Doctrinal Adulthood

That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine by the sleight if men.... Ephesians 4:14

Recently I've been disturbed by the seeming resurgence of an old mis-doctrination. In a word, Calvinism. Not going to go into great detail, because it's a rather lengthy diatribe, but it's the belief that God preselected certain people to be saved and all others not to be saved. The belief is essentially based on a misrepresentation of one verse that actually deals with sanctification, not salvation. But what disturbs me the most is that I'm seeing people try to explain away verse after verse after verse...large chunks of Scripture...to defend this false teaching. Consider: to defend this, whosoever cannot mean whosoever, world cannot mean world, all cannot mean all, and so on. Salvation cannot be by grace, through faith, because God's already chosen some and not others--our faith is of no meaning. God IS willing that some perish, NOT that all come to repentance. Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord MAY or MAY NOT be saved.

The sad fact is, many will go to hell because of this doctrine. That's why it is so very important that we study to show ourselves approved; that we know the Scripture, compare Scripture with Scripture, and seek guidance and discernment in understanding and interpreting it. You cannot understand on your own! In our own wisdom, we are all to simple not to be carried away by mistaken doctrine. This one alone tripped up such men as C.H. Spurgeon and Martin Luther. We cannot afford to stay children spiritually--too much is at stake. Feed on the Word, grow in it. It is of eternal importance.