All sects -- from Roman Catholics to Presbyterians -- assume that the Psalms are David's/Heman's/Asaph's private experiences.

But where does the Scripture say this??

Nowhere.

The Apostles never say that the Psalms describe David's private experiences. In fact, the Apostles apply and identify about 1/3 of the Psalms as speaking of Christ. The other 2/3rds are essentially the same in content, and must also be Messianic.

Yet, every Sunday "Pastors" around the world PRIVATELY interpret the Psalms . By "private interpretation" I mean the practice of taking passages from the Psalms and interpreting them as ya-feel-like-it.

For instance, it is often assumed that Psalm 69 is descriptive of David's own experience. People think that these verses describe David doubting his salvation….

Psalm 69:17,20,21: "And do not hide Your face from Your servant; for it is distressing to Me; answer Me quickly. draw near My soul; redeem it; ransom Me because of My enemies. Reproach has broken My heart, and I am faint; and I waited for one to show pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none. They also gave Me gall in My food; and in My thirst they gave Me vinegar to drink."

Now, there's a problem with saying this is David's own experience. A big problem.

It's actually Christ speaking in this Psalm! Not David. In John 19:29, the Holy Spirit records the fact that Christ was offered vinegar to drink.

"Then a vessel full of vinegar was set, and having filled a sponge with vinegar, and putting hyssop around, they brought it to His mouth."

The Apostles never say that the Psalms are descriptive of David's private experiences. They limit David to the role of a mere secretary and prophet concerning Christ. "David being a prophet says...", "David in the Spirit says...", "God says in David...", "Christ says in David...", "The Holy Spirit spoke by the mouth of David...".

I challenge you to show me one -- just one! -- time in the New Testament when the Psalms are interpreted as being David's private experiences.

The Bible NOWHERE says that the Psalms refer to the experience of David, Asaph, Heman etc. The Apostles say, "David being a prophet says," "David in Spirit says," "God says in David," "Christ says in David," "The Holy Spirit says by the mouth of David." etc. But the Apostles NEVER say that the Psalms refer to David's experience. David was merely a prophet/mouthpiece/secretary for God.

Over and over again the Psalms are applied to CHRIST in the New Testament. Let's take a look at Psalm 6. Heaps of "preachers" would use this Psalm to "prove" that a believer can doubt their salvation. For instance, the words of Psalm 6:1 are " O Jehovah, do not rebuke me in Your anger; nor chasten me in the heat of Your fury." If this was the experience of David, this would definitely prove that David lost assurance of his justification. But this is NOT David's experience. It's Christ on the cross. This Psalm is applied to Christ in Luke 13:27. "And He will say, I tell you I do not know you, from where you are. "Stand back from Me all workers of unrighteousness!" Psa. 6:8" -- Because the whole of Psalm 6 is in one voice, if Christ is speaking in verse 8, he must be speaking in verse 1, too.

In fact, ALL those passages in the Psalms which people try to use to prove that believers can doubt their salvation are referring to Christ on the cross. Read Hebrews 5:7. Christ "in the days of His flesh was offering both petitions and entreaties to Him being able to save Him from death, with strong crying and tears, and being heard from His godly fear." Crying? Tears? Petitions? This was Christ being made a curse on the cross for the Elect. He cried, "My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?" because he WAS made a curse. But believers are NEVER forsaken, because He was forsaken in their place on Calvary.

The Psalms are prophetic. We can only know their meaning by the infallible interpretations of the Apostles and Christ. And guess what? They speak only about Christ. Peter says, the prophets were " testifying beforehand of the sufferings belonging to CHRIST," (1 Peter 1:12).

Indeed, "the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy" (Rev 19:10). The Psalms are not the testimony of David!!

I challenge you NOT to be a Jew. Stop reading the Psalms like the Jews.

Maybe you apply more Psalms to Christ than they do. But essentially, you both say the Psalms are David's. Something the Apostles never say.

