I’ve seen a lot lately on blogs I read or elsewhere online about fellow Christians boldly proclaiming that they are Calvinist and that the Arminian position is wrong.
So I might as well add my quick US$0.02.
Calvinism: The belief that God has pre-ordained the salvation of some and the damnation of others, that our salvation was not at all of our own will or desires, and that we have nothing to do with our final destination. Salvation to the Calvinist is permanent because it is part of our destiny.
Arminianism: Salvation is entirely our choice; we choose whether we believe or not. Salvation’s permanence rests entirely on whether or not one continues in the faith.
Let me emphatically state that both of these positions are demonstrably wrong when measured against the rule of Scripture, which teaches a middle ground between the two: salvation is granted to those who exercise faith and choose to believe (as the Arminian believes), and this salvation is permanent (as the Calvinist teaches).
Yes, I am (over)simplifying what I am saying, but it is true. Somehow, far too many people have been deceived (either willfully or ignorantly) into believing that there are only two teachings regarding the sovereingty of God in salvation. Perhaps Satan perpetrated this lie upon the Church to obscure the Truth. To obscure God’s dealings in salvation and damnation would be a great victory for the lion which seeketh whom he may devour.
And so I can find only one applicable label for this belief: not Calvinism nor Arminianism (names in honor of men, not God), but Christian or Bible-believing.
Spelling corrected per the first comment.
Actually, the Arminian (“Armenian” is a nationality, “Arminian” is a person who follows the teaching of Jakob Hermann [Jacobus Arminius in Latin]–the person who developed Arminianism) position is a little more complicated. Initially, Arminius held to a strict predestination, but he later came to doubt this position–so strictly speaking, Arminianism in its “pure” form was entirely anti-predestinarian. However, one of the primary proponents of Arminianism, John Wesley, believed that while a person has a degree of “free will” in terms of their response to God’s offer of salvation, God still chooses that person from before time began, and that salvation is permanent so long as that person continues walking in obedience. This Wesleyan Arminianism is more of a middle ground, as you have suggested.
Pete, thanks for the tip on the spelling. I think I corrected all the references that needed it.
However, you didn’t tell me anything different about Arminianism that I didn’t already know, and I still don’t agree with it.
I believe that the Bible teaches that prior to salvation, all are predestined for Hell, for the wrath of God abides upon them. Only when an individual believes into God’s elect (i.e., Jesus Christ) is that person then predestined to be conformed to the image of the Son and to spend an eternity with Him.
I’m not elect, you’re not elect, even if we are saved. However, it is the faith of God’s Elect which saves us, which we become partakers of when we believe.
And once our faith accepts salvation, that salvation is permanent whether we believe or not. Even if we cease to believe, He abideth faithful, and He cannot deny Himself.
Both Calvinism and Arminianism miss these nuances of Scripture.
Can you clarify something for me?
You said that – “And once our faith accepts salvation,
that salvation is permanent whether we believe or not.”
So, if we once believed and accepted Salvation, and then if we stop believing
and live a life of sin, we are still saved?
Cheers.
I don’t know how well I can clarify it, but I hope this suffices…
When we are saved, we become part of God’s elect, Jesus Christ. We put on His righteousness, are cleansed in His blood, are baptised unto His death and resurrection, and are indwelled by the Holy Spirit.
We become so much a part of Christ and He a part of us that God can call us part of “the body of Christ.”
This joining is permanent, and the Holy Spirit even testifies through Paul to Timothy that even if we believe not, He still abides faithful and cannot deny Himself. See 2 Timothy 2:13.
For a saved person to be refused Heaven for any reason (even post-salvation unbelief) would require God to deny Himself from Heaven. We are that much a part of Him.
I’m not saying to go out and live a life of sin. God forbid. To do so would forfeit rewards in Heaven. To do so would forfeit our position, and may even cause Christ to be ashamed of us when He comes.
Not to mention that God the loving Father that He is may not hesitate to chasten us while here on Earth for disobeying Him so badly as to lose our faith.
I don’t know how well I can clarify it, but I hope this suffices…
When we are saved, we become part of God’s elect, Jesus Christ. We put on His righteousness, are cleansed in His blood, are baptised unto His death and resurrection, and are indwelled by the Holy Spirit.
We become so much a part of Christ and He a part of us that God can call us part of “the body of Christ.”
This joining is permanent, and the Holy Spirit even testifies through Paul to Timothy that even if we believe not, He still abides faithful and cannot deny Himself. See 2 Timothy 2:13.
For a saved person to be refused Heaven for any reason (even post-salvation unbelief) would require God to deny Himself from Heaven. We are that much a part of Him.
I’m not saying to go out and live a life of sin. God forbid. To do so would forfeit rewards in Heaven. To do so would forfeit our position, and may even cause Christ to be ashamed of us when He comes.
Not to mention that God the loving Father that He is may not hesitate to chasten us while here on Earth for disobeying Him so badly as to lose our faith.
Rick, I believe your interpretation of 2 Timothy 2:13 is incorrect. Just for reference, here are your words:
“… the Holy Spirit even testifies through Paul to Timothy that even if we believe not, He still abides faithful and cannot deny Himself. See 2 Timothy 2:13.
“For a saved person to be refused Heaven for any reason (even post-salvation unbelief) would require God to deny Himself from Heaven.”
2 Timothy 2:13 actually reads: “If we are faithless, He remains faithful – for He cannot deny Himself” (ESV).
I can understand how you might interpret ‘faithless’ to mean having given up faith, but in this verse it refers to our tendency to sin. When His children fall short of righteousness, God remains faithful (as in, committed to His promises to us) to forgive and to love unconditionally. It would not be possible for God not to remain faithful, because faithful is not only an attribute of God but God IS perfect faithfulness. He cannot contradict His own nature. Faithlessness, as used here, does NOT mean unbelief.
The matter of leaving the faith is addressed only a verse earlier in 2 Timothy 2:12: “If we deny Him, He also will deny us” (ESV). My translation (NIV) reads “disown” instead of “deny”. It is clear that this verse refers to abandoning faith; it would be a contradiction if the following verse were to speak as well about leaving the faith, for then both verses become mutually exclusive statements.
I think these two verses are best presented together in chronological order, particularly in the ESV translation. Note the contrast. I almost think that a “however” would be beneficial to join together verses 12 and 13:
“If we deny Him, He also will deny us;
If we are faithless, He is faithful – for He cannot deny Himself.”
Praise be to God.
I said in the last post that faithlessness does not mean unbelief, but I should have added that it refers to commitment. The use of the words “faithful” and “faithless” connotes the love relationship between us and God, i.e. Christ and the Church as His Bride. You have only to look at God’s covenant with faithless Israel to understand God’s faithfulness to those who believe but continue to fall into sin.