Pensacola Christian College publishes a magazine called PCC Update.  In its August or September edition, 2003, issue, there was an article entitled Election and Free Will.  Here are some excerpts from it that I find to be of interest:

I say without reservation, these are the people who twist Scripture to try to get away from the doctrine of Divine sovereignty in salvation. Not only do they twist Scripture, they totally misrepresent the doctrine of election. There are three things in these excerpts that show their deliberate perversion of the doctrine or their terrible ignorance of the doctrine. Perhaps there is some of both.

First, the article stated that the doctrine of election as taught by such persons as this writers says that people are elected to either heaven or hell. I am going to give them the benefit of the doubt and say that they are just grossly ignorant of the doctrine and that that is why they make this untrue declaration. The truth is that election has absolutely nothing to do with one going to hell. Election, as I will show, is unto salvation; it is never unto damnation in hell. In fact, Dear Reader, I have met many people who believed the doctrine of gracious, unconditional election but not one of them ever advocated that some are elected to go to hell. Not one!!!!! This notion is hatched in the minds of those who oppose the biblical doctrine.

Second, the article declares that Before the foundation of the world, God elected the method He would use for man's salvation. Now my friends there is not a Scripture in all of the Holy Word of God that speaks of the election of the method God would use for man’s salvation. The Bible speaks of the election of persons, not a method. God hath from the beginning chosen YOU to salvation, says the word of God (2 Thessalonians 2:13). One does not have to be a college graduate to know that this verse speaks of the election of persons, not a method.

Again notice, Ephesians 1:4 According as he hath chosen US in him before the foundation of the world, that WE should be holy and without blame before him in love. It is so obvious that the election here is of persons, not a method, that a rational person would have to be willfully blind to not see it.

Consider also, 1 Thessalonians 1:4 Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God. Again we see that God’s election is of persons, not of a method, as is affirmed in the article.

Again it is obvious from Romans 8:33 that election is of individuals, not some method of salvation. Romans 8:33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. God justifies his people when they believe on him. The elect in this verse are the same ones whom God justifies. He justifies people not a method. Therefore, he must have elected people, not a method of saving people. Surely the writer of the article should be able to see the perverseness of his doctrine when he considers the Word of God.

Once more for now consider another verse from Holy Writ, 2 Timothy 2:10 Therefore I endure all things for the elect’s sakes, that THEY may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. This is clearly an election of persons, not a method. How any can fail to see this is amazing. Moreover, at least some of the elect of whom Paul wrote in this verse had not yet obtained the salvation which is in Christ Jesus for he was enduring suffering for preaching the gospel so that they could obtain that blessed salvation.

More such scriptures will be cited in the message so I will move on to another error advanced in the article quoted above.

Third, the writer of the article under consideration said, Each person's free will determines his eternal destiny. According to that declaration, Jesus is not the Saviour. Salvation is not of the Lord. Your free will determines your eternal destiny. A man’s free will is his saviour. His own free will determines his eternal destiny. The Bible declares differently. Romans 9:16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.

Because God is the Creator and Sustainer of the universe he has the sovereign and inalienable right to do as he wills with his creation, including men. None other than God boldly sets that prerogative forth himself in one of our texts. I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, he solemnly declares. Paul's inspired commentary on this is seen in his epistle to the Romans. Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy (Rom. 9:18).

Fourth, the writer makes another error common to those who deny the true biblical teaching on the doctrine of election. He writes, But our merciful, gracious God wants everyone to know beforehand how to receive eternal life and thus become God's elect. Again, Those who believe on Christ become God's elect, bound for heaven. Further, They were 'elect' because they chose to believe God. 

We have already seen that men believe because they have been ordained to eternal life. Acts 13:48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed. We have seen that Paul suffered so that the elect might obtain eternal life. 2 Timothy 2:10 Therefore I endure all things for the elect’s sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. Notice they were elect before they obtained salvation and were ordained to eternal life before they believed. Thus the writer of the article once again shows his lack of understanding of the glorious doctrine of election.