For centuries Jews have read the Psalms. But almost all of them have died seeing only David in the Psalms. It's sad isn't it? As with all prophecy, the meaning of the passages MUST BE REVEALED. You can't just open a passage of the Psalms and go, "oh that's talking about David." Anymore, than you can open up Isaiah 53 (the chapter about the Suffering Servant) and say, "oh that's talking about the nation Israel". Prophecy -- by the Apostle Peter's definition -- cannot be privately interpreted. "No prophecy is of any private interpretation."

We can learn something from Christ's parables in the New Testament. The disciples simply couldn't work out what Christ was on about in his parables. They were flabbergasted. "And His disciples came to Him, saying, Explain to us the parable of the darnel of the field." (Mt 13:36). The Lord had to sit 'em down and explain the EXACT meaning of the parable of darnel of the field. It's the same with prophecy. You've got to sit down with the Apostles and they'll tell you the meaning. Otherwise, you'll be in the dark just like the disciples were before Christ interpreted the prophecy.

Sadly, most Presbyterians and Reformed Baptists privately interprete the Psalms. By that, I mean they interprete the Psalms according to their own fancies. This is incredible. Are they wiser than God? I'm not kidding. This is a question all you doubting Calvinists out there should consider. God says over and over again that the Psalms are about Christ. And He also says David was merely "a prophet" and that "the Holy Spirit spoke before THROUGH DAVID'S MOUTH" (Acts 1:15) and that "David himself said BY THE HOLY SPIRIT" (Mk 12:36). Yet, you doubting Calvinists think your interpretation of the Psalms is better than God's. You apply them to David. Something God never does, and he continually warns us that it was the "Holy spirit speaking by the mouth of David."

David was merely God's secretary. As Peter says, "...the patriarch David ... BEING A PROPHET, ... spoke about the resurrection of the Christ." (Acts 2:29-31). And what do prophets write about? Do they write about their own personal experiences? No. Peter says, the prophets were "testifying beforehand of the sufferings belonging to Christ" (1 Pet 1:11).

Paul says, -- "eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor has it entered the heart of man." Indeed, God revealed the meaning of prophecy only to the Apostles, "But God revealed them TO US by His Spirit" (1 Cor 2:10).

Two facts need to be understood:

1) David was a prophet.

and

2) Prophets do not write about their own experiences.

Christians listen to the Apostles! Only they know the meaning of prophecy! They alone can reveal to you the meaning of the Psalms! These Divine Ambassadors say, "We are of God; the one knowing God hears us. Whoever is not of God does not hear us. FROM THIS WE KNOW THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH AND THE SPIRIT OF ERROR."

Don't be like the authors of the Westminster Confession, who twisted many of the Psalms. Boy, they tried desperately to find a Biblical example of a believer doubting their salvation.

For example, see Chapter 18 Part III of the Confession. Here the "Divines" wrote that, "... infallible assurance does not so belong to the essence of faith, but that a true believer may wait long, and conflict with many difficulties, before he be partaker of it."

If you check the footnote on this page of the Confession you'll see that as "proof texts" Psalm 88 and 77 are used. In other words, the Westminster "Divines" thought that in Psalm 88 Heman is doubting his salvation and in Psalm 77 Asaph is doubting his salvation. They thought this proved believers could doubt their salvation.

But weren't Heman and Asaph prophets? And do prophets speak of their own experiences? Peter says, the prophets were "testifying beforehand of the sufferings belonging to CHRIST," (1 Peter 1:12). Hmmm....

In fact, Psalm 88 contains the lament: "why do You hide Your face from me?". This lament is commonly used by Christ throughout the Psalms. Psalm 69, for example, contains this lament. And the New Testament says that Psalm 69 is about Christ. Paul in Romans 15:3 applies Psalm 69 to Christ. And Christ applies this Psalm to himself in John 2:17, John 15:25, John 19:29 etc etc.

So, you should realise that Christ himself claimed the prophecy was speaking about Himself. But you say the Psalms are about David. You are not better than a blaspheming Jew, Whit! Maybe you apply less of the Psalms to David than they do. But, at the end of the day, you are not looking at what the Apostles have to say. You are privately interpreting the Psalms according to your own fancies. But Peter said that, "NO PROPHECY OF SCRIPTURE IS OF ANY PRIVATE INTERPRETATION." Look to the New Testament, and find that the Psalms speak of Christ, and the Church. Not David, who was a prophet.

