The views expressed here represent my former positions. They do not reflect my current views. I include this to give a reference to where I was, not where I am.
The shortest description of my views that I can come up with for my views is that of "non-sacramental Calvinist with Anabaptist leanings." By that I meant that I tend strongly towards Calvin's views, though I disagree with eiterh him (or his followers who defined "Calvinism") on several issues, most notable of which is that I reject any form of sacrament.
The basic thrust of Calvinsim can be summed up in 5 points ("TULIP"):
- Total depravity - that is, every person is a sinner, the only exception being the man Jesus.
- Unconditional election - God's selection of those to be saved is not based in any way on something they do.
- Limited atonement - Christ's death on the cross atones only for the sins of the elect.
- Irresistable grace - those that God calls will come, they cannot resist His call or His will.
- Perseverence of the saints - the elect will be faithful until the end of their lives or the end times.
I depart form "Calvinsim" on 'Limited Atonement,' believing instead that Christ's atonement was full (that is, covered every sin), but election is limited. In other words, I would have exactly the same number of people in heaven as Calvinism does, just a slightly differnet understanding of atonement. I think this is supported by Romans 5:18, 2 Timothy 1:4-6 and Titus 2:11. Note, John Calvin himself had this position (see his commentaries on 1 John).
In terms of the sacraments, I depart from the reformers and stand with the Anabaptists who reject any sacraments, holding that baptism and the Lord's Supper are memorial in nature. I hold to believers baptism as an act of obedience to Christ's commands and an outward sign of faith, and in no way necessary for salvation, although I do not believe that someone who is elect will wilfully avoid or reject water baptism.
In terms of church leadership, I believe in non-denominational, self-governing churches run by all male elder boards, with male pastors.
As for Scriptures, I believe that the 66 books of the `Protestant' Bible are the inerrant word of God. I hold a position of 'Verbal Inspiration' of the texts. By that I mean that the Bible was revealed by God to man in words (propositionally), that the original manuscripts contained no errors, that some errors do appear in later texts, that the original autographs are completely infallible and inerrant, and were recorded by men worked upon by the Holy Spirit through some supernatural process.
I believe in the virgin birth (but not the lifetime virginity of Mary), the life, death and physical Resurrection of Jesus, fulfilled prophecy, the promise of future prophecy and I am a pre-millenial, pre-Wrath(*) rapturist. For a full explanation of the "pre-Wrath" position, see The_Sign by Bob Van Kampen and The Pre-Wrath Rapture of the Church by Marvin Rosenthal.
As to the book of Genesis I take a position that Genesis reflects correctly God's creation of the world and Noah's flood, but I do not believe that there is any profit in debating this issue. I believe that it is more important to understand the lessons taught and believe that God did create the world, than to debate the exact nature and method of creation.
Finally, I believe that Scripture witnesses a triune nature of the Godhead, though I do not subscribe to all of the historical creeds with regards to this nature. Generally speaking, I believe that God is one, that the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are all God, and that there is some form of distinction between them, but no division.
This isn't meant to be complete, but it does touch on what I feel are important topics. With regards to those important topics, I believe...
- The Cross:
Christ's death on the cross paid the full penalty for our sins and purchased eternal salvation. His atoning sacrifice enables God to justify sinners freely without compromising the perfection of divine righteousness. His resurrection from the dead declares His victory over sin and death. (Eph 2:13, Eph 2:16, Rom 5:8-10, Rom 6:23, etc)
- Justified by faith:
Salvation is by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ alone, plus and minus nothing. (Eph 2:8-9)
- Good Works:
Sinners cannot earn salvation of favor with God, period. (Eph 2:8-9) On the other hand, the elect will do good works, and the reward for these works is paid out in heaven. (Eph 2:10, Mt 6:19-21)
- Prerequisites for salvation:
God requires of those who are saved no prepatory works or prerequisite self-improvement. (Eph 2:4-5)
- Eternal life:
This is a gift from God. (Rom 6:23)
- Immediately justified:
Believers are saved and fully justified before their faith ever produces a single righteous work. (Rom 3:24, 1 Cor 6:11, Gal 2:16, Tit 3:7)
- Believers and sin:
Christians can and do sin. Even the strongest of us wage a constant and intense struggle against sin in the flesh. Genuine believers sometimes commit heinous sins. (1 John 1:8-10, Rom 7:14-25)
- Repentance:
The gospel calls sinners to faith joined in oneness with repentance. Repentance is a turning from sin (*not* a change of mind about Christ or a synonym for faith). It is not a work, but a divinely bestowed grace. Repentance is a change of heart, but genuine repentance will effect a change of behavior as well. (Mt 3:8, Lk 3:8, Acts 5:31, Acts 11:18, 2 Tim 2:25, Lk 5:32, Acts 2:38, Acts 3:19, Heb 6:1, James 4:8, 1 John 1:9, Rev 3:19, etc)
- Faith:
Salvation is all God's work. Those who believe are saved utterly apart from any effort on their own. Even faith is a gift of God not a work of man. Real faith therefore cannot be defective or short-lived but endures forever. (Eph 2:8-9, Jn 6:37, Jn 6:44, Jn 10:29)
- Faith's Object:
The object of faith is Christ Himself, not a creed or a promise. Faith therefore involves personal commitment to Christ. In other words, all true believers follow Jesus. (Jn 10:27, Heb 12:2)
- Faith's Effects:
Real faith inevitably produces a changed life. Salvation includes a transformation of the inner person. The nature of the Christian is different, new. The unbroken pattern of sin and enmity with God will not continue when a person is born again. (James 1:17, John 14:15, etc)
- Salvation's extent:
The "gift of God," eternal life, includes all that pertains to life and godliness, not just a ticket to heaven. (Eph 2:10, 2 Cor 3:5-6)
- Christ's Lordship:
Jesus is Lord of all, and the faith he demands involves unconditional surrender. He does not bestow eternal life on those whose hearts remain set against Him. (Mt 7:16-23, Mt 10:34-42, Mt 16:24-28, Mt 19:16-26, Lk 14:26-28, etc)
- Holy desires:
Those who truly believe will love Christ. They will therefore long to obey him. (Jn 14:15)
- Assurance:
Behavior is an important test of faith. Obedience is the evidence that one's faith is real. On the other hand, the person who remains utterly unwilling to obey Christ does not evidence true faith. (Mt 7:15-23).
- Perseverance:
Genuine believers may stumble and fall, but they *will* persevere in the faith. Those who later turn completely away from the Lord show that they were never truly saved or born again. (Mt 7:15-23, etc)
A special "Thanks" to John MacArthur for his book Faith Works for many of the section headints and scriptures above, and to Holman for their NASB Study Bible and references given above.
The views expressed here represent my former positions. They do not reflect my current views. I include this to give a reference to where I was, not where I am.
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