Most Arminians (those of the opposite persuasion) are not aware of the fact that their patron saint (Jacob Hermann or Jacobus Arminius in Latin) was once a Reformed theologian at a Dutch university who was expelled from his post in disgrace. Reformed theology is the orthodox position, (going back to Aurelius Augustine, Bishop of Hippo's, debate with the British monk Pelagius in the 5th century), though we are all born semi-Pelagians or Arminians (they are actually in the majority, even among Evangelical churches) and Martin Luther, formerly an Augustinian monk, wrote a book, The Babylonian Captivity of the Church. Luther claimed we are all natural-born semi-Pelagians and we should consequently understand their viewpoint.
Many are in a fog about what Reformed theology is, it is sometimes referred to as Covenant theology, (people call it this to avoid the derogatory term "Calvinist" with its negative connotations). J. I. Packer says that is is more than a set of doctrines to subscribe to, but a "hermeneutic"--a way of seeing and interpreting Scripture in the light of grace, and having a viewpoint from above. I see it as a "mindset" and even a "worldview" because we can see everything in the light of God's grace. Let the Holy Spirit's illuminating ministry open your eyes and I hope you "get it"--a new orientation.
The pill that's hard for some to swallow is that our ultimate destiny is in God's hands and we are not in control (Yes, we are at the complete mercy of God who will have mercy on whom He will have mercy) and so they make erroneous conclusions based on their bias. "It is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy" (Rom. 9:16). It is written in John 15:16: "I chose you, and you didn't choose me." Ephesians 1:5 says "according to the good pleasure of His will...." Being the elect refers to God's election, not ours! The common belief of prescience is that God conditioned our election on our contingent faith on our belief and thus we merited it and are better than the lost.
The golden chain of redemption in Rom. 8:29-39 militates against prescience if you exegete it. He elected those He foreknew (means to have a personal love-relationship with, not knowing facts about someone). Calvinists adhere to unconditional election based on His purpose and grace and nothing in us found worthy of it. God doesn't owe us a measure of grace, or it would be justice, not grace! Do you really think you responded to the gospel because you were more virtuous or moral than the unbeliever? Arminians admit they cannot explain why some respond to His wooing and others don't, other than positing that some desire to be saved and others don't (actually the Greek word for wooing is elko and it really means to "drag" someone!). God didn't owe us--He didn't have to save anyone!
It seems most people have preconceived notions of Calvinism (which really are "hyper-Calvinism" ideas of "double-predestination" and "reprobation" that they object to, or even the doctrine of "election," and for this cause Calvinism gets a bad rap). Calvinism per se is not what John Calvin taught (his teachings about predestination, for example, were sparse), and it was first delineated by the Synod of Dort in 1618 to answer the Remonstrants who had a five-pointed objection with the Reformers (namely, Johann Koch, John Preston, John Ball, Caspar Olevianus, Robert Rollock, Zacharias Ursinus, Henry Bullinger, Huldreich Zwingli, John Calvin and Martin Luther with Phillip Melancthon ahead of the game or before the fact, so to speak).
Calvinists are not preoccupied with one doctrine and are not on a mission to convert people to their way of thinking. It only seems that way since they've had a "grace awakening" and become "grace-oriented." It's a wonderful way to see God and our relationship with Him--they get the "can't-help-its" and want to share their faith and open their brother's eyes. Case in point: When I personally became aware of "eternal security" it opened my eyes to a whole new way of interpreting Scripture.
C. H. Spurgeon said that Calvinism (also known commonly by the nomenclature of Reformed theology and Covenant theology, though these terms are not identical) is simply acknowledging that "Salvation is of the Lord" as Jonah testified in the belly of the great fish. Faith is God's gift, but our act (God doesn't believe for us!). Roman Catholics believe that faith is a meritorious work and we all know that we are not saved by works in Ephesians 2:8-9. It is easier to see that we owe our faith to our election and not our election to our faith. We are not elected because of our faith, but unto faith (this means the election results in regeneration and faith/repentance and is not caused by it--see 2 Thess. 2:13, Acts 13:48; and 1 John 5:1 in ESV), and this election is, according to the Calvinists, vital to know, as we don't merit our election in any way. A condition of salvation is to realize we are not worthy.
If we have to do anything for our salvation we will fail, and miserably. The other possibilities are logical "of us alone" and "of us and God together in a joint, cooperative venture.' If you think about it, the former one is religion, and the latter is legalism. The only way of grace is by God alone and we can be sure this way (no human element involved to vary): Man is incurably addicted to doing something force his salvation according to Chuck Swindoll! We just receive it by faith and that faith is God's gift. If we have to do a work for salvation we will fail, and at that miserably. What's the joy in not knowing you are saved or that you have to do something to be accepted in the Beloved? Nehemiah 8:10 says: "The joy of the LORD is your strength." This is because there is a difference between the conjecture of the Arminian versus the certitude of the Calvinist--viva la difference!
