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From the Pastor...
CAN YOU BELIEVE IN CHRIST
AND GO TO HELL?
"And those he predestined, he also called; those he called,
he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified."
Romans 8:30
On the last Sunday in October we remember each year
the contribution made to the Christian Church by such
reformers at Zwingli, Hus, Luther and Calvin. One of the
questions answered by the Reformers was: Can a person
who has become a child of God by his faith in Jesus
Christ, ever be disowned by God his Father."? Or, can a
person receive eternal life and then go to hell forever?
Most Christians, before the Reformation and since that
time have said in answer to both questions, YES. One
notable exception is the Presbyterian Church. The
Westminster Confession of Faith puts it this way: "They whom God hath accepted in his Beloved, effectually called and sanctified by his Spirit, can neither
totally nor finally fall away from the state of grace; but shall certainly persevere therein to the end, and be
eternally saved." (Chapter XVII-I)
In other words, if you have come to God through faith in
Christ, by repentance, belief and commitment to Jesus
Christ and therefore are a child of God, no matter what,
you will always remain his child and will one day go to be
with Christ. The reason we can be so sure of this, is not
because of us or our faithfulness, or we would never
persevere, but because of God. It is not that we have a
great faith in God, but that we have faith in a great God.
Our sovereign God, all wise and all powerful, before the
foundation of the world, loved us and claimed us for
himself, drew us to himself, declared us righteous and is
making us in the very likeness of Jesus by the indwelling
of the Holy Spirit, and will most assuredly complete what
he has started, bringing us safely through life and death to
dwell eternally with him in heaven. Now, this belief is not
just wishful thinking; it is founded and rooted in Scripture.
Read passages such as John 10:28,29; 2 Timothy 1:12; 2
Timothy 4 18; Romans 8: 28 - 30.
In helping us to understand this biblical truth, there are
three points I would like to make.
1. First of all, WE DO NOT PERSEVERE ON OUR OWN.
If we depended on our good works, our faithfulness and
obedience to God, we would hardly last one hour, let
along one day, one year, all of our lives. Fortunately,
Scripture assures us, "We are kept through the power of
God unto salvation." Romans 1:16. The very omnipotent
power of God keeps us and holds us in this salvation. If it
were not for that, none of us would ever persevere.
2. The second point I wish to stress is this: A CHRISTIAN
PERSON CAN AND DOES FALL AWAY, PARTIALLY
AND TEMPORARILY BUT NOT TOTALLY OR FINALLY.
As long as the Christian remains in this world his state is
one of warfare. He suffers temporary reverses and may
for a time appear to have lost all faith; yet if he has come
to the Lord in humble faith and repentance, and is
therefore saved, he cannot fall away completely from
grace. He will sooner or later return to God confessing his
sins and asking forgiveness, and rededicating his life to
His Father and Sovereign Lord.
3. Finally the third point I wish to make is this: THOSE
WHO BEGIN THE CHRISTIAN LIFE ON EARTH WILL
CONTINUE IT IN HEAVEN. Notice the words from
Romans 8 verse 30, "whom he justified, he also glorified."
Justification is the first act of the Christian life; glorification
is the first act in heaven. Justification is the first thing that
happens to a Christian on earth. He is pardoned for his
sins. He is accounted righteous in the sight of God.
Glorification is the first thing that happens to the Christian
in heaven. Every last vestige of sin is removed. He is
made absolutely pure and holy, fit to stand in the presence
of God. Those who begin the Christian life on earth will
continue it in heaven, because we are kept by the very
power of God.
Jesus said, "My Father, who has given them to me, is
greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my
Father's hand." John 10:29 Isn't that a wonderful truth.
Will you let it thrill your heart. Will you let it encourage
you to be faithful and obedient in all things to the Lord.
Will you allow it to make you a more joyful person, on fire for
Christ.
In His grace,
Floyd McPhee 
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