Then comes the declaration that is the basis of this message. Deceived by Satan, they lead many down a wrong path to eternal damnation. Men are already on the path to destruction. Every unbeliever is condemned already because he has not believed on Christ. John 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. Note that he is not condemned because someone teaches the doctrine of election. He is condemned because he has not believed on Christ.

Every unbeliever is under the abiding wrath of God. John 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. Note again there is no reference to men going to hell because of the preaching and teaching of the doctrine of election. In fact, I challenge the reader to produce one single verse of Scripture that suggest than any person will be in hell because of the doctrine of election. I challenge him to produce one single verse of Scripture that remotely suggests that men are led down the wrong path to eternal damnation by the preaching of the doctrine of election. I will give him a hint. It will be found just after the verse that says that some are elected to go to hell.

This sovereign prerogative of our great God and the exercise of it is clearly set forth by the Psalmist when he writes, But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased (Psa. 115:3). Again he wrote, Whatsoever the Lord pleased, that did he in heaven and in earth, in the seas, and all deep places (Psa. 135:6).

It took the great king Nebuchadnezzar seven years in the seminary of insanity to learn that all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing and that the living God doeth according to his will in the armies of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, what doest thou? (Dan. 4:35).

Men who seek to vilify and lampoon those who teach the doctrine of gracious election and who seek to turn the grace of personal election into lasciviousness by falsifying it would have you believe that we teach an election that condemns multitudes of men to hell who could, ought, and probably would go to heaven if there were no election or if we did not teach the doctrine. This is not true. It is a grandiloquent lie pawned off upon listeners and readers by those who are the really deceptive teachers and preachers.

Jesus set forth the fact that God shows grace and favor toward some while bypassing others. When speaking at Nazareth in the early part of his ministry he made this declaration: I tell you a truth, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elias, when the heavens were shut up three years and six months, when great famine was throughout the land; But unto none of them was Elias sent, save unto Serepta, a city of Sidon, unto a woman that was a widow. And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Eliseus the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, saving Naaman the Syrian (Lu. 4:25-27).

In Israel a terrible famine was causing many to starve to death. As always, widows were having the roughest time of it. God did not send Elijah to one of those Israelite widows to give her an unending supply of food. God bypassed all those widows and let them continue to starve but graciously blessed a Gentile woman by sending Elijah to her. The fact that God fed one Gentile widow and left many widows hungry did not make those unfed widows any more the victims of famine than they already were. They were no worse off than they were before he fed the one. The intensity of the famine was unchanged by God's delivering this one woman from its grips. His choice of this particular woman to be the object of his favor caused no one to starve, and his choice of certain ones to be the objects of his saving grace condemns no one. All are already condemned.

In Israel there were many lepers during the days of Elisha. This disease was incurable and led to separation and death. It was a terrible disease with which many Israelites were afflicted. Could God justly and righteously leave those helpless Israelite lepers with their terrible disease and heal only one leper, a Syrian named Naaman? He did exactly that! He sovereignly chose to bestow his gracious delivering power upon Naaman while leaving many others in a leprous state. His choice of Naaman as the object of his healing power caused no one to get leprosy. It caused no one's leprosy to get worse or to progress more rapidly. The world had one less leper, not more, when God graciously healed Naaman.

All men are, by nature, choice, and practice sinners. As sinners all are justly condemned to hell. The fact that God has chosen to save some of them from their just and deserved punishment, and make them the objects of his electing love, distinguishing grace, and sovereign mercy has no condemning effect upon those whom he does not choose to save. They are no more condemned than they were had he chosen to bypass the whole human race just as he bypassed the fallen angels.

Some objections that are often raised against the doctrine of election are easily answered. Quite often someone, upon hearing a message on the doctrine of election, will raise a question such as, How do you harmonize election with John 3:16? Another says, The doctrine of election contradicts God's promise to answer prayer. Others will say, I can't believe election and believe 'whosoever will may come'. The real fact is that the doctrine of election does not contradict any other Biblical truth.