Hey... and remember that there is NOT a single New Testament passage saying the Psalms are about David.

OBJECTION: WHAT ABOUT PSALM 51

God says that Psalm 51 is about Christ. Read Hebrews 10:5-6.

"5 For this reason, coming into the world, He [Jesus Christ] says, "Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, but You prepared a body for Me. 6 You did not delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices concerning sins.

"Here we see that it is JESUS CHRIST who says: "YOU DO NOT DELIGHT IN BURNT OFFERINGS".

These are the words of the God-man Jesus Christ. Will you steal the words of His mouth and give them to David?

Because in Psalm 51 these EXACT words are found!! Read verse 16. "For you do not desire sacrifice, or I would give it; You do not delight in burnt offering."

Clearly, it is Christ who says "YOU DO NOT DELIGHT IN BURNT OFFERING". Psalm 51 are the words of Jesus Christ to His Father. It is was Christ "says", according to Hebrews 10:6.

Regarding this Psalm, Jeremy wrote me, === "I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me. (Psalm 51:1-5) .... Do enlighten me as to how this applies to our Savior who "in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin"===

In response: Jeremy, do you really believe the sins of the elect were imputed to Christ on the cross? The New Testament says, "HE WAS MADE A CURSE" and "He who knew no sin WAS MADE SIN FOR US". Yes, Christ was a lamb without blemish. He was perfect. He never sinned. He was never stained within.

But when the sins of the elect were imputed, Christ TOOK THE DEBT upon himself. Let me explain. Suppose you owe your parents $50. Kindly, a friend of yours takes the debt from you, so that your friend is now in debt to your parents for $50. Of course, your friend never accumulated the debt himself.

In the same way, Christ never sinned. But He did take the debt/sins of the elect to be his own. In other words, He "owned" their sins, so to speak, whilst on the cross. Thus, he can refer to them as "my iniquities" because the sins were in His account.

A FINAL CHALLENGE

I challenge you NOT to be a Jew. Stop reading the Psalms like the Jews. Maybe you apply more Psalms to Christ than they do. But essentially, you both say the Psalms are David's. Something the Apostles never say.

Here's some objections from a few doubting Calvinists I had to answer.

Jeremy writes, "I also do not think that all of the Psalms are about Jesus."

My response: How do you know this? Where does the New Testament say any of the Psalms are about David's own experience? Let's assume for a moment that some of the Psalms are actually David's experiences. How would we know which ones they are? It's not obvious. Could you ever say you are *certain* about which Psalms are David's experiences? Anyways, you're simply not using the New Testament at all. You might as well be living 2100 years ago, before we had the Apostles. After all, you think they're useless.

You won't listen to a thing the Apostles have to say about the Psalms. I mean, aren't you *privately* interpreting the Psalms? Aren't you trying to make yourself into an Apostle? Isn't it the Apostle's job alone, to interprete prophecy?

Next up....

Travis writes,

"Unless ... the spirit of God possessed someone in a zombie-like fashion to hammer out the psalms with no other factors, that seems like the only way your theory holds up. "

My response: Yes, David was merely a secretary. That's what the Apostle Peter says in Acts 1:15. "the Holy Spirit spoke before THROUGH DAVID'S MOUTH". Also, God spoke "THROUGH THE MOUTH of Your servant David" (Acts 4:25), God was "saying in David" (Heb 4:7), "David IN SPIRIT [calls]" (Mt 22:43), "David himself said BY THE HOLY SPIRIT" (Mk 13:36).

I wouldn't call David a "zombie". But he was merely a mouth-piece of God.

Christie asks, "What about Psalm 51?"

G'day Christie!

I'm going to paste two verses of Scripture. And you're going to notice something interesting...

Hebrews 10:5-6, "coming into the world, He [Jesus Christ] says, "Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, but You prepared a body for Me. You did not delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices concerning sins."

Psalm 51:16 "For you do not desire sacrifice, or I would give it; You do not delight in burnt offering."

That strange!! These verses are almost exactly the same! It this a coincidence?? Why, of course not. The author to the Hebrews is making something very clear -- Psalm 51 is about Christ.

