The Highway Forums General Discussion Theology Discussion Forum Paedocommunion

Infallibly saved means that whoever God has predestinated to eternal life will be absolutely saved. There is no possibility that they will be lost. The decree of predestination not only expresses God's eternal will in regard for the salvation of the elect, but also the means by which that salvation is secured, preserved and finalized in space and time.

Of course not. But what it does necessitate is that you have a basis upon which to deem someone a Christian. There are no "de facto" Christians. They will bear the marks of regeneration and exhibit the fruits of it. Being a member of the covenant community is no "badge of honor" which entitles one to claim or be considered a "Christian", i.e., one who has been regenerated, converted and lives for Christ. And THIS I strongly suspect is where you have gone off the biblical path. Could it be, with your admitted "attraction" to NPP/FV that you have embraced the error (heresy) that what is most important is belonging to the covenant people of God (justification) within which one works out their justification? And thus, it is impossible to know assuredly that you are truly "justified" in the forensic sense which is how classic Calvinism has always used the term?

I perceive this as an attempt to obfuscate the issue by introducing "infallible knowledge" as a substitute for "assurance of salvation". To possess the former would be to claim deity for only God knows anything infallibly. One could rightly ask, "Do you know infallibly that you exist and you are not simply the figment of another's imagination?" The Scriptures teach us that one who truly believes is given the Holy Spirit who testifies to their spirit that they are the child of God. (Rom 8:16, 17; 2Cor 1:22; Eph 1:13; 1Jh 4:13) NPP/FV echoes Rome's teachings on this subject whereby they say that it is impossible for anyone to really know if they are saved. This knowledge only comes at the Judgment, so they say. One's salvation is incomplete until the end. Thus it is incumbent for one to do good works their entire life in order to add to their "justification". Of course, "justification" according to NPP/FV is simply one's inclusion into the covenant community of God and denies that it is a one-time declaration that one's sins are remitted in Christ's vicarious substitutionary atonement. And thus being justified, they are not liable to judgment. (Jh 3:18; 5:24; Rom 4:7; 5:1, 2; 8:1, 2; Gal 3:13)

Are you now suggesting that ALL of Israel; every man, woman and child who passed through the Red Sea and drank of the water that flowed from the rock were saved? More so, are also suggesting that Judas Iscariot was saved because he partook of the Lord's Supper? <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/rolleyes2.gif" alt="" /> Again, one's association with the covenant people of God does not make one "in Christ" and thus "in covenant" with God. (Rom 9:6ff) One may be externally a member of the visible Church and not be internally a member of the Invisible Church; the true Church of Christ. Only those who have been regenerated and exhibit the marks of that regeneration are entitled to be called "Christian" and thus are entitled to partake of the Lord's Table. Baptism is a sign of entrance where the Lord's Table is that which is restricted to those who are actually ingrafted in Christ.

In His grace,