Calvinism Vs. Arminianism

14 February 2008

Calvinism Vs. Arminianism

“All have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). This is one of the most common scriptures recited by man, within the world of evangelism. It is part of the “Roman Road,” which Christians use to help others understand how to be saved. All Christians do agree with that verse, but many disagree on what the Bible says to do about it. Within these Christians, there are usually two groups: Calvinists, who believe among other things that God has predestined those who He loves to come to Him (unconditional election), and that through His election of them that they remain in Him after called for eternity (perseverance of the saints), and Arminianists, who believe, among other things, that humans cannot come to salvation in and of themselves, salvation is of grace alone, that Jesus’ atonement was for all people and that salvation can be lost if faith is not continued in Jesus Christ.
Although the author of this paper does not consider herself to be either a Calvinist or of Arminianism, she tends to lean more to the Arminian side of the debate, but is not of the doctrine, based on the Scriptures and ideas that follow. However, let it be noted that the author does contest the idea of Pelagianism, and is a strong critic thereof.
The first scripture that is to be used to support the idea of God providing Jesus to save all men (the Arminian view) is James 1:13-14, which states, “Let no man, when he is tempted say I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither can He tempteth any man: but every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lusts, and enticed.” This seems to coordinate with such verses that deal with rejection like, “But the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of Him,” (Luke 7:30) and “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children” (Hosea 4:6). Moreover, 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12 comes to mind which says “Because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved, and for this cause God shall send them a strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believe not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. Such verses definitely indicate that the sinners involved here had a chance to acquire the knowledge and truth of God, but passed it up according to their own desires. God did not disallow them to know or condemn them to not being able to hear the gospel. Jeremiah 6:28-30 calls them revolters and says that they have become reprobate minded, and furthermore, Romans 1:28 says that men were turned over to reprobate minds, due to not remembering God in their minds, but rather kept lustful and sinful thoughts in their concentration. We can certainly see that the truth was offered to them and they rejected it according to their own stubbornness.
Of course, salvation by grace cannot be disputed nor substituted for the idea of salvation by works, unless one follows the doctrine of Catholicism, but one other point, which is so greatly argued between Calvinism and Arminianism, is the conflict between Eternal Security and Conditional Security. Calvinists use such verses as John 10:29, which states, “My Father, which gave them to me, is greater than all: and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hands,” and Ephesians 4:30, which states, “Grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. However, Arminians argue that even though no one can remove the Christian from the hands of the Father, the person themselves can fall out of His hand, by using such verses as John 15:6, which states, “…If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered…” and James 15:19, which states, “Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.” Furthermore, as evidence, we have The Parable of the Prodigal Son, in which the Father welcomes back His son, who had left to live a worldly life and had returned, and also we have Revelation 3:15-18, which speaks to the church calling them lukewarm. We are reminded here of John 15:6, which states the dead branches will be cast out of the vine. One favorite verse, which is used to show that the Spirit of God can leave a person, is 1 Thessalonians 5:19, which says, “Quench not the Spirit,” showing that it can be lost. In addition, David said in Psalms 51:11, “Cast me not away from thy presence, and take not thy Holy Spirit from me.” These verses certainly indicate that one can lose their way from God. We also have such examples, from the Old Testament, of King Saul, who lost the Spirit of God (1 Samuel 16:14) and Samson, who wished that the Lord had not departed from him (Judges 16:20); however, we also have such an example in the New Testament of Demas, an apostle of Paul, who forsook him for worldly pleasures (2 Timothy 4:10).
There are truly very many verses in scripture that support each account, and it is sincerely hard to tell which belief is correct, between Calvinism and Arminianism, but one thing is certain: both theories are conceived by men, written by men and are not inspired by God. It is one of those things in which people must discern for themselves which idea is correct – if either, and base it on what they learn as they act like good Bereans, searching the Scriptures daily to see if what they are told is true.
In conclusion, the author of this paper supports her position on the writing, (though it is not the only early writing if it’s kind) of Ignatius, Bishop of Antioch, or otherwise known as Theophorus. Ignatius gains his credibility though the fact that he was a student of the apostle John. Being that he was in such close relationship to one who was so dear to Christ, as John was called the beloved apostle, one is inclined to think that he would have great knowledge of scripture. Ignatius wrote:
Apart from Him, let nothing attract you, for whom I bear about these bonds, these spiritual jewels, by which may I arise through your prayers, of which I entreat I may always be a partaker, that I may be found in the lot of the Christians of Ephesus, (1:54)
but especially of Jesus and the Father, in whom, if we endure all the assaults of the prince of this world, and escape them, we shall enjoy God. (1:59)
The unbelieving are of this world; but the believing have, in love, the character of God the Father by Jesus Christ, by whom, if we are not in readiness to die into His passion, His life is not in us. (1:61)
Do not err, my brethren. If any man follows him that makes a schism in the Church, he shall not inherit the kingdom of God. (1:80)
So, it is evident here that the early church bishops did not teach eternal security, but truly demonstrated rather “perseverance” by obeying the Lord.

© 2010 Kimberly Padilla, A.A Religion