Proof that these objections cannot be sustained by the word of God is abundant.

Election does not contradict the biblical teaching on the goodness and love of God. The Apostle Paul wrote, But God commendeth his love toward us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us (Rom. 5:8). There is no problem with this verse and the doctrine of election. The us and we of this verse are the same folks that are in the first six verses of the chapter. Therefore being justified by faith, WE have peace with God through OUR Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also WE have access by faith into this grace wherein WE stand and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but WE glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope: and hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in OUR hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto US. There is a group of people who can say that God commended his love toward them. Those who are justified by faith can say it. Those who have peace with God can say it. Those who, by faith, have access into this grace and can therefore rejoice in the hope of glory can say it. Those who have had the love of God shed abroad in their hearts by the Holy Ghost.

Paul also tells us a little later that these same folks who are justified by faith were foreknown and predestinated to be conformed to the image of God's son (Rom. 8:29-30). Rather than contradicting the love of God, the doctrine of election explains and clarifies the love of God. They perfectly harmonize. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life (Jn. 3:16). This well-known and much-loved declaration does not contradict the doctrine of election. God forbid that we accuse the Holy Spirit of inspiring men to write contradicting declarations in the Bible!

The world of John 3:16 is not all-inclusive of the human race. It could not include Esau who was not the object of God's love. Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated (Rom. 9:13). There are others that are not included for David wrote of God and the impenitent reprobates are included in this group. Thou hatest all workers of iniquity (Psa, 5:5). The word world in John 3:16 must have reference to the world of believers; this is the world of the elect for it is the elect who believe on Christ. As many as were ordained to eternal life believed (Acts 13:48). Saving faith is the faith of God's elect Titus 1:1). God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and, BELIEF of the truth (II Thes. 2:13).

The promise that God will answer our prayers is not contradicted by the doctrine of election. And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For everyone that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth and to him that knocketh it shall be opened (Lu. 11:9-10). And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask anything ACCORDING TO HIS WILL, he heareth us (I Jn. 5: 14). It is clear from these verses that God answers our prayers when we mean business and when we pray according to his will. Now, if I pray for the salvation of lost sinners I must keep in mind the will of God who quickens whom he will (Jn. 5:21). John 5:21 For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will.

There is not any doubt in my mind, having studied the eleventh chapter of John, that Mary and Martha prayed for the healing of their brother, Lazarus. They sent for the Lord. It was not God's will, however, to heal Lazarus and keep him from dying. It was God's will that he die and then Christ should come to Bethany to raise him from the dead. Therefore their prayers for healing went unanswered because they were not according to the will of God. John 11:4 When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.

Jesus did not pray for the world in his mediatorial prayer that is recorded in the seventeenth chapter of John. He prayed only for those whom the Father had given to him in the covenant of redemption. I pray for them: I pray not for the world I but for them which thou hast given me. (Jn. 17:9). Again he said, Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word (Jn. 17:20).

Let it again be noted that those who shall believe are those who have been ordained to eternal life and who have the faith of God's elect (Acts 13:48); Titus 1:1). Acts 13:48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed. Titus 1:1 Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness.

Should not we learn to pray as Christ prayed concerning the salvation of people? Let us pray for the salvation of God's elect and we can be assured our prayers are according to God's will and that they will be heard.

The doctrine of election is perfectly consistent with the promise of salvation to all who believe on Christ. Let me assure you that every person who truly believes in Jesus Christ will be eternally saved. Jesus said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word and believeth on his that sent me, hath everlasting life, and. shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life (Jn. 5:24).

Who does hear Christ's voice and words? My sheep hear my voice, declared the Saviour. Of sheep whom he had not yet brought unto salvation Jesus said, Them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice (Jn. 10:27, 16). Once more let it be emphasized that those who believe on Christ are those who have been ordained to eternal life and who have the faith of God's elect.

There are many invitations set forth in Scripture. Some are limited in their scope; others may not be limited. None of them are contradicted by the doctrine of election.

