Home About Writers Categories Recent Issues Subscribe Contact File Transfer





Pastor Dave Henion
Pastor Dave grew up in northern New Jersey in a very diverse cultural area. He attended Central College in Pella, Iowa received a BA in sociology and psychology. He was an offensive guard for their NCAA Div III National Championship team in 1974. In speaking for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, he sensed a call to full time ministry. Meeting is future wife Sandy at Central, went to Michigan to finish her college while Dave started Western Seminary in Holland, Michigan. Dave married Sandy in 77 and completed his Masters of Divinity degree in 78. Pastor Dave’s first church was in Fort Lee, New Jersey, home of the George Washington Bridge. Their three children were born there and he also served as a Police and Fire Chaplain for the city. In February 1991, they came to Wichita to start Harvest Community Church. In 2006, he received his Doctor of Ministry degree from Covenant Theological (Presbyterian) Seminary in St Louis. During that year he gained a daughter-in-law with now 2 grandsons of 3 years and 6 months old. Besides Pastoring at HCC for the past 20 years, he has been Director of the SCSD & WPD Police Chaplains for 11.
Religion
2013-06-25 09:52:21
Faith vs Works
A-The questioner is really asking about the “eternal security” of the child of God. Can a person once they are saved lose their salvation? There are two major views to the question of “eternal security” vs “conditional salvation.” This controversial battle has been known rooted in the scriptures and the historical doctrinal positions held by John Calvin (Calvinism) and Jacob Arminius (Arminianism). But the battle is rooted in the Sovereignty of God and the Free Will of man. There is a huge tension between the two. The more free will man has, the less power God has. More power God has, the less free will man has. This struggle has been played out in history with Augustine vs Peligius (410), Luther and Erasmus (Early1500), Calvin and Arminius (mid to late 1500’s) and Whitfield and Wesley (1740s England & America). Now there are scriptures quoted by both sides defending their positions. For instance, the Arminian side of “conditional salvation” states that true Christians can fall away, but they disagree over whether or not such fallen Christians can return again to salvation (ie. Wesleyans believe they can, and Arminians deny that they can). The sense of the doctrine is that there is a tentative quality to our salvation and is predicated on how well we can keep and hold on to our salvation till the end. Like the questioners example then, “if you die in the state of grievous sin, you will go to hell.” Scriptures pointed to support this view point are: {Hebrews 6:4-6} “if they fall away,” {1 Corinthians 9:27} “I myself be disqualified,” {Hebrews 10:26-27} “if you deliberately continue on sinning,” {2 Peter 2:20} “and are again entangled in it and overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were in the beginning,” and other such passages. This side is very man centered. On the other side of the argument is Calvinism’s view as spelled out in the “Westminster Confession of Faith.” The doctrine, known as the “Perseverance of the Saints” titled so at the “Synod of Dort” says, “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.” (Westminster Confession of Faith, chap. 17, sec. 1). Scriptures of eternal security come also plentifully: {John 10:28-29} “I give them eternal life…no one can snatch them out of the Father’s hand,” {John 3:16} “…has everlasting life,” {Romans 8:38-39} “nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord,” and {1 Thessalonians 1:4} “knowing, brethren beloved by God, His choice of you,” along with other passages. This side is very God centered. Now what do we make of all this? Well for me, it is to live like an Arminianist but believe like a Calvinist. I make every effort to live in the power of Jesus and obey, strive, submit, walk, fight the fight of faith, all words and commands God in the scriptures calls me to do on my part because I love Him. On the other hand I realize from beginning to the end my salvation is totally predicated on the Grace and Mercy of God. I didn’t deserve salvation because I was too depraved to even want to be saved but God reached down, effectively called me and saved me through His Son. I realize my weakness and sinfulness that still tempts me, the world that tries to seduce me and the devil who wants to devour me. I haven’t the ability or the strength to withstand my own sinful nature, the temptations of the world and the vicious spiritual assaults and temptations of the devil. I need one greater than I to withstand all that and make it to the end still saved. That is why I, like the Apostle Paul, who called himself the “chief of sinners” {1 Timothy 1:15} place my eternal assurance in the hand of our Sovereign God through His grace in Jesus Christ. I know in myself I cannot be good enough to make God’s grade of perfection. {Ephesians 2:8-9} That as a stumbling and struggling sinner believer, my security is in God keeping me in Him. As scripture testifies in 2 Timothy 1:12; “ For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day.” My security from beginning to end depends on Him and there is no better place to be. “He Is Able.” [Ephesians 3:20} In Christ, Pastor Dave PS – “Now all glory to God, who is able to keep you from falling away and will bring you with great joy into his glorious presence without a single fault.” Jude 1:24 (NLT)
 
The Q & A Times Journal accepts no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts or photographs.Materials will not be returned unless accompanied by a stamped, self-addressed envelope. Thank you.
 
Wildcard SSL Certificates