A Brief Comparative Study of: Arminianism and Calvinism
Posted : 26 Jan, 2012 04:15 PM
Arminianism:
Free-Will or Human Ability
Although human nature was seriously affected by the fall, man has not been left in a state of total spiritual helplessness. God graciously enables every sinner to repent and believe, but He does not interfere with man's freedom. Each sinner possesses a free will, and his eternal destiny depends on how he uses it. Man's freedom consists of his ability to choose good over evil in spiritual matters; his will is not enslaved to his sinful nature. The sinner has the power to either cooperate with God's Spirit and be regenerated or resist God's grace and perish. The lost sinner needs the Spirit's assistance, but he does not have to be regenerated by the Spirit before he can believe, for faith is man's act and precedes the new birth. Faith is the sinner's gift to God; it is man's contribution to salvation.
Calvinism:
Total Inability or Total Depravity
Because of the fall, man is unable of himself to savingly believe the gospel. The sinner is dead, blind, and deaf to the things of God; his heart is deceitful and desperately corrupt. His will is not free, it is in bondage to his evil nature, therefore, he will not - indeed he cannot - choose good over evil in the spiritual realm. Consequently, it takes much more than the Spirit's assistance to bring a sinner to Christ - it takes regeneration by which the Spirit makes the sinner alive and gives him a new nature. Faith is not something man contributes to salvation but is itself a part of God's gift of salvation - it is God's gift to the sinner, not the sinner's gift to God.
Arminianism:
Conditional Election
God's choice of certain individuals unto salvation before the foundation of the world was based upon His foreseeing that they would respond to His call. He selected only those whom He knew would of themselves freely believe the gospel. Election therefore was determined by or conditioned upon what man would do. The faith which God foresaw and upon which He based His choice was not given to the sinner by God (it was not created by the regenerating power of the Holy Spirit) but resulted solely from man's will. It was left entirely up to man as to who would believe and therefore as to who would be elected unto salvation. God chose those whom He knew would, of their own free will, choose Christ. Thus the sinner's choice of Christ, not God's choice of the sinner, is the ultimate cause of salvation.
Calvinism:
Unconditional Election
God's choice of certain individuals unto salvation before the foundation of the world rested solely in His own sovereign will. His choice of particular sinners was not based on any foreseen response of obedience on their part, such as faith, repentance, etc. On the contrary, God gives faith and repentance to each individual whom He selected. These acts are the result, not the cause of God's choice. Election therefore was not determined by or conditioned upon any virtuous quality or act foreseen in man. Those whom God sovereignly elected He brings through the power of the Spirit to a willing acceptance of Christ. Thus God's choice of the sinner, not the sinner's choice of Christ, is the ultimate cause of salvation.
Arminianism:
Universal Redemption or General Atonement
Christ's redeeming work made it possible for everyone to be saved but did not actually secure the salvation of anyone. Although Christ died for all men and for every man, only those who believe on Him are saved. His death enabled God to pardon sinners on the condition that they believe, but it did not actually put away anyone's sins. Christ's redemption becomes effective only if man chooses to accept it.
Calvinism:
Particular Redemption or Limited Atonement
Christ's redeeming work was intended to save the elect only and actually secured salvation for them. His death was substitutionary endurance of the penalty of sin in the place of certain specified sinners. In addition to putting away the sins of His people, Christ's redemption secured everything necessary for their salvation, including faith which unites them to Him. The gift of faith is infallibly applied by the Spirit to all for whom Christ died, therefore guaranteeing their salvation.
Arminianism:
The Holy Spirit Can Be Effectually Resisted
The Spirit calls inwardly all those who are called outwardly by the gospel invitation; He does all that He can to bring every sinner to salvation. But inasmuch as man is free, he can successfully resist the Spirit's call. The Spirit cannot regenerate the sinner until he believes; faith (which is man's contribution) precedes and makes possible the new birth. Thus, man's free will limits the Spirit in the application of Christ's saving work. The Holy Spirit can only draw to Christ those who allow Him to have His way with them. Until the sinner responds, the Spirit cannot give life. God's grace, therefore, is not invincible; it can be, and often is, resisted and thwarted by man.
