A tenet of John Calvin’s popular doctrine is predestination. We are not predestined to be saved, while others are predestined to hell, because the Bible tells us that it is not God’s will that anyone should perish, “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness, but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” II Peter 3:9. This scripture alone makes John Calvin a liar and a heretic. Another precept of Calvinism is that once you are saved, you are always saved; nothing you do can cause you to fall into a “backslidden” condition. In other words, you can live like the devil, but you’re still saved. Examples of Israel’s “backsliding” and chastisement were written for our learning, so we would not do the same today. The Old Testament was written for our learning, the New Testament for our rule of faith and practice. Paul wrote to the Hebrews, “It is impossible for those who were once enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, and have tasted the good Word of God and the powers of the world to come, if they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance, seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh and put Him to an open shame” Hebrews 6:4-6. This doesn’t mean that if you are saved, if you do sin, you can never receive forgiveness. This is an example of one who received the gift of the Holy Ghost, “tasted of the heavenly gift – of the Holy Ghost”(Acts 2), but afterwards denounced God. Others who have fallen into sin are given the opportunity to repent and be restored (1 John 2:1), so it is important to know who, if they renounce God, is not eligible to repent. That aside, God has called us to live holy, “Because it is written, ‘Be ye holy, for I am holy’” 1 Peter 1:16. Does that mean we never sin once we’re saved? No, but it means we don’t live in a state of unrepentant sin. John wrote, “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not, and if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous” 1 John 2:1. We do not live in sin habitually; we strive to live a holy life, but if we fall down, we repent, and we must get back on the “narrow path” (Matthew 7:13-14). God’s Word admonishes us not to continue in sin. “Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple and said unto him, ‘Behold, thou art made whole; sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee” John 5:14. Jesus healed this man, but warned him not to return to a sinful lifestyle, or a worse thing would come upon him. Some people wonder why they can’t get healed, but they need to consider what Jesus said to this man. The famous summation by many is that fallen man just can’t live holy, no way, and that’s why Jesus died for us. No, Jesus paid the price for our past sins, but He also came to demonstrate to us how to live a holy life in our flesh. Jesus CAME IN THE FLESH, not as God. The Bible tells us, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” Philippians 4:13. Not only did He show us that we can live sinless in the flesh, but as children of God, He will give us the strength to live holy. In summary, we only need to go to the back of the Book to understand what Jesus is saying to the churches today: “Blessed is he that readeth and they that hear the words of this prophecy and keep those things that are written herein, for the time is at hand” Revelation 1:3. Jesus said to the church at Ephasis, “I have somewhat against you, because you have left your first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works, or else I will come unto thee quickly and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent” Revelation 2:4-5. “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches: To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God” Revelation 2:7. “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches: He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death (which is hell – Revelation 20:14)” Revelation 2:11. Jonathan Cahn once said, “Picture the stock traders on the floor of the Stock Exchange, when stocks are quickly rising. It’s chaotic, as everyone wants to get hold of a good thing; but when it comes to seeking righteousness, not too many are around. There isn’t much competition for it. Righteousness is the greatest treasure of all and nobody is fighting over it.” The chapters of Revelation 1-3 are very enlightening. Jesus also said, “I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot; I would thou wert cold or hot. So then, because thou art lukewarm and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of My mouth” Revelation 3:15-16. Will you dance at the edge of the cliff, with hell fire waiting below; or will you walk circumspectly on the sure, straight and narrow path, the “ancient path?” (Jeremiah 18:15).