LTRP Note: The following is from Harry Ironside’s book Full Assurance.
By Harry Ironside
Answering the Following: “Sometimes I am afraid I am predestinated to be damned; if so, I can do nothing to alter my terrible case.”
No one was ever predestinated to be damned. Predestination is a precious truth of inestimable value and comfort when rightly understood. Will you not turn to your Bible and read for yourself in the only two chapters in which this word “predestinate” or “predestinated” is found? The first is Romans 8:29-30:
For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
The other chapter is Ephesians 1. In verse 5, we read:
Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will.
And in verse 11, it says:
Being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will.
You will note there is no reference in these four verses to either Heaven or Hell but to Christlikeness eventually. Nowhere are we told in Scripture that God predestinated one man to be saved and another to be lost. Men are to be saved or lost eternally because of their attitude toward the Lord Jesus Christ:
He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. (John 3:36)
Predestination means that someday all the redeemed shall become just like the Lord Jesus! Is not this precious? Do not try to make a bugaboo out of that which was intended to give joy and comfort to those who trust in the Savior. Trust Him for yourself, and you will know that God has predestinated you to be fully conformed to the image of His Son.
God loved the world of sinners lost
And ruined by the fall;
Salvation full, at highest cost,
He offers free to all.
(Martha M. Stockton, 1821-1885)
(photo from bigstockphoto.com; used with permission)
Calvinism is, “another gospel.” Thus, it’s proponents, John MacArthur, RC Sproul, John Piper, Paul Washer — these are all teachers of a false gospel. That is a fact, regardless of whether they can stand up and give good sermons. Behind those good sermons is what they will rarely state to general audiences: That they believe that most of their audience is predestined to hell forever. I think it is dishonest and insincere for people like that to stand up and proclaim how much God loves people, when, in fact, they really mean He loves only the elect. They believe Jesus never died for most of the human race. Calvinism is not merely theological error. It is an evil representation of God Himself and His Son, Jesus Christ.
Our pastor deceptively taught Calvinism without admitting he was. Many people converted to Calvinism because of him. Other people just quietly left without saying why. We too eventually left but not until we were confused and shunned by our friends and leaders. The fruit that Calvinism bore was an arrogance toward non-calvinists and a lack of love. This bad fruit helped us to see the truth finally.
Dear John Phillips. I pray you read this. On February 5th, you said what about the stony ground? A parable is a earthly story with a heavenly meaning. Do you know anyone that said I am a Christian then later said I am not a Christian? Why? Did they not repent because of their sins? Did they run into problems or hard times and throw up their hands and say what am I to do? They never really trusted, put their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. God never predestined anyone to hell. People go to Hell for rejecting the free gift of salvation. I pray I see you in Heaven. Bless you John.
We were chosen before the foundation of the world. Our all knowing God knew who would come to the savior. How? Because He is God. As Ironside told us Heaven or Hell is not mentioned with the word Predestination. Why? Our God is a God of Love . John 3:16. He wanted none to perish. We are predestined to be Like Christ because we trusted Christ as our savior. Calvinism is a one-sided theology. Their Gospel is dangerous and confusing. Is it another gospel? Sadly It is. God sends know one to Hell. Man goes to Hell by rejecting The Lord Jesus Christ as their personal savior. Trust Him Today !!
I really needed to read this beautifully written article as i have been weakened and started getting confused about doctrine, as a dear believing friend is a Calvinist, and the question constantly comes up. Please keep on doing what you are doing. i noticed that being a Calvinist seems to deter a Christian from obeying the Great Commission, since they feel that a predestined person may not need anyone to tell them about salvation because they have been “chosen”. i also wonder if a person believes God is that way, are they possibly worshipping a different God, or is their doctrine just flawed?
If some are predestined to salvation then by default some are predestined to damnation. Your phrase don’t make a bugaboo out of something that is ment to bring joy is flippant and disrespectful. By your own admission predestination only brings joy to those who are predestined to salvation.
What about Jesus parable of the wheat sown on the three types of ground? In particular the seed sown on stony ground. The word is received with all joy but due to the poor conditions of the stony ground the wheat perishes under the heat of the sun. Yet Jesus lates says he who comes to me I will by no means turn away.
How can the ground be held to blame for the conditions it exists in? Are we not made new creations at salvation? Is our heart of stone not replaced with a new heart of flesh? So why the condemnation for the seed that is sown on stony ground?
Mary, If you are a Calvinist or supporting Calvinism, then I have to ask … “What good is it to question your salvation? What will it accomplish if everything’s been predestined and there’s nothing you can do about it, and if God even controls our thoughts?” It’s contradictory and makes no difference in the outcome.
