Arminianism

As we learned in Part 3, Arminianism was developed to contrast the strong view of God’s sovereignty expressed in the Belgic Confession . In this post we’ll begin to take a closer look at the Five Articles of the Remonstrance. Free Will with Partial Depravity Partial Depravity teaches that although fallen, man is not totally helpless when it comes to salvation. He, by his own will, can either accept God’s gift of salvation, or he can resist the grace that is being extended him. Below are...Read Full Story

Arminianism might best be called a theology in contrast. Developed by the students of Jacobus Arminius (1560-1609) from Arminius’ teachings, the Arminian system stands against Calvinism’s teaching of God’s sovereignty in salvation. God decreed to save and damn certain particular persons. This decree has its foundation in the foreknowledge of God, by which he knew from all eternity those individuals who would, through his preventing [going before] grace, believe, and, through his subsequent...Read Full Story

So, in the Calvinism vs. Arminianism debate, who is correct? It is interesting to note that in the diversity of the body of Christ, there are all sorts of mixtures of Calvinism and Arminianism. There are five-point Calvinists and five-point Arminians, and at the same time three-point Calvinists and two-point Arminians. Many believers arrive at some sort of mixture of the two views.  Ultimately, it is our view that both systems fail in that they attempt to explain the unexplainable. Human...Read Full Story

A while back, I purchased a DVD titled, “ Amazing Grace: The History & Theology of Calvinism .” This is a great video, and quite objective I might add, detailing how Calvinism started, the difference between Calvinism and Arminianism, and TULIP. I would urge you to invest in this DVD or borrow it from someone who may have it. I am going to use this DVD as a base to start a five day intensive short study of the differences between Calvinism and Arminianism. Today is an introduction; each...Read Full Story

Calvinism vs. Arminianism: a Debate on Faith and Freewill Solving the age-old dispute by accepting an empowered gospel Longwood, FL (PRWEB) July 22, 2011 In Recanting Calvinism ($29.99, paperback, 9781613792025 ), author Steven L. Hitchcock equates the relationship between Calvinism and Arminianism to two ships passing each other in the night. This is because neither side can understand the other side’s deeply felt conviction regarding what they believe is the most pivotal issue in their...Read Full Story

The third of the five points of TULIP (Calvinism theology) is limited atonement. This was a direct response to the Arminian view of unlimited atonement. I will say that I think limited atonement is the most difficult of the five points to understand. When a person first hears that term, it is almost like, “Whoa! Are you limited Christ’s atonement?” That is in fact not what we [Calvinists] are doing. I would say that this term is better described as “particular atonement.” What we mean by...Read Full Story

The third of the five points of TULIP (Calvinism theology) is limited atonement. This was a direct response to the Arminian view of unlimited atonement. I will say that I think limited atonement is the most difficult of the five points to understand. When a person first hears that term, it is almost like, “Whoa! Are you limited Christ’s atonement?” That is in fact not what we [Calvinists] are doing. I would say that this term is better described as “particular atonement.” What we mean by...Read Full Story

The first of the five points of TULIP (Calvinism theology) is total depravity. This was a direct response to the Arminian view of partial depravity. What does total depravity mean? It is referring to man’s depravity meaning man’s natural condition apart from any grace exerted by God to restrain or transform man. Total depravity is captured by the phrase, “the dead man theory.” Ephesians 2 puts it this way: “And you were dead in the trespasses and sins…even when we were dead in our...Read Full Story

It need not always be this way. A while back I posted on the famous Wesley vs Simeon encounter which demonstrated that moderate Calvinists and moderate Arminians can in fact agree . If you are not aware of that incident, please do read about it. More recently, Luke picked up on my post which cheekily asked if Spurgeon was an Arminocalvinist and commented about me in the following post: “ Calvinist Extends Hand of Friendship to Arminians .”  He also linked to a helpful article written by an...Read Full Story

At least for now it is time to call time on my short series on Arminianism and Calvinism. I hope you have enjoyed reading it, as I have certainly enjoyed some of the reactions it led to.  I shared this quote a few years ago, and I thought it was an apt way to end: The system of truth is not one straight line, but two. No man will ever get a right view of the gospel until he knows how to look at the two lines at once. I am taught in one book to believe that what I sow I shall reap: I am taught...Read Full Story