S
As far as I am concerned, the major issue between Calvinism and Arminianism is that the Arminians are stuck with a powerless God who wants to save all of mankind, but cannot because he lacks the power to do so. Calvinists have a God who is able to save anyone that He chooses to save.
We know that not all are being saved, therefore there must be a reason. Either God is powerless to prevent their loss, or He has chosen not to.
I don't worship a powerless God who is unable to accomplish His purpose.
Don't fool yourselves..this is what the argument boils down to. Either God is powerless with regards to man's salvation, or he is not.
In Calvinist theology, God regenerates the person, changing their nature so that they respond to him in faith. Therefore, their faith is assured. This change in nature is the determining factor. He is 100% effective when he decides to save someone.
The logical implication of this assertion is that God is not choosing to save everyone. Some will say this is not fair. This is exactly what Romans 9 addresses. Who are you to judge God in regards to salvation?
I would suggest that those who doubt predestination to salvation read John 6, Ephesians 1 and 2, and Romans 8 and 9. Note that in all of these discussions regarding predestination, that the teaching involves predestination to salvation, and not to blessings or corporate salvation. See these verses in particular:
John 6:37 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.
John 6:39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day.
To claim that Christ isn't 100% effective is to claim that he wasn't able to fulfill the Father's will.
John 6:40 For this is the will of my father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.
Note that no one can come to Christ unless the Father draws Him:
John 6:44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up on the last day.
Notice that no one who comes to Christ is lost; they are all raised up on the last day (the resurrection).
Read all of John 6 and see the power of God for salvation illustrated.
Romans 8:28-30 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, in order that he might be the firstborn amongst many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
These verses speak of our salvation in a past tense, as if it is assured. These verses are called the Golden Chain of Redemption. All that are foreknew are predestined to justification and sanctification and glorification. The context is clearly salvation.
Our chapter breaks are a modern thing. When Romans was written, there were no chapter breaks. As we precede into Romans 9, we need to keep this in mind. The argument that Romans 9 is talking only about corporate election of nations is bogus. It is well-recognized that the book of Romans is about soteriology, or salvation.
Notice what Romans 9 says:
Romans 9:15-16 For he says to Moses, "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion." So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God who has mercy.
Romans 9:18 So then he has mercy on whom he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills.
Some will claim that this is unfair, and particularly that it's unfair for God to punish people when they were unable to obey him due to election:
Romans 9:19 You will say to me then, "Why does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?
In other words, some would accuse God of being unfair if he doesn't regenerate individuals so that they respond to him in faith. Why does he judge them if they can't choose otherwise?
Romans 9:20-24 But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, "Why have you made me like this?". Has the pot no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use? What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory - even us whom he has called, not from the Jews only but also from the Gentiles?
It's OBVIOUS that he is speaking of the salvation of individuals here.
So, regardless of what I want to think, I cannot apply my standards of fairness to God. The fair thing is that we would all go to eternal destruction, and if God saves some of us, it's a pure act of mercy. I must submit to the authority of Scripture in this matter, just like those who believe that the unrighteous will be eternally tormented. Some kind hearts think that this isn't fair either, but if Scripture teaches it, I would not argue with it. The same is true with predestination.
The last set of powerful Scriptures is in Ephesians 1.
Ephesians 1:4-8 ...even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,l to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight.
Read Ephesians 1 and 2.
Arminians will attempt to claim that election is not to salvation but that it is to blessings, however this is a bogus argument. Notice that the verses say that adoption to sonship is what the elect are predestined to, and that it is according to his will, not something related to our will.
I was attending an Arminian church back when I became aware of Reformed theology. I understood it through a simple reading of the Bible, particularly focused on the book of Romans. I described my findings to my Arminian pastor, and he told me that what I believed was Calvinism. Well, I never heard of John Calvin before that, but it is what the Bible teaches, whether I like it or not.
I am not going to put my hand over my face and peek through my fingers while I read almost 60 verses that indicate the redeemed are elected, chosen, or predestined to salvation. I am not going to place my autonomous free will in the driver's seat, and put God and his sovereignty in the back seat. Praise God for his marvelous gift of salvation!
By the way, for those who ciaim that their free will is what brought them into salvation, I would encourage them to ask God to show them their pride. Read Daniel 4:34-37. After you read this section of Scripture, ask yourself if you think Nebuchadnezzar worshipped a powerless God who was unable to bring him to repentance and humility.
And, if God can do this to Nebuchadnezzar, what makes you think he can't do it to ANYONE that he decides to save?
Also, how do you explain the 60 references to the redeemed being chosen, elected, or predestined? Some try to explain them away by claiming predestination is only to service or blessings, but their claims are bogus....there are a few references to such selection, such as the choosing of the apostles for office, but the context clearly proves that election or predestination also pertains to salvation.
So, the question is, do you submit yourself to the truths of Scripture, and the sovereignty of a mighty God that you cannot control or manipulate or force into your box, or your own traditions and concepts of fairness?
For further info, I would suggest the book Potter's Freedom by James White, or the book Debating Calvinism by Dave Hunt and James White. Dave Hunt's portion is pretty lame, but it will give you a good idea on the typical Arminian responses to the Reformed position.
