God's Sovereignty and The Five Points of Calvinism                            © 1995 By Jack Kettler

The Sovereignty Of God:

In this section we will look at numerous scriptures that prove that God is sovereign.

I. The Sovereign Will of God:

A. The Sovereign Will of God in general. We can see in the following passages God's
sovereignty in the area of preservation and creation.

Whatsoever the Lord pleased, that did he in heaven, and in earth; in the seas, and all deep
places. Ps. 135:6

O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the LORD. Behold, as the clay is
in the potter's hand, so are ye in my hand, O house of Israel. Jer. 18:6

John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven. John 3:27

Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for thou hast created all things,
and for thy pleasure they are and were created. Rev. 4:11

2. God, the governor of the nations:

For the kingdom is the LORD's: and he is the governor among the nations. Ps. 22:28

For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. But
God is the judge: he putteth down, and setteth up another. Ps. 75:6,7

The King's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whitheroever
he will. Prov. 21:1

3. God's sovereign will in election:

4. God's sovereign will in regeneration:

5. God's sovereign will in sanctification:

6. The suffering of believers:

For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil
doing. I Peter 3:17

7. The suffering of Christ:

Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not will, but thine,
be done. Luke 22:42

Him being delivered by the derminate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by
wicked hands have crucified and slain: Acts 2:23

8. Man's life and destiny:

But bade them farewell, saying, I must by all means keep this feast that cometh in Jerusalem: but
I will return again unto you, if God will. And he sailed from Ephesus. Act 18:21

That I may come unto you with joy by the will of God, and may with you be
refreshed. Ro. 15:32

For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that. Jas. 4:15

B. The Freedom of God's Will:

If he cut off, and shut up, or gather together, then who can hinder him? Job 11:10

Why dost thou strive against him? for he giveth not account of any ofbhis matters.
Job 33:13

But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased. Ps. 115:3

A man's heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps. Prov. 16:9

There are many devices in a man's heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall
stand. Prov. 19:21

Shall the axe boast itself against him that heweth therewith? or shall the saw magnify itself
against them that lift it up, or as if the staff should lift up itself, as if it were no wood. Isa. 10:15

Surely your turning of things upside down shall be esteemed as the potter's clay: for shall
the work say of him that made it, He made me not? or shall the thing framed say of him that
framed it, He had no understanding? Isa. 29:16

Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker! Let the potshered strive with the potsherds of the
earth. Shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it, What makest thou? or thy work, He hath no
hands? Isa. 45:9

Son of man, Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon caused his army to serve a great services against
Tyrus: every head was made bald, and every shoulder was peeled: yet had he no wages, nor
his army for Tyrus, for the service that he had served against it: Therefore thus saith the Lord
God; Behold, I will give the land of Egypt unto Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon; and he shall
take her multitude, and take her spoil, and take her prey; and it shall be the wages for his army.
I have given him the land of Egypt for his labour wherewith he served against it, because they
wrought for me, saith the Lord God. Eze. 29:18-20

Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?
Matt. 20:15

For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion
on whom I will have compassion. So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but
of God that showeth mercy....Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the
thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made thus? Hath not the potter power over
the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honor, and another unto dishonour.
Ro. 9:15,16,20,21

But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he
will. I Cor. 12:11

C. God’s revealed preceptive will, or what is commanded in Scripture:

And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Issac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the
land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will
tell thee of. Gen. 22:2

And the LORD said unto Moses, When thou goest to return into Egypt, see that thou do all
those wonders before Pharaoh, which I have put in thine hand: but I will harden his heart, that
he shall not let the people go. And thou shalt say to Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD, Israel is
my son, even my firstborn: And I say unto thee, Let my son go, that he may serve me: and
if thou refuse to let him go, behold, I will slay thy son, even thy firstborn. Ex. 4:21,23

Turn again, and tell Hezekiah the captain of my people, Thus saith the LORD, the God of David
thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee: on the third
day thou shalt go up unto the house of the LORD. And I will add unto thy days fifteen years;
and I will deliver thee and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria; and I will defend this
city for mine own sake, and for my servant David's sake. II Kings 20:5,6

Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that
doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Matt. 7:21

For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister,
and mother. Matt. 12:50

Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.
John 4:34

If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak
of myself. John 7:17

Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have, and by wicked
hands have crucified and slain. Acts 2:23

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye
may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Ro. 12:2

D. The secret or decretive sovereign will of God:

God's purposes are not always revealed. The secret will of God sometimes appears

to contradict the revealed will. In light of the fact that Arminianism is infected with the enlightenment
philosophy of rationalism, this leads many Arminians for all practical purposes to reject God's sovereign
secret will. The Arminian reinterprets many portions of scripture because it is not in accord with
human reason, or with their theory of the complete freedom of the human will.

