The Provisionism Problem?

 A Calvinist said: “If the dead can believe there is not reason to make them alive…..If the Spiritually dead can generate saving faith, then regeneration becomes unnecessary” 

Good Points!  

A calvinist came up with this argument recently. I thought it was great because it destroys everything everyone believes (not that it is actually true )  but it especially destroys the Calvinist and gets right to  the heart of the truth! 

First of all Calvinists do not understand that the Spiritually dead are able to respond. How do we know that? Because Jesus told us  we can. He gives us the tool we need to do so. 

Jesus said the day is coming and now is when the dead will hear my voice and they will live. John 5:24-25

The tool is grace and precedes faith. Belief or faith does not automatically make you saved although everyone believes that. Belief did not save Simon the Sorcerer who  believed and was baptized, but was in the gall of bitterness and the bond of iniquity.  It is a great misconception by most on the outside of Oneness Pentecostals that believe we teach a person is saved at belief repentence and water Baptism in Jesus name, we do not teach a person is saved at water baptism alone. Jesus himself taught us of the new birth of water and Spirit in John 3:3-8 and we believe it is a unity of one although they are two different experiences, but one is not complete without the other and is the One baptism of Eph. 4:4-6. We have a very hard time keeping folks focused who want to argue about these experiences because of already preconceived  Ideas about what we teach, but Simon in this passage is a very good example of how a person although he believes he repents and is baptized in Jesus name, but is still not saved. 

Acts 8:9-24 (KJV)

But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one:

To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God.

…

But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.

Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.

And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,

Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.

But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.

Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.

Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.

For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.

Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me.

Which brings us  now to a very controversial point and  the linch- pin to this whole idea that will hopefully help some to understand. 

That is found in 1 Corinthians 15:29-32 

29 Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead?

30 And why stand we in jeopardy every hour?

31 I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.

32 If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for tomorrow we die. 

I have used this argument many times with a lot of folks scratching their heads. Paul is defending this practice which I believe is simply  water baptism of believers not dead people by proxy baptism.  First off he is talking about the ressurection of the dead as his main point and mentions baptism in passing. There were some evidently that did not believe in the resurrection and Paul is teaching that those who believe repent and are baptized are still dead. That is the baptism of the dead and to receive the Spirit baptism puts it all together although he does not mention it here. This not that hard to understand.  On a side note he says “I die daily” not because of proxy baptism for the dead, but  because he puts his life in jeopardy evey hour preaching the gospel.  Paul asks if you don’t believe in the resurrection why are you even bothering to be baptized (at the very least) as there is then no reason to even mention the resurrection power of the Spirit. So Paul is justified in mentioning it and stopping where he stops at the baptism of the dead or  unregenerate dead alien sinners. I don’t know why anyone would stop there, but they do and have. The phrase:”Else what shall they do that are baptized for the dead  if the dead rise not at all ,why are they then baptized for the dead.” Is a  very clear defense for this practice. There is absolutley a reason to make them alive. The assumption is that person is saved period at belief and the bible does not teach a do nothing belief as biblical belief.