Thee is a call to the heavy-laden. Most Bible students are familiar with the invitation set forth in Matt. 11:28-30. Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. This invitation is limited in its scope to those who are burdened under the load of sin.

Lost men in general feel not the heaviness and burden of sin. They love darkness and sin (Jn. 3:19-21). Until God begins to convict one of sin, he is not burdened by sin. When God awakens a sinner to his true condition, and that sinner sees his load of sin as more than he can bear, then that heavy laden sinner is invited to come to Christ.

When Moses went to lead the children of Israel out of the bondage of Egypt they said, Let us alone that we may serve the Egyptians (Ex. 14:12). What made them willing to leave Egypt? When Moses went before Pharaoh and asked for the freedom of his people, Pharaoh increased their burdens and rigors of slavery until they were willing to go. God hardened Pharaoh's heart so that he would make it so hard on them that that they would want to leave. God did not force Israel to go; he made them willing to go by bringing the hand of Pharaoh heavily upon them so that they readily left. In the same way God causes the elect sinner to labor and to be heavy laden under the load of sin so that he will come to Christ for rest.

In Scripture there is an invitation to the hungry and thirsty to come and drink of the water of life. Isaiah penned the words of such an invitation to the thirsting sinner. Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price (Isa. 55:1). It should be pointed out that this invitation is to those who have a thirst for the water of eternal life. Surely no one will argue that all men thirst for God and for eternal life. If all men do thirst for God and his righteousness they will come in response to this invitation. Jesus declared, Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness for they SHALL BE FILLED (Matt. 5:6). Jesus said that those who hunger and thirst after righteousness shall be filled, or satisfied. Since many die in unbelief and in their sins one must presume that they never received a thirst for God's righteousness. They are like those who have not received a love of the truth. 2 Thessalonians 2:10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. There is no contradiction of this invitation and the doctrine of election. Those who thirst are invited to come; they do come and are filled. Their God-given thirst causes them to come. Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causeth to approach unto thee (Psa. 65:4).

There is in Scripture a call to whosoever will come. We hear much about the so-called free will of men. It is not the purpose of this article to enter into that controversy at this time. Let it simply be affirmed that the doctrine of election in no way contradicts those whosoever wills and whosoever believeths of Scripture. In fact, the doctrines of grace explain those invitations and indications. Notice that the whosoever is always qualified. One preacher said to me on one occasion, The Bible says 'whosoever' and that disproves election. The Bible never simply says, “Whosoever.” God is always specific in this matter. The Bible says, Whosoever WILL let him take of the water of life freely (Rev. 22:17). The Bible says, Whosoever SHALL CONFESS ME before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God (Lu. 12:8). Jesus said, Whosoever DRINKETH of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst (Jn. 4:14).

All of these whosoevers are qualified as are all others. There are those who will respond to this call to take of the water of life freely. Who will come and take of the water of life freely? Who will be willing to confess Christ? Who will believe on Christ? Who will hear the voice of Christ? Who will come to Christ? Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power (Psa. 110:3). All that the Father giveth me shall come to me (Jn. 6:37). My sheep hear my voice (Jn. 10:27). As many as were ordained to eternal life believed' (Acts 13:48). No man can come unto me, except it were given unto his of my Father (Jn. 6:65).

The invitation to whosoever will would bring no guests to the feast of salvation were it not for the unconditional election and the effectual call of those chosen. Left to their own free-wills which are controlled by their depraved natures none would ever come. Those who do come, come because they were chosen and caused to approach. Psalm 65:4 Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy holy temple. They were enabled by the Father, taught by the Father, and quickened by the Holy Spirit (Jn. 6:44, 45, 63, 65; Eph. 2:1). They have been made willing in the day of God's power (Psa. 110:3).