But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it it is
this day, to save much people alive. Gen. 50:20

Then God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of
Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech. Judges 9:23

And the LORD said, Who shall persuade Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead?
And one said on this manner, and another said on that manner. And there came forth a spirit,
and stood before the LORD, and said, I will persuade him. And the LORD said unto him,
Wherewith? And he said, I will go forth, and I will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his
prophets. And he said, Thou shalt persuade him, and prevail also: go forth, and do so.
Now therefore, behold, the LORD hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these thy prophets,
and the LORD hath spoken evil concerning thee. I Kings 22:20-23

Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee: the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain. Ps. 76:10

I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these
things. Isa. 45:7

Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? shall there be evil in a city,
and the LORD hath not done it? Amos 3:6

Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken,
and by wicked hands have crucified and slain. Acts 2:23

E. God's sovereignty in seemingly chance events:

And a certain man drew a bow at a venture, and smote the king of Israel between the joints
of the harness: wherefore he said unto the driver of his chariot, Turn thine hand and carry me
out of the host; for I am wounded. I Kings 22:34

Wash thyself therefore, and anoint thee, and put thy rainment upon thee, and get thee down
to the floor: but make not thyself known unto the man, until he have done eating and
drinking. Ruth 3:3

By lot was their inheritance, as the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses, for the nine
tribes, and for the half tribe. Jos. 14:2

Ye shall therefore describe the land unto seven parts and bring the description hither to me,
that I may cast lots for you here before the LORD our God. Jos. 18:6

The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the LORD. Prov. 16:33

II. The Sovereign Power of God:

A. God's power beyond that which is realized.

B. God's sovereign power, or His omnipotence:

And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and
earth. Gen. 14:19

Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar
treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine. Ex. 19:5

Behold, the heaven and the heaven of heavens is the LORD's they God, the earth also, with all
that therein is. Deut. 10:15

Thine, O LORD, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the magesty:
for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O LORD, and thou art
exalted as head above all. I Chron. 29:11

Thou, even thou, art LORD alone; thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their
host, the earth, and all things that are therein, the seas, and all that is therein, and thou preservest
them all; and the host of heaven worshippeth thee. Neh. 9:6

Behold, he taketh away, who can hinder him? who will say unto him, what doest thou? Job 9:12

Seeing his days are determined, the number of his months are with thee, thou hast appointed his
bounds that he cannot pass. Job 14:5

Or who shut up the sea with doors, when it brake forth, as it it had issued out of the womb?
When I made the cloud the garment thereof, and thick darkness a swaddlingband for it, And
brake up for it my decreed place, and set bars and doors, And said, Hitherto shalt thou come,
but no further: and here shall thy proud waves be stayed? Job 38:8-11

The heavens are thine, the earth alas is thine: as for the world and the fullness thereof, thou hast
founded them. Ps. 89:11

Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hand.
Ps. 102:25

Thou hast set a bound that they may not pass over; that they turn not again to cover the
earth. Ps. 104:9

Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and thy dominion endureth throughout all generations.
Ps. 145:13

Praise ye him, sun and moon: praise him, all ye stars of light. Praise him, ye heaven of heavens,
and ye waters that be above the heavens. Let them praise the name of the LORD: for he commanded,
and they were created. He hath also stablished them for ever and ever; he hath made a decree which
shall not pass. Ps. 148:3-6

When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth.
Prov. 8:27

I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor anything taken
from it and God doeth it, that men should fear before him. Ecc. 3:14

Consider the work of God: for who can make that straight, which he hath made crooked?
Ecc. 7:13

Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and meted out heaven with the span,
and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales,
and the hills in a balance?... Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God,
the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? There is no searching
of his understanding. Isa. 40:12,26

Thus saith God the LORD, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread
forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it,
and spirit to them that walk therein. Isa. 42:5

