Author: Steve Amato
Description: Does Calvinism have any application? See the postive and negative applications of Calvinism
Keywords: bible study,Calvinism, Arminianism, John Calvin, theology, infant baptism, hypercalvinism, antinomianism,

# John MacArthur's Unfruitful Sermon

Just listened to Part 2 of MacArthur's sermon "The Reward of Our Salvation", which is on 2Peter 1:1-11. It seems MacArthur is confused. He contradicts himself first saying that "If you are a true Christian you will bear fruit", but then speaks of Christians who are barren. At first he speaks barrenness lasting for only a time, but then his rhetoric is of Christians who are characteristically barren, and near the end he even speaks of people who are allegedly saved but absolutely barren. Doesn't seem like he knows what he's talking about.
For example he characterizes the man of 1Cor 5 who was sleeping with his father's wife as saved, and yet in 1Cor 5:13 Paul characterizes the man as "the wicked man", and goes on in 1Cor 6:9 to say, "Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God?" and then Paul says, "Do no be deceived." Apparently John MacArthur is deceived. He presumes that the wicked man is saved while Paul indicates he’s not saved. So who are we to believe? John MacArthur or the Apostle Paul?
Another contradiction was that he says barren Christians, though saved, are indistinguishable from unbelievers, and he says that barren, unfruitful Christians should have no confidence that they are saved. And yet he says they are saved. So how is it that he says that they should not be confident that they are saved even though MacArthur himself is confident they are saved? It's foolishness. While he points out that Jesus said, "By their fruits you will know them." Mt 7:20 Yet he fails to utilized that principle when evaluating one's salvation status. In fact in that very context Jesus said, "Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them." Mt 7:19,20 Did MacArthur fail to read the context? Apparently. This is the same principle as in John 15:2 "He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit." and John 15:6 "If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned."
Yes, contrary to MacArthur's sermon, there is a correlation between a person's fruitfulness and their salvation status.

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