For a quick illustration -- If someone 2000 years ago had asked the author to the Hebrews, "Mr Apostle. Who was the famous person who said, " You did not delight in burnt offerings."??" The author to the Hebrews would have answered, "Jesus Christ.... Those are His Words".

And since these words are found in Psalm 51, then Psalm 51 is about Christ. Christ says, "You did not delight in burnt offering". The Psalmist says, "You do not delight in burnt offering." Therefore, Christ is the Psalmist!! By that I mean, Christ was speaking through the mouth of David.

David was merely a secretary. That's what the Apostle Peter says in Acts 1:15. "the Holy Spirit spoke before THROUGH DAVID'S MOUTH". Also, God spoke "THROUGH THE MOUTH of Your servant David" (Acts 4:25), God was "saying in David" (Heb 4:7), "David IN SPIRIT [calls]" (Mt 22:43), "David himself said BY THE HOLY SPIRIT" (Mk 13:36).

OBJECTION: Was Christ a sinner?

Now, here's comes the tricky bit. What about Psalm 51:3?? It says, "For I know my transgressions; and my sin is ever before me.

Could Christ say, "I know MY transgressions"?? Maybe He's not talking about sin He himself committed but IMPUTED sin (the sins of His people).

Hmmmm ... Do you really believe the sins of the elect were imputed to Christ on the cross? The New Testament says, "HE WAS MADE A CURSE" and "He who knew no sin WAS MADE SIN FOR US". Yes, Christ was a lamb without blemish. He was perfect. He never sinned. He was never stained within.

Hope that helps!

10 BIBLICAL ARGUMENTS PROVING THAT ALL ARMINIANS ARE UNREGENERATE.

1) John 10:5 says that believers will NEVER follow a false shepherd. But Arminians follow false shepherds. Therefore, Arminians are not believers.

"the sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will not follow a stranger, never! But they will flee from him, because they do not know the voice of the strangers." (Jn 10:4-5).

2) Isaiah 45:20 says that those who pray to a God that cannot save know nothing. Arminians believe that men have free will and the god they pray to cannot save. Arminians know nothing of the Just God and Savior.

"Gather yourselves and come; draw near together, escaped ones of the nations; the ones who set up the wood of their carved image, and the ones who pray to a god who cannot save; they know nothing. Declare and bring near; yea, let them consult together. Who has revealed this of old; who has told it from then? Is it not I, Jehovah? And there is no God other than Me; a just God and a Savior; there is none except Me." (Isa 45:20-21)

3) 2 John 9 says that those who do not abide in the doctrine of Christ have not God. No Arminian is abiding in the doctrine of Christ since all Arminians believe in a false gospel of salvation by works. Arminians have not God. Of course, if God later converts an Arminian to the true Gospel of salvation SOLELY by Christ's BARE WORK then it would mean that this Arminian is not reprobate. However, all Arminians who die believing in any of the five points of Arminianism go to hell.

"Everyone transgressing and not abiding in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. The one abiding in the doctrine of Christ, this one has the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bear this doctrine, do not receive him into the house, and do not speak a greeting to him. For the one speaking a greeting shares in his evil works." (2 Jn 9-11).

4) Romans 10 says that the Jews were ignorant of the righteousness of God and went about to establish their own righteousness. Likewise, no Arminian is submitted to the righteousness of God because they do NOT believe the gospel of imputed righteousness. If Paul was alive today he would pray for Arminians to be saved for they have a zeal for God but not according to knowledge.

"Brothers, truly my heart's pleasure and supplication to God on behalf of Israel is for it to be saved. For I testify to them that they have zeal to God, but not according to knowledge. For being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, they did not submit to the righteousness of God." (Rom 10:1-3)

5) In Acts 8:20 Peter judged Simon Magnus to be unregenerate because Simon thought salvation could come by human efforts. Arminians are no better than Simon in their beliefs concerning salvation. Both Simon and Arminians believe that man has a role to play in justification. Therefore, Arminians are in perdition, a bond of iniquity and a gall of bitterness.