Yea, before the day was I am he; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand: I will work,
and who shall let it? Isa. 43:13

Fear ye not me? saith the LORD: will ye not tremble at my presence, which have placed the sand
for the bound of the sea by a perpetual decree, that it cannot pass it: and though the waves
thereof toss themselves, yet can they not prevail; though they roar, yet can they not pass
over it? Jer. 5:22

Ah LORD God! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and
stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee. Jer. 32:17

Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of
heaven. Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom
and might are his: And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up
kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding: He
revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth
with him. Dan. 2:19-22

How great are his signs! and how mighty are his wonders! His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
and his dominion is from generation to generation. Dan. 4:3

And he was driven from the sons of men; and his heart was made like the beasts, and his dwelling
was with the wild asses: they fed with with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of
heaven; till he knew that the most high God ruled in the kingdom of men, and that he appointeth over it whomsoever he will. Dan. 5:21

Now the LORD had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the
fish three days and three nights. Jonah 1:17

And the LORD God prepared a gourd, and made it to come up over Jonah, that it be a shadow
over his head, to deliver him from his grief. So Jonah was exceeding glad of the gourd. Jonah 4:6

But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things
are possible. Matt. 19:26

For with God nothing shall be impossible. Luke 1:37

For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood
by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse.
Ro. 1:20

And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working
of his mighty power. Eph. 1:19

C. God's sovereign creation power dealing with men:

Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that
maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself.
Isa. 44:24

(As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God,
who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were. Ro. 4:17

D. God's Sovereign Providence:

Thou didst blow with thy wind, the sea covered them: they sank as lead in the mighty waters. Ex. 15:10

The LORD hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all. Ps. 103:19

Behold, I have created the smith that bloweth the coals in the fire, and that bringeth forth an
instrument for his work; and I have created the waster to destroy. Isa. 54:16

Who is he that saith, and it cometh to pass, when the Lord commandeth it not? Lam. 3:37

Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without
your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Matt. 10:29,30

For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible,
whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him,
and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. Co. 1:16,17

Who being the brightness of his glory, and the exceeding image of his person, and upholding all
things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right
hand of the Magesty on high. Heb. 1:3

E. God's sovereign redemptive power:

Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel,
and with the house of Judah: Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the
day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they
brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD. But this shall be the covenant that
I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my laws in their
inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. And they
shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD:
for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will
forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more. Jer. 31:31-33

And I will betroth thee unto me for ever; yea, I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness, and
in judgement, and in loving kindness, and in mercies. Hosea 2:19

When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt. Hosea 11:1

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. Ro. 1:16

But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
I Cor. 1:24

F. God the Sovereign Ruler of the Nations:

Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah
might be fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation
throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying. Ezra 1:1

God reigneth over the heathen: God sitteth upon the throne of his holiness. Ps. 47:8

God hath spoken in his holiness; I will rejoice, I will divide Shechem, and mete out the valley of
Succoth. Gilead is mine, and Manasseh is mine; Ephraim also is the strength of mine head; Judah
is my lawgiver; Moab is my washpot; over Edom will I cast out my shoe: Philistia, triumph thou because
of me. Ps. 60:6-8

Arise, O God, judge the earth: for thou shalt inherit all nations. Ps. 82:8

The LORD of hosts hath sworn, saying, Surely as I have thought, so shall it come to pass; and as I
have purposed, so shall it stand: that I will break the Assyrian in my land, and upon my mountains tread
him under foot: then shall his yoke depart from off them, and his burden depart from off their shoulders.
This is the purpose that is purposed upon the whole earth: and this is the hand that is stretched out
upon all the nations. For the LORD of hosts hath purposed, and who shall disannul it? and his hand
is stretched out, and who shall turn it back. Isa. 14:24-27

That they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they
shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and they shall wet thee with the dew of heaven, and seven times
shall pass over thee, till thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to
whomsoever he will. Dan. 4:25

G. Israel's enemies raised used by God to accomplish His sovereign purposes:

I have cited over one hundred scripture passages that deal with God's sovereign control over man, and the
created realm. God controls even seemingly chance events. God's sovereign control even extends to man's
heart. God not only knows the future, He controls the future. There is a vast difference between the teaching
of scripture and the beliefs of the Arminian system. The Christian will be able to rejoice with the Psalmist by
saying: "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path". The Arminian needs to forsake his
rationalism. It is exceedingly sinful to bring God's word before, and hold it accountable to, the judgement
seat of human reason. This is idolatry. We will now begin to look at some particulars of soteriology or the
system of salvation.

