Bible Studies

Calvinism, Arminianism, or another possibility?

by Volodya S
02/09/16
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    In the evangelical world, many believers have become locked into two major theological systems of thinking, namely Calvinism, with its emphasis on God’s Sovereignty and election, and Arminianism, with its emphasis on free will. In endless debates and discussions, each side presents its own set of proof texts to support their corresponding positions. Unfortunately, instead of becoming more united in the historic, biblical, Christian faith, more often than not, division and separation has occurred. But is this a necessary consequence or is there a possibility in acknowledging truths in both camps, while not “taking sides” with either one?
    In order to be biblically balanced, we should affirm both God’s Sovereignty as well as human responsibility, election as well as choice, an atonement for all, yet saving effects only to the believing, a grace that saves as well as a grace that can be resisted, and warnings that are fulfilled in false believers, and absolute promises to true believers . As the reader considers and ponders truths that on the surface may seem incompatible and in conflict, he or she can observe that God’s Word presents paradoxical truths that must be held together such as Christ being fully God yet fully man, God being three but also one, the virtue of being exalted by being abased, being last to be first, and so on. The following is a proposal that seeks to do justice to the entirety of the Scriptures as it relates to God's work and man's response in salvation:
T- Totally depraved, yet responsible to believe
R - Really chosen by God and really choose God
U - Unlimited atonement made for all, but limited receivers
T - Thwarted grace by unbelief, and effectual grace through faith
H - Holy ones secure, hypocrites insecure

T - Man’s fall into sin was so significant that he is described as being corrupt, dead in trespasses and sins, alienated from God, having blindness of heart and understanding darkened, a slave to sin, and does not seek God (Gen. 6:5-12; Eph. 2:1, 4:18; John 8:34, Romans 3:10-11). No one has the power within himself to come to Christ without God’s initiation and enablement (John 6:65; Phil. 1:29) and the gospel is the power of God to salvation (Rom. 1:16). At the same time, the Bible states that the right to become a child of God is dependent on man’s reception of Christ by faith (John 1:12), the sealing work of the Spirit is contingent on faith (Eph. 1:13), receiving righteousness is conditioned on faith (Rom. 10:10), culpability lays on man’s unwillingness to believe, not his total inability (Matt. 23:37, 22:1-3; John 5:40), and that man has a genuine choice to make when salvation is offered as well as having the responsibility to believe (Matt. 19:21, Luke 14:17-24, John 10:36-39).
R - Those that trust in Christ are saved and elect. Though election is rooted in God’s Sovereign will without reference to any works, it is not separated or divorced from the necessity of faith. God knows beforehand who will and will not believe. Those who refuse to believe and are not saved have only themselves to blame, not God’s refusal or unwillingness to elect them (1 Thess. 1:4; John 6:64-65, 13:18-20, 17:6, 20; Acts 22:17-18; Thess. 2:13; Acts 13:42-48, Eph. 1:11-13; Matt. 22:1-14, Prov. 1:23-33).
U- Though Christ made atonement for all human beings on the cross (John 1:29; 3:16, 4:42, 1 Tim. 2:5-6, 4:10; 1 John 2:2; 4:14; Titus 2:11 Rom. 5:6, 18; 2 Peter 2:1), it only benefits those who believe (1 Tim. 4:10, John 3:14-15, Heb. 7:25-27; Rom. 5:9-11). The atonement does not automatically save apart from saving faith (John 3:15-16; Acts 10:43; Rom. 3:24-26; Heb. 4:2-3; 1 Cor. 1:18-21) since the elect were at one time the children of wrath and in a state of condemnation (Eph. 2:3; John 3:18). The atonement did not merely make salvation possible, but actually saves those who believe, namely God’s people (Matt. 1:21, Heb. 7:25).
T - The Scripture presents grace as being able to be resisted, received in vain, and abused (Acts 7:51, 54; 2 Cor. 6:1; 2 Tim. 3:8; Heb. 3:15, 10:29, 12:15,Gal. 5:4; Jude 1:4) yet it is also effectual when received by faith, in truth and sincerity (Rom. 3:24-26, 5:2; Eph. 2:8; Col. 1:5-6; 2 Thess. 2:16; 1 Peter 5:12). No one can come to Christ without being drawn by Him, and Christ draws all men to himself (John 6:44, 12:32).
H - Every true saint is eternally secure (John 5:24, 6:39 10:27-29; Eph. 1:13; 1 Thess. 5:9-10 Rom. 5:9, 8:30, Phil. 1:6; Heb. 10:14; 1 Peter 1:4-5). The warning passages against falling away are real and actualized in those who never truly believed, who were never Christ’s sheep, and who finally fall away from the faith (1 Tim. 4:1,  John 6:64-66,  2 Peter 2:20-22, Hebrews 6:4-6). Rather than casting doubt on the security of a believer, the warnings rather confirm it (Hebrews  6:9, 10:39, 1 Cor. 11:29-32).