I am discovering that the gulf between the theology of Calvinism and Arminianism is much larger than I had ever imagined and it disturbs me. One of Pilgrim's references for me pointed to a site with the paper, 'Arminian Errors' by William MacLean. It was an eye-opener, especially the section where he bashes evangelicals from Billy Graham "and on down" to use his words. I say that I am disturbed because my own views place me in position to be your opponent even though I would desire fellowship and a true sharing of God's word in humility.
I won't provide scriptures on MJM's behalf; I will let him defend the points he brings up because it is not my "battle". I jumped into this particular thread on 5-point Calvinism out of curiosity and a desire to discuss theology. However, I will provide some scriptures to discuss the topic of salvation or soteriology:
Acts 16:30-34 30 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? 31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. 32 And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house. 33 And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway. 34 And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.
Can we all agree that the Phillipian jailor was unsaved at the point of verse 30? Else he would not have asked, "...what must I do to be saved?" Let's discuss the state of the jailor at this point. According to the soteriology that I have studied, a person is in an un-regenerated state prior to being saved. Their spirit is dead and they cannot even receive the things of the Holy Spirit because their own spirit is dead. This was a condition brought to the whole human race through Adam's original sin. What prompted or motivated the jailor to desire salvation? The Holy Spirit who was drawing him. He observed Paul and Silas' faith and wanted this assurance of salvation in his own heart. What if the jailor had not followed their advice, what if he chose not to beleive? He would not have been converted according to verse 31.
Do you have a definition for conversion (the new birth)?
When does conversion occur in your theology?
What initiates conversion?
According to the Calvinist's view, they must say that the jailor has to do NOTHING. If the jailor's salvation hinges upon the condition to 'Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ...' then you will likely say that Sovereign Grace has been thwarted because the will of man is involved in something you say is entirely within God's will and resources to accomplish.
You and I might agree to a point that it is God who saves us as an act of His own good pleasure to graciously provide this gift of salvation to man. But the jailor above would not have been saved if he had not embraced the person of Jesus Christ according to verse 31.
Verse 31 is a conditional statement: ...Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved... And don't think for a moment that I think that the jailor is saving himself. No way, no how! No one can save himself. But we can delay or pass up the opportunity for God to save us if we refuse or choose not to believe.
Now according to what I was taught, the 'new birth' occurs at the point of salvation. The man accepting the person of Jesus Christ becomes a new creature, old things are passed away. Before this moment, the man was spiritually dead, separated from God and without hope in the world. But he saw how Paul and Silas lived that their testimony was one of calm assurance of the Savior's love and he desired this in his heart. You will say, 'How can he do this if his spirit is dead? How can he desire or seek after God as man is totally depraved and incapable, even not desiring to seek after God?'
The answer is that the Holy Spirit draws him to Christ and this tug or pull of God is difficult for unregenerate man to resist. The unregenerate man is incapable to desire the things of God or God Himself. But the Holy Spirit of God is able to convict the heart of unregenerate men and show them their need of a savior. In the case of the jailor, he allowed Paul and Silas to share God's word to him and he responded and received Jesus Christ as personal Lord and Savior. Unregenerate man's heart is utterly sinful and wicked. I believe that God is greater than our hearts and knows all things and He "reaches in" to our dead soul and miraculously intervenes to soften our hardened heart, allowing us to respond in His strength that He provides to believe Him and receive His person.
1 John 3:20 For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.
You will probably tell me that the jailor was elect although no one including himself can know this. You will say perhaps that the jailor having been chosen as part of the elect was pre-disposed to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. I wonder if you even acknowledge the "new birth" that Jesus spoke to Nicodemus of in John 3?
Answer me this please, what is the significance of Acts 16:31? Is it not an appeal for believing faith unto salvation? Is it not an answer to the question, 'sirs, what must I do to be saved?'
God will not read His word for you. You must exercise iniative and pick up the word of God and read it. Or hire or listen to someone preach the gospel message. Did I help God write His word? No. Did I have any part in God saving me? No. Can I appropriate God's blessings, injunctions and edifications by simply reading and receiving His word? Yes. Do I need to do anything for God (Jesus) to save me? Yes. Believe on the Lord Jesue Christ. Does this mean I am helping God to save me? No.