Total Depravity:

Many have rejected the doctrine of Original Sin primarily because it is not in accord with human reason.
What is the basis for this doctrine? The primary text is found in Romans 5:12-19. What does this passage
say? This passage speaks about the fall and of man's guilt in this event.

Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all
men, for that all have sinned. (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there
is no law. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the
similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come. But not as the offense,
so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God,
and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. And not as it was
by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgement was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of
many offences unto justification. For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which
receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)
Therefore as by the offence of one judgement came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the
righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. For as by one man's
disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. Ro. 5:12-19

This passage clearly teaches the connection between Adam's sin and the human race. Adam as the covenantal
head of the human family brought sin to his posterity. This is proved from the fact that death now reigns in the
world. The apostle teaches that "all sinned" or you could say all were made or constituted sinners because of
their real shared guilt in Adam's sin.

We will now survey a number of passages from scripture to prove that the Arminian teaching that man in his
fallen condition can respond to the gospel is in complete opposition with the teaching of scripture concerning
man and sin. The Scriptures declare that man is dead. Man is said to have a heart of stone.

But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou
eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. Gen. 2:17

And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the
thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. Gen. 6:5

Behold, he putteth no trust in his saints; yea, the heavens are not clean in his sight. How much more
abominable and filthy is man which drinketh iniquity like water? Job 15:15,16

The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did
understand, and seek God. They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is
none that doeth good, no, not one. Ps. 14:2,3

Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. Ps. 51:5

Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons
of men is fully set in them to do evil. Ecc. 8:11

There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness.
Prov. 30:12

All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD
hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. Isa. 53:6

Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leoparad his spots? Then may ye also do good, that
are accustomed to do evil. Jer. 13:23

The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? Jer. 17:9

The good man is perished out of the earth: and there is none upright among men: they all lie
in wait for blood; they hunt every man his brother with a net. That they may do evil with both
hands earnestly, the prince asketh, and the judge asketh for a reward; and the great man, he
uttereth his mischievous desire: so they wrap it up. The best of them is as a brier: the most
upright is sharper than a thorn hedge: the day of thy watchmen and thy visitation cometh;
now shall be their perplexity. Micah 7:2-4

And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather
than light, because their deeds were evil. John 3:19

Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of
man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. John 6:53

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
John 14:16

Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which ye
shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you. Acts 14:41

As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that   understandeth, there in
none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become
unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. Ro. 3:10-12

For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved
it is the power of God. I Cor. 1:18

But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves,
but in God which raiseth the dead. II Cor. 1:9

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away;
behold all things are become new. II Cor. 5:17

And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past
ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the
air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had
our conversation in times past in the lusts of ur flesh, fulfiling the desires of the flesh and
of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. Eph. 2:1-3

That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and
strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world. Eph. 2:12

But we are as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade
as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. Isa. 64:6

The above scriptures set forth a completely different picture of man's condition than what Arminian writers
have promoted. In the Arminian view man is not dead. He is able to recognize his condition and call for
help. When help comes and provides asssistance, man is able to climb up a ladder out of the problem
that faces him. In the Christian view man is dead. Many Arminians do not recognize their condition as
serious at all. Man according to popular Arminianism just needs an opportunity and a little help.

Man is dead spiritually. He does not desire the things of God. In fact God hates fallen man.

The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity. Ps. 5:5

This Biblical teaching about God hating sinners is not popular today. Yet it is the teaching of scripture.
God is a covenant God. He brings his covenantal curses upon covenant breakers. See Deut. 28:58-61.
All men and women are covenant creatures. We are all covenant breakers outside of Christ. We are
justly under God's covenantal curses. Sometimes these covenantal curses will take the form of God
giving covenant breakers over into false religions. God even hides the truth from the wise.
See Matt. 11:25 for scriptural proof of this.

