Today, browsing Monergism Books, I came across an advertisement for two books discussing the debate between Reformed and Arminian theology. For Calvinism
As one who is firmly convicted of the total assent of the Scriptures to the reality of God’s complete sovereignty and the biblical correctness of the doctrines of Grace, I found Mike Horton’s conclusion to his forward in Against Calvinism to be a serious reminder for those with serious theological conviction, regardless of the perspective:
I am grateful to Roger for the candor, passion, and informed argumentation that this book represents. At the end of the day, Roger and I share the most important agreement: namely, that the crucial questions involved in this or any other debate must be brought to the bar of scripture. We both believe that scripture is clear and sufficient, even if we are confused and weak. We are all pilgrims on the way, not yet those who have arrived at our glorious destination. only by endeavoring more and more to talk to each other as coheirs with Christ instead of about each other and past each other as adversaries can we engage with serious disagreements— and with the hope that we may also be surprised by felicitous agreements along the way.
It’s extremely easy to resort to creating straw men in our caricatures of those who differ from us theologically (or in any other way), but this is intellectually dishonest and usually results in greater hostility towards them than serious consideration. And while it is true that differing views are, in many cases, utterly irreconcilable (of which the Arminianism-Calvinism debate is one of them), we must be careful to treat those who love the Lord Jesus as our spiritual family instead of enemies.
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This is indeed a very interesting topic. I have a hard time identifying myself as either one or the other because each one poses good points. As far as salvation and grace goes I would lean away from Calvinism. Though he has strong points, I have a hard time holding it up to many of the teachings of scripture. I.e. the idea of the one who endures till the end, the overcomer, the act of apostasy, etc. Why so much warning against an act (leaving their faith and losing salvation) that one can not even commit? well, just a thought.
Thanks for your post and the insight.
I noticed that the name of this blog site is The Berean Way. If you were like the Bereans, you would have searched the scriptures to find where it says humans cannot believe in God on their own without the enabling of the Holy Spirit. You would not find that anywhere, but you would find how Jesus died for “all men,” for the “whole world,” and for “whomever” would believe. Please see John 3:16; John 3:36; 1 John 2:2; John 1:6-13; 1 Timothy2:3-6; Titus 2:11; 1 Timothy 4:10. Repent of believing false doctrines, move on, and grow in the Lord.
I realize that many people hold the view you just suggested, but it wouldn’t be accurate in the least. Not only does Scripture clearly teach exactly that, but Jesus Himself made it very clear that men are incapable of saving themselves or willing themselves towards God:
Jesus said it is impossible for anyone to come to Him and believe unless God grants that to them (John 6:44,65)
Jesus made it clear that only because of God is salvation possible for anyone (Matt 19:26)
Jesus promises that He lays His life down only for His sheep (John 10:14)
That only His sheep are capable of hearing His voice, and that His sheep are only the ones who God gave to Him to save (John 10:26-28)
He prays only for those who the Father gave Him, making it clear that He isn’t praying for the entire world because God isn’t going to save everyone (John 17:9)
Romans 3:10-18 makes it clear that our will is completely bound only to sin, and that no one ever chooses God or ever will
Romans 8:7-8 makes it clear that those whose mind is set on the flesh are hostile to God and cannot submit to God’s will (even if they wanted to)
Jeremiah 13:23 makes it clear that evil men are incapable of doing good in the same way that an Ethiopian is incapable of changing their skin color
John 1 makes it clear that Christians receive salvation, not by “the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God”
I can go on and on. The most clear example of not only man’s inability to choose God, but God’s purposeful saving of some and not others is this:
…11 for though the twins were not yet born and had not done anything good or bad, so that God’s purpose according to His choice would stand, not because of works but because of Him who calls,12 it was said to her, “THE OLDER WILL SERVE THE YOUNGER.”13 Just as it is written, “JACOB I LOVED, BUT ESAU I HATED.”
14 What shall we say then? There is no injustice with God, is there? May it never be!15 For He says to Moses, “I WILL HAVE MERCY ON WHOM I HAVE MERCY, AND I WILL HAVE COMPASSION ON WHOM I HAVE COMPASSION.”16 So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy.17 For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “FOR THIS VERY PURPOSE I RAISED YOU UP, TO DEMONSTRATE MY POWER IN YOU, AND THAT MY NAME MIGHT BE PROCLAIMED THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE EARTH.”18 So then He has mercy on whom He desires, and He hardens whom He desires.
19 You will say to me then, “Why does He still find fault? For who resists His will?”20 On the contrary, who are you, O man, who answers back to God? The thing molded will not say to the molder, “Why did you make me like this,” will it?21 Or does not the potter have a right over the clay, to make from the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for common use?22 What if God, although willing to demonstrate His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction?23 And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy, which He prepared beforehand for glory… -Romans 9:11-23
So, what’s absolutely true is that there is plenty of Scriptural evidence for the inability of humans to turn to God. They can’t and won’t unless God softens their heart, and He has only done so to the elect. When it discusses the “whole world”, the term world has to be understood in context. World can be used to indicate every single individual or every kind of individual. Since Scripture doesn’t contradict itself and cannot be broken, these verses must be understood in relation to one another. Since it is absolutely clear, with only Romans 9 (not to consider the other verses), that God actually does choose to same some for His reasons apart from the will of humans, we know that every individual will not be able to be saved. That’s why it’s also clear that Jesus didn’t die an atoning death for each individual, but for members of every tribe and tongue (the whole world), and for His sheep in particular.
