Friday 20 September 2013

chart


I hope this chart proves helpful to some. Saves getting confused between Calvinism and Hyper Calvinism. See also this earlier post.



DOCTRINE UNBALANCED ARMINIANISM BALANCED CALVINISM UNBALANCED HYPER CALVINISM
Man's responsibility  Rightly emphasise it but believe it implies man's ability. (See below) Believe that man is absolutely responsible for his actions while God is absolutely sovereign. Deny man's responsibility in a vain effort to protect the doctrine of man's depravity. Effectively reduces man to being a block of wood.
God's Sovereignty  Believe it in regards to creation and providence etc., but effectively deny it in the most important matter of all i.e. salvation. Believe this truth holds in every situation. "All my ways shall ever be, ordered by His wise decree" Hold to this doctrine but over emphasise it to the exclusion of man's responsibility.
Man's depravity Deny this doctrine believing that all men have been given the ability to repent and believe the gospel. Believe that while all men are required to repent etc., SIN has robbed them of the power to do so.  Hold to this doctrine but over emphasise it to the exclusion of man's responsibility.
Election Make it conditional upon faith. Effectively self election rather than "God's election" Place it where it belongs - in the hand of God. Unconditional so as to put God under no obligation. Hold to this doctrine but over emphasise it to the exclusion of man's responsibility.
Extent of the Atonement Believe that it extends to every last son of Adam, including those who eternally in hell when Jesus died. Believe that although sufficient for all men in its merit, yet intended to redeem only the elect. Afraid to preach the universal aspect of the atonement (Compare the Calvinist belief) lest they be considered Arminian.
Effect of the Atonement Largely ineffectual since many ofthose for whom Christ is said to have died are bearing those same sinsin Hell for which He is said to have died. Totally effectual since every last one for whom Christ died will be gathered in, thus making His feeling of satisfaction (Isaiah 53:10) credible. There does not seem to be any imbalance here on this particular point.
Preaching of the Atonement Although sound in preaching the free offer of the gospel, their theology of atonement is inherently compromised - see previous box.  Preach the free offer of the gospel, assuring every last man (elect or not) that if they come to the Cross, they will find pardon. Will only preach it as a fact. As above, will not offer it. Believe that the free offer implies creature power. Which it doesn't.
Effectual grace  Believe that the grace of God can always be resisted by the sinner. Believe that the elect and non elect alike can resist the grace of God, but there comes a time when the elect find it irresistible. Too much emphasise on this doctrine leaves them in a state of practical fatalism.
Perseverance of the Saints Rank Arminians believe that true Christians can lose their salvation. Others who disbelieve the first 4 points of Calvinism, effectively believe the last. The elect will persevere in holiness unto the end and so will be saved, being kept by the power of God through faith. Although they believe this doctrine in theory, yet their over emphasise on other points leaves them constantly in a state of gloomy doubt.
Evangelism
Believe it in although their basic message is compromised and they have no absolute assurance of the success of their mission.  Believe in it - can offer a Saviour who actually accomplished something at Calvary - as opposed to merely making it possible - and have absolute guarantee by divine decree that their mission will be successful. Hardly believe in evangelism at all. At best will but state the gospel facts, but will not plead with men to be saved as the great Calvinist evangelists did in the past.
Holiness Holiness is to be found among all schools of God's people, often despite their doctrine. Holiness is to be found among all schools of God's people, often despite their doctrine. Holiness is to be found among all schools of God's people, often despite their doctrine. Unfortunately there are those in the Hyper camp who believe that if you are going to be saved, then you will be saved no matter how you live. Such Antinomianism is to be abhorred and separated from.
                      
 
Note: I recently received a tweet from a professing Arminian friend who denies this my claim that Arminians deny Total Depravity. When asked to supply a suitable brief replacement text, he sent  this:


 "Humans are entirely sinful and corrupt and unable to make any move toward salvation without God's enabling grace." 

I therefore decided to remove the charge. Always and only interested in stating facts.

 

2 comments:

  1. Good job! I always wondered what the Arminians thought of Saul/Paul's conversion. Saul was struck blind against his will, by God. Saul, the great religionist who knew a great deal about Jewish doctrine still had no ability to repent of his sins, even while he apparently heard a very convicting sermon from Stephen the martyr. But God spoke to Saul on his way to Damascus to persecute Christians, and stopped Saul in his tracks, against his will. God brought Saul to his knees, against his will. From the ground Paul said, "who are you Lord?" For Saul the great Jewish scholar did not "know" the Lord. Then Paul was told by God to go to into the city to await further directions. Against his will Saul was blind for three days and three nights. Ananias the Christian was told (initially against his will) to go to Saul the persecutor and lay hands on him to restore his sight. But God assured Ananias that He had chosen Saul for salvation! So Ananias obeyed the Lord, and the scales fell from Saul's eyes, he arose and was baptized. Where in this whole scenario was Saul's so-called free will?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Anon.,

      I believe his sin enchained will (John 8:34) was freed by grace and therefore he freely called on the Lord's name for salvation.

      Thanks for passing by

      Delete

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