01/25/23 DIFFERING VIEWS OF MATTHEW 1:21

01/25/23 DIFFERING VIEWS OF MATTHEW 1:21

The Bible says, Jesus came to "save His people from their sins" (Mathew 1:21).

Let me mention three views of this passage.
The Bible believers view.
The modified Reformed or Calvinistic view.
The "hard shell" Reformed or Calvinistic view.

I will give a list of verses in conjunction with the Bible believer's point of view.

I will not take the time to explain the modified (Reformed or Calvinistic) point of view, or the more radical (Reformed or Calvinistic) point of view.

I realize that not every person who believes some of the Reformed or Calvinistic doctrines holds the same view on every doctrine, but my point is that Reformed and Calvinistic teaching does reject the idea that Jesus provides salvation from sin to anyone who receives Him as Savior.

I don't mind a discussion concerning the errors of the Reformed and Calvinistic point of view, but I would rather let Scripture speak for itself than take the time to explain the errors of the Gnostics, Augustin, Luther, Calvin and other false teachers, past and present.

Bible believers understand that Jesus saves those who believe and call on Him by faith, and they are saved from their sins. I encourage you to read each passage completely and take the time to read each passage in its context.

I used passages in the KJV with the word, "whosoever." You can use other words such as, whoever, all, everyone. These words are found in some other translations. It still means the same thing in spite of false teachers, who try to change the Biblical message by reinterpreting and twisting words. 

Matthew 10:32
32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. 

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

Luke 9:48
48 And said unto them, Whosoever shall receive this child in my name receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me receiveth him that sent me: for he that is least among you all, the same shall be great. 

Luke 12:8
8 Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God: 

John 3:15-16
15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
16 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 11:26
26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? 

John 12:46
46 I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness. 

Acts 10:43
43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. 

Romans 9:33
33 As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. 

Romans 10:9-13
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 

1 John 3:2-10
2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
5 And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.
6 Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.
7 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.
8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
10 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother. 

1 John 4:13-17
13 Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.
14 And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.
15 Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.
16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.
17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. 

1 John 5:1-5
1 Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.
2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.
3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? 

1 John 5:17-21
17 All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death.
18 We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.
19 And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.
20 And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.
21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen. 

2 John 1:6-11
6 And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it.
7 For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.
8 Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.
9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.
10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:
11 For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds. 

Revelation 22:12-21
12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.
14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.
16 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.
17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:
19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
20 He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
21 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

Some modified Reformed and modified Calvinist recognize that the people referred to in this passage as, "His (Jesus) people," are in fact, anyone who places faith in Christ. The more radical Reformed and Calvinistic camp usually say that the phrase, "His people," refers only to Jews in the days of Christ's ministry.

Also, the modified group often says that Jesus only saves Christians from the penalty of sin but they deny that Jesus actually saves anyone from the power or the pollution of sin. The radical element says that the only people who are saved are those who God supposedly chose to save, unilaterally, unconditionally, irreversibly. They believe that the only ones who can be saved were actually saved by Divine fiat (decree) and had no part in their initial salvation and have no part in their continued and ultimate salvation.

If you read the verses I have included, which is a small but faithful representation of the actual Divine revelation, you will see several doctrines that are denied by those who believe Reformed and Calvinistic teaching. For the most part, they deny salvation from the power and pollution of sin and the deliverance from a life of sin in this present world.

I am guessing that many of my friends who read this article are saying that David L. Gould is the one who is confused because you have been led to deny the power of God (the blood of Jesus, the Holy Spirit and the Holy Bible). Forget David. Read the Bible and accept it for what it says on these subjects. Don't let anyone explain it away with fancy and heady words. If it contradicts the clear and often repeated word of God, it is wrong, no matter who says it. Don't be impressed by human accomplishment or popularity. Trust only in the word of God. If the teaching you are listening to does not lead you out of sin and into holiness of heart and life, then you are listening to false teachers.