BRO. PAUL BROWN BAPTIZING FOR THE CHURCHES AFTER BIBLE CONFERENCE

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GROUP AT PA SAK, CHIANG RAI, GATHERED TO HEAR THE GOSPEL

This verse ran through my mind as a sat in the room with the people pictured here. We had been there for about 30 minutes while the people came from the fields where they worked and from their homes to here the gospel preached, most for the first time ever. The leader of the village and the man of the house where we were meeting finally turned to Bro. Anond and said, “We are all here.” The room was full and the porch was covered with people gathered for us to hear the word of God.

Bro. Anond was contacted by a man from the village of Pa Sak near Chiang Rai, Thailand. This village should not be confused with Pa Sak where the first church in the work in Thailand was started in 1997. Bro. Anond is still a member there and this is the church that sent him out to carry the gospel to other villages and baptize and establish churches.

This village in which we were preaching was totally given over to the worship of evil spirits. In fact, it is the first village that I have preached in that had a house that was dedicated to the worship of evil spirits and the doctrines of this religion. In most villages where there is spirit worship each family has its own little spirit house in a corner or somewhere else on the wall. There they over their little sacrifices of water and food and burn their incense, or whatever it is they burn.

We preached (I preached and Bro. Anond translated) for about an hour, possibly a little longer. I carefully declared the gospel and then spent the last 15 minutes or so explaining Scriptural baptism. I reiterated some things I had said in the sermon about baptism not saving one’s soul.

THOSE WHO WERE GATHERED TO HEAR THE GOSPEL OUTSIDE AFTER SERVICE

This is a real problem in Thailand for several groups there teach or imply that if folks will just submit to their baptism they will be saved. In fact, this week, in that very same village a lady told Bro. Anond that she wanted to be baptized. He asked her why she wanted to be baptized and she replied, “When I am baptized I will be saved.” He explained to her that baptism would not save her and would not even partially save her and told her she needed to attend services and hear the gospel more. He explained that one is only saved by trusting in Christ alone for salvation.

It is necessary that we preach the gospel and teach the people that Christ alone saves—not baptism, not the Lord’s Supper, not church membership. Jesus is the only Saviour. Once that is done the prospect often asks, “What is the point in being baptized then?” This gives us the opportunity to explain the place of baptism in the Christian life and in a true church of Jesus Christ.

After we had preached at this first service, Bro. Anond asked if any had believed on Jesus Christ and were trusting him for salvation. Fifteen stood up and confessed to have believed on Christ. (Note: In doing some of the presentations and reports since I have been home I have mistakenly said there were eighteen professions of faith but in looking back tonight at the report that I wrote at the time I see there were only fifteen. I did not knowingly report this number. It was just in my mind but fifteen is the correct number. Please forgive my error.)

We then asked how many desired to follow the Lord in baptism and thirteen submitted to baptism. Bro. Anond baptized them as he is authorized to do by the church in the other village of Pa Sak that was organized in 1997. Before he baptized any of them we made a trip to the homes of the people and removed the spirit houses and took the materials to burn. We then went to the river and baptized them and organized the church.

We went there again Saturday, February 12, 2005, for a service. Some of our students had gone the night before to celebrate the Chinese New Year with the people and after midnight and also the next morning they had two services in which two professions of faith were made.

We knew when we left to go up there that there was one to baptize. When we got there we learned of the two professions of faith and these had asked for baptism and membership in the church. We had another service and I preached and there were two more professions of faith during the service and these were received for baptism.

We left the service to take out a couple of spirit houses and a man who had been in the services after midnight and earlier in the day came running up to us—he had planned to be at the services but did not get there until we were outside. He wanted to talk to us about salvation and he ended up making a profession of faith and since the congregation was gathered there with us they gladly agreed to his being received for baptism.

We took out the spirit houses. As I mentioned earlier, this village also had a house where they met for the priest of the spirit worship to teach and preach his doctrine to them. He is dead and the folks in the church now own that property. They asked that we go there and remove all the items in it and behind it that were connected with the spirit worship. We did that. As soon as they get some rain to wet down the roofs of their houses, they are going to have a tractor push this house down and they will then burn it and they are going to build a church building on the site.