John Newton says that he believes in unconditional election before he was born because he certainly didn't do anything in his life to merit it! The Reformed doctrines (known also as "doctrines that divide" by some) are known as TULIP or by five so-called points in this acrostic. The misunderstanding comes from the unfortunate nomenclature in describing the points. They should be better known as radical corruption, sovereign choice, efficacious or quickening grace, particular redemption and the God's preservation of the saints, just to give examples (R. C. Sproul, among others, use these terms).
Faith is a gift per Acts 18:27 ("You have believed through grace") among other passages. He opens our heart like He did to Lydia in Acts 16:14. Note also that repentance is the flip side of faith and is also the gift of God per Acts 5:31 among other passages. The terms are used almost interchangeably in the gospels and epistles and there is no saving faith without genuine repentance; you can distinguish them, but not separate them--they go hand in hand and are seen together as the gift of God as a work of grace in the individual to change his character and quicken his spirit to salvation. The point is that God grants repentance just as faith: Acts 5:31; 11:18; 2 Tim. 2:25; Rom. 2:4; 2 Cor. 7:9, et alia. We have to see what Jesus meant in John 6:44, 65 and that we cannot come to the Father on our own, without grace and it is "granted."
This is not the place to elaborate or defend these doctrines here, as we will miss the point: What is the point? Simply what the reformers' battle cry was: The "Five Onlys": Sola Deo Gloria (to God alone be the glory--i.e., we get no credit!), sola fide (by faith alone--i.e., not of works we do), Soli Christo (through Christ alone--i.e., we don't help Jesus out!), sola gratia (by grace alone--i.e., it is freely given and not earned or deserved!) and sola Scriptura (Scripture alone as authority--i.e., not the Papists, Romanists, or the "Church."). As Martin Luther said, "I dissent, I disagree, I protest." Namely, that God gets all the glory and credit and we have naught to brag or boast of in His presence of. Grace alone means we don't work at all in our salvation! They should be known as the "doctrines of grace, not doctrines that divide." Arminians don't accept the fact that grace is the sine qua non of faith (in other words it is not only necessary, but all-sufficient, and regeneration precedes faith per 2 Thess. 2:13 and 1 John 5:1 in the ESV). Romanists affirm that grace is necessary but we must add at least some congruous merit to it since it is not sufficient. We don't add to God's work in us--that gives us some of the credit.
Christians of the Reformed persuasion are not fanatics on a mission to convert believers to their school of thought but have a new spiritual fervor because of this awakening, and once you've experienced it, you want to pass it along! Just as Jesus said, "You shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free" (John 8:32). God turns our heart of stone into hearts of flesh by grace (cf. Ezek. 36:26)--He makes believers out of us per Philippians 2:13 et alia! The conclusion of the matter is this: God doesn't enable us to save ourselves or even just offer to save us--He saves us! We must first quit trying to save ourselves and learn to trust and obey. Soli Deo Gloria!
Many are in a fog about what Reformed theology is, it is sometimes referred to as Covenant theology, (people call it this to avoid the derogatory term "Calvinist" with its negative connotations). J. I. Packer says that is is more than a set of doctrines to subscribe to, but a "hermeneutic"--a way of seeing and interpreting Scripture in the light of grace, and having a viewpoint from above. I see it as a "mindset" and even a "worldview" because we can see everything in the light of God's grace. Let the Holy Spirit's illuminating ministry open your eyes and I hope you "get it"--a new orientation.
The pill that's hard for some to swallow is that our ultimate destiny is in God's hands and we are not in control (Yes, we are at the complete mercy of God who will have mercy on whom He will have mercy) and so they make erroneous conclusions based on their bias. "It is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy" (Rom. 9:16). It is written in John 15:16: "I chose you, and you didn't choose me." Ephesians 1:5 says "according to the good pleasure of His will...." Being the elect refers to God's election, not ours! The common belief of prescience is that God conditioned our election on our contingent faith on our belief and thus we merited it and are better than the lost.
The golden chain of redemption in Rom. 8:29-39 militates against prescience if you exegete it. He elected those He foreknew (means to have a personal love-relationship with, not knowing facts about someone). Calvinists adhere to unconditional election based on His purpose and grace and nothing in us found worthy of it. God doesn't owe us a measure of grace, or it would be justice, not grace! Do you really think you responded to the gospel because you were more virtuous or moral than the unbeliever? Arminians admit they cannot explain why some respond to His wooing and others don't, other than positing that some desire to be saved and others don't (actually the Greek word for wooing is elko and it really means to "drag" someone!). God didn't owe us--He didn't have to save anyone!
It seems most people have preconceived notions of Calvinism (which really are "hyper-Calvinism" ideas of "double-predestination" and "reprobation" that they object to, or even the doctrine of "election," and for this cause Calvinism gets a bad rap). Calvinism per se is not what John Calvin taught (his teachings about predestination, for example, were sparse), and it was first delineated by the Synod of Dort in 1618 to answer the Remonstrants who had a five-pointed objection with the Reformers (namely, Johann Koch, John Preston, John Ball, Caspar Olevianus, Robert Rollock, Zacharias Ursinus, Henry Bullinger, Huldreich Zwingli, John Calvin and Martin Luther with Phillip Melancthon ahead of the game or before the fact, so to speak).
