Ironworks

He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that disbelieveth shall be condemned.  Mark 16:16  Diagram           Mark 16:16 is one of many passages that confirm that baptism is one of the five steps in the Gospel Plan of Salvation that is applicable to all men. Some observations in the verse include the fact that both belief and baptism are coequals to be saved. The diagram below shows their correlation as well as the order of both belief and immersion for the purpose of salvation. Belief is an absolute prerequisite of baptism, and this is very well explained in the second section of the verse, for it is by disbelief that one is condemned. As noted before, it certainly takes more to be saved than to be condemned.  He____________________________________________________/shall be saved That______________________    /believeth                       ...

      Have you ever been in discussion with someone of an opposing view? As you talk you may give them the time to make their points and then you will make a rebuttal. When you speak to someone who believes a doctrine unfounded in the Bible, how might you correct it? With the Bible a common thing that I have found when discussing the error of Perseverance of the Saints or “Once Saved Always Saved,” is that when confronted with the Word that disproves this doctrine, they will resort to this statement, “He/she was not saved in the first place.” So how might we answer that?      In Acts 8:4-24, we read of the account of Philip’s preaching in Samaria. Simon believed and was baptized into Christ (cf Acts 8:13;Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38). However, when he saw that Peter and John were able to give the gift of the Holy Spirit by the laying on of hands, he offered money to buy it. Peter did not tell him to be baptized so that his sins would be remitted. He had alrea...

Our next item that is up for dismantling is the false doctrine of Irresistible Grace. This, like every other element of Calvinism, is dependent upon the doctrine of Total Hereditary Depravity, which we have dismantled previously. I still want to present the case on why the doctrine of Irresistible Grace does not stand up to the test of the Scriptures.  What Is the Doctrine of Irresistible Grace? The Orthodox Presbyterian Confession of faith states,  "This effectual call is of God’s free and special grace alone, not from anything at all foreseen in man, who is altogether passive therein, until, being quickened and renewed by the Holy Spirit, he is thereby enabled to answer this call, and to embrace the grace offered and conveyed in it." What is the Logical Conclusion of this Doctrine?  The advocates of the doctrine of Irresistible grace contend that because man is so depraved that he cannot do anything good whatsoever, he must be kidnapped and forced into salvation with Go...

     Who limits the power of Christ? Who limits the power of Almighty God? I know who tries, anyone who would teach a doctrine of limited atonement. This, like every other element of Calvinism, is dependent upon the doctrine of Total Hereditary Depravity, which we have dismantled previously. We still must prove why this is not a Biblical doctrine in our ongoing study.  What is Limited Atonement?      First, we want to allow those who espouse such to properly define their doctrine. David N. Steele and Curtis C. Thomas in their book The Five Points of Calvinism, Defined, Defended, Documented, said, "Christ's redeeming work was intended to save the elect only and actually secured salvation for them. His death was a substitutionary sacrifice of the penalty of sin in the place of certain specified sinners.” As with all things, we want to test the comments of men against the Word of God, and we will always defer to the latter in all matters of faith and prac...

     “I was born that way.” “We have a sinful nature.” You have likely heard these expressions or something like them from someone who teaches the concept of original sin. They practice their presentations and will put out so many verses to present a false doctrine that has been the cornerstone of many religious bodies (i.e. Reformed Theology and the like). I do not want to paint with such a broad brush because many people who are Calvinists do not know they hold to an error that was organized in the 15th century and its very basic origins in Augustine in the fourth and fifth centuries. Over the next few weeks, I will aim to write on the five points of Calvinism, sometimes called by the acronym T.U.L.I.P. We shall begin with T for Total Hereditary Depravity.       This erroneous doctrine teaches that man is born with the inherited sin of Adam. Thus, every human born of the seed of Adam is born totally depraved, he is sinful from his first cry, and ther...

  And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. Mark 13:13             The final step of salvation is ongoing throughout the rest of our natural lives. We must remain faithful unto death (cf. Rev. 2:10). The Word of God instructs the first century church, as it does all New Testament Christians, that we must be faithful whether or not it is a good, spiritual-high moment or if it is safe. We must remain faithful even when it might cost us our lives. This was a very real circumstance for the church under the Roman Empire and in many nations today. There are brethren today in countries who face certain death for wearing the name Christian. This is clearly in agreement to what is written above when Jesus made it clear there were expectations of His people. We will be hated because of Jesus’ name; we will face opposition from all sorts of people and religions. ...