AN ARMINIAN EXPLAINS
CALVINIST TERMINOLOGY
By Russell E Kelly, PHD
February 15, 2024
1. TOTAL DEPRAVITY:
Isa 53:6 All we like
sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD
hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
Rom 3:11 There is none
that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.
Westminster Confession: “Man, by his fall into a state of
sin, hath wholly lost all ability of will to any spiritual good accompanying
salvation, so as a natural man, being altogether averse from good, and dead in
sin, is not able, by his own strength, to convert himself, or to prepare
himself thereunto.”
This is the Calvinists’ foundational
doctrine. They emphasize it as if nobody else agrees with them. The sinner is
dead, blind and deaf to the things of God. His will is in bondage to his evil
nature. He cannot choose good over evil and does not seek God. Charts Christian
Theology and Doctrine, H. Wayne House, Zondervan, 1992, page 99. House is a
Calvinist.
There is much agreement
among Baptists, Evangelicals, Lutherans, Methodists, Presbyterians and Reformed
concerning total deravity. It is not disputed
in this document.
2. UNCONDITIONAL ELECTION:
Almost the entire
disagreement between Calvinists and Arminians revolves around the definitions
of “foreknowledge” and “the elect.” Calvinists believe that God has
“foreknowledge” because of His sovereignty and because He has caused sinners to
believe apart from personal faith. Arminians believe that God has
“foreknowledge” because He knows “the end from the beginning” (Isa 46:10) and
elects those whom He knows will freely choose to believe.
Calvinists teach that
“the elect” are “individuals” whom God has specifically predestined to be saved
before creation. Arminians teach that God gave up some of His sovereignty when
He gave both the angels and mankind (Adam and Eve) free will. Arminians believe
that “the elect” are the “category” of persons who God foreknows will freely
choose to believe in Christ. Every major difference is related to these two
biblical words.
Acts 13:48; John 1:13;
Romans 8:28-30; 9:25-26; Eph 1:4, 5; 1 Peter 1:2; James 1:18
THE CALVINIST DOCTRINE
OF UNCONDITIONAL ELECTION:
God’s choice of certain
individuals to 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 or obedience on their part such as repentance, etc. On the
contrary, God sends grace and gives faith and repentance to each individual He
selects. These acts are the result, not the cause, of God’s choice. Those whom
God sovereignly elects, 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. House, ibid, page 99.
ONE ARMNIAN’S REPLY:
A. Acts 13:48 as many as were ordained
(appointed) to eternal life believed
The Gentiles were “ordained”
because God foresaw that they would believe (Rom 8:29). God told them earlier
“for unto you is peached the forgiveness of sins” and “by him all that believe
are justified” (13:38-39). Such would be unnecessary if God had already
regenerated them as Calvinists teach. Preaching would be unnecessary.
B. John 1:13 Which were
born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but
of God.
In context, God sent John,
a preacher-prophet, to point out His light of Jesus (v6) to stir up faith (v7).
Jesus’ light was in every man (v9). Those who continuously believed on Jesus
received authority from God to become sons of God (v12). God chose them to have
authority because He foresaw that they would continuously believe on Christ
(v13).
C. Rom 8:28 And we know that all things work
together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according
to his purpose.
Rom 8:29 For whom he did
foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son,
that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
Rom 8:30 Moreover whom
he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also
justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
Verse 28 describes the
“called” as those who “continuously love” God (see the participle). This is
extremely important. Veres 29 tells us that God predestinated those He
“foreknew.” Arminians use verse 29 to teach that foreknowledge is future
knowledge of man’s freewill faith.
D. Eph 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:
Eph 1:5 Having
predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself,
according to the good pleasure of his will.
It is the “will of God”
to “choose” these whom He foreknows will “continuously believe” (John 6:40). None
of the texts prove the Calvinist definition of the elect being “individuals”
rather than the “category” of those who chose to love God and believe in
Christ. The Calvinist teaching that regeneration does not involve man does not
fit here; God predestined believers to be holy.
E. Rom 9:16 So then it is not of him that
willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.
…
Rom 9:18 Therefore hath
he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.
While these texts appear
imposing, John 6:40 explains how they work, “And this is the will of him that
sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have
everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.”
F. 1 Peter 1:2 Elect according to the
foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto
obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: grace unto you, and
peace, be multiplied.