" ...God is angry with the wicked every day" Ps. 7:11. Fallen man can lay no claim on God's favor.
Man's wickedness is often manifested as religious works. See Gen. 4:3. Cain offered a religious work,
the fruit of his own hands. Adam and Eve tried to cover their nakedness with the works of their own
hands. God did not accept Adam and Eve's hand-made coverings or Cain's offering of self effort.
Many man-made religions including Arminianism will dress themselves up such as Adam and Eve tried
with outward religious trappings. These types of human works are filthy rags in God's eyes. Fallen man
hates God and the things of God. Many fallen men seek to offend God by throwing humanistic religious
works in God's face.

Man's nature is corrupted, and he makes all decisions based upon his corrupted or fallen nature. In
Arminianism man has a total and complete free will. Arminians almost never bother to define what they
mean by the term "free will". Arminianism complicates the problem further by not proving this belief in
free will from scripture. This belief is popular and emotionaly pleasing. Is it Biblical? Arminians simply
assume that there is something called free will and that it is taught in the Bible. God cannot even save
man in the Arminian system unless man through the exercise of his free will says "yes".

The Christian believes that fallen man is dead, and consequently cannot be free. The problem arises for
many people because they know that they make choices or decisions. Man most certainly does make
choices. The question needs to be asked, why does man choose one thing over another? The solution
is found in man's nature. Fallen man makes decisions that are the result of the desires of his nature.
Why does man reject the Biblical God? Because it is his nature to do so. Man chooses in harmony with
his nature. Romans tells us the following:

Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye
obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? Ro. 6:16

Verse fourteen of this chapter says of those in Christ that we are no longer under the dominion of sin.
We were the servant or slaves of sin. We yielded ourselves to sin because this was the inclination of
our fallen nature. We are now the servants of righteousness and no longer the slaves of sin. Our sin
natures have been changed. As the apostle Peter tells us that "ye might be partakers of the divine
nature..." II Peter 1:4. The believer now has a new nature. We still make choices or decisions. Since
we have a new nature our desires have been changed. We are now slaves of righteousness. Both the
non-believer and the believer make choices but they are determined by either a corrupt nature or a
changed nature. The will can said to be free if it is understood that this freedom is always in accord
with the desires of man's nature. The believer is now a new creation in Christ. We follow Christ because
we love Him and want to please Him. The Holy Spirit lives in the believer and guides us and convicts
us to do what is right according to the scriptures.

When a person chooses Christ, one must ask, why did the person do this? Was it ultimately his decision
completely on his own? Does God get any credit for this decision? In passages that we will survey below
ask yourself: does man act or choose for Christ as a result of God changing his heart by the power of
Holy Spirit? Unbelievers have hearts of stone. Christ through the work of the Holy Spirit changes our
heart of stone to a heart of flesh. Unbelievers are dead spiritually. Christ quickens us or makes us alive.
We are risen from the dead when Christ regenerates us. Christ gets the credit for our decision to believe
in Him. Unbelievers do not choose Christ, because they hate him. Their natures are corrupt and they freely
choose in harmony with that fallen nature to reject Christ.

In the next section we will look at scriptures that prove that God acts upon men, resulting in salvation.
The believer gets something that is not deserved: God's unmerited favor. Who can lay claim to anything
thing from God? What does God owe any man?

This doctrine is referred to as unconditional election. This means that man does not meet conditions in order
to be elected to salvation. God does not look forward in time and on the basis of some foreseen work on
the part of man elect him to savation. If this were so, it could be said that God elects men after seeing them
do something. God then would be responding to man's action. Salvation or election would be a debt that
God owed to man.

Words such as predestination should be interpreted in light of Biblical teaching. Instead, Arminianism,
which is governed by rationalism, rejects or reinterprets God's word. What does the Bible say about this
subject? It will be easy to see a vast difference between the teaching of Scripture and Arminianism. The
reader should keep this issue before him concerning the cause of election. Is election caused by an act of
man or the free act of God? Does God elect after seeing man's faith, repentance, or willingness? If God
elects after man contributes something is this a works form of salvation?

In light of the above teaching from scripture concerning man's depravity, what good thing could man
contribute? Would fallen men ever desire the things of a Holy God? Are man's seemingly good works
motivated from false motives?

There are many passages of scripture that teach man's responsibility for his actions. Do these scriptures
conflict with passages that teach God's unconditional election? How? If someone holds scripture to the
standard of human reason what doctrines will be rejected? Many have rejected all of scripture using this
method. Should we hold to man's reason as the ultimate standard? Has human reason been affected by
sin? If so, is human reason an infallible or fallible guide? Can both human responsibility and unconditional
election both be true? Why not? Do these teachings contradict each other? Are they contradictory to God?

