In a word, definately.
A month or so after I was saved in 1995 (February 25, to be exact; 12 Noon), I met a fellow employee at my former job. Meek, middle-aged white guy. Didn't look like he could hurt a flea! Anyhoo, he casually spoke as he passed by, and I spoke back in my "new" passionate salvation, "Today is the day the Lord hath made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it." He then approached me and asked about the Lord.
I then witnessed what I had never seen before. He had a calm, gracious, appreciative, sanctified look that was puzzling to me. Nevertheless, I told him that I was newly saved and sought to grow in the Lord. He reached into his briefcase and pulled out a little blue booklet named "Studies in the Scriptures" and another one entitled "Free Grace Broadcaster." "Studies in the Scriptures" is an monthly A. W. Pink archive.
My new friend then told me that I would find these utilities helpful in my new walk. Boy was I in for a shock!
Reading these materials made me sleepless, literally! A new Believer reading Pink is both troublesome and adventurous. Pink has a way of writing that makes you think that you are lower than a snake's belly. But there's a purpose. His writings totally do away with your thoughts of your own righteousness, and force you to focus squarely on Christ and nothing else but Christ.
Every morning for the next two years, he and I would have "church" in the front lobby. I'd ask him about the Scriptures I'd read the night before, and he'd listen intently and answer my questions. He never once made me think that I was pestering him with oftentimes repeated questions. I'd ask him about what I read in the publishings he'd gave me (which he gave me every single month after that!). Again, he'd just graciously answer and constantly encourage me in the Lord.
To make a long story short (this is where I became convinced that what is called Calvinism is the absolute truth; which is the Word itself stripped of any pretense), I asked him about troubles I was having understanding the eternal security of the Saints. I had thought that one can lose his or her salvation. He kept telling me that for the truly born-again, that's impossible. I asked and asked about Spurgeon's sermons on this subject because he seemed so confident of it. I shied away from Pink because, at that time, I could only handle milk but Pink's works are nothing but Grade-A certified steak!
As we were talking, a small, tiny verse popped into my head, and I blurted it out: He must increase, but I must decrease.
That was it! My friend smiled a huge, beaming smile and hugged me right there in front of everybody! That verse, John 3:30, unlocked the "mystery," if you will. The truly born-again knows that he (his flesh, will, self-righteousness, and pride) MUST, decrease. And the Blessed Savior, our Lord Jesus, MUST increase in our own lives. You'd never guess that that one small verse, which was John the Baptist talking to his followers about Jesus after Christ's baptism, held so much meaning. Nine little words, yet a sermon in each.
The true Gospel was now understood. It was a struggle to understand it, but the Lord sent someone my way with the understanding I sought.
Spurgeon, Pink, Bunyan. These three, and their work in explaining the Gospel as it is written, along with the edification of the Spirit, changed my life forever.
Jesus! HE must increase. Do away with me, Lord.
This church which my friend gave me booklets from is online here. I'm sure you will all find them as edifying and refreshing as I do and have.
God is so gracious. He knows what we need long before we do.
Many testimonies degenerate into I....me...I...I...me...me...me...
Yours is the exception: "He must increase, I must decrease!"
Blessing and Honor and Glory and Power be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne and unto the Lamb!
Jean
And the best thing about coincidences -- they're not. 8~)
Correct me if I am wrong, but in Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress wasn't there a man who had lost his salvation shown to Christian in the house that had the lions guarding it? It's been a while since I've read the book, but for some reason that man is sticking in my head.
If that's the case then how does that fit into Calvinistic Theology?
Through publications such as Banner of Truth, and particular books by Pink, Vaughan, and Matthew Henry's Commentaries, the Lord blessed my wife and I with a profound love for the Reformed faith that exalts Him and His saving grace. It was a life changing awakening that changed how we see everything, especially ourselves.
So I am glad to see that some might read this and be as startled as we once were that great men of the faith did not believe as we believed and that they could lead us to a better understanding of what scripture teaches.