Again, the Calvinist
view that foreknowledge did not involve man is refuted. God’s foreknowledge
included sanctification of the Spirit.
G. James 1:18 Of his own will begat he us with
the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
This contradicts
Calvinist doctrine because it involves the “word” in regeneration. Their
initial doctrine only involved the sovereignty of God.
H. Conclusion: The strongest point of Calvinism
is their own non-biblical definition of the identity of the elect and the
definition of foreknowledge. These are also its weakest points. The “elect” are
not individuals, but are the “category” of those God foresees will chose to
continuously love Him (Romans 8:28-29).
3. LIMITED ATONEMENT:
Mt 1:21; 20:28; 26:28;
Jn 10:11, 15; Acts 13:48; 20:28; Rom 8:32-34; Eph 5:25-27; Heb 2:17; 9:15, 28;
Rev 5:9
CALVINISM:
Christ’s redeeming work
was intended to save only specific elect individuals and actually secured
salvation for them. 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. House,
ibid, page 100.
Examples of how
Calvinists interpret the Bible:
A. Matt 1:21 And she shall bring forth a son,
and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their
sins.
In context, “save his
people” only refers to Israelites. In Calvinist context, it means “only the
elect from all nations.” In Arminian context, it means “whosoever chooses” to
freely have faith (believe) in Christ.
B. Matt 20:28 Even as the Son of man came not to
be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
…
Matt 26:28 For this is
my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of
sins.
In Calvinist context,
“many” means only elect individuals. In Arminian context, “many” means
“whosoever freely chooses to have faith (believe).”
C. John 10:11 I am the good shepherd: the good
shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
Calvinists limit “sheep”
to elect individuals who are not aware when God causes them to be “born again,”
or regenerated.
D. Acts 20:28 Take heed
therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost
hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased
with his own blood.
Calvinists interpret “flock,” “church” and “purchased” as
references only to elect “individuals.” Arminians interpret them as the
“category” of believers who compose the elect.
E. Rom 8:32 He that
spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with
him also freely give us all things?
Calvinists interpret
“us” as only a reference to elect individuals.
…..
ONE ARMINIAN REPLY:
Again, the strong point
of this doctrine is the Calvinists’ own definition and interpretation of what
they think it means. It is also the weak point of the doctrine with no texts
which clearly and literally teach their limited atonement.
While reading these
texts, remember that Calvinists teach that God’s first act was to cause (force,
compel) the elected sinner to become regenerated, or born again, apart from
faith or free will. Outside of Calvinism, almost every major denomination
teaches that Christ died for all sins of all men for all time (Heb 9:26) AND
that God would like to redeem all mankind, but does not force free will. Even
though the price has already been paid, each individual must accept God’s offer
through faith in order to be saved (Eph 2:8). Adding “and has already been
regenerated as an elect individual” to the above texts is absolutely ludicrous
and illogical. It mocks God’s literal interpretation.
Calvinists erroneously teach
that Jesus did not die on the crosse to provide a means of redemption for all
mankind. They teach that Jesus only died for the preselected predestined
specifically chosen individuals whom they erroneously define as the “elect.”
This is very wrong and makes God a respecter of persons. “Limited atonement” changes God’s inspired
“whosoever will” to “whosoever cannot.”
Arminians admit that
God’s sovereign special election allows for the preselection of national Israel
(which, they teach, God later replaced
with the church) (Ex 19:5-6) and persons like Abraham (Gen 12:1-4), Samuel (1
Sam 1:20), Jesus (Isa 42:1) and Paul (Gal 1:15). However, because God is not a
respecter of persons (Rom 2:10-11), the vast majority of believers all have an
equal opportunity of being saved (John 1:9; Rom 2:14-16).
The following texts
teach that Christ died for all and wants all to be saved. Calvinists ignore
these and portray God as a jokester only pretending to offer salvation to all.
For them, “God so loved the world” is not sincere and is not true. The commands
are meaningless if God only compels certain individuals to be the elect.
Mt 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them
…
Mk 16:15 Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to
every creature.
Lk 24:47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be
preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
John 3:16 whosoever
believeth should have everlasting life
Acts 17:30 … now commandeth all men everywhere to repent
Rom 3:22 Even the
righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all
them that believe: for there is no difference:
Rom 5:18 Therefore as by
the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so
by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto
justification of life.
