firstfruits beliefs on rapture

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First Fruits BeliefsAn attempt to reconcile different views that

people argue about in Biblical Doctrine based

on an in depth study of the Scriptures.Our goal should be to rightly divide the Word

of Truth similar to the way of the 1800¶s

Biblical writers.



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Try to do the following:� Keep an open mind, and be teachable!

� Read the scripture exactly without any prior conviction leading you.

� Remember that the Bible, being God¶s

Word, has no conflict in it. It is just that we

do not yet fully understand the truth.



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Remember!� The Holy Bible is not a dinner buffet. We cannot

reject any part of it based on our paradigms.

� As Christians we must strive to understand theBible, including all of the things that appear to

conflict with other.

� The harmony of the Bible is a fact, but

perseverance in study is necessary for us to gain

essential knowledge to resolve items that we think

conflict with each other.



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What is the Christian¶s Mission?� 2Ti 2:15* Study to shew thyself

approved unto God, a workman that

needeth not to be ashamed, rightly

dividing the word of truth.



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The Christian Must Understand:

� I Cor. 2:14 But the natural man

receiveth not the things of the Spirit of

God: for they are foolishness unto him:neither can he know them, because

they are spiritually discerned.

� We should ther ef or e know that the lost do

not have access to the under standing of God¶s Word.

� One reason why is as follows.



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So What is the Reason

� Ro 12:3* For I say, through the grace givenunto me, to every man that is among you, notto think of himsel f more highly than he ought

to think; but to think soberly, according asGod hath dealt to every man the measur e of f aith.

� Ther ef or e, only believer s have the

measur e of f aith, ala, the gif t of the spirit. Ifeel no unbeliever can under stand God¶sWord.



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Meat In Due Season� Mt 24:45* Who then is a faithful and wise

servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over

his household, to give themm

eat in dueseason?

� Lu 12:42* And the Lord said, Who then is thatfaithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall

make ruler over his household, to give them

their portion of meat in due season?



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Thought for Today

Your relationship with Christ

will never be any greater thanyour relationship with His

Word!Author: Nancy Leigh DeMoss



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A Warning from God

� Hosea 4:6 ¶ My people are destroyed for lackof knowledge: because thou hast rejectedknowledge, I will also reject thee, that thoushalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hastforgotten the law of thy God, I will also forgetthy children.

� A f act f or the Jew, an application f or theChristian.



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Items Considered� Comparison of God, Man & Satan.

� Concept of man¶s spirit, soul and body.

� Predestination.

� The three aspects of salvation.

� Calvinism versus Arminianism. Again, both

points of view use Scripture to back them.



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The Image of God

A Holy TrinityThe Father The Son The Holy Ghost

Spirit of the Holy

Trinity

The Body of the

Holy Trinity

The Soul of the

Holy Trinity

When you have

seen me you have

seen the Father

Spirit Body Soul



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Scriptures About God� John 4:24 God is a Spirit, and they that

worship him must worship him in spirit and

in truth.

� I believe this is in reference to God the

Father.



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Man, Created in the Image of God

Spirit Soul BodySpirit Salvation. A

free gift of God

Soul Salvation. A

works salvation

We are promised a

New Body

Once Saved,

Always Saved.

Backsliding is a

reality.

On Resurrection

Day. No Conditions.A work of The

Holy Ghost.

Works yield rewards.

Saves your soul.

A Flesh & Bone

body.

Justification. Sanctification. Glorification.

I have BeenSaved.

I am Being Saved. I Shall be Saved.

Escapes the

Penalty of Sin.

Escapes the Power of

Sin.

Escapes the presence

of Sin.



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Scriptures about man� Ge 1:26 And God said, Let us makeman in

our image, after our likeness: and let them

have dominion over the fish of the sea, andover the fowl of the air, and over the cattle,and over all the earth, and over everycreeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

� Ge 1:27 So God created man in his own

image, in the image of God created he him;male and female created he them.



