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COULD THE GREAT DEBATE BE OVER?

The grace of Calvinism reconciled with the holiness of Arminianism

Why should I be good? Salvation is free!

Calvinism with holiness - Saved by grace, rewarded by works

Have you ever asked yourself: Why should I be good aren’t Christians saved by grace? If so, then this book is for you!
There are two main theological lines of thought concerning salvation: Calvinism and Arminianism.

• Calvinism emphasizes God’s sovereignty

• Arminianism emphasizes man’s responsibility

• Calvinism claims we are saved by grace

• Arminianism claims we are saved through our own holiness

• Calvinism values imputed holiness

• Arminianism values practical holiness

• Calvinism claims eternal security

• Arminianism claims eternal rewards at the bema seat

• Calvinism implies that some are chosen for salvation and others are not

• Arminianism implies that it is up to us

• Calvinism risks superficiality

• Arminianism risks pharasitic judgment

Deep down inside of us we all ask a legitimate yet not very religious question: “Why bother with holiness if we are saved by grace as Calvinism assures us?
If you believe like a Calvinist, that believers are saved by grace apart from holiness which Arminianism claims as a necessary requirement then you must be able to answer the following questions . .

• Why would anyone strive after holiness?

• Why bother with holiness since defeated Christians will be saved by grace just as those who live in holiness?

• Why strive so hard after holiness? I can still get to heaven without it.

If you believe like an Arminian that believers are saved through works of holiness which Calvinism claims is not a necessary requirement then you must be able to answer the following questions . . .

• How much holiness is sufficient to be saved?

• What is the dividing line between having one sin short of hell and one sin long of heaven?

• How can anyone fulfill everything that the bible seems to require for salvation.

• If the Apostle Paul feared being disqualified from heaven, how can we stand a chance of making it to heaven?

Are you clear about the basis of your salvation, and are you good enough to be saved and keep your salvation?
This book reveals how losing salvation for lack of holiness is inconsistent with Bible doctrine which affirms that man is saved by grace. Holiness is necessary but the need for holiness is a separate issue in preparation for the bema seat of Christ.
This book does not promote laxity in the pursuit of holiness but motivation to make something of your life in Christ! Holiness is not a requirement for eternal security! Scriptures referring to rewards and punishment are often wrongly applied to salvation and damnation. It is a mistake to think that holiness is somehow tied to salvation. Christians need to be holy and blameless, but not to be saved! We are saved by grace through faith and not by holiness.
Every true Christian desires to be holy. The problem is many just don’t know how, some doubt that it is even possible, others wonder what difference living in holiness makes. This book makes an appeal to holiness by discussing what happens to Christians who have no good works when they face Christ at the bema seat.
The concept of the overcomer is introduced in this book and states that unlike Christians who are merely saved by grace, the overcomers will also inherit the kingdom of heaven as a reward for their holiness. Part of this reward is inclusion in the rapture when the great tribulation and the events of the end times begin to intensify.
The last chapter explains how the parables of Matthew speak of the kingdom of heaven, the end times, the rapture and the role that Christians who live in holiness will play durin

From the Back Cover

If you have ever asked yourself the question: Why should I be good? Salvation is free! Why should I be holy? Salvation is by grace! Then this book is for you! If you believe that salvation can be lost, you owe it to yourself to know what the dividing line is between being one sin short of hell and one sin long of heaven.

This book reveals how the idea of losing salvation is inconsistent with the teachings of the Bible and shows how some Biblical passages that refer to Christian rewards and punishment are often misinterpreted as referring to salvation and damnation. It also shows that even if you refuse to believe the position that salvation cannot be lost you will have to admit that to be consistent with your interpretation it would be almost impossible to both be saved and retain your salvation.

If you believe that salvation cannot be lost then you must be able to answer these questions: Why should I be good? Isn't salvation free? Isn't salvation by grace? Bad or carnal Christians get to heaven just as those who have sacrificed a life of pleasure don't they? Why should I try so hard? The purpose of this book is by no means to promote laxity in the Christian life but to reveal added motivation to make something out of your life with Christ! After all, God is so good! He is so faithful! Christian service and good works are not a means to salvation!

Many Christians have the mistaken idea that their behavior, their goodness or holiness or consecration is somehow tied to their salvation. There is a need for Christians to be good, to be holy and to be blameless! However, the motive should not be salvation or preserving salvation! Salvation is free! Salvation is received by grace through faith and not by good works. I believe that every true Christian desires to be good, holy and just. The problem is that most just don't know how to get there and some are doubtful that it is possible, while others wonder what difference it makes.

About the Author

Richard Spinos, "Rick" as he prefers to be called, was born and raised in a small denomination called the Apostolic Christian Church founded by Samuel H. Froehlich from Switzerland in the 1800's. As a small child Rick was taught that he was a sinner and needed to have his own spiritual life. On December 31 1973, he felt moved by an evangelistic sermon that spoke to him that he was not ready for the Lord's return. As a young teenager with the encouragement of his father, he developed healthy Bible reading and study habits. He soon discovered that his spiritual gift was in the area of teaching.

In December of 1983, Rick was sent as a missionary to Brazil to work with an organization called Project Amazon. He worked in a boat factory as manager and factory supervisor and oversaw the construction of over 40 houseboats, 1 yacht, and a Catamaran Hospital boat for church planting use along the Amazon River. He married his wife Sandra who is a Brazilian national in July of 1985 and they assumed the pastorate of one of the Project Amazon churches in 1988. In 1990, Project Amazon sent Rick and his wife as church planters to the state of Amapá, where they planted three churches for Project Amazon.

In 2008, they affiliated themselves with the Vine International and the last church that they planted became one of the Churches under the care of this organization. In Brazil, Rick has written extensively in the Portuguese language in the area of Christian worker training. He has written Bible study guides, evangelistic tracts, and hundreds of small group lesson guides.

From June 2009-2010 he hosted a highly successful Christian radio program with his wife called Overcomers on the air Rick has written several articles for Christian e-zines. Rick maintains a Facebook page with a little over 1,850 fans called Why be Holy if Salvation is by Grace facebook.com/why.be.holy and a blog called Vinebrancher vinebrancher.com.