Rom 8:28 And we know
that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are
the called according to his purpose.
1 Tim 2:4 Who will have all men to be saved …
Titus 2:11 grace that
brings salvation has appeared to all men
Heb 2:9 Jesus … by the grace of God should taste death for
every man.
Heb 9:26 For then must
he often have suffered since the foundation of the world (cosmos) but
now once in the end of the world (ages) hath he appeared to put away sin
by the sacrifice of himself.
1 Pet 3:18 Christ once
suffered, the just for the unjust
2 Pet 3:9 The Lord … is not willing that any should perish,
but that all should come to repentance.
] Jn 2:2 And he is the
propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the
whole world.
4. IRRESTIBLE GRACE:
John 6:44 No man can
come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him
up at the last day.
“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 external call (which is made to all
without distinction), can be, and often is, rejected whereas the internal call
(which is made only to the elect) cannot be rejected; it always results in
conversion. By means of the special call, the Spirit irresistibly draws sinners
to Christ. He is not limited in His work of applying salvation to 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.” House, ibid,
page 100.
Calvinists teach that,
after the unregenerate have been supernaturally regenerated without their
knowledge or participation, God gives them irresistible faith and “causes” them
to accept Jesus, repent, become justified and have initial sanctification.
Since God changes their will from natural to spiritual, the elect must obey
God.
ONE ARMINIAN REPLIES:
While Calvinists place
“unconditional election” first because it does not involve faith, it means the
same thing as “irresistible grace.”
The vast majority of
Christian denominations totally reject this as heresy. (1) The Bible says that
grace is always resistible. Again, the strong (and weak) point is Calvinism’s
own definition of “the elect.” (2) John 6:44 does not exclude free will
rejection of God’s call. (3) Their so-called “outward general call” is a farce;
their depiction of God is insincere and a respecter of persons in offering
salvation to those He does not intend to save. (4) If the “special call” is
“irresistible,” then it is not a “call” at all, but a “compulsion.” (5) If the
Spirit causes the will to be changed after God forces the unregenerate to be
born again, then God is merely reprogramming His robots. (6) Although the Bible
is over-running with the necessity of “faith” (believing), faith does not really
exist in Calvinism because God begins by forcing a new birth which cannot fail.
Arminians totally reject
this doctrine. Calvinists do not provide any clear literal texts which prove
that the elect cannot resist God’s grace. It makes no sense to teach that,
following regeneration and the new birth, God requires anything from man, who
is nothing more than a programmed robot mindlessly obeying His Creator. Even John
6:44 says nothing about irresistible grace. In the third verse following (John
6:47), the requirement for having everlasting life is continuously believing in
Christ (see the participle). This contradicts the man-not-involved formula for
regeneration.
In John 8:31 Jesus told
the Jews who already had a perfect faith (see the participle) to “continue” in
order “to be His disciples indeed.” The Bible is full of these examples ignored
by Calvinists.
See the section on ”Free
Will.” There are at least 48 texts which could be interpreted as examples of
falling from grace. If even one of them is correct, the doctrines of
irresistible grace and eternal security fall.
5. 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.” House, ibid, page 100.
Calvinists teach that, those
whom God has specifically and individually chosen before the foundation of the
world have been elected solely by His sovereign will to salvation apart from
their own knowledge or involvement. These can neither totally nor
finally fall away from the state of grace; but shall certainly persevere
therein to the end, and be eternally saved. Some have added that this does not mean that a person who is truly saved
will never lose faith or backslide at any time.
CALVINIST TEXTS FOR
PERSEVERANCE:
John 10:28-29 “Neither
shall any pluck them out of my hand.”
Plucking is from the
outside. The texts do not prevent free-will removal of self from God’s hand because
of disbelief (Mt 10:33; 24:13).
John 17:11,24 Father, keep
them that they may be one.”
If the elect were already
“kept” and could not fall, this prayer would be unnecessary.
John 17:24 “I will that …
they be with me.”
Because God has created
man with free choice, His “will” is not “His “command.” God is also not willing
that any perish (2 Pet 3:9).
Rom 8:38-39 “Nothing can
separate us from the love of God.”
This is true because the
“us” in Romans 8 refers to Paul’s friends who are continuous believers in
Christ.
