Biblical Eternal Security vs 'Calvinistic Eternal Security' -by Gregg Jackson

Yes, it is Biblical. Yes, there is grace.

Hello again. Had to return for this response, and will tentatively say "bye bye" after this. Never know; I may have to return again. We'll see.

God gifts faith by opening hearts, and God withholds faith by hardening hearts. God is just that powerfully able to do so, and the Bible says as much.

John 6:44
44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.

Ephesians 1:5
5 he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,

Acts 7:51
51 “You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you.

Romans 9:16
16 So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy.

Romans 8:29
29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.

Ephesians 1:4
4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love

Romans 10:5-13
5 For Moses writes about the righteousness that is based on the law, that the person who does the commandments shall live by them. 6 But the righteousness based on faith says, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’” (that is, to bring Christ down) 7 “or ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). 8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); 9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. 11 For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. 13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Romans 9:13-14
13 As it is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”
14 What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God’s part? By no means!

Romans 8:29-30
29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

Deuteronomy 30:11-20
11 “For this commandment that I command you today is not too hard for you, neither is it far off. 12 It is not in heaven, that you should say, ‘Who will ascend to heaven for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’ 13 Neither is it beyond the sea, that you should say, ‘Who will go over the sea for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’ 14 But the word is very near you. It is in your mouth and in your heart, so that you can do it.
15 “See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil. 16 If you obey the commandments of the LORD your God that I command you today, by loving the LORD your God, by walking in his ways, and by keeping his commandments and his statutes and his rules, then you shall live and multiply, and the LORD your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to take possession of it. 17 But if your heart turns away, and you will not hear, but are drawn away to worship other gods and serve them, 18 I declare to you today, that you shall surely perish. You shall not live long in the land that you are going over the Jordan to enter and possess. 19 I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live, 20 loving the LORD your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him, for he is your life and length of days, that you may dwell in the land that the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.”

Ephesians 1:11
11 In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will,

Acts 13:48
48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed.

Ephesians 2:8-10
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Romans 10:17
17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

John 12:32
32 And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.”

John 1:13
13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

2 Peter 3:9
9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

Romans 9:17
17 For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.”

John 3:16
16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

Romans 8:28
28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

Romans 5:8
8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Ephesians 2:1
2:1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins

Romans 6:23
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Matthew 18:3
3 and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

Ephesians 1:13
13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,

Exodus 9:12
12 But the Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh, and he did not listen to them, as the Lord had spoken to Moses.

Exodus 7:3
3 But I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and though I multiply my signs and wonders in the land of Egypt,

Hebrews 4:12
12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

Romans 9:18
18 So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills.

John 12:40
40 “He has blinded their eyes and hardened their heart, lest they see with their eyes, and understand with their heart, and turn, and I would heal them.”
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Man is unable to save himself. Genesis 6:5; Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 3:10-18.

Election and predestination are unconditional; they are not based on man’s response. Romans 8:29-30; Ephesians 1:4-6, 11-12, because man is unable to respond, nor does he want to.

All whom God has elected and for whom Christ died will be saved. Matthew 1:21; John 10:11; 17:9; Acts 20:28; Romans 8:32; Ephesians 5:25.

Those whom God elected He draws to Himself through irresistible grace. God makes man willing to come to Him. When God calls, man responds. John 6:37, 44; 10:16.

None whom God has elected will be lost; they are eternally secure. John 10:27-29; Romans 8:29-30; Ephesians 1:3-14.

Here we go again.

You can't defend a theology that God CAUSES people to believe and He saves them BUT He PREVENTS others from believing and CONDEMNS them.

Since you DON'T see the total unfairness of this, there is no reason to further a discussion.

You don't need to reply.

What is unfair about it? The one's on which God shows mercy get what they don't deserve, and the one's on which God does not show mercy get what they do deserve. There is no injustice at all on God's part.

If you want fair, either everyone gets saved or everyone goes to hell. God is the decider on whom HE decides to save, not you, not the pope, not your pentacostal or Baptist or calvary chapel pastor, not anyone. If you have faith in Jesus Christ, thank God because HE gave you that gift of faith by and through HIS sovereign grace.

All right, let’s take them one by one:

Proverbs 21:1 has nothing to do of obtaining salvation. Directed to specifically to the King about his heart. No gifting of faith.

