This is being posted for the purpose of study and/or discussion
It should be cautioned that proof texting is far too easy for anyone to do, and with any of these verses the context should be considered. Far too often, context is ignored and erroneous interpretations are formed. So, use these verses, but corroborate their contexts. These verses and explanations faithfully represent Arminianism to have strong Biblical support.
The Arminians believe and hold fast to ~
Election is conditional
Atonement is available for all
Grace is resistible
We must remain in Christ to be secure
Man has libertarian free will
God's prevenient grace
Sin is not from God
Verses that show election is conditional:
Matthew 11:28-30 - Salvation is an invite to those who will come.
John 3:16
John 4:42
John 6:40
John 6:51 - Must eat of the bread of life to receive benefit.
Acts 13:39
Romans 1:16-17
Romans 9:30
Romans 5:1-2 - It is through faith that we are made a part of Christ.
Ephesians 1:13
1 Timothy 4:10 - Jesus died for all, but there is a specific subset that receives the benefits, namely those who believe.
1 Peter 1:1-2 - Election is according to God's foreknowing who shall believe.
Verses that show the atonement is available for all:
Isaiah 53:6 - The iniquity of us all was put on Christ.
Matthew 11:28-30 - Any who come to Christ are welcome.
Matthew 18:14 - The Father does not wish that any should perish (anti predestined-reprobation).
John 1:7 - Jesus intended for all, wants all to believe.
John 1:29
John 3:16-17
John 6:33, 51
John 12:32, 47
Romans 3:23-24 - All have sinned and all have access to justification in Christ Jesus.
Romans 5:6 - Christ died for the ungodly. Since all are ungodly, Christ died for all.
Romans 5:15 - Since sin spread to all, Christ's atonement is meant for all.
Romans 10:13 - Whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
2 Corinthians 5:14-15 - All died, yet Christ died for all.
1 Timothy 2:3-6 - God desires all men to be saved, and gave Himself for all
1 Timothy 4:10
Titus 2:11 - God's necessary grace that leads to repentance appears to all.
Hebrews 2:9 - Jesus tasted death for everyone.
Hebrews 10:10 - Christ offered once for all.
2 Peter 3:9
1 John 4:14
1 John 2:2 - Jesus is the propitiation, not just for believers, but for the whole world.
John 4:42
Revelation 22:17
Verses that show grace is resistible:
Jeremiah 7:24
Luke 7:30
Acts 7:51 - Blatant resistance of the Holy Spirit. It is proper to infer that if they didn't resist, they would have been led to repentance.
Romans 10:16 - Not all who hear will believe.
2 Corinthians 6:1 - One can receive God's grace, yet not appropriate it in their lives.
Verses that show we must remain in Christ to be secure:
Romans 11:17-24
1 Corinthians 15:2
Ephesians 5:3-7
Colossians 1:21-23
2 Peter 1:10
2 Peter 2:20-22
Hebrews 6:4-6
Hebrews 10:26
James 1:12; 5:19-20
Verses that show man has libertarian free will:
Free will offering verses
Exodus 35:29; 36:3
Leviticus 7:16; 22:18, 21, 23; 23:38
Numbers 15:3; 29:39
Deuteronomy 12:6, 17; 16:10
2 Chronicles 31:14; 35:8
Ezra 1:4, 6; 3:5; 7:16; 8:28
Psalm 119:108
Ezekiel 46:12
Amos 4:5
Isaiah 1:19-20 - Can choose to be obedient or rebel.
Ezekiel 33:11 - Have the ability to choose from different options.
Luke 7:30 - Pharisees rejected what God wanted for them.
John 7:17 - A person must want to do what God is giving them the grace to do. This verse shows that God allows things He doesn't want to happen.
1 Corinthians 7:37 - Power over own will--not necessitated--that's the definition of LFW.
1 Corinthians 10:13
Verses demonstrating God's prevenient grace
Jeremiah 31:3
John 16:7-11
Romans 2:4 - It is God's grace that leads us to repentance.
Romans 10:14-17 - One must hear God's word to come to faith.
Let me make a suggestion on this thread before it goes any further. Some members have been guilty of creating threads that assert in effect " I am a true Christian and you are a dirty Calvinist". Of course, a Calvinist might respond with in effect " I am a true Christian, you are a filthy Arminian"
In such a case neither side has proved anything. In addition to which, we have already been cautioned against this type of behavior in the Word of God.
" Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul? 1 Cor.1:12-13
I would like to encourage everyone involved in these particular threads to lay aside these labels for the sake of honest dialogue on the doctrines themselves
For example, a debate on the "doctrine of election" might go something like this:
Jack: I believe that the Bible teaches thus and so with regard to election, here are the verses, and here is my understanding of them.
Jill: I believe that the Bible teaches thus and so with regard to election, here are the verses, and here is my understanding of them.
I totaly Agree Bob...as the word speaks..." Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?
