Knock off the absolute negatives and use qualifiers instead.

For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.

It wasn’t too long ago that we were assured in the name of protecting the Gospel and the Reformed Faith that God was “in no way” the savior of any except those predestined to everlasting life.

Now we are hearing similar absolute negatives about being united to Christ. None of this is either Biblical or “Reformed.” The Westminster Larger Catechisms asks and answers:

Q. 63. What are the special privileges of the visible church?
A. The visible church hath the privilege of being under God’s special care and government; of being protected and preserved in all ages, notwithstanding the opposition of all enemies; and of enjoying the communion of saints, the ordinary means of salvation, and offers of grace by Christ to all the members of it in the ministry of the gospel, testifying, that whosoever believes in him shall be saved, and excluding none that will come unto him.

The proof associated with “being under God’s special care and government,” is First Timothy 4.10, which I quote above.

This wouldn’t be so evil if such sophomoric “theology” was not being used by Calvinist zealots to malign, misrepresent, and even judicially torment fellow monergistic, decretal, double-forordinationist, calvinists–fellow believers in unconditional election to eternal life. It wouldn’t really even be worth mentioning.

5 thoughts on “Knock off the absolute negatives and use qualifiers instead.

  1. David Gray

    Pastor Horne,

    Given that the benefits in question 63 are not salvific, in light of question 61, can you expand on how you understand the benefits or privileges enjoyed by the unregenerate in the visible church? Thanks.

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  2. David Gray

    >Not salvific? Aren’t you insisting that salvation must mean and must only mean eternal salvation from God’s wrath and absolutely assured admission into everlasting glory.

    Well, I personally meant, by salvific, eternal salvation from God’s wrath. Which is in my experience the most common understanding of the term. I guess what I’m asking then is what is the secondary meaning of “salvation” as used in Timothy 4:10?

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  3. David Gray

    >The meaning would be placed under God’s special care and government

    That seems compatible with Q63’s answer to me.

    >I’ll stipulate that it is secondary to the way we both talk but I’d want to do some more Bible study before I started declaring which definitions are “primary.”

    My entire comment was intended towards current usage. I think it would be the rare person who would use the word “salvific” in this sort of context without having eternal salvation from God’s wrath in mind. There is certainly utility in secondary (in a dictionary sense) usages but in order to avoid misunderstanding care needs to be exercised. At least that is my experience.

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  4. mark Post author

    Not salvific? Aren’t you insisting that salvation must mean and must only mean eternal salvation from God’s wrath and absolutely assured admission into everlasting glory.

    1) that begs the question.

    2) if that is the only way salvation may be understood then you must insist that Paul is preaching pure universalism in First Timothy 4.10.

    But at least some of the divines (whoever chose the prooftext) saw Jesus being “savior” referring to a special care in this life.

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  5. mark Post author

    1. The meaning would be placed under God’s special care and government

    2. As to what is meant by “secondary,” I think that requires a discussion. I’ll stipulate that it is secondary to the way we both talk but I’d want to do some more Bible study before I started declaring which definitions are “primary.”

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