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Spirit versus Soul

� Ro 11:6* And if by grace, then is it no more of wor ks: otherwise grace is no more grace.But if it be of wor ks, then is it no more grace:otherwise work is no more work.

� 2Ti 1:9* Who hath saved us, and called uswith an holy calling, not according to our wor ks, but according to his own purpose andgrace, which was given us in Christ Jesusbefore the world began,



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Satan, The Unholy or False TrinitySatan

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The Antichrist

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False Prophet

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The angel, Lucifer. One loved by the

world. Empowered

by Satan.

One of the tares

empowered by

Satan.

Spirit Body, such as John

F. Kennedy

Soul, such as Pope

John Paul II



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Do you believe that Jesus, The

Son of God Was and/or Will:� Born of a virgin. God the Son came to earth?

� Witnessed upon the earth for 42 months?

� Died for the sins of the called and chosen?� Rose on the third day to return to heaven to

prepare a place for the chosen and called?

� Will return again to claim his birthright, the earth,

and destroy Satan and his angels?� Will judge mankind and renew the earth to its

former state before sin was introduced into theworld.?



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About Predestination

� Eph. 1:4* According as he hath chosen us in him

bef or e the f oundation of the world, that we should

be holy and without blame bef or e him in love:

� 5* Having pr edestinated us unto the adoption of

childr en by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasur e of his will,

� 6* To the praise of the glory of his grace, wher ein

he hath made us accepted in the beloved.



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Predestination

� A fact that cannot be ignored, if you study the Biblefaithfully.

� John 17:6* I have manifested thy name unto the

men which thou gavest me out of the world: thinethey were, and thou gavest them me; and they havekept thy word.

� John 18:9* That the saying might be fulfilled,

which he spake, Of them which thou gavest mehave I lost none.

� There are at least 3 pages of scriptures speaking to thissubject.



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Predestination� Romans 8:28* And we know that all things

work together for good to them that love God,

to them who are the called according to hispurpose.

� 29* ¶ For whom he did foreknow, he also didpredestinate t o be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn amongmany brethren.



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Predestination

� Romans 8:30* Moreover whom he didpredestinate, them he also called: and whomhe called, them he also justified: and whomhe justified, them he also glorified.

� 31* ¶ What shall we then say to thesethings? If God be for us, who can be againstus?

� What is missing from verse 30? Obviouslysanctification. It is our job.



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Predestination� Romans 8:32* He that spared not his

own Son, but delivered him up for us all,

how shall he not with him also freelygive us all things?

� 33* Who shall lay any thing to thecharge of God s elect? I t is God thatjustifieth.



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Facts of Spirit + Soul Salvation� Jesus death on the cross was a perfect work.

Every one that the Father gave him will be

saved by God¶s Grace.� Man, once his spirit is saved , is forever

saved. Hence, Once saved, always saved.

� Man must kill his own soul and do works tosave his soul. The reality of backsliding.

Destroy our flesh nature.



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Spirit Salvation Scriptures

� Eph 2:8* For by grace are ye saved

through f aith; and that not of

yourselves: it is the gift of God:

� Eph 2:9* Not of works, lest any man

should boast.

� What is the gift that God gives?



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Soul Salvation Scriptures

� Eph 2:10* For we are his workmanship,

created in Christ Jesus unto good

works, which God hath before ordained

that we should walk in them.

� How does verse 10 differ from verses 8

and 9?



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� 1Thessalonians 5:23* And the very God of

peace sanctif y you wholly; and I pray God

your whole spirit and soul and body be

pr eserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

� Why do you suppose sanctif ying and the

completeness of spirit, soul and body is to

be prayed f or?



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� Philippians 2:12* ¶ Wher ef or e, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not asin my pr esence only, but now much mor ein my absence, wor k out your own

salvation with fear and tr em

bling.

� Since this ver se is written to the PhilippianChurch, why ar e they war ned to wor k out

their salvation with fear and tr em

bling?� Ar e they not saved by grace?