I'd also suggest this video set called Amazing Grace:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oCtrOqYXekE&index=1&list=PLKnzCuBYVJm7hQpMDIjihZgMYIECh4jz9
We know that not all are being saved, therefore there must be a reason. Either God is powerless to prevent their loss, or He has chosen not to.
I don't worship a powerless God who is unable to accomplish His purpose.
Don't fool yourselves..this is what the argument boils down to. Either God is powerless with regards to man's salvation, or he is not.
In Calvinist theology, God regenerates the person, changing their nature so that they respond to him in faith. Therefore, their faith is assured. This change in nature is the determining factor. He is 100% effective when he decides to save someone.
The logical implication of this assertion is that God is not choosing to save everyone. Some will say this is not fair. This is exactly what Romans 9 addresses. Who are you to judge God in regards to salvation?
I would suggest that those who doubt predestination to salvation read John 6, Ephesians 1 and 2, and Romans 8 and 9. Note that in all of these discussions regarding predestination, that the teaching involves predestination to salvation, and not to blessings or corporate salvation. See these verses in particular:
John 6:37 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.
John 6:39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day.
To claim that Christ isn't 100% effective is to claim that he wasn't able to fulfill the Father's will.
John 6:40 For this is the will of my father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.
Note that no one can come to Christ unless the Father draws Him:
John 6:44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up on the last day.
Notice that no one who comes to Christ is lost; they are all raised up on the last day (the resurrection).
Read all of John 6 and see the power of God for salvation illustrated.
Romans 8:28-30 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, in order that he might be the firstborn amongst many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
These verses speak of our salvation in a past tense, as if it is assured. These verses are called the Golden Chain of Redemption. All that are foreknew are predestined to justification and sanctification and glorification. The context is clearly salvation.
Our chapter breaks are a modern thing. When Romans was written, there were no chapter breaks. As we precede into Romans 9, we need to keep this in mind. The argument that Romans 9 is talking only about corporate election of nations is bogus. It is well-recognized that the book of Romans is about soteriology, or salvation.
Notice what Romans 9 says:
Romans 9:15-16 For he says to Moses, "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion." So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God who has mercy.
Romans 9:18 So then he has mercy on whom he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills.
Some will claim that this is unfair, and particularly that it's unfair for God to punish people when they were unable to obey him due to election:
Romans 9:19 You will say to me then, "Why does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?
In other words, some would accuse God of being unfair if he doesn't regenerate individuals so that they respond to him in faith. Why does he judge them if they can't choose otherwise?
Romans 9:20-24 But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, "Why have you made me like this?". Has the pot no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use? What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory - even us whom he has called, not from the Jews only but also from the Gentiles?
It's OBVIOUS that he is speaking of the salvation of individuals here.
So, regardless of what I want to think, I cannot apply my standards of fairness to God. The fair thing is that we would all go to eternal destruction, and if God saves some of us, it's a pure act of mercy. I must submit to the authority of Scripture in this matter, just like those who believe that the unrighteous will be eternally tormented. Some kind hearts think that this isn't fair either, but if Scripture teaches it, I would not argue with it. The same is true with predestination.
The last set of powerful Scriptures is in Ephesians 1.
Ephesians 1:4-8 ...even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,l to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight.
Read Ephesians 1 and 2.
Arminians will attempt to claim that election is not to salvation but that it is to blessings, however this is a bogus argument. Notice that the verses say that adoption to sonship is what the elect are predestined to, and that it is according to his will, not something related to our will.
I was attending an Arminian church back when I became aware of Reformed theology. I understood it through a simple reading of the Bible, particularly focused on the book of Romans. I described my findings to my Arminian pastor, and he told me that what I believed was Calvinism. Well, I never heard of John Calvin before that, but it is what the Bible teaches, whether I like it or not.
I am not going to put my hand over my face and peek through my fingers while I read almost 60 verses that indicate the redeemed are elected, chosen, or predestined to salvation. I am not going to place my autonomous free will in the driver's seat, and put God and his sovereignty in the back seat. Praise God for his marvelous gift of salvation!
By the way, for those who ciaim that their free will is what brought them into salvation, I would encourage them to ask God to show them their pride. Read Daniel 4:34-37. After you read this section of Scripture, ask yourself if you think Nebuchadnezzar worshipped a powerless God who was unable to bring him to repentance and humility.
And, if God can do this to Nebuchadnezzar, what makes you think he can't do it to ANYONE that he decides to save?
Also, how do you explain the 60 references to the redeemed being chosen, elected, or predestined? Some try to explain them away by claiming predestination is only to service or blessings, but their claims are bogus....there are a few references to such selection, such as the choosing of the apostles for office, but the context clearly proves that election or predestination also pertains to salvation.
So, the question is, do you submit yourself to the truths of Scripture, and the sovereignty of a mighty God that you cannot control or manipulate or force into your box, or your own traditions and concepts of fairness?
For further info, I would suggest the book Potter's Freedom by James White, or the book Debating Calvinism by Dave Hunt and James White. Dave Hunt's portion is pretty lame, but it will give you a good idea on the typical Arminian responses to the Reformed position.
I'd also suggest this video set called Amazing Grace:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oCtrOqYXekE&index=1&list=PLKnzCuBYVJm7hQpMDIjihZgMYIECh4jz9