John 1:12-13 context says John the Baptist was sent and bear witness of light that all men through him might believe. The witnessing of others about Christ (Light) is the way people see the light and believe or receive him that’s why the Bible says “But as many as received…even to them that believe on his name.” The “but” is a powerful word here that means except, save, unless, or “if not”. So, unless, people believe the preaching of John the Baptist they will not see the Light. The v.12 is connected to V.11.

V13 while it may have been connected to v12, this is the effect of the receiving Christ, the subject is turned to” were born...” and can be connected as well on the Christ incarnation.



John 6:28-29, the people saw the miracles Jesus did, they were amazed, that they wanted to do the same works yet Jesus answered them, they cannot duplicate his works. What the people may respond is to believe the works of God.

John 6:65, Yes, some could not come because, in the first place, some do not believe as in v64 is saying to us. So this is not a proof text of gifting of faith.



Acts 13:48, Gentiles were ordained to eternal life when? When Paul with Barnabas turns to them as in v.46. and people believed. Again this has nothing to do with the gifting of faith.



Acts 16:14 Lydia whose heart the Lord opened and attended to what Paul taught and again theirs is no gifting of faith. The logic here seems the Lord open her heart to understand Paul’s preaching. No gifting of faith.



Phil 1:29 What is being granted here is Christ in order for us to respond to him by way of believing and to suffer. Still, this is not about the gifting of faith as it seems.



2 Timothy 2:9, Paul suffered trouble = gifting of faith?

2 Tim 2:24-25, peradventure, speaking of doubt that God will give them repentance and acknowledging of the truth. Still, though the passage is not about the gifting of faith.



1 Peter 1:3, this hope we have in Christ when he was resurrected. No gifting of faith



To sum it all. These proof-texts are ALL out of context

Proberbs 21:1 illustrates that God is the one who ultimately is control of the heart.

John 1:12-13 is speaking of Jesus Christ, not John the Baptist. Read it again: "to all who did receive Him ... He gave the right to become children of God gave the right to become children of God." Jesus GAVE/GIFTED them. You don't earn a gift, you either accept it or reject it.

John 6:28-29 neds to be read in context. Who was Jesus speaking to, and what did those with whom Jesus was do after Jesus told them that HEwas the bread of life? Keep reading further and you see: "65Then Jesus said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to Me unless the Father has granted it to him.” 66From that time on many of His disciples turned back and no longer walked with Him." Why did they no longer walk with Jesus? Hard hearts.

John 6:65 is proof text of God causing some to believe and others to not believe, but you must read it in context with the following: "67 So Jesus asked the Twelve, “Do you want to leave too?” 68 Simon Peter replied, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 We believe and know that You are the Holy One of God.f” 70 Jesus answered them, “Have I not chosen you, the Twelve?"

Acts 13:48. Hearing the Word of God gifts faith to some, but not all, for the jews also heard and rejected it. "47For this is what the Lord has commanded us: ‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, to bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’g” 48When the Gentiles heard this, they rejoiced and glorified the word of the Lord"

Acts 16:14 clearly teaches that by hearing the Word of God, Lydia was gifted faith.

Philippians 1:29 clearly teaches that God gifted them faith. "29For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in Him"

2 Timothy 2:9. Yes, because Paul was chosen by God and gifted faith in Christ, a gift he did not ask for nor want, but a gift he is now filled with, and a gift which is causing Paul so much more suffering in life than he would have experienced had he remained a Pharisees Pharisee and not been gifted faith in Christ.

2 Timothy 2:24-25. If you read it in context, (v. 19 “The Lord knows those who are His,”b and, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord must turn away from iniquity”), and of whom it is Paul is speaking about, i.e., the faithful elect, you will understand that the gift of faith is what makes a person humble.

1 Peter 1:3 certainly points to the gift of faith when he uses the words "By His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead."

[QUOTE="JerryInBoston, post: 4617677, member: 306686"
1 Peter 1:3 certainly points to the gift of faith when he uses the words "By His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead."[/QUOTE]

To demonstrate that those you cited as proof text is out of context and I will refer to this one. Your certainty is not certain concerning the gift of faith. What is being given of certainty according to the scripture here is about the new birth/ regeneration "begotten us again".

Sorry, my friend, the scripture of truth is always certain.

@fredoheaven. New Birth comes with the gift of faith, a justifying and persevering faith.