What part does man play in his own election? Does God act freely, or does he respond after man makes
his contribution? If man causes God to elect, how many works are needed to obtain election? Are faith and
repentance gifts from God? If they are gifts from God, how can they be the cause of election in man?
Why do men want to contribute their own works toward salvation? Is it sinful to do this?

We will now consider some of the Biblical passages concerning election. Try and keep in mind some of the
questions that have been raised about the relationship of man's works and election. Do Arminians agree
with the following scriptures? Are the standard Arminian proof-texts better understood in light of the
following scriptures?

Unconditional Election:

And he spake unto Korah and unto all his company, saying, Even tomorrow the LORD will show who
are his, and who is holy; and will cause him to come near unto him: even him whom he hath chosen
will he cause to come near unto him. Num. 16:5

Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal,
and every mouth which hath not kissed him. I Kings 19:18

Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell
in thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy holy temple. Ps. 65:4

O ye seed of Abraham his servant, ye children of Jacob his chosen. Ps. 105:6

Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb
of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth. Ps. 110:3

The Preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the LORD. Prov. 16:1

LORD, thou wilt ordain peace for us: for thou also hast wrought all our works in us. Isa. 26:12

I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember
thy sins. Isa. 43:25

O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.
Jer. 10:23

I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself thus; Thou hast chastised me, and I was chastised,
as a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke: turn thou me, and I shall be turned; for thou art the LORD
my God. Surely after that I was turned, I repented; and after that I was instructed, I smote upon my
thigh: I was ashamed, yea, even confounded, because I did bear the reproach of my youth. Jer. 31:18,19

In those days, and in that time, saith the LORD, the iniquity of Israel shall be sought for, and there
shall be none; and the sins of Judah, and they shall not be found: for I will pardon them whom
I reserve. Jer. 50:20

Turn thou us unto thee, O LORD, and we shall be turned: renew our days as of old. Lam. 5:21

A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the
stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within
you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them. Eze. 36:26,27

For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders;
insomuch that, if it were possible, they deceive the very elect....And he shall send his angels with
a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one
end of heaven to the other. Matt. 24:24,31

And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect's
sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days. Mark 13:20

All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will no wise cast
out....And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should
lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of him that sent me,
that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will
raise him up at the last day....No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw
him; and I will raise him up at the last day....And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can
come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father. John 6:37,39,40,44,65

I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the scriptures may be fulfilled,
He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me. John 13:18

Ye have not chosen me, But I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should
go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall
ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. John 15:16

I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are
thine. John 17:9

And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and
as many as were ordained to eternal life believed. Acts 13:48

And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped
God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were
spoken of Paul. Acts 16:14

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.... Who shall lay any thing to the charge
of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. Rom. 8:29,33

And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had
afore prepared unto glory. Rom. 9:23

What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained
it, and the rest were blinded. Rom. 11:7

According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be
holy and without blame before him in love. Having predestinated us unto the adoption of
children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will....In whom also
have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who
worketh all things after the counsel of his own will. Eph. 1:4,5,11

Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God. I Thess. 1:4

For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ.
I Thess. 5:9

But we are bound to give thanks always to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord,
because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the
Spirit and belief of the truth. II Thess. 2:13

I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe
these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality. I Tim. 5:21

Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but
according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world
began. II Tim. 1:9

Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation
which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. II Tim. 2:10

Paul, A servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect,
and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness. Titus 1:1

Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the
Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace,
be multiplied. I Peter 1:2

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that
ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous
light. I Peter 2:9

The church that is at Babylon, elected together with you, saluteth you; and so doth Marcus my
son. I Peter 5:13

The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go
into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the
book of life from the foundations of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and in not and
yet is. Rev. 17:8

The Scriptures cited in the next section will clearly refute the the semi-pelagian, i.e., Arminian position.
If one accepts the idea that the atonement is universal it is impossible to escape the conclution that
everyone is saved. Universalism makes for an attractive man pleasing theology. The question is asked
again: Is this position Biblical?