� What salvation is Paul speaking of ?



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� 1 Cor. 3:11* ¶ For other foundation can noman lay than that is laid, which is JesusChrist.

� 12* Now if any man build upon this

foundation gold, silver, precious stones,wood, hay, stubble;

� 13* Every man¶s work shall be mademanifest: for the day shall declare it, because

it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shalltry every man¶s work of what sort it is.



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Soul Salvation Scriptures� Romans 11:6* And if by grace, then is it no more

of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if

it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwisework is no more work.



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Matthew25

:1-13

� 1* ¶ Then shall the kingdom of heavenbe likened unto ten virgins, which tooktheir lamps, and went forth to meet the

bridegroom.� 2* And five of them were wise, and five

w ere foolish.

� 3* They that w ere foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:



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� 4* But the wise took oil in their vessels withtheir lamps.

� 5* While the bridegroom tarried, they allslumbered and slept.

� 6* And at midnight there was a cry made,Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to

meet him.� 7* Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed

their lamps.

� 8* And the foolish said unto the wise, Give usof your oil; for our lamps are gone out.



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� 9* But the wise answered, saying, N ot

so; lest there be not enough for us andyou: but go ye rather to them that sell,

and buy for yourselves.

� 10* And while they went to buy, thebridegroom came; and they that were

ready went in with him to the marriage:

and the door was shut.



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� 11* Afterward came also the other

virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.

� 12* But he answered and said, Verily I

say unto you, I know you not.

� 13* Watch therefore, for ye knowneither the day nor the hour wherein the

Son of man cometh.



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The Question Is!

Are all ten virgins Christians?

Yes or No



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�Matt. 25:1* ¶ Then shall thekingdom of heaven be likened unto

ten virgins, which took their lamps,

and went forth to meet the

bridegroom.

�Obviously, the answer is

YES!



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Now let¶s look at another

Scripture referring to The OpenDoor.



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Revelation 3:7-13

� 7* ¶ And to the angel of the church inPhiladelphia write; These things saith he thatis holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth;

and shutteth, and no man openeth;� 8* I know thy works: behold, I have set

before thee an open door , and no man canshut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast

kept my word, and hast not denied my name.



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� 9* Behold, I will make them of the synagogueof Satan, which say they are Jews, and arenot, but do lie; behold, I will make them tocome and worship before thy feet, and toknow that I have loved thee.

� 10* Because thou hast kept the word of my

patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all theworld, to try them that dwell upon the earth.



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�Note in verse 8 that the Philadelphia church is

promised an open door just as the five wise virgins

entered through. Again, this is the narrow way!

� 8* I know thy works: behold, I have set before

thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for

thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my

word, and hast not denied my name.



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�What else is the Philadelphia church

promised that the other six churches are

not promised?

�To be spared the hour of temptation

coming upon the world. The 42 months of

persecution underA

ntichrist.�Revelation 3:10

� 10* Because thou hast kept the word of

my patience, I also will keep thee from the

hour of temptation, which shall come uponall the world, to try them that dwell upon

the earth.



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Note John the Apostle¶s entry

into heaven in Revelation 3:1-2� 1* ¶ After this I looked, and, behold, a door w as opened in heaven: and the first voicewhich I heard w as as it were of a trumpet

talking with me; which said, Come up hither,and I will shew thee things which must behereafter.

� 2* And immediately I was in the spirit: and,

behold, a throne was set in heaven, andon

esat on the throne.



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The Narrow Way IsThe Open Door

or Paul¶s Better Resurrection



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So what happens to the five

foolish virgins?



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Lets look at scripture for the

answer! II Timothy 2:8-13� 8* ¶ Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed

of David was raised from the dead accordingto my gospel:

� 9* Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer,even unto bonds; but the word of God is notbound.

� 10* Therefore I endure all things for the

elect s sakes, that they may also obtain thesalvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternalglory.



