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Misuse of Words and Phrases
People of all Christian sects can be guilty of misusing words; but Calvinists are most guilty of this when speaking about the doctrine of Eternal Security or anything related to it. What I mean by the misuse of words and phrases is when someone would even use faulty logic as just discussed, or when they would say one thing and then contradict it with another word or phrase, sometimes within the same sentence. Many things that people say do not make any sense! This is what is known as an oxymoron or malapropism. Oxymoron:
a combination of contradictory or incongruous words (such as cruel kindness) Saved Sinners: We are saved from sin, but cannot keep from sinning. Made righteous, but incapable of being righteous: Calvinists believe we have been made righteous through Christ, but we cannot be righteous in ourselves. We are simply covered in His righteousness, while we ourselves are very unrighteous. Christ’s righteousness covers our unrighteousness so that God cannot see our filthiness. So we are therefore both dirty with sin and washed clean through Christ at the same time. Holy sinners: Because the Bible instructs us to live a holy life, even Calvinists teach that we should strive for such holiness as children of God. But they believe that we are still sinners no matter how much we overcome or achieve in our lives, thus becoming holy sinners. Presently bound, but Eternally Secure: It is the understanding of many that we cannot go without sinning for a single day. We are bound by the sinful nature without hope, until we get to heaven. But in our present bondage we are eternally secure. Malapropism could well describe the phrases mentioned in the previous chapter: un-born and un-adopted. Or even to consider a person who was saved to become unsaved. The proper term for this person is not “unsaved” after having gotten saved, but backslidden, which is a Biblical term. Pastor Donald Cole said on his radio program “open line”, in opposition to the fact that sin brings death even to the Christian as it does the sinner; stating concerning this death, “This may mean for such to be taken away by death, because they so dishonor the name of Christ that they can no longer be permitted to remain on earth. They are redeemed by the blood of Christ and thus fit to go to heaven, but their lives are so displeasing to God that they cannot be allowed to remain on earth” This fits the definition of one who would say something that is “ludicrously wrong in its context”. It is both malapropism and an oxymoron! In Cole’s explanation we would have God judging harshly and giving eternal life in the same act. Not only do we not find such an example in the scriptures, this makes no sense logically. What is salvation if it does not save a person from sin? And how can a person living in sin be saved eternally, but not saved presently? It is ridiculous to assume such, and contrary to the teaching of scripture. Calvinists do their best to convince us that a person can be saved eternally without any fruit of salvation presently: that we can have eternal life while living like the world because we said a prayer one day. But this is not at all what the scriptures say! If Jesus’ death on the cross did not give us victory over sin, then how can we accurately say that He conquered sin? But through His victory over sin He has made us free from sin itself, and not only the guilt of sin as Calvinists assume. It is sin that has brought horrible devastation to the lives of many before coming to Christ. If we had to continue in that life as Christians then we would not be free at all. But through Christ we can be free from sin and all that comes with it, no longer giving into sin. Calvinism’s explanation for sin in the Christian life does not make sense! It is full of oxymorons and malapropism. Scripture is clear when it says that sin brings death! This death is not physical death, but spiritual death: which should be clear enough for anyone to see in the scriptures. But in their attempt to disprove clear scriptures describing spiritual death of all Christians that return to sin, Calvinists have attempted to change the true meaning into a lie, in order to fit their own teachings. Instead of creating stories, examples, and comparisons to describe the clear meaning of scripture, they have twisted scripture in order to fit their stories, examples, and comparisons. Therefore, their own creative works have become the authority, even over the Holy Scriptures. The majority of Christians under their teachings cannot see what they have done, and blindly follow. In this area of doctrine it is the blind following the blind. Another misused phrase is that “Christ paid for our sins”. But Christ’s death was not “payment for sins”, but it was a provision for forgiveness as men accept Him as Lord and savior. This will be covered in detail in other chapters. Most of these misused phrases are used in the form of Metaphors. A metaphor is defined by the American College Dictionary as “a figure of speech in which a term or phrase is applied to something to which it is not literally applicable, in order to suggest a resemblance”. Many metaphors are used in the Bible, by many writers, as well as by Jesus Himself by the use of stories and Parables. Although these metaphors are helpful for the purpose of bringing understanding to the hearer, they cannot be taken to their logical end when teaching what we believe the Bible to teach. For example; when the Psalms say that in Psalms 91:4 “He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust:” this in no way is meant to teach that God is a great big bird. It was written to give understanding to the reader of the protection we have when we are “in Him”. Metaphors cannot be taken to a logical end. To say that Christ paid for our sins on the cross could actually make a good metaphoric explanation for what took place on the cross. Since it was a “debt” we could not pay, He had to “pay” it for us! We did not have a literal debt that needed to be paid! We had sins that needed washed away and forgiven! How can this indicate we had a debt needing payment? The explanation of having a debt that we could not pay, so He paid it for us, is only a useful metaphor, but should never be taken to its logical end! This metaphor can well explain that Christ did something for us that we could not do for ourselves, which is absolutely scripturally correct. But because the Bible does not use such the phrase “paid for” or “payment for sins”, it is not correct Bible doctrine to say such, but only a useful way to describe what Christ did on the cross as a metaphor. But it should never being taken to its logical end as many have done, perverting the truth into a lie. Therefore, it is also not correct to say that Christ took our place on the cross. Although it sounds good and accurate when used in this way, if this same metaphor is taken to its logical end, then it will teach that all our sins are paid for; past, present and future, because payment indicates a completion of a purchase in which nothing can change. The Bible says that Christ died for our sins, but never says that He took our place. Bible teachers have assumed this idea, because of the roots of the Eternal Security doctrine. To teach that Christ took our place on the cross would necessitate the conclusion that because He took “our” place, that His death did not just provide salvation (in which men must choose), but that it completed salvation (in which men have no choice. This conveniently fits the Five Points of Calvinism. Not by the use of Scripture, but the use of metaphors only. The logical conclusion of Christ taking our place is that if sins have been “paid for” and cannot become “un-paid for” at a later time. This is because if Christ took our place, then what He did is complete, making our salvation complete and eternal, unconditionally. But all this is based on metaphors created by men, not on scripture! This is how many people are taught falsely and believe what they are taught, because it makes sense to them, even though it is not taught in the scriptures. These metaphors become the basis in which many conclude their belief in Bible doctrine, rather than the Word of God itself. Because Calvinists so insistently teach that these metaphors are the gospel itself, they are guilty of adding to the Word of God. Revelation 22:1 “If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:” Paul also warned that nobody should ever teach anything other than what was taught by Jesus and the disciples. Galatians 1:8 “But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.” Calvinists have made their metaphors to be the gospel itself, in which the Bible gives no support. The only way they can come up with a “payment for sins” is through the use of a metaphor that is taken too far, but not at all through the Word of God. It simply is not found in scripture! But if we say that Christ died for our sins, making provision for salvation; the logical conclusion would then be that “whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” Romans 10:13; “if we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” 1 John 1:9. This view is not only a scriptural view of salvation, but also makes more sense logically. This is properly taking something to its logical end, because it is not a metaphor at all, but rather factual statements given in scripture. I would urge every Christian to never accept a good metaphor as their sole reason for accepting a doctrine or teaching in the Bible, but to base truth upon the Word of God alone. I would not expect anyone to believe what I teach in this book because of stories, examples, and metaphors. I believe that the scriptures speak well enough for themselves! But I would encourage every believer to check to see if the Bible agrees with those metaphors, and if they are taken to a logical end in a way that is not intended to be used in scripture
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Calvinism