Eph 1:13, 4:30 sealed with the Spirit
True believers were “being
sealed” only after they “heard the word of truth,” “trusted in Christ” and “had
continuously believed” [participle]. Those who do not continue believing in
Christ are not being sealed.
Phil 1:6 “He which hath
begun, will perform.”
God begins “performing”
His will and calls those He foreknows will continuously love Him and believe in
Him (John 6:40; Rom 8:28-29).
1 Thess. 3:3 “No man
should be moved by these afflictions; appointed.”
“Should” is conditional
subjunctive which means some could be moved.
Heb. 7:25 “He is able to
save them that come to God.”
“Come” is a participle and
means “continuously come.”
Heb. 10:14 “Perfected
forever those who are sanctified.”
The Greek is “are being
sanctified.” As long as believers are continuously believing, they continuously
stand perfected before God by faith.
Heb. 13:20-21 “May the God
of peace make you perfect to do His good will.”
If God has done this
already, the prayer is meaningless.
1 Pet 1:5 “Who are kept by
the power of God through faith.”
As long as man’s faith is
continuous, God keeps the believer (Jn 1:12; 3:16; Rom 1:16).
1 Peter 1:7
That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that
perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour
and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.”
“Might” is a
conditional subjunctive.
1 Peter 1:9 “Receiving the
end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.”
Compare Matthew 24:13 and
10:33.
1 Peter 1:15
“But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of
conversation.”
This challenge
makes no sense if man cannot fall from grace; God would keep him holy.
1 Peter 1:17
“And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according
to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear.”
True believers
do continuously call on the Father. If God only calls a special elect, He would
be a respecter of persons.
1 Peter 1:22
“Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit
unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure
heart fervently.”
God should not
have to command His very elect to “love one another” unless they could fall
from grace.
2 Pet. 1:10 “Make your
calling and election sure; never fall.”
Fall from what?
1 John 2:19 “If they had
been of us, they would have continued.”
Only continuous believers
have righteousness by faith (Rom 3:22).
1 John 3:9 “Born of God
does not sin, cannot sin.”
Literal or habitual? Even
Calvinists unexplainably sin after being born again with a new nature.
ONE ARMINIAN VIEW:
See the section on
“Falling From Grace.” There are at least 48 texts which could be interpreted as
examples of falling from grace. If even one of them is correct, the doctrines
of irresistible grace and eternal security fall.
6. FAITH:
The “new birth” and
“righteousness by faith” are essentially terms for the same change in a
sinner’s nature from one opposing God to one sharing God’s holiness by faith.
Continuous faith, or
believing (the Greek participle) causes the sinner to become equally as
righteous (good) or justified (innocent of sin) as God. That is the deep
meaning of texts like Romans 3:22, “Even the righteousness of God which is by
faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe.”
God Himself was on trial
for forgiving Old Testament sins which had not been paid for by the historical
death of Christ. Christ’s death both allowed God to declare His own
righteousness, but also to legally justify the sinner --- to declare him
innocent of all his sins. “Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through
faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that
are past. To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be
just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus” (Rom 3:25, 26).
“Therefore, we conclude
that a man is justified by faith. … Seeing it is one God, which shall justify
the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith” (Rom 3:28, 30).”
Because the Calvinist
begins by God regenerating the elect apart from faith, these texts have little
or no impact in the theological discussion. He ignores the huge roll of faith
in salvation and teaches that God saved selected sinners apart from faith
through compelled regeneration. Such explanation mocks the entire plan of
salvation and, especially the Gospel message.
Abraham’s faith, not
God’s so-called predestined new birth, was “counted unto him for righteousness”
(Gen 15:6; Rom 4:3; Gal 3:6). Removing Abraham’s free will from this formula
makes God insincere. God chose to make Abraham “the father of all them that
believe” and “the heir of the world” --- not Himself (Rom 4:11). Five chapters
before Romans 9:15-16, God made it clear that His grace is appropriated by
man’s faith, “Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end
the promise might be sure to all the seed” (Rom 4:16). If God is true (and He
is), peace with God is the result of our legal innocence before Him by faith in
Jeus Christ (Rom 5:1).
Because believers have
been justified by Christ’s blood, “we will also be saved
from the wrath of God”
(Rom 5:9 1:16-18). This is the same reason Calvinists teach that God
regenerated sinful man, but without the faith component.
