When Was I Saved?

December 5 (Eph. 1:4-11)
A major doctrinal issue most contemporary protestant churches ignore or deny is the doctrine of election and predestination. It seems inconceivable to me, though I certainly pray I’m wrong, anyone who denies the doctrine of elections and predestination is advocating a kind of works salvation. If that is true, and I see no way to deny it, Paul’s warning to the Galatians is appropriate here. “But even if an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed.” And the gospel Paul, Peter, James, Jude, and the writer of Hebrews and each of the the gospel records their writers record preaches as one of its most basic tenets election and predestination (Eph. 1:4-10; John 10; I Peter 1:1-2). Both Isaiah and Jeremiah realize they were called before they were even born (from their mother’s womb/Jeremiah 1:4, 5; Isaiah 49:1). Romans 9 insists before Jacob and Esau were even born, God had determined their lives plans and direction.


I’ve recently discovered, what I used to think wasn’t a good study tactic, is actually not too bad. Try this; begin reading scripture actually looking for indications and verses that speak about the elect, those chosen, the sheep and the goats. You’ll quickly discover there are literally hundreds of verses which make it abundantly clear unless God elects, predestines, regenerates, effectually calls, grants faith and repentance, justifies, definitively sanctifies, adopts, and progressively sanctifies, you, you will not spend eternity in His kingdom. One hasn’t got a snowball’s chance in hell of being part of the kingdom of God unless God has chosen him for that destination. I have also discovered if one thinks about those nine elements of true salvation while studying scripture, he’ll discover there is no theology that doesn’t fit into the definition of at least one of them; thus, you will have to conclude as I have that salvation, from beginning to end, is God’s work. He chose every single individual whom He will save before the foundation of the world, which goes quite comfortably with the teaching from Ezekiel 3 and 33, Paul’s comments in Ephesians 1 and Romans 9:21. He makes one piece of pottery for glory and another not for glory. And if you really think carefully about it, you’ll have to conclude any other theological position actually demands a works salvation. Even if I chose on my own to be faithful, that means I committed an act of works. It means for some reason I was worthy to be saved.

Finally, think about this; Paul had little interest in hearing the gospel when He was called to be an apostle to the gentiles in Acts 9. It was literally the last thing on his mind. He was determined to imprison Christians and see to it they got the maximum penalty the Jewish leaders could impose under Roman law. His conversion demonstrates as well as any his human will would have never chosen to follow Jesus. And that is the testimony of Romans 3:10-18. Romans 3 demands we believe no man, of his own volition, ever has or ever will choose to do good. All, every single person on the planet, minus 0 have, do, and always will reject God and the truth He has given us in His word.

Almost from the point of new birth in Christ, I believed my salvation was entirely His work. It wasn’t until the last four or five years however, that I really began understanding how central reformed theology, which insists we were predestined and elected before the foundation of the world, is if one is to understand huge doses of the rest of scripture. I am so sure it is absolutely crucial to salvation that I have determined not to attend any church that does not teach it. I do not believe any preacher who doesn’t teach it properly is worth the time it takes each week to listen to him preach. I have more recently discovered just how much it affects the rest of a preacher’s teaching.

In closing today’s lesson, I want to challenge each of you and myself, to strive to be more consistent and determined to set aside time each and every morning to be diligent to show ourselves approved unto God. I challenge each of us to be more disciplined when it comes to prayer and bible reading and study. I am providing several tools I believe will help us all do that. I am putting the bible on CD MP3 format in all of the modern translations one can download to their computers or any MP3 player (MP3 players are available for under $35 at Pamida); I am also putting each of my study guides on over twenty five major doctrinal issues on CD. I am making sure to put some verses for the day each and every day on my Face Book site. I am praying each day I have at least one chance a day to share the gospel with someone. I am praying for wisdom and boldness to be faithful to do that when the occasion presents itself. I covet your prayers for me and would be thrilled to put you on my prayer list to pray that same prayer for each of you. Just contact me by using the comments section below or email me at dspurkey@midrivers.com. I have believed for several years God wants to bring revival to America. I also believe it will start with a few faithful souls who will commit themselves to complete, unwavering, unbendable, sold our, God loving, evangelically minded, preaching of the gospel to any who will listen. I’m currently praying for one man who will join with me in my home town in that endeavor like Jesus sent out His disciples two by two. I have already gone into my neighborhood attempting to do it by myself. While God’s prophets usually stood entirely alone (and I am not a prophet), usually two or more working together, who are of one mind, are a more powerful ministry than one man working alone.

If you are reading this lesson, please join with me in praying daily and fervently for revival in America; and I believe for that to happen, we must also pray that Christians all across this land will renew their commitment to be faithful servants and stewards of the gospel message (I Cor. 4:1). And that’s God’s word for us today.