1 Cor.1:12-13
And that is the very POINT...there is WAY to much division here in the Biblical Questions and Discussion...I return from a weekend to read multible posts about the Calvinist TULIP which as always :rolleyes: turns into a Bash the Calvinist...no disrespect to the poster for I understand a person wanting and/or needing to voice ones position in their beliefs...However...when people are un-willing to discuss the differances in a manner that is...Mature and Educational for lack of better words...how are we to Learn from each other ???...xo
I believe Ephesians 1:4-6 is clearly speaking to believers. I don't think the context allows for any other audience here. It also clearly speaks of God's choosing people for adoption. Also, just as important is that the election here takes place before the foundation of the world. It is not based on some action we take.
4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. Ephesians 1:4-6
I believe John 15:16 makes it abundantly clear when it says, "I chose you. You did not choose me". That was my paraphrase of course. Isn't this what the whole debate is about..who chose who?
16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. John 15:16
I guess this begs the question of whether God elects all men. Also if God elects all men and desires all men to be saved, then why in light of Psalm 115:3(3 Our God is in the heavens;HE DOES ALL THE HE PLEASES) is He not able to follow through with this? I believe Romans 8:30 clearly teaches that this is not the case. Everyone who He elects will be saved.
30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. Romans 8:30
I believe 2 Thessalonians 2:13 is clear that God elects people to salvation. Not only that but it teaches that the audience should be thankful because of God's choosing! I believe that is clear from the text.
13 But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth. 2 Thessalonians 2:13
I believe Acts 13:48 makes it clear that those who believe are those who were already appointed to eternal life. It was not the believing that came first as Arminians commonly teach.
48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed. Acts 13:48
As for the issue about foreknowledge being about God seeing a future faith in someone...That's not what the text says. It says THOSE whom He foreknew. It is not speaking of an action that he foreknew they would take. It is adding to the text IMO to say that God foresaw and action on the part of people. That's just not what it says.
I believe Ephesians 1:4-6 is clearly speaking to believers. I don't think the context allows for any other audience here. It also clearly speaks of God's choosing people for adoption. Also, just as important is that the election here takes place before the foundation of the world. It is not based on some action we take.
I will go backward's first the culmination of faith is always, Always, action man takes, the action will always agree with the given declaration of the word.
Another point here these words are among among many other things the father's faith speaking of mankind, he always calls things that be not as though they where. There is no revelation of God being a respecter of person's anywhere. Context never changes God and it never changes any declaration of him thru his word.
I believe John 15:16 makes it abundantly clear when it says, "I chose you. You did not choose me". That was my paraphrase of course. Isn't this what the whole debate is about..who chose who?
Jn 15:16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.
Btw the way several points here:
Still in old covenant
The topic is prayer and those hearing this word to be fruitful.
Yes their is a Revelation of God choosing men here and expressing his will here, of who chose first.
This as also a revelation of the blessing as originally to man in Genesis
In understanding the term elect here it has nothing to do with God being a respecter of person's, it is another example of his faith speaking of mankind, calling things that be not as though they where of mankind.
You never pin down God and put him in a box and sum up his will on any topic by one verse, no more than you change him by what he has already declared about who qualifies for eternal life with the family of God.
Respectfully we reject the diversion of the term used by some as Armenian
Basic English a sentence is a declaration.
Where is the declaration of who can be saved. all thru out the bible.
This profound verse declares, this verse of no private interpretation, this verse full of faith, the evidence of what the lost hope for.
Jn 3:15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
Jn 3:16 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 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
Jn 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.
Jn 3:19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
Regardless of what some have to say concerning this context it is the incorruptible seed of God's word and the declaration is very evident. More than anything else to say, every word of this declaration is full of faith and any any man or woman can act upon this verse and be saved.
Here is another context that agrees with this declaration and also brings out the calling things that be not as though they where.
When Jesus sat down at the right hand of the father the substitution was complete and from that point mankind on the earth, and coming was invited to the family of God.
Here is a very clear declaration of who qualifies as the elect. The world in this case is the inhabitants upon the earth, the invitaion is come you have already been reconciled (past tense)
18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ�s stead, be ye reconciled to God.
21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
1 � We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.
2 (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)
This is the message to the church for the world come to Jesus and be reconciled to the father.
I could post at least fifty more declaration as to who can be saved.
It would be helpful for Christians to understand what saved means, and there will be none saved without any action on the hearer's part.
Man's faith in God thru his word is God's pleasure from man.
Man's reward is as stated in the promise.
No man walking in the light of God's word would ever say he saved himself, just as he would not say he stopped the car when he placed his foot on the brake pedal, but he also know's the car does not stop if he does not put his foot on the brake pedal. So it is The Holy spirit that respond's to man's spoken faith.
PJ!!!! You just gave me chills, the hair stood up on my arms. I studied the first 6 chapters of The Book of John today, even though I am currently studying the OT I'm in 1 Samuel..So I'm sitting there and I was lead to read that today. I had a thought that I should go back and study the Gospels. :angel: I had a revelation about those verses.