Romans 9:30 teaches that
the Gentiles “have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is
of faith.” They did not attain it because of God’s pre-creation regeneration
apart from faith; they attained it by faith.
Romans 10:1 reads “Brethren,
my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.”
If Paul had believed the Calvinist interpretation, his prayer would be that
Israelite individuals would be among God’s special election. His prayer would
have been that they had been salved already.
Romans 10:9-10 disagrees
with the Calvinist interpretation. The formula for being saved there is “If
thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus and shalt believe in thine
heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” The formula
is not, “God will regenerate you without your knowledge. Romans 10:13 requires
calling “upon the name of the Lord” in order to be saved.” Romans 10:14-17
requires hearing the preaching of the Gospel in order to be saved. Romans 10:16
teaches that justification is by faith.
Galatians continues the
true doctrine of salvation involving man’s free-will faith (believing). In 3:2,
14 and 22, the Spirit is received through “the hearing of faith” and not
because God first regenerated the sinner without his knowledge. Galatians 3:26
sums it up, “Ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. There is
no mention of a pre-creation new birth requirement.
Ephesians 2:8 is used by
both sides of the salvation controversy, “For by grace are ye saved through
faith; it is the gift of God.” It is difficult for an Arminian to
understand how a Calvinist can use a text which includes faith to justify God’s
initial regeneration of the sinner apart from faith. If such is the result of
God’s sovereign will, John 6:40 makes it clear that God’s will allows for foreknowledge
of who will continuously believe.
Ephesians 3:17 clearly
teaches that “Christ dwells in your hearts by faith”; He does not dwell in our
hearts because God forced the new birth upon us apart from faith. First Peter
1:5 says we “are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation.”
Heb 11:6 “But without
faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe
that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” Calvinists teach that God has
already decided that He will regenerate man without his knowledge and He forces
man to please Him.
CONCLUSION: Calvinists err
by overemphasizing their own definition of the elect (13x) and election (6X)
while under-stressing the importance of faith (245x) and believing (270x). In
reality, if their view of election is true, there is no need for compelled
faith. They do not include main’s faith (belief) in the initial plan of
salvation when God causes (compels) the totally depraved un-regenerate sinner
to seek after Him and become regenerate, or born again. Ephesians 2:8 belongs
to an event following regeneration. They teach that fallen man cannot respond
to God’s call until after becoming born again. Faith itself is a gift of God
compelled (they say) upon the newly elect after they have become born
again.
Arminians teach that all
of the initial salvation process is simultaneous: (1) the Holy Spirit
supernaturally pricks the heart of the totally depraved sinner (Jn 14:26; 16:8,
9, 13, 14), (2) the Holy Spirit convicts the awakened-heart to seek God, (3)
the Holy Spirit offers God’s gift of faith (believing) (Eph 2:8), (4) the
convicted sinner hears the call of God and chooses to love God (Rom 8:28), (5)
the convicted sinner returns God’s gift of faith (Rom 3:22) and (6) God wills
that the convicted sinner be born again (Jn 6:40). Like human birth, all of
this is one event. Although, it is still God’s sovereign decision whether or
not to accept man’s counteroffer of faith, God is faithful to His promises to
save the believing ones.
7. FALLING FROM GRACE:
Matt 5:29 And if thy
right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is
profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy
whole body should be cast into hell.
Matt 5:30 And if thy
right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable
for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body
should be cast into hell.
Matthew 5:29-30 must be
addressed to the righteous because the wicked were destined to hell already.
2 Peter 2:20 For if
after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of
the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and
overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.
2 Pet 2:21 For it had
been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after
they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.
In order for verse 21 to
be true, verse 20 must refer to the truly righteous.
There are at least 48
texts which could be interpreted as examples of falling from grace. Most are
very powerful and easy to understand. If even one of them is correct, the
doctrines of irresistible grace, perseverance of the saints and eternal
security fall.
Ex 32:32, 33; Eze 3:20;
18:24 Mt 5:13, 27-29; 6:15; 10:33; Lk 8:13; 9:62; 13:8; Jn 15:2-6;
1 Cor 3:17; 8:10-12; 9:27; 1 Cor 10:1-12; Gal 3:1-4; 5:1, 4, 19, 21,
24; 1 Tim 1:18-19; 4:1-2; 2 Tim 2:12; 4:10; Heb 3:12, 18,19; 4:1,
6, 11; 6:4-6; 10:26; 10:38-39; 12:8, 13-15, 17; James 5:12; 1 Pet 5:8-9;
2 Pet 2:1, 20-22; 3:17; 2 John 8-9; Jude 5-6; Rev 2:4-5; 3:2, 4, 5,
16-17).