Calvinists are not preoccupied with one doctrine and are not on a mission to convert people to their way of thinking. It only seems that way since they've had a "grace awakening" and become "grace-oriented." It's a wonderful way to see God and our relationship with Him--they get the "can't-help-its" and want to share their faith and open their brother's eyes. Case in point: When I personally became aware of "eternal security" it opened my eyes to a whole new way of interpreting Scripture.
C. H. Spurgeon said that Calvinism (also known commonly by the nomenclature of Reformed theology and Covenant theology, though these terms are not identical) is simply acknowledging that "Salvation is of the Lord" as Jonah testified in the belly of the great fish. Faith is God's gift, but our act (God doesn't believe for us!). Roman Catholics believe that faith is a meritorious work and we all know that we are not saved by works in Ephesians 2:8-9. It is easier to see that we owe our faith to our election and not our election to our faith. We are not elected because of our faith, but unto faith (this means the election results in regeneration and faith/repentance and is not caused by it--see 2 Thess. 2:13, Acts 13:48; and 1 John 5:1 in ESV), and this election is, according to the Calvinists, vital to know, as we don't merit our election in any way. A condition of salvation is to realize we are not worthy.
If we have to do anything for our salvation we will fail, and miserably. The other possibilities are logical "of us alone" and "of us and God together in a joint, cooperative venture.' If you think about it, the former one is religion, and the latter is legalism. The only way of grace is by God alone and we can be sure this way (no human element involved to vary): Man is incurably addicted to doing something force his salvation according to Chuck Swindoll! We just receive it by faith and that faith is God's gift. If we have to do a work for salvation we will fail, and at that miserably. What's the joy in not knowing you are saved or that you have to do something to be accepted in the Beloved? Nehemiah 8:10 says: "The joy of the LORD is your strength." This is because there is a difference between the conjecture of the Arminian versus the certitude of the Calvinist--viva la difference!
John Newton says that he believes in unconditional election before he was born because he certainly didn't do anything in his life to merit it! The Reformed doctrines (known also as "doctrines that divide" by some) are known as TULIP or by five so-called points in this acrostic. The misunderstanding comes from the unfortunate nomenclature in describing the points. They should be better known as radical corruption, sovereign choice, efficacious or quickening grace, particular redemption and the God's preservation of the saints, just to give examples (R. C. Sproul, among others, use these terms).
Faith is a gift per Acts 18:27 ("You have believed through grace") among other passages. He opens our heart like He did to Lydia in Acts 16:14. Note also that repentance is the flip side of faith and is also the gift of God per Acts 5:31 among other passages. The terms are used almost interchangeably in the gospels and epistles and there is no saving faith without genuine repentance; you can distinguish them, but not separate them--they go hand in hand and are seen together as the gift of God as a work of grace in the individual to change his character and quicken his spirit to salvation. The point is that God grants repentance just as faith: Acts 5:31; 11:18; 2 Tim. 2:25; Rom. 2:4; 2 Cor. 7:9, et alia. We have to see what Jesus meant in John 6:44, 65 and that we cannot come to the Father on our own, without grace and it is "granted."
This is not the place to elaborate or defend these doctrines here, as we will miss the point: What is the point? Simply what the reformers' battle cry was: The "Five Onlys": Sola Deo Gloria (to God alone be the glory--i.e., we get no credit!), sola fide (by faith alone--i.e., not of works we do), Soli Christo (through Christ alone--i.e., we don't help Jesus out!), sola gratia (by grace alone--i.e., it is freely given and not earned or deserved!) and sola Scriptura (Scripture alone as authority--i.e., not the Papists, Romanists, or the "Church."). As Martin Luther said, "I dissent, I disagree, I protest." Namely, that God gets all the glory and credit and we have naught to brag or boast of in His presence of. Grace alone means we don't work at all in our salvation! They should be known as the "doctrines of grace, not doctrines that divide." Arminians don't accept the fact that grace is the sine qua non of faith (in other words it is not only necessary, but all-sufficient, and regeneration precedes faith per 2 Thess. 2:13 and 1 John 5:1 in the ESV). Romanists affirm that grace is necessary but we must add at least some congruous merit to it since it is not sufficient. We don't add to God's work in us--that gives us some of the credit.
Christians of the Reformed persuasion are not fanatics on a mission to convert believers to their school of thought but have a new spiritual fervor because of this awakening, and once you've experienced it, you want to pass it along! Just as Jesus said, "You shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free" (John 8:32). God turns our heart of stone into hearts of flesh by grace (cf. Ezek. 36:26)--He makes believers out of us per Philippians 2:13 et alia! The conclusion of the matter is this: God doesn't enable us to save ourselves or even just offer to save us--He saves us! We must first quit trying to save ourselves and learn to trust and obey. Soli Deo Gloria!