In the scriptures that follow it will be seen clearly that the atonement is particular. It is limited to those for
whom it was designed. God certainly has a design or plan. It should be remembered that no one can lay
any claim upon God for salvation. All men are by nature children of wrath and therefore unworthy of
anything except eternal judgement. If it were God's design to save all men there is no doubt that all would
be saved. The scriptures teach that not all men will be saved. Some ask "why are not all saved?" This
is the wrong question. The question that should be asked, is "why are any saved?" No one deserves
salvation. All deserve death. We have all earned it. Death is the wages of sin. When one keeps asking
"why are not all saved?", one must conclude this is the result of a deficient view of sin.

We prefer to leave this question to the secret counsel of God. See Deut. 29:29. We stand in awe that
God according to his marvelous grace has found a way to save any. Praise be His Name!

Limited Atonement:

The word atonement covers words that we find in scripture such as: redemption, redeem, purchase, satisfy,
propitiation, and ransom. The atonement is a historic fact. It is something that is objectively real. It is a
completed accomplished fact. The atonement has a specific design to it. It is limited to whom it is designed
for. The following scriptures prove what is known as particular redemption:

He was taken from prison and from judgement: and who shall declare his generation?
for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he
stricken. Isa. 53:8

And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his
people from their sins. Matt. 1:21

Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life
a ransom for many. Matt. 20:28

For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
Matt. 26:28

I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. As the Father knoweth
me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. John 10:14.15

I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine
they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word....I pray for them: I pray
not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine....And all mine
are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them....And for their sakes I sanctify
myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth....Neither pray I for these alone,
but for them also which shall believe on me through their word....Father, I will that they also,
whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which
thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world. John 17:6,9,10,19,20,24

Take heed therfore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which The Holy Ghost
hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own
blood. Acts 20:28

He that spared not his own Son, but delievered him up for us all, how shall he not with him
also freely give us all things? Ro. 8:32

For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin, that we might be made the
righteousness of God in him. II Cor. 5:21

In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the
riches of his grace. Eph. 1:7

Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ, also loved the church, and gave himself for it.
Eph. 5:25

In the above verses it is quite clear that the design of the atonement was particular or limited. Christ
died for his people the church. In John chapter seventeen, the prayer of the Lord Jesus Christ was
restricted to his people. It was not a universal prayer for every person on earth. This doctrine of limited
or particular atonement may be an emotional shock to some. What must be determined however, is
if this teaching is scriptural? Arminians normally assume their position to be true and then fall back
on emotionalism when challenged.

I would encourage the Arminian to read John Owen's The Death of Christ. This work has never been
refuted by any type of universalist, or Arminian. Consider just one argument in Owen's work:

The Father imposed His wrath due unto, and the Son underwentpunishment for, either:

1. All the sins of all men. 2. All the sins of some men, or 3. Some of the sins of all men.
In which case it may be said: a. That if the last be true, all men have some sins to answer
for, and so none are saved. b. That if the second be true, then Christ, in their stead
suffered for all the sins of all the elect in the whole world, and this is the truth c. But if
the first be the case, why are not all men free from the punishment due unto their sins?
You answer, Because of unbelief. I ask, Is this unbelief a sin, or is it not? If it be, then
Christ suffered the punishment due unto it, or He did not. If He did, why must that hinder
them more than their other sins for which He died? If He did not, He did not die for all their
sins! (Death of death in the death of Christ p. 173, 174.)

It may be objected that this is a logical argument. It should be noted that this objection does not disprove
the argument. Owen's work is the most thorough Biblical examination of this subject ever printed.
Arminian claims of ignorance concerning the existence of this work is not a substitute for refuting it.

Irresistible Grace:

And the LORD thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the LORD
thy God with all thine heart, and with thy soul, that thou mayest live. Deut. 30:6

A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away
the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit
within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgements, and
do them. Eze. 36:26,27

For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom
he will. John 5:21

As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou
hast given him. John 17:2

And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as
many as were ordained to eternal life believed. Acts 13:48

And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped
God, heard us: whose heart the Lord open, that she attended unto the things which were spoken
of Paul. Acts 16:14

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold,
all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus
Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation. II Cor. 5:17,18

And You hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins.... Even when we were
dead in sins, hath quickened us together in heavenly with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) Eph. 2:1,5

Notice the words and phrases in these passages. Words such as "circumcise", "give", "put", "opened her
heart", "gives life", "ordained", "believed", "he made alive", "all this is from God", and "you hath He
quickened". These verses clearly teach that God's action or his work is the responsible agent for our
conversion. Remember as the prophet Ezekial teaches we had hearts of stone before our conversion.
The apostle Paul teaches that we were slaves in bondage to sin. Dead people are incapable of responding
to anyone.

