An explanation I wrote to someone in the past:



God has DECREED to justify us from all eternity - but God actually works out that justification in time.

Otherwise,we would never have been called, "children of wrath, even as others..."


The DECREE is from eternity and is certain - but the actual event of justification - planned in eternity and purchased on the cross - occurs in the life of the sinner turned saint.

Eternal justification is the error of Don Fortner and many other small groups of "Sovereign Grace Baptists" who want to out-predestinate Calvin. Many Presbys might also believe this - I don't know...

Gill's influence over subsequent generations of calvinistic baptists is very much to blame. Many will say that Gill teaches this, but I don't think he does (Gill just speaks in a way that may elicit mis-characterization, due to his high energy against the Arminains).

This issue - eternal justification - is one of those areas that distinguish between Calvinism and hyper-calvinism. For some reason (maybe someone can tell me), this belief seems to often be coupled with a denial of the "free Offer" of the Gospel.

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Pergamum


"If a commission by an earthly king is considered a honor, how can a commission by a Heavenly King be considered a sacrifice?"
-- David Livingstone