Umm, yet you havent prove the gift of faith. You change the subject to new birth. Seems circling around.

Ephesians 2:8 clearly states faith is a gift from God's grace. When 1 Peter 1:3 says: "given us new birth into a living hope", it is speaking directly to regeneration, and regeneration is an occurence by God's grace during which the regenerated are gifted faith.

Well, you haven't yet proven your argument. The same assumption.

I don't have to prove it, Fred. The Bible proves it. You can choose to reject the truth, but that won't change the fact that faith is a gift.

And that is what is unfair. It is God "electing unconditionally" in Calvin's terms, who goes to heaven and to hell.

Yey, the Bible is clear that it is really man's choice where he/she will spend eternity, even though so many have no clue.

But none are with excuse.

Why don't you get the fact that Calvin's system of election gives everyone in hell a legitimate excuse.

Which is, they simply weren't chosen to go to heaven. There was no gift to accept. Nothing. Just God's capriciousness in His choosing.

This is a delusional statement.

No. And you don't grasp what fairness means either What is fair is allowing everyone a choice to make. That's the ONLY WAY man is without excuse.

But you seem totally clueless about what that statement means in Romans 1:21, that "man is without excuse".

Man is without excuse because he HAS a choice, but either refuses or just isn't interested.

YES, YES, YES!!! Of course. And the Bible tells us WHO God chooses to save. "those who believe", per 1 Cor 1;21.

But who God chooses to save isn't the issue here. You have repeatedly claimed that God choose who will believe, which is a totally different issue. The Bible does NOT say or even sugget that God chooses who will believe.

But that is the core issue in Calvin's FALSE doctrine of election.

Nonsense. Those who are saved simply believed God's promise of salvation.

This is a lame response. The Bible proves that man has a choice in where he will spend eternity. That's why man is without excuse.

If God made all those choices for mankind, they WOULD CERTAINLY HAVE AN EXCUSE.

Umm, and the Bible says nothing at all of your arguments. The Bible says we have to prove all things yet until now I haven't seen what you are saying, it may be because you can't.


1 Thessalonians 5:21

King James Version



21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.

Yep “him” refers to Christ. Who did the receiving part? People may receive him. What is being given to them? Faith? No. But the authority to become the child of God. In what way they received Christ so that they are now called children of God? Well, the Bible says, it's by beleiving.

Again this has nothing to do with the gifting of faith. It's about choosing the twelve.

You are just trying to insert something from the word of God to suit your belief, but this is not a good idea. This would rather support that the gift of God is salvation. To be noted the word says is “to bring salvation”.

Acts 16:14 Well, we need to learn what the words say, Lydia heard things that Paul spoke. Since she was baptized, therefore she believed, and yet this has nothing to do with the gifting of faith. Just your guess.

Philippians 1:29 Umm, this is not a bestowal of faith as it seems. This is a promise or consent that believers of Philippi will experience suffering and those who will suffer are they who believe in Christ.

2 Timothy 2:9. Rather the Bible says: of obtaining salvation, not the gift of faith as assume.

2 Timothy 2:9-10

King James Version

9 Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound.

10 Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.



2 Timothy 2:24-25. Well, v.19 is about God’s omniscience not again of the gift of faith.

God knows who will accept HIS grace offer, and those that accept are the presdeistinated elect, and those are they to whom God gives the gift of salvation and faith. What is unbiblical is your synergistic view of salvation, which says When I do this, God has to do that", when in fact the Bible teaches, as I have shown, that it is God alone by HIS grace alone that we are gifted salvation and faith.

You basically are saying that spiritually dead hedonistic sinners can come to faith whenever they want, and say something like this to God: "God, I've read your word and heard your gospel message, and I know you require me to have faith in order to be saved. I want to, God, but I'm just not ready to have faith yet because I love my life and all the worldly sinful pleasure I derive from it, and having faith in YOU would mean giving up all these sinful pleasures that I'm enjoying. God, I've heard about this thing called 'deathbed confession of faith', so I'm just going to wait until I know I'm close to death to claim I have faith. I trust you will save me on the condition that I'm going to wait until I'm good and ready to be saved, and when I tell you I'm good and ready to be saved, then and only then will I have faith. So, when I'm sure I'm good and ready to have faith, you, God, will be sure to give me the eternal life you promised."

That is your view in a nutshell.