Calvinism:
The Efficacious Call of the Spirit or
Irresistible Grace
In addition to the outward general call to salvation which is made to everyone who hears the gospel, the Holy Spirit extends to the elect a special inward call that inevitably brings them to salvation. The internal call (which is made only to the elect) cannot be rejected; it always results in conversion. By means of this special call the Spirit irresistibly draws sinners to Christ. He is not limited in His work of applying salvation by man's will, nor is He dependent upon man's cooperation for success. The Spirit graciously causes the elect sinner to cooperate, to believe, to repent, to come freely and willingly to Christ. God's grace, therefore, is invincible; it never fails to result in the salvation of those to whom it is extended.
Arminianism:
Falling from Grace
Those who believe and are truly saved can lose their salvation by failing to keep up their faith, etc. All Arminians have not been agreed on this point; some have held that believers are eternally secure in Christ - that once a sinner is regenerated, he can never be lost.
Calvinism:
Perseverance of the Saints
All who are chosen by God, redeemed by Christ, and given faith by the Spirit are eternally saved. They are kept in faith by the power of Almighty God and thus persevere to the end.
According to Arminianism:
Salvation is accomplished through the combined efforts of God (who takes the initiative) and man (who must respond) - man's response being the determining factor. God has provided salvation for everyone, but His provision becomes effective only for those who, of their own free will, "choose" to cooperate with Him and accept His offer of grace. At the crucial point, man's will plays a decisive role; thus man, not God, determines who will be recipients of the gift of salvation.
According to Calvinism:
Salvation is accomplished by the almighty power of the Triune God. The Father chose a people, the Son died for them, the Holy Spirit makes Christ's death effective by bringing the elect to faith and repentance, thereby causing them to willingly obey the gospel. The entire process (election, redemption, regeneration) is the work of God and is by grace alone. Thus God, not man, determines who will be the recipients of the gift of salvation.
A Brief Comparative Study of: Arminianism and Calvinism
Posted : 26 Jan, 2012 05:20 PM
One ntroversies among Christians is the extent of predestination that G-d has ordained. At the extremes are those who claim that G-d uses only one to the exclusion of the other. Either extreme is wrong, since the Bible clearly indicates that both predestination and free will are in operation.
In order to fulfill His prophecies, G-d must predestine history to a certain degree. The Bible clearly indicates that G-d predestined redemptive history, specifically, the coming of the Messiah. Y-shua clearly indicated that His coming was planned, including His death:
But He said to them, "I must preach the kingdom of G-d to the other cities also, for I was sent for this purpose." (Luke 4:43)
"Now My soul has become troubled; and what shall I say, 'Father, save Me from this hour'? But for this purpose I came to this hour. (John 12:27)
ther verses indicate that the crucifixion of Y-shua Christ was "predetermined" and "foreknown" by G-d1 and fulfilled part of G-d's eternal purpose.
The Bible indicates that G-d's role in redemptive history extends beyond the Messiah to G-d's role in the redemption of Israel. Isaiah and Jeremiah claim that G-d used foreign rulers to alter history and free the Jews from Babylonian captivity:
Declaring the end from the beginning And from ancient times things which have not been done, Saying, 'My purpose will be established, And I will accomplish all My good pleasure'; Calling a bird of prey from the east, The man of My purpose from a far country. Truly I have spoken; truly I will bring it to pass. I have planned it, surely I will do it. (Isaiah 46:10-11)
Sharpen the arrows, fill the quivers! The LORD has aroused the spirit of the kings of the Medes, Because His purpose is against Babylon to destroy it; For it is the vengeance of the LORD, vengeance for His temple. (Jeremiah 51:11)
The Bible indicates that certain people are chosen by G-d for His purposes. Examples include King David,3 the Levites as the priests of G-d,4 Abraham, and the tribe of Judah.6
The New Testament says that G-d has elected or chosen people for salvation. Y-shua used the Greek word eklektos7 to refer to those who were chosen by G-d during the end times. Y-shua indicated that He chose the apostles for G-d's work and that it was not their own choice.
