Reading for today:  Ezekiel 18-19
Original Post:  September 8, 2014

This is a theologically important passage, in that it informs our view of who can be saved from their sins.  Let me explain:   There are basically two different mainline trains of thought for Protestants (those who broke away from the catholic church during the reformation).
1.  Calvinism:  God created all people, but not all people have been chosen for heaven.  Those who are chosen are fore-known, and predestined to end up in heaven.  The ones who are not chosen aren't going, no matter what they do.   Once the person who has been chosen for heaven accepts Christ, they cannot "lose" their inheritance.   They may lose some of their reward, but they will not lose their salvation.   Since they were predestined, they will end up in heaven.
2.  Armenianism:   God created all people, and all people have the possibility of going to heaven.  We are created with free choice, and when we exercise it to accept God's sacrifice, we are saved.  If we choose not to accept Christ, we are lost...and will eventually end up in hell.   It is possible to accept Christ and serve him, and then later change our minds and decide not to.

Both sides believe in salvation, both believe that it only comes from and through Jesus Christ.  One of the key differences is "can you lose your salvation"?     And that's what Chapter 18 of Ezekiel addresses for us.   God says to Ezekiel "your actions will determine your future".   If you were evil and stay that way, you end up in hell.   If you were evil and repent and become righteous, you end up in heaven.   If you are righteous and become evil, you end up in hell.    And your children will cut their own path as well.   Your goodness will not count for them, they must be righteous themselves.   On the other hand, if you are evil, your sinfulness will not be held against them either.   They must make their own choice, and live with the consequences.

Just to repeat a key thought:   Ezekiel 18:24 and following say that a righteous man CAN turn from his righteous ways and become evil.  If he does that, he will die for his sins.   Therefore, as Free Methodists, we are Armenian in our belief.    That isn't to say that someone can "steal" your salvation from you....it isn't as if you can wake up one morning and someone has taken your salvation away.  We don't believe that you can misplace it, as if it were a wallet or cell-phone.    BUT, you can make a conscious decision to not obey, and not follow Jesus.  If you do, then you have surrendered your salvation.   You have elected to walk away.   so saying that you can "lose" it really doesn't describe accurately what we believe.

Our friends who share the calvinist viewpoint would say of the person who was saved and walked away "they were never really saved in the first place".   In fact, they have to say that because they believe you cannot be saved and then change your mind.   Therefore, anyone who walks away must not have been saved to begin with.       We would point to this passage in Ezekiel that says (in verse 22, 24 and 26 !!)  that the righteous person can chose to become unrighteous, and then dies for their sins.

As to the point that God created some who were never intended to see heaven, I would point out verse 32  "I take no pleasure in the death of anyone declares the Sovereign Lord.  Repent and live!"   God clearly doesn't want to see anyone in hell, therefore he would not have created people who were predestined to go there.   In fact, his advice to ALL people is to "repent" which means "chose to turn from your current course of action".      Repentance is agreement with God that His way and His viewpoint are better than our own, so we agree to see it His way.   That means admitting that we have sinned, and that we need to be forgiven.  It means admitting (and accepting) that Jesus Christ is the one and only way that our sins can be forgiven, because it was HE who died as the substitute sacrifice for our sins.      God says to us at the end of this very important passage   "repent and LIVE".    God wants us to live, ....to be in heaven.  He doesn't want anyone to end up in hell, that's why Jesus came in the first place.   John 3:16 says the "whosoever  (that means everyone) who believes in Him will not perish (in hell) but have eternal life.  

Once again, this is a passage I come back to often when I want to express my view to my christian friends on the other side of the issue.   Does their viewpoint exclude them from being Christian?   Absolutely not.  some of the strongest and most godly people I know share the calvinist belief.   So then, does it matter what we believe?    I say "absoutely it matters" because the calvinist perspective may demean the salvation experience that someone has had, and drive them further into their doubt.   it may also take the urgency out of our missions work (if they are chosen for heaven, they will end up their somehow).    I think that our viewpoint makes us more effective servants in the Christian faith.

PR