Quote:
Originally Posted by Pergamum  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. |
Good post, Pergy.
The connection with denying the free offer is quite logical, as is the connection with antinomianism. After all, if the elect are elected in eternity apart from means, why preach the gospel to every creature since the elect will be converted regardless? If the elect are elect no matter what they do, why bother with trying to follow the law? These hyper Calvinistic errors often come as a package deal.