That breaks my heart, because it is so different than what the Bible says. What a destructive, twisted theology Calvinism is! We left our church of almost 20 years because of the new Calvinist pastor that came in. And in all that time he preached, I don’t remember hearing a good, solid sermon on how God loves us or cares for us. No encouragement for a hurting heart. This pastor is all about “God loves Himself most and only cares about His glory.” (He doesn’t say it this way exactly, but just about.) My soul was suffocating and dying there. And so we left (after sending a long letter to our elders – Calvinist elders!), and now we stay home and watch good sermons online. It’s lonely, but at least my soul is being filled with the true Word again! (I think it takes time to “detox” after leaving a Calvinist church.)
Amen, Keith. Good answer. And the 2 Thess verse is about the Anti-Christ. I don’t think it’s biblical to equate Judas’ and the Anti-Christ’s destiny with God predestining people to hell in general, as in the “non-elect” in Calvinism.
John 17:12 refers specifically to Judas. The OT scriptures simply foretold that Judas would choose to remain in unbelief while the remaining 11 disciples would choose to believe and receive eternal life. It does not say that God made the choice for Judas not to believe and for the remaining disciples to believe.
God never predestined anyone to go to hell?
Try reading your Bible….
While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled.
John 17:12 NIV
Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction.
2 Thessalonians 2:3 NIV
I sat under the teaching of a Calvinist pastor for a short time. I asked him if he shared the gospel with other people. He said “Yes, but I can never tell them if God loves them.” I asked him, “Why?” And he said “because I don’t know if God has chosen them for heaven or if he’s chosen them for hell.” How sad is that?
Source: H.A. Ironside, In the Heavenlies (Ephesians), 1935
It has been pictured in this way. Here is a vast host of people hurrying down the broad road with their minds fixed upon their sins, and one stands calling attention to yonder door, the entrance into the narrow way that leads to life eternal. On it is plainly depicted the text, “Whosoever will, let him come.” Every man is invited, no one need hesitate. Some may say, “Well, I may not be of the elect and so it would be useless for me to endeavor to come, for the door will not open for me.” But God’s invitation is absolutely sincere, it is addressed to every man. “Whosoever will, let him take of the water of life freely” (Revelation 22:17). If men refuse to come, if they pursue their own careless, godless way down to the pit, whom can they blame but themselves for their eternal judgment? The messenger addressed himself to all, the call came to all, the door could be entered by all but many refused to come and perished in their sins. Such men can never blame God for their eternal destruction. The door was open, the invitation was given, they refused and He says to them sorrowfully, “Ye will not come unto me that ye might have life.” But see, as the invitation goes forth every minute or two some one stops and says, “What is that?” “The way to life,” is the reply. “Ah, that I might find the way to life! I have found no satisfaction in this poor world.” We read, “She that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth.” “I should like to know how to be free from my sin, how to be made fit for the presence of God.” And such an one draws near and listens and the Spirit of God impresses the message upon his heart and conscience and he says, “I am going inside: I will accept the invitation; I will enter that door,” and he presses his way in and it shuts behind him. As he turns about he finds written on the inside of the door the words, “Chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world.” “What!” he says, “had God His heart fixed on me before ever the world came into being?” Yes, but he could not find it out until he got inside. You see, you can pass the door if you will, you can trample the love of God beneath your feet, you can spurn His grace if you are determined to do it, but you will go down to the pit and you will be responsible for your own doom.
Calvsnistic predestination makes my God out to be an ogre, which He is not!
Amen to this! Thank you. I think dogmatic Calvinists trap people into Calvinism by saying “But the word ‘predestined’ is in the Bible, so you have to believe it (meaning THEIR definition of predestination).” But no one knows to question their definition of predestination or considers how the Bible really uses it. Thank you.
Great article from “In Defense of the Gospel”
called “It’s called Calvinism & it’s not that
Long of a Line”
We have a whole generation of snowflake theology. Free will and Decision theology and Normative Worship has a whole generation devoid of sound doctrine and basing their theology on emotion and experience. To apologize for the Doctrine of Sovereign Grace makes for a great analogy. It is merely an observation.
Thanks, LTR, for continuing to expose heresy!
The false gospel of Calvinism has certainly made a resurgence and is spreading like an aggressive cancer.
Oh…the sin of PRIDE!
That’s a very strange thing to say, Mary, and it does not line up with Scripture.
Questioning ones Salvation is not a bad thing. 2 Peter 1:10 says give diligence to make your election and calling sure. This article reminds me of former President Barack Obama’s tour to Cairo when he made his speech apologizing for American Exceptionalism. Questioning causes searching the Scripture. This is not a bad thing.
God is not willing that any should perish . . .Calvinism is a very bad interpretation of God’s Word. Believers are predestined for Glory with Jesus Christ.
Lovely stuff. Ironside blew Calvinism to pieces by simply understanding the plain gospel and context of God’s word by interpreting it in the historical-grammatical way.
Easy.