Paul also uses the term "elect" to describe those who follow Y-shua Christ. Paul tells us that we were chosen "before the foundation of the world,"11 which is reaffirmed by John in the book of Revelation. Paul also tells us that we were predestined by G-d to follow Y-shua Christ.13 In addition, good works were prepared for us "that we might walk in them."14 Y-shua Himself indicated that He had chosen Paul as a minister of the gospel. James indicates that G-d has chosen the poor people of the world for salvation.
Some Christians claim that G-d predestines people for hell. This concept is never stated directly, although the Bible indicates that G-d does use evil people to accomplish His purposes. Paul indicates in the book of Romans that evil Pharaoh was "raised up" to demonstrate G-d's power. Paul goes on to say that G-d chose Jacob over his brother Esau, and that He chooses to have mercy on some people over others. John says that G-d will give the kingdom of Israel to the beast to fulfill His word.
Y-shua indicated that He chose the apostles, including the one who would betray Him. Even Judas, as a worker of evil, was fulfilling part of the redemptive purpose of G-d. Luke, in the book of Acts indicates that evil Herod and Pontius Pilate, who condemned Y-shua, were serving G-d's purposes.
Presumably, evil people who are predestined to serve the purposes of G-d through their evil will eventually go to hell. However, they still possessed free will and would have done evil under any circumstances. So, the Bible indicates that G-d placed them in history to fulfill His purposes, knowing that they would do evil. G-d did not cause them to do evil, since G-d is not the author of evil. James says not to blame G-d for temptation:
Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am being tempted by G-d"; for G-d cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone. (James 1:13)
There are many verses that specifically state that people have free will to execute their own choices. In the book of Deuteronomy, G-d Himself tells the people to choose to follow Him to receive His blessings:
"I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants, (Deuteronomy 30:19)
Joshua tells the people to choose to serve G-d or the idols of their neighbors.
"And if it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the G-ds which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the G-ds of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD." (Joshua 24:15)
Many other Old Testament verses tell us to choose to follow the Lord.24 Obviously, choice is not possible if everything is predestined.
Besides the verses that tells us directly to make choices, there are hundreds of verses that tell us how we are to live. Obviously, following this advice requires free will and the ability to choose. So, the Bible indicates pretty clearly that we are to make choices. If everything is predestined, then choice is not possible.
Some in the radical predestination camp claim that Y-shua Christ died only for the elect. However, the Bible teaches quite clearly that Y-shua Christ died for the sins of all people and wants all people to come to repentance. This does not mean that Y-shua' death provides salvation for those who resist G-d's call.
"For G-d so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. (John 3:16)
"And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself." (John 12:32)
For the death that He died, He died to sin, once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to G-d. (Romans 6:10)
For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all shall be made alive. (1 Corinthians 15:22)
For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died; and He died for all, that they who live should no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf. (2 Corinthians 5:15)
For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living G-d, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers. (1 Timothy 4:10)
For the grace of G-d has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, (Titus 2:11)
The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9)
For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, in order that He might bring us to G-d, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit; (1 Peter 3:18)
Heb 7:26-27, 9:11-12, 10:10 and I Pet 3:18
I have tried to present a balanced examination of the issues regarding free will and predestination. It is obvious that the Bible teaches both concepts. Ultimately, I believe that G-d directs history. However, I do not believe that He micro-manages history. In other words, I think G-d places people in history so that His will is accomplished. This includes putting His followers, in addition to those who oppose Him, at strategic points in history. The Bible encourages us to use our free will to choose good over evil.
...as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD." (Joshua 24:15)of the major co