8. FREE WILL/RESISTIBLE GRACE:
Calvinists teach that,
because of the sovereignty of God, man has no real free will. After God regenerates fallen man, his will is
only “free” to obey God. Why the regenerated elect still with a new spiritual
nature disobey God and sin is beyond this discussion.
Many non-Calvinists
agree that fallen man is so depraved that he has no free will and does not seek
God.
GOD CREATED ANGELS AND
ADAM AND EVE WITH FREE WILL..
Eze 28:15 Thou wast
perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was
found in thee.
Isa 14:12 How art thou
fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the
ground, which didst weaken the nations!
Jude 6 And the angels
which kept not their first estate , but left their own habitation, he hath
reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great
day.
Unfallen angels walked
fully in the knowledge and glory of God as sinless beings (Eze 28:15). Since
they could choose to rebel, they evidently had free will. They sinned, fell
from grace and cannot be redeemed (Isa 14:12). This is a very good example of beings
who wholly loved God falling from His grace; it contradicts Calvinist doctrine.
GOD’S GRACE CAN BE
RESISTED BY THE ELECT:
Gen 3:6 And when the
woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the
eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof,
and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.
Calvinist doctrine is
wrong because the Bible is full of examples of God’s especial election with new
natures seriously resisting His grace.
Abraham was a
special-elected man of God. He resisted God and lied to Pharoah about his wife
(Genesis 12).
Balaam was a true
prophet of the LORD (Yahweh). He began by obeying Yahweh and became a false
prophet (Numbers 22 all).
King David was an
anointed special-election prophet-king of Yahweh. He resisted God’s will and
murdered Uriah the Hittite to marry his wife, Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11).
THE HOLY SPIRIT STIRS
THE UNREGENETATE TO BE SAVED:
Matt 11:28 Come unto me,
all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
“All ye that labor and
are heavy laden” is a description of all humanity, not just a few individuals.
Jesus did not lie. Also, this makes no sense if the elect have already been
regenerated.
In John 3:16 and scores
of other texts, God’s commands make no sense if they are not directed to those
having free will. “Believe,” “choose,” “abide,” “remain,” “seek,” “stand fast,”
“endure” and “continue” do not fit Calvinist theology where God removes free
will.
If the “natural” man has
been completely replaced with the born-again regenerated “spiritual” man, the
Calvinist “elect” should be sinless.
9. GENERAL AND SPECIAL ELECTION:
John 1:9 That was the
true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
Rom 2:14 For
when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in
the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:
Rom 2:15 Which
shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing
witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one
another;)
Rom 2:16 In
the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my
gospel.
The Calvinists’ teaching
that God’s universal call of the gospel is insincere because God never intended
to save those and because He does not equally “cause” them to be regenerated. God
is a respecter of persons.
They also teach that a different
kind of special calling is only to specific elect individuals --- God
“savingly” loves only the elect. This Calvinist doctrine is wholly dependent
upon their unbiblical definition of “the elect” as those God saves apart from
their knowledge.
ONE ARMINIAN VIEW:
With their
interpretation of the universal call, Calvinists make God into an insincere
jokester commanding saving faith that is not actually available. The many texts
which state that God wants to save everybody are ignored and make no sense
whatsoever (2 Pet 3:9). Again, according to Romans 8:28, the “elect” is the “category”
of those who freely choose to continuously love God (see the participle).
10. HOLY SPIRIT:
John 16:8 And when he is
come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
John 16:9 Of sin,
because they believe not on me;
John 16:13 Howbeit when
he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth …
Acts 2:37 Now when they
heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the
rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
Rom 5:20 Moreover the
law entered, that the offence might abound . But where sin abounded, grace did
much more abound.
First, God supernaturally
and sovereignly initiates salvation by making enough grace through faith
available for man to be saved (Rom 5:20; Eph 2:8). Second, the Holy Spirit supernaturally
stirs the heart and conscience of the unregenerate (John 16:8). Third, the
unregenerate sinner asks “What shall we do?” (Acts 2:37). Fourth, he accepts
God’s offer of salvation by faith (believing). Fifth, God chooses to accept
man’s faith response and, sixth, the sinner is instantly born again with a new
nature (John 1:12; 3:16; Rom 1:16). This is far superior to the Calvinist
teaching that man is regenerated apart from any faith response.
