely have their enemies. What is most problematic (and this is many times not even consciously realized) is the doctrine of Total Depravity. It is this doctrine which gets the old blood boiling because it presents man as being totally wicked in every thought, word and deed. It portrays man as the worst of all that exists on the earth. And further, it teaches that man is totally incapable of improving his condition and/or situation. In short, it reveals the total helplessness and hopelessness of every human being from the moment of conception, we all being under the wrath and righteous judgment of God. You see, it totally removes any and all possibility of self-determination thus making men totally reliant upon something outside of themselves. Unless the LORD God takes pity on any individual and breathes life into their living-dead beings according to His good pleasure, there is not one single individual who can escape judgment nor be reconciled to Him. It is only by GRACE that we are saved. And it is only through Christ that God can or will have anything to do with us dirty creatures.

Our brother and the Apostle Paul summed it up very nicely when he wrote:

Romans 9:6-16 (ASV) "But [it is] not as though the word of God hath come to nought. For they are not all Israel, that are of Israel: neither, because they are Abraham's seed, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. That is, it is not the children of the flesh that are children of God; but the children of the promise are reckoned for a seed. For this is a word of promise, According to this season will I come, and Sarah shall have a son. And not only so; but Rebecca also having conceived by one, [even] by our father Isaac - for [the children] being not yet born, neither having done anything good or bad, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth, it was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger. Even as it is written, Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated. What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid. For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion. So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that hath mercy.

It is solely the eternal electing grace of God (Sola Gratia) that makes any man to differ. There is no efficacy in the preaching of the Word, reading the Bible, praying fervently day and night, doing works of charity, etc., etc... It is ALL of grace; Sovereign Free Grace!! [cf. 1Cor 3:7 and See my article and chart here: Do you REALLY Believe That Salvation is by Grace Alone?].

Let's first establish something of fundamental importance. No experience should be used as a "standard" by which to determine one's own, never mind anyone else', spiritual state; salvation. Why? Because the Holy Spirit deals with us as individuals and not robots. We are all created in the image of God and share many similarities. But there are various differences in our personalities, cultural influences, upbringing, etc. I am speaking now specifically of one's "Conversion". The matter or regeneration is a mute issue because that is the secret work of the Holy Spirit of which one is not privy. It is the results of regeneration which man experiences . . . "The wind bloweth where it will, and thou hearest the voice thereof, but knowest not whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit." (Jh 3:8)

Some, like myself go through a very dynamic and radical conversion, i.e., there is a deep and painful conviction of sin and an equal exaltation of joy in "seeing" the loveliness and sufficiency of Christ as well as the unspeakable joy of having one's sins forgiven. However, there are no less those whose conversion is "quiet" yet no less sure. Yes, I believe there will ALWAYS be some measure of conviction of sin. For without conviction, there is nothing to drive a sinner to repentance and to see forgiveness of sins. But it would be wrong to quantify conviction and so make some kind of minimal "standard" by which one could judge another. If you haven't already, do read this new added article to The Highway here: The Great Change.

The question, "How does one know they are saved?" is a question about "Assurance" in regard to one's personal experience and life. The question can be answered objectively too, of course, by learning what the biblical doctrine is on the subject, e.g., there are certain necessary things which must take place and/or exist in an individual before it can be said they are "saved". Some of those elements would be, conviction of sin, godly repentance, a true living faith (fiducia) in Jesus Christ and a life which is consistent with that faith which belongs to someone who has been regenerated.

See also these articles:
- How We May Know We are Born of God, by B.B. Caldwell

- True and False Assurance, by Thomas Brooks

- Faith and Assurance, by J.C. Ryle

- The Failure of Emotional Religion, by Norman H. Street

- The Almost Christian, by George Whitefield.

In His grace,