In The Master's Service

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CONCEPTS OF ETERNAL SALVATION

Elder J W. Patterson

The fourth concept of eternal salvation to be tested is immediate salvation. The premise is that the things of Romans 8:29-30 that work together for the eternal salvation to God's elect are accomplished in a moment or immediately. "For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified."(Romans 8:29-30).

1. whom he did foreknow
2. whom he did predestinate
3. whom he called
4. whom he justified
5. them he also glorified

After this concept of immediate salvation is tested with the above, it will then be tested likewise with the things that constitute gospel salvation (conditional time salvation). If the concept of immediate salvation holds true for eternal salvation and not true for gospel salvation, then one must conclude that there is more than one salvation taught in the scriptures.

In Concept 1 the concept of identical salvation held true in each of the five things that work together for eternal salvation to God's children. God's foreknowledge and love were proven to be identical to each and every one of His elect. God's predestination was proven to be identical for each of His children. It was proven that God calls all of His elect in the new birth according to His time, His place, His will, and always between conception and death; as God calls one of His elect, He calls each and every other elect. It was proven that God's justification is identical to all of His elect; each of God's elect is justified by His blood. The glorification of God's elect was proven to be identical; although some of God's elect will not experience resurrection (because they will be alive at His coming), yet all shall be changed and glorified. The concept of what happens to one happens to all held true in each of the five things working together for eternal salvation. Eternal salvation is identical salvation to each and every one of the thousands of millions of God's elect.

This same concept of identical salvation was then tested with things that constitute gospel salvation. The concept DID NOT hold true for gospel salvation because some of God's elect hear the gospel and some do not; some are baptized and some are not; some persevere and some do not. Since identical salvation held true for eternal salvation and not true for gospel salvation, the conclusion was that there is a clear distinction that must be made between eternal salvation and gospel salvation.

In Concept 2 the concept once only salvation (what happens to God's elect in eternal salvation happens only once) was tested. Again, the all things of Romans 8:28-30 were used as a testing ground to see if the concept once only held true in each of the five things that work together for the eternal salvation to God's elect.

The concept held true in each of the five things. God loved and foreknew His elect once only; He predestinated them to an adoption, inheritance and conformation once only, He calls/regenerates them once only; He justified them by His blood once only, and He eternally glorifies his elect once only. There were no recurring events in the things that work together for the eternal salvation to God's elect.

This same concept of once only was then tested with things that constitute gospel salvation. The concept once only DID NOT hold true for gospel salvation because most everything that constitutes gospel salvation contains much repetition. Preaching is repetitious, hearing is repetitious, and believing is repetitious. Keeping in memory requires repetition. Remembering the Lord's death till He comes requires taking communion time and again. Forgiving, praying and persevering are not one-time events in gospel salvation. Most all things that comprise gospel deliverance repeat themselves. The concept of once only held true for eternal salvation and not true for gospel salvation. It was proven a second time that there is a clear distinction that must be made between eternal salvation and gospel salvation.

In Concept 3 the concept of by one salvation (the things that work together for eternal salvation to God's elect are accomplished by one) was tested. The concept held true for each of the five things tested. It was proven that God's foreknowledge and love for His elect is by one; His predestinating them to an adoption, inheritance and conformation was by one, His calling/regenerating the elect is by one, His justifying the elect was by one; and His glorification of the elect is by one.

This same concept of by one salvation was also tested with things that constitute gospel salvation. The concept DID NOT hold true for gospel salvation because preaching the gospel, hearing the gospel, believing the gospel, remembering the gospel, being baptized, taking communion, contending for the faith, giving as the Lord has prospered, forgiving, praying, persevering and a number of other things that mention gospel salvation throughout the scriptures involve more than one doing the work. The concept of by one held true for eternal salvation and not true for gospel salvation. It was proven a third time that there is a clear distinction that must be made between eternal salvation and gospel salvation.

Like Concepts 1, 2 and 3, this fourth concept of eternal salvation (immediate salvation) will be tested using the same five things contained in Romans 8:28-30 that work together for the eternal salvation to God's elect. It will also be tested with the things that constitute gospel salvation or conditional time salvation. If the concept immediate salvation holds true for eternal salvation and not true for gospel salvation, then again, for the fourth time, one must conclude that there are at least two clearly distinct salvations taught in the Bible.

Continued next month: ETERNAL SALVATION IS IMMEDIATE SALVATION