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� 11* I t is a faithful saying: For if we be dead

with him, we shall also live with him:

� 12* If we suffer, we shall also reign with him:

if we deny him, he also will deny us:

� 13* If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful:

he cannot deny himself.



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The Ten Virgins� 1 Peter 4:17* For the time is c ome that

judgment must begin at the house of God:and if it first begi n at us, what shall the end beof them that obey not the gospel of God?

� I believe the separation of the five wise

virgins from the five foolish virgins is the firstend time judgment made by Christ.



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He denied, for 42 months, the 5

foolish virgins!

� At the end of the 42 months, he calls them upto meet him in the air above the earth.

� 1Th 4:17* Then we which are alive and

remain shall be caught up together with themin the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air : andso shall we ever be with the Lord.

� This is the broad path to heaven!



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Another entry into heaven is

described in Revelation!� Rev 7:9* After this I beheld, and, lo, a great

multitude, which no man could number, of all

nations, and kindreds, and people, and

tongues, stood before the throne, and beforethe Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms

in their hands;

� Rev 7:10* And cried with a loud voice, saying,

Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the

throne, and unto the Lamb.



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Heaven Entry (cont.)

� Rev 7:11* And all the angels stood roundabout the throne, and about the elders andthe four beasts, and fell before the throne ontheir faces, and worshipped God,

� Rev 7:12* Saying, Amen: Blessing, andglory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, andhonour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.



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� Rev 7:13* ¶ And one of the elders answered,saying unto me, What are these which arearrayed in white robes? and whence camethey?

� Rev 7:14* And I said unto him, Sir, thouknowest. And he said to me, These are theywhich came out of great tribulation, and havewashed their robes, and made them white inthe blood of the Lamb.



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� Rev 7:15* Therefore are they before the

throne of God, and serve him day and night in

his temple: and he that sitteth on the throneshall dwell among them.

� Rev 7:16* They shall hunger no more,

neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun

light on them, nor any heat.



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� Rev 7:17* For the Lamb which is in the midstof the throne shall feed them, and shall lead

them unto living fountains of waters: and Godshall wipe away all tears from their eyes.

� Again, the broad path to heaven. Being called

up into the Air.



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Daniel¶s Seventieth Week

� Starts after the obliteration of Damascus, Syriaand Antichrist is revealed. Isaiah 17. A picture of the 7 year tribulation. Revelation Also.

� Rapture of the Firstfruits (Bride of Christ), aspring event. Pentecost or thereabouts.

� Antichrist rules the earth for 42 months uncheckedby the Holy Spirit.

� Main Harvest Rapture (Body of Church), a fallevent. Rosh Hashanah. Trumpets.

� The last half is known as the time of Jacob¶strouble.



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Scriptures for Firstfruits Rapture

� Song of Solomon 2:8-13 & 6:10-13

� II Thessalonians 2:5

� Revelation 2:17

� II Timothy 2:11-13



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The Five Points of Calvinism

� 1. Total Depravity.

� 2. Unconditional Election.

� 3. Limited Atonement

� 4. Irresistible Grace

� 5. Perseverance of the Saints.

� Applies to the salvation of man¶s spirit.



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The Five Points of Arminianism

� 1. Free Will.

� 2. Conditional Election.

� 3. Universal Atonement.

� 4. Obstructable Grace.

� 5. Falling From Grace.

� Applies to the salvation of man s soul.



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1st Point of Calvin & Arminius

Calvinism ArminianismI. Total Depravity.. As a result of

the fall, man s depravity is complete

and total. He does not have the free

will to choose God because he is

dead (spiritually), blind, deaf and

unteachable in the things of God

I. Fr ee Will. After man is spiritually

regenerated by the Holy Spirit, his

will is released from bondage. He is

now able to repent of his sins of his

own free will and follow Christ.

Repentance is a work of man andalways occurs after spiritual

regeneration or spiritual rebirth. The

Holy Spirit regenerates man

spiritually and immediately

commands him to ³Repent and be

Baptized´.