God's action for us is effective. God works and sinners are converted. This is the plain teaching of the above
scriptures. Can believers be lost? Arminians believe this to be the case. Do believers stay in a state of grace
by their own efforts, such as holding on to God? Does God hold on to the believer? Will He ever let go?
Can the Holy Spirit continue to keep our hearts soft? Remember God the Holy Spirit softened our hearts in
the first place. We will now consider the subject of perserverance.

Perserverance:

In this section we will look at a number of scriptural passages. These scriptures clearly teach the preservation
of God's elect people. The great God who opens and softens hearts, bringing men to conversion can surely
hold on to men and keep them in grace, grace being a gift and not something earned. There are grace gifts
such as faith and repentance. Men exercise faith and repentance, but they are clearly God's gifts.

God is our strong tower. He has hedged us about with protection from the outside. He has graciously
placed his Holy Spirit within us to protect us, even from ourselves. God has guaranteed the salvation of
his elect people by the fact that we are indwelt by the Holy Spirit "Which is the earnest of our inheritance
until the redemption of the purchased possession". We are God's possession. We have the earnest money,
God's down payment, the Holy Spirit. Jesus said that He would never leave us or forsake us. We will
never leave Him because He is faithful and will protect us even from ourselves.

Consider the overwhelming evidence from scripture:

And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season;
his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. Ps. 1:3

The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delievereth them. Ps. 34:7

For this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death. Ps. 48:14

They that trust in the LORD shall be as mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever.
As the mountains are round Jerusalem, so the LORD is round about his people from henceforth
even for ever. Ps. 125:1,2

The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O LORD, endureth for ever: forsake
not the works of thine own hands. Ps. 138:8

For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from
thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the LORD that hath mercy on thee.
Isa. 54:10

And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them, to do them
good; but I will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from me. Jer. 32:40

And I will betroth thee unto me for ever, yea I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness,
and in judgement, and in lovingkindness, and in mercies. I will even betroth thee unto me in
faithfulness: and thou shalt know the LORD. Hos. 2:19,20

How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not
leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray?
And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety
and nine which went not away. Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven,
that one of these little ones should perish. Matt. 18:12-14

For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders;
insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Matt. 24:24

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth
in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16

He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life... John 3:36

But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst... John 4:14

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent, hath
everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. John 5:24

And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should
lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of him that sent me,
that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise
him up at the last day. John 6:39,40

And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out
of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them
out of my Father's hand. John 10:28,29

...that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the
world, he loved them unto the end. John 13:1

And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with
you for ever. John 14:16

While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have
kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled. John 17:12

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if,
when we enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled,
we shall be saved by his life. Rom. 5:8-10

There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the
flesh, but after the Spirit. Rom. 8:1

For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor
things present, nor things to come. Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able
to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Rom. 8:38,39

For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance. Rom. 11:29

Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus
Christ. God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
I Cor. 1:8,9

There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will
not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way
to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. I Cor. 10:13

Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present
us with you. II Cor. 4:14

Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to
the good pleasure of his will....ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest
of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
Eph. 1:5,13,14

And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Eph. 4:30

Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until
the day of Jesus Christ. Phil. 1:6

For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear,
then shall ye also appear with him in glory. Col. 3:3,4

And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body
be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is he that calleth you, who
also will do it. I Thess. 5:23,24

But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil. II Thess. 3:3

And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly
kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever Amen. II Tim. 4:18

...having obtained eternal redemption for us....And for this cause he is the mediator of the new
testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the
first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. Heb. 9:12,15

For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. Heb. 10:14

Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may
serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. Heb. 12:28

Who [believers] are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the
last time. I Peter 1:5

These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know
that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the of the Son of God. I John 5:13

...to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called....
Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence
of his glory with exceeding joy. Jude 1:1,24

It is my prayer that these scriptures that have been cited will convince the reader that God is truly Sovereign
in our salvation.