11. NEW BIRTH/REGENETATION
John 1:13 Which were
born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but
of God.
Acts 2:37 Now when they
heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the
rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
Acts 2:38 Then Peter
said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus
Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy
Ghost.
Acts 2:39 For the
promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even
as many as the Lord our God shall call.
1 John 5:1 Whosoever
believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth
him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.
“Regeneration” is the
preferred Calvinist word for the “new birth,” or “being born again.”
Calvinists teach that
God supernaturally initiates salvation by regenerating (making born again,
replacing natural with spiritual) unregenerate sinners. He does this without
the knowledge or participation of the sinner. “Whosoever” can only believe
because he has already been born again. God’s sovereign pre-selection to
regeneration is the only acceptable explanation. Therefore, man’s faith
(belief) is not involved in the new birth.
Arminians teach that (1)
Jesus’ disciples preach the Word (Acts 2:1-36). (2) The Holy Spirit
supernaturally pricks the hearts of the un-regenerate (2:37). (3) Convicted
un-regenerate sinners ask “What shall le do?” (2:37). (4) God’s answer to the
convicted un-regenerate is, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the
name of Jesus Christ for [because of] the remission of sins, and ye shall
receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. (5) ” God regenerates the
repentant believer and the Holy Spirit now resides within the believer. (6) The
promise is also extended to all others who similarly believe. These actions are
almost simultaneous.
Arminians disagree
because scores of texts teach that “continuous believing” (faith) must be somehow
included in being “born again.” They reverse the order: because God foreknows the
sinner will continuously believe, He sovereignly causes him/her to be “born
again.” Although faith does not compel God to save, faith accepts God’s offer
and is the conduit, or vehicle of the action. The is the sequence of God’s will
(John 6:40) and allows for free will “faith” (believing) (Eph 2:8).
12. PREACHING:
Rom 10:14 How then shall
they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in
him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
Rom 10:15 And how shall
they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet
of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
Calvinists make a
mockery of the clear literal teaching of God’s Word. These texts clearly teach
that sinners must hear the gospel from preaching in order to call upon God in
order to be saved. Since (they teach) these
events follow God compelling the sinner to be regenerated, these texts become
meaningless. Therefore, God’s call to salvation using preachers is to those who
have already been saved. Thus, Romans 10:14-15 make no sense.
13. PREVENIENT GRACE:
Calvinists criticize the
Arminian usage of the term “prevenient grace” because it is not found in God’s
Word. It literally means grace that “pre-cedes,” or “comes before” regeneration
and is a theological term for the supernatural pre-salvation prodding of the
un-regenerate’s heart by the Holy Spirit (John 16:8-9). Yet, while “prevenient”
is not a biblical term, neither is “irresistible,” “compelling” or “casual” grace.
Although Calvinists want
others to think that their own view is the only logical one, both views explain
how God initially and supernaturally reaches the totally depraved unregenerate
who do not seek God. Free Will Baptist theologian Robert Picirilli points out
in his book, Grace, Faith and Free Will that all aspects of initial
salvation are simultaneous. If this is not also true in Calvinism, the lack of
faith in the initial salvation process presents a serious problem.
14.. RESPECTER OF PERSONS:
Rom 2:10 But glory,
honor, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to
the Gentile:
Rom 2:11 For there is no
respect of persons with God.
Rom 2:12 For as many as
have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have
sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;
Rom 2:13(For not the
hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be
justified.
Rom 2:14 For when the
Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law,
these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:
Rom 2:15 Which shew the
work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness,
and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another.
Eph 3:3-6 mystery,
Gentiles fellow heirs
Calvinists teach that
God has pre-selected and pre-determined which specific individuals will be
saved before the creation of the world.
Arminians teach that the
Calvinist teachings makes God a respecter of persons; some are saved and others
spend eternity in hell without an opportunity to be saved. The Calvinist view
mocks man with God’s insincere promises.
Romans 1:16 “… the gospel of Christ: for is the power of God unto salvation to
everyone that (continuously) believeth.” Matt 11:28 “Come unto me, all ye that
labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” A loving God would not
promise salvation to all mankind if they have no choice. It would be a waste of
time and words.
