A friend of mine sent me a link to a mp3 sermon delivered by Dr. Barnhouse some time ago called “Eternal Indentification.” The Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals is hosting the file.

A quick quote,

Saved Four Times

First, when the Holy Spirit placed me in Christ before the foundation of the world.

Second, when the lord Jesus Christ cried, it is finished.

Third, when I was actually made alive by the quickening of the Holy Spirit,

and the fourth time, which has not yet occurred, will be when the last vestige of the Adamic nature is gone forever and the image of Christ has become completed within.

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Conscience may lash us, but it cannot replenish a languishing life. Conscience may be God's word and minister to you, telling you of your faults and your follies and your destitution. It may point out, but it will never supply you. Christ must give you new life. Hart has well expressed it: "He to the feeble and the faint, His mighty aid makes known; and when their languid life is spent, supplies it with His own." - J. K. Popham

I'm not sure I would use this terminology "saved" but maybe these are 4 aspects of your salvation.

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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

My thoughts as well.

I would also add a 5th aspect to the list. In between 3 and 4 I would add our "being saved" the ongoing sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit in the one who has been regenerated. Constantly saving us from the guilt, condemnation, and prison of our sins.

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Bryan Riddle
1689 London Baptist Confession
Bethel Baptist Church Owasso, Oklahoma

The title, Eternal Identification, sounds legitimate. "Saved Four Times" does not. It's at least a poor choice of words. I didn't listen to the clip, but I don't need to to make this observation.

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Jim
1689 LBCF
Independent Bible Church
North Texas, USA

Back in my Baptist days, I could have worked that into 4 more trips to the altar (along with salvation, baptism, assurance, re-dedication, etc.)!

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Rev. R. Kevin Carroll
Pastor Elect
Covenant Presbyterian Church (PCA)
Wheat Ridge, CO
Blog: Reformed and Loving It

I didn't realize The Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals supported that kind of teaching, thank you.

Is this accurate? Did the Holy Spirit place the elect in Christ? Was it not the Father who chose the elect in Christ? Ephesians 1:3-4

I do not like forced formulas, like this. To me it is sufficient to say:

"Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him, He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation." Hebrews 9:28

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Ronda Rush
Church of the Redeemer
Independent Reformed
California


" . . .It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.'" Matthew 4:4

Just make sure no one mentions "Eternal Justification".

The term "eternal identification" might lead some to think that we are justified from all eternity past as well, rather than merely being decreed from all eternity past to be justified at some moment in time.

Eternal Justification is one of the signs and symptoms of Hyper-Calvinism and must be avoided.