Needless to say, it is wholly inaccurate to suggest that the doctrines of Grace have no foundation in Scripture. It is only from the Scriptures that this belief comes and, I would say, Scripture would contradict itself if the Arminian understanding is maintained. Only those “appointed for salvation” will believe (Acts 13:48). It’s unequivocal.
With all that in consideration, I can say without a doubt that everyone who believes in the Lord will be saved, all those who do believe will do so willingly, and yet only those who the Father has chosen to believe will do those things. Free will isn’t gone, by any means. Rather, humans only willingly choose evil because of the Fall. By grace, we are granted faith, not from ourselves but a gift from God (Eph. 2:8-9). My hope is that you will consider all of the verses I have listed because you will find a much more merciful, much more unconditionally loving, and much more powerful God–a God Who is actually worthy of worship and praise.
Nowhere in the scriptures does it say that humans cannot believe on their own without the enabling of the Holy Spirit. None of the scriptures you posted says that. With the truth, I refute all your false explanations of those scriptures. I have two posts on Calvinism that goes over the scriptures. Calvinism teaches falseness about God. Please at least read this from my post:
The Old Testament believers in God were God’s people. Not all Old Testament Jews were true believers. The people who believed in God, God gave them to Jesus. God’s people who believed in Him, they now had to go through Jesus in faith to continue with God, this faith in Jesus made them perfect. They are the people who God enabled to come to Jesus during Jesus’ ministry on earth. The Jews who did not believe in God, God hardened them so they were not able to come to Jesus. The people who are drawn to Jesus, they are drawn because they are all ready believers in God the Father. The people who believe in God, they recognize what Jesus says as God’s word, and in this, they are drawn. John 6:37 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. John 6:44, 45 “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day. 45 It is written in the Prophets: ‘They will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard the Father and learned from him comes to me.
The people were already God’s, now they would become Jesus’ people. Those who did not believe in God, they were hardened. God did not allow them to come to Jesus. Only a remnant, the lost sheep of Israel would come to Jesus (John 10:6; 15:24). John 17:6 “I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. See also, John 3:37, 39; 6:65; 10:28; 15:21-24; 16:3; 17:2, 9, 24; Romans 11:4, 5, 7; Hebrews 12:23; 11:39-40. John 8:19 Then they asked him, “Where is your father?” “You do not know me or my Father,” Jesus replied. “If you knew me, you would know my Father also.”
I guess one question I would have to ask is do you embrace Calvinism in it’s entirety? As your title suggest is that you are either for it or against it. A huge problem that Calvinism has, and often runs into, is that many churches stop evangelizing because of the doctrines of total depravity and predestination. It has a point, but they take it to the extreme. I really like how Paul Washer puts it (If you don’t know what I am talking about just watch it on Youtube, link below) This is also true for arminianism as well. What would your response be toward the calvinistic teaching of “Once saved always saved” be?
God Bless!!!
I do embrace Calvinism in its totality, but only because I believe each of the 5 points are found with significant support from the Scripture. I think, though, that it is only through misunderstanding Calvinism that would lead to someone not evangelizing! If anything, I have found that I am even more bold, more hopeful, more graceful, and more prayerful because I recognize that God’s grace is what provides everyone with the faith they need to be saved! There is no need to compromise the Gospel or dupe people with false messages of “health, wealth, and prosperity” that many pastors have fallen prey to.
And actually, groups like the Acts 29 Network, Mars Hill Seattle, etc., are extremely outward in their focus and subscribe to a complete understanding of God’s sovereignty. What was it that lead the Protestant Reformers to proclaim the truth as boldly as they did? I think it was their understanding that God is fully sovereign and that His grace is capable to change the hearts of the multitudes.
I have been watching a sermon series by Pastor Tullian Tchividjian that explains the doctrines of Grace in much detail. Like most “Calvinists” I know (myself included), Tullian was extremely hostile to the idea of election, but eventually became persuaded by the Scriptures. He tackles a lot of really tough questions, and I think his explanation is extremely helpful. If you want to check them out, go to http://www.crpc.com/media and watch the Midweek Series: Doctrines of Grace, starting with part 2 (part 1 just discusses that theology is actually important for us to understand and not necessarily the enemy, so long as we all love one another and are respectful). Part 2 shows, using Scripture alone, that we are all totally incapable of choosing God of our own will. I would be interested in seeing what you think about it. His teaching style is very much accessible and engaging.
PS. I love Paul Washer! The end of this message is SO powerful! Oh, and I do believe that once saved we are always saved. Jesus promises that nothing can remove us from His hand, and that is said again and again throughout the Scriptures. I’m going to eventually do a series on the doctrines of Grace, so I’ll go into more detail on that eventually. Until then, check out http://www.monergism.com/directory/link_category/Assurance/Apostasy/
I will read on those explanations and as for commenting on the “once saved always saved” thing. Maybe it would be more appropriate to wait for your series on the doctrines of Grace. Looking forward to it and will definitely dialogue with you on that. like you said, until then!!! Take care and God Bless!!!
Ive found that most calvinist and arminians dont study the other side in depth. I benefited greatly by reading originally wayne grudem’s systematic theology, especially the chapter on “God’s Providence” then reading Roger Olson’s :http://www.amazon.com/Arminian-Theology-Realities-Roger-Olson/dp/0830828419
Arminian myths and realities, through SCU Link +, very helpful. I find most arminians in college (not ppl who are pastors and such) dont like Hyper-calvinists and are usually functional calvinists (like mentioned in Packers helpful book, evagelism and sovereignty of God
Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God (IVP Classics)
and have adversity to “perceived calvinism” and want the goodness of God to be protected