15. SALVATION:
A. If salvation is unconditional through the
sovereign decree of God, it cannot include man’s faith.
B. It the atonement is limited and applied only
to individuals by the Holy Spirit, it can only be a work of grace and not
faith.
C. If the only way for depraved man to be saved
is through an act of God wherein He regenerates fallen man without his
knowledge, there is no need for faith.
D. If election is not by faith, neither is
salvation.
E. If regeneration is not by faith, neither is
salvation.
Grace, Faith, Free Will, Robert Picirilli, page
171.
In a theological sense,
election, regeneration, being born again, imputed righteousness, justification,
redemption and initial sanctification are synonymous and simultaneous. The Holy
Spirit enters and indwells the believer at the instant one is born again, or
regenerated. At the same instant, the Holy Spirit imputes
righteousness/justification to the believer and he/she is as holy and innocent
of sin as God --- by faith. At the same instant, the believer has been redeemed
by Christ and is in a state of sanctification.
16. SOVEREIGNTY:
John 1:13 Which were
born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but
of God.
John 15:16 ye have not
chosen me; I have chosen you and ordained; fruit
Rom 9:15 For he saith to
Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion
on whom I will have compassion.
Rom 9:16 So then it is
not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth
mercy.
By creating man with
free will, God has relinquished part of His sovereignty … at least temporarily.
17. WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH:
Calvinists teach that,
because of total depravity, “Whosoever cannot believe” unless miraculously
called by God to be one of the elect. Therefore, “the one believing” is only
believing because God has “caused” grace and faith to be received.
ONE ARMINIAN REPLY:
It is wrong to imply that
God is insincere and to assume that His inspired Word is not to be literally understood.
The literal reading means that God really did love the world and sent Jesus to
provide redemption. Peter 3:9 shouts over and over that “God is … not willing
that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” A loving
personal God does not “want” any to perish and suffer in hell! Also, John 3:16
contains conditional subjunctive elements --- “should” instead of “would” ---
which means that some believers might not continue to believe.
18. DANIEL 2:34, 44
Dan 2:34 Thou sawest
till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his
feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces.
Dan 2:35 … and the stone
that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth.
…
Dan 2:44 And in the days
of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be
destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall
break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.
Dan 9:24 Seventy weeks
are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city …
Calvinists erroneously
interpret the stone in Daniel 2 to represent the beginning of the Church in the
early first century.
The Correct
Interpretation: (1) Daniel is about Isael, not the Church (9:24). (2) The stone
hit the image on its feet 2:34). (3) The stone grew and filled the whole earth
(2:35). (4) This will begin to occur during the days of the weak confederated
10-king Roman Empire (2:44).
The Calvinist Error: (1)
The 10-part weaker confederated Roman Empire did not exist in the first century
A. D. (2) The Western Roman Empire did not peak until the time of Marcus
Aurelius around A. D. 180. (3) The Eastern Roman Empire in Constantinople did
fall until 1453 A. D. (4) The 10-king revived empire will exist in the last
days during the time of Antichrist (Daniel 7:24; Revelation 17:12). (5) The
stone does not represent the beginning of the Church; it represents the second
coming of Christ and the literal coming Messianic Age on Earth.
19. ISREAL:
Jer 31:35 Thus saith the
LORD, which giveth the sun for a light by day, and the ordinances of the moon
and of the stars for a light by night, which divideth the sea when the waves
thereof roar; The LORD of hosts is his name:
Jer 31:36 If those
ordinances depart from before me, saith the LORD, then the seed of Israel also
shall cease from being a nation before me for ever.
Acts 1:6 When they
therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at
this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?
Rom 11:2 God hath not
cast away his people which he foreknew.
Rev 7:4 And I heard the
number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty
and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.
Rev 21:12 And had a wall
great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names
written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of
Israel.
There are scores of
unconditional promises to national Israel in God’s Word. In Jeremiah 31:35-36
God promised that, as long as the moon and stars exist, so will Israel exist as
a nation before Him. The fate of Israel was the last great question to Jesus
before He ascended (Acts 1:6).
Calvinists are seriously
wrong on prophecy. They ignore God’s unconditional promises to national Israel,
replace them with themselves, and call themselves “spiritual Israel.”