When we finished at this place, we, along with the congregation, again started for the river. Another couple caught up with us and wanted to hear the gospel and we stood outside in front of a house and with the congregation presented the gospel to them. The man immediately confessed Christ and asked Bro. Anond to cut off the strings that he wore on his wrist in honor of the evil spirits. Bro. Anond borrowed my pocket knife and cut them off and this grown man actually wept for joy as he was cutting them off and said that at last he was free.

His wife still had some hesitation but wanted us to tell her more about Jesus Christ and I talked to her with Bro. Anond translating and he talked some also. After about ten more minutes she suddenly extended her wrist and asked Bro. Anond to remove the strings from her wrists. She confessed to have trusted Christ. We questioned her and were satisfied her confession was genuine and then she and her husband asked if they could be received for baptism, they were and then we headed on to the river. There was one other profession of faith on the way to the river but the young man is a deaf mute and his parents think he is retarded. With the help of some of the members of his family we were able to converse with him and I was personally convinced the young man was saved and he was received for baptism but his mother, not a Christian herself, forbade it, because she thinks he is retarded. By the time we arrived at the river there were 8 adults to be baptized. It was an amazing day.

I am telling you God is working in this village. He is turning it upside down, or RIGHT SIDE UP. In a few weeks it had gone from being given almost totally to spirit worship to being predominately Christian and Baptist. Twenty-one (21) adults had been baptized, a church had been organized and there was joy in the village that was amazing. I suspect this will be one of our stronger churches in the work very soon. It was wonderful to be an instrument in this work of God.

Group Baptized at Pa Long Church

Students Baptized at School Closing

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From various sources I have heard that a lot of people got a good laugh about my putting a picture of my new bathroom in the last paper. If you will take a look at this toilet at Plang Hok you might understand why I am so happy with the one next to my office in the new building.

In 2002 we had a camp meeting at Plang Hok. For that camp they built a new bathroom with a shower and Asian-type of commode in it. Bro. Lee or someone else took a picture of me as I was exiting the brand new facility as may be seen below.

On the left is another facility located at Pa Sak. Now tell me truthfully, if you had your choice of one of these which would be your choice? Would you not be happy to get the one below? I AM!!!!!!!

ILLINOIS: Thank you for all these very good articles, Pastor Camp. I am looking forward to many others.

ARKANSAS: I have read a couple of your publications of The Grace Proclamator and Promulgator .The sermons that are published in these papers proclaim the great truths of Gods word .The depraved man is using every means thinkable to hide or do away with these truth completely. It is refreshing to see that there are people who continue to believe and preach the great truths of the Bible. God convicted me of my sin and saved my soul three years ago and I would like to be placed on your mailing list to receive these great truths of Gods word. Thank You.

WWW: I ran across your article on the web entitled "Knowing Christ as the One Having the Keys of Hell and Death."  It was a great sermon!

I have a question:  Where do we get the idea that Christ descended into hell and took the keys of hell and death from Satan?  I cannot find any scriptural grounds for this statement.

EDITOR'S RESPONSE: You asked:

“Where do we get the idea that Christ descended into hell and took the keys of hell and death from Satan?”

This idea came from Lutheran doctrine and has filtered into other groups. My personal conviction is that Christ did not go into hell but that he suffered its equivalent when the Father made his soul an offering for sin.

FROM THE SAME READER: I totally agree with you. I researched it just yesterday and came to the same conclusion. One more thing (then I will sign out for good!). Did Christ take the keys of hell and death from Satan? If so, where is it in scripture? According to my understanding Rev 1:18 says he has the keys of hell and death...that's it.

EDITOR'S RESPONSE: No, I do not believe that Jesus took the keys of death and hell from Satan. He has always had them by virtue of the fact that he is God as well as man. You are right in your interpretation of Revelation 1:18. I am sure you noticed that He speaks of his eternality in that verse also. I do not think that is coincidence. He would have us know, I believe, that he has always had those as God and God the Father may have also given them to him as a reward for his fulfilling his part in the eternal covenant of redemption.