RESOURCES — SHORT ARTICLES

 

SHORT ARTICLES BY TOM ELSEROAD
	2021-02-01	Calvinism and Arminianism Compared
		Calvinism and Arminianism are two systems of theology that attempt to explain the relationship between God’s sovereignty and man’s responsibility in the matter of salvation. Calvinism is named for John Calvin, a French theologian who lived from 1509-1564. Arminianism is named for Jacobus Arminius, a Dutch theologian who lived from 1560-1609. Calvinism focuses on God's sovereignty. Arminianism focuses on man's responsibility. (Hereafter "C" will refer to Calvinism. And "A" will refer to Arminianism). Typically their beliefs are presented in 5 points. 1. "C" holds to the idea of “total inability”, while "A" holds to partial inability. For "C" total inability means every aspect of humanity is corrupted by sin. Thus, man is unable to come to God on his own, without God's intervention. For "A" partial inability means man is tainted by sin, but not to the extent that man is unable to place faith in God on his own accord. 2. "C" believes that the “election of God” is unconditional, while "A" holds to conditional election. For "C" this means God elects individuals to salvation based on His will, and not on anything inherently worthy in the individual. For "A" this means God elects individuals to salvation based on His foreknowledge of who will believe on Christ for salvation. Thus, on the condition that the individual chooses God. 3. "C" sees “atonement as limited”, while "A" holds to it as unlimited. This is actually the most controversial of the 5 points. For "C" this means that Jesus died for the elect. His death was sufficient for all, but effectual only for the elect. For "A" this means that Jesus died for all, but that His death is not effectual until a person receives Jesus by faith. 4. "C" believes that God's “grace is irresistible”, while "A" believes an individual can resist the grace of God. For "C" this means when God calls a person to salvation, that person will inevitably come to salvation. For "A" this means God calls all to salvation, but that many people resist and reject this call. 5. "C" believes in the “eternal security” of the saints, while "A" believes in conditional salvation. For "C" this means the saints who are elected by God will persevere in faith and will not ultimately deny or turn away from God. For "A" this means the saints in Christ can, of his own free will, turn away from Christ and thereby lose salvation. Again the two positions place their emphasis on either God's sovereignty ("C") or on man's responsibility ("A"). Both are true in that God is sovereign in the matter of salvation. And man is responsible in the matter of salvation. Many believers arrive at some sort of mixture of the two views. Many hold to a hybrid by accepting some "C" or "A" points from the 5 points above. God is absolutely sovereign in His election of who will be saved, and at the same time, humanity is completely responsible to receive the gift of salvation that God offers. How these two truths harmonize is incomprehensible to the finite human mind. Somehow, in the mystery of God, the sovereignty of God and responsibility of man touch, and the result is salvation. Am I saved because I chose God, or because God chose me? Yes. Pastor Tom Elseroad

 

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