"But Simon having seen that the Holy Spirit is given through the laying on of the hands of the apostles, he offered them money, saying, Give to me also this authority that to whomever I may lay on the hands he may receive the Holy Spirit. But Peter said to him, May your silver be with you into perdition, because you thought to get the gift of God through money. There is neither part nor lot to you in this matter, for your heart is not upright before the face of God. Repent, then, from this wickedness of yours, and petition God if perhaps you will be forgiven the thought of your heart. For I see you being in the gall of bitterness and a bundle of unrighteousness." (Acts 8:18-23)

6) John 4:14 says that believers never thirst for the waters of eternal life. Now, Arminians find their assurance not in the finished work of Christ but Arminians drink from the well of salvation by works (e.g. saving yourself by the work of their "free will"). Therefore, Arminians are not believers.

"but whoever may drink of the water which I will give him will not thirst, never! But the water which I will give to him will become a fountain of water in him, springing up into everlasting life." (Jn 4:14)

7) 1 John 5:10-12 says those not believing God's testimony have called Him a liar. It also says that those who call God a liar have not the Son and have not life. Arminians do not believe God's testimony, i.e. that the Father is perfectly well pleased with the work of the Son and that all believers have been given everlasting life. Arminians say that God is a liar and effectively treat Satan as a truth-teller.

"The one believing in the Son of God has the witness in himself. The one not believing God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed in the witness which God has witnessed concerning His Son. And this is the witness: that God gave us everlasting life, and this life is in His Son. The one having the Son has life. The one not having the Son of God does not have life." (1 Jn 5:10-12)

8) James 1:6-7 says that those who "pray" doubting can expect nothing from God. Arminians do not believe that God controls everything, therefore they cannot pray with faith. Arminians can therefore expect nothing from God (this includes salvation).

"But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask from God, who gives to all freely and with no reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, doubting nothing. For the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, being driven by wind and being tossed; for do not let that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double_soiled man, not dependable in all his ways." (Jam 1:5-8)

9) (a) 2 Corinthians 13:5 says that people who are not sure whether or not Christ is in them are unregenerate. Arminians cannot know that Christ is in them (by believing in a false christ they are ignorant of who the real Christ is). Arminians base their assurance on their works and are unregenerate. Of course, if God converts an Arminian to believe that Christ lay down His life for the sheep and fulfilled the Law, then that Arminian is no longer an Arminian. He is now a Christian and will deduce his election from his belief in the bare truth of the gospel.

"Or do you not yourselves perceive that Jesus Christ is in you, unless you are disapproved?" (2 Cor 13:5)

(b) Paul addressed his letter to the Ephesians with "to the saints and faithful at Ephesus". Paul assumed that the Ephesians knew they were saints and faithful (otherwise, they would not have known the epistle was for them). Arminians do not have the assurance of salvation of the Ephesians because Arminians do not know that the work of salvation is finished. Arminians are ignorant of the fact that NOTHING is required for justification but the imputed righteousness and atoning blood of Christ. By thinking that man has to contribute to justification, Arminians can NEVER be assured of salvation by Christ's bare work alone. Only those who believe that man is TOTALLY PASSIVE in justification can be assured that Christ COMPLETELY FULFILLED THE LAW. All who believe in the true gospel of imputed righteousness will deduce that they are elect from their assent to the propositions of the gospel.

"Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, to the saints being in Ephesus and faithful in Christ Jesus." (Eph 1:1)

(c) Peter wrote only to those of "EQUALLY PRECIOUS" to the Apostles (2 Peter 1:1). Arminians do not have the faith of the Apostles, however, because they deny "IT IS FINISHED". By believing that man must do x, y or z to be justified Christ profits them nothing. Of course, if God later on converts an Arminian to the True Gospel (the doctrines of the Finished Atonement and Imputed Righteousness) then that Arminian has BECOME a Christian (the moment he believed the True Gospel) and must be elect.

"Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like equally precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Savior Jesus Christ." (2 Pet 1:1)

10) 2 John 9-11 says that those who speak peace to outward heretics share in the heretic's evil deeds. Tolerant Calvinists speak peace to Arminians. To all you TCs out there: You are unregenerate.

I challenge every tolerant and doubting Calvinist out there to refute the 10 Biblical arguments above.