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2nd Point of Calvin & Arminius

Calvinism Arminianism

II. Unconditional Election. Election

is entirely dependent upon the free

will of God and his purpose for those

he chose to spiritually regenerate.

God s work of regeneration must

precede faith and repentance. Faith isautomatic as the response to spiritual

regeneration, but repentance is a

work of man based upon his free will

choice. Regeneration and faith result

in spirit salvation, which is the

covenant of grace. Repentance andbaptism result in soul salvation, which

is the covenant of works.

II. Conditional Election. The salvation

of the soul, which pertains to rewards

only, is conditional upon man s

repentance and baptism. The believer in

Christ must choose to repent of his sins,

die to self (i.e., lose his soul) and beobedient to Christ and his Word. Soul

salvation is dependent upon the free will

choice of the believer to follow Christ as

a disciple



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3rd Point of Calvin & Arminius

Calvinism ArminianismIII. Limited Atonement. Atonement is

for the elect of God only. Christ died

only for those whom the Father gave

him. Jesus work was a perfect work.

III. Univer sal Atonement. Soul

salvation is universal in that it applies

to all the elect, but since soul salvation

is conditional, it can be lost at the

Judgment Seal of Christ. Spirit

salvation is also universal for all

Christians and is unconditional in that it

cannot be lost by the actions or

behavior of the Christian.



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4th Point of Calvin & ArminiusCalvinism Arminianism

IV. Irr esistible Grace. Since God has

unconditionally elected those whom He

has chosen for Christ, all those who

are born again spiritually will find Christ

irresistible. They will believe in Christ

and receive him as their propitiationbecause God the Holy Spirit has given

them the faith to believe this.

IV. Obstructable Grace. Spirit

salvation causes a believer to be

irresistibly drawn to Christ. After Spirit

salvation, all Christians are

commanded to repent and be baptized

in order to realize soul salvation. Theregenerated believer cannot resist the

work of the Holy Spirit on his new spirit

nature, but he can obstruct or resist

the divine influence upon the heart of

the regenerated believer. The heart is

part of the soul and refers to theinward being or self. A person can

have a regenerated spirit, and still not

have the mind or heart of a faithful

believer.



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5th Point of Calvin & Arminius

Calvinism Arminianism

V. Per severance of the Saints. Since

spirit salvation is dependent upon the

election of God and in no way

dependent upon man s faithfulness, the

Christian will certainly persevere in

spirit salvation. Since the Christian didnothing to earn his salvation, he can

also do nothing to lose it.

V. Falling f rom Grace. A Christian who

has decided to follow Christ can fall

away from the faith and end up losing

his soul. His life becomes wasted and

he loses his position of reigning and

ruling with Christ in his comingkingdom. He is still saved spiritually

and he still goes to heaven.



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Comments on BothThe above five points of

Calvinism apply to the spirit of man

The above five points of

Arminianism apply to the soul of man.

Grace, Faith and the

Regenerated Spirit that was dead

in sin are a free gift of God.

This is a works salvation, separate

from God s free gift. It requires man

to save his soul or lose it.

As man goes through life after

having his spirit quickened, it is

safe to say that my spirit has

been saved forever.

As man goes through life after

having his spirit quickened, he must

work to save his soul. So as we

walk through life we should

constantly be working to save our soul. Christ will try it by fire and

clean it up at the Judgment Seat of

Christ.



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Final Comments

� The concepts here are all from earlier Christians¶ study of the Holy Scriptures.

� They have been rearranged to get the bestfit possible with the knowledge that Ipossess.

� Scriptural references and comments toimprove my understanding of Scripturewould be welcomed.



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Final Comments (continued)

� Remember, it is necessary for us to divide THE

WORD into a fully understood Revelation from

GOD.� It All must fit.

� There is no conflict in Scripture, just in our

understanding of the Scripture.

� FFruits Home page:

http://www.ffruits.org/firstfruits/mainmenu.aspx

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