The Highway Forums General Discussion Theology Discussion Forum "Is Calvinism the Gospel?"

Yes, God cannot contradict that which He has eternally decreed. Thus, on the basis of Arminianism's insistence that God predestinates/elects on the basis of "foreseen faith", He cannot save those whom He has not "foreseen" as believing. ONLY those whom God has given the 'ability' to believe in the dispensing of prevenient grace can believe, all others are doomed to damnation.

This is exactly what CLASSIC Arminianism teaches. What they affirmed in "Article III" (Remonstrance) and countered in the "Third and Fourth Heads of Doctrine" (Canons of Dort), that man is Totally Depraved, they redefine and contradict in "Article IV" of the Remonstrance and countered in the "Third and Fourth Heads of Doctrine" of the Canons. If man is DEAD in sin, i.e., spiritually dead (Gen 6:5; 8:21; Eph 2:1-5; 4:17-19; etc.) there is absolutely no inclination, no predisposition toward God, negatively stated and but rather an inherent hatred of God and all that is good, positively stated. Secondly, Arminianism teaches that regeneration (a creating of a new nature and recreation of the will), which results in a spiritual inclination, a predisposition, a love for God and all that is good, out of which flows repentance and faith, all of which is the sovereign work of the Holy Spirit follows faith. Then it is logically and utterly impossible that an unregenerate sinner could even desire to believe upon Christ. Yet, Arminianism posits that "prevenient grace", which is nowhere to be found in Scripture, allows, gives the ability to an UNREGENERATE sinner to exercise his free-will and believe upon Christ.

This is not simply MY understanding and assessment of CLASSIC Arminianism, but the understanding, assessment and condemnation by unanimous decision of every representative of the Protestant Church who attended the great Synod of Dordtrect after nearly 18 months of deliberation. Further, this is the same understanding, assessment and condemnation of all the Puritans and the official Confessions and Catechisms of the Reformed Churches worldwide. And this same view was held by all the Reformed (Protestant) churches that followed. Yet, you suggest that "I" am mistaken in my understanding of the teachings of Arminianism. IF that was factual, then the entire Protestant (Reformational) Church is to be charged the same; they were ALL in error. I think that is most unlikely and actually absurd.

Lastly, on this point... Your objection is "classic" in that the crux of the matter is not primarily the doctrines of predestination, election nor even the atonement, albeit they are certainly matters of serious dispute and fundamental to the doctrine of soteriology. But rather, the 'rub' always comes down to the doctrine of "Total Depravity"; the doctrine of Original Sin and the noetic effects of the Fall. If man is as depraved and dead as the Bible teaches he is (post lapsarian), then the sovereign work of regeneration is absolutely prerequisite. Unregenerate sinners are totally incapable of choosing a God who they hate. The bottom line is that Arminianism and semi-Pelagianism both clearly teach that sinners are capable of and do choose that which is contrary to their fallen nature, which even God Himself is incapable of doing.

It is NOT the question of God's "power" but "desire/will" to save everyone. God could have just as easily determined to save all. But the fact is, He did not desire to set His love upon all but only a remnant of Adam's fallen race to receive His mercy and grace in Christ.

That is not what I wrote. In the Arminian system, "faith" is monergistic. Man believes on his own after receiving the alleged "prevenient grace". Arminianism teaches that faith is an inherent 'quality' within man which he can exercise after he is given the 'ability' to express. The Bible and Calvinism, in contradistinction teaches that faith and repentance are gifts of God, which the Spirit creates in the heart and which is part of the "new spiritual nature" of regenerate man. (Acts 5:31: 11:18; 13:48; 16:14; Jh 10:16,26; Rom 8:30; 11:7; Eph 1:19; 2:5-10; 2Th 2:13-14; 2Tim 2:25)

True. Arminianism teaches God has a universal and indiscriminate "love" for all mankind and "desires" to save ALL. Yet, despite this alleged universal love for all mankind, not all are predestined to eternal life in Christ. Arminianism insists that God elects only those whom He "foresees" as believing. Those who do not believe, are sent to eternal hell even though God alleged "loves" them.

True. This is incontrovertible. I already gave you an illustration in Joe Smith. The Arminian system is self-contradictory in that it tries to have its cake and eat it too. 1) God's decree is immutable. 2) Man's will is totally free to determine whatsoever it desires.

1) God allegedly "foresees" Joe Smith as believing and decrees that he will believe. Thus at the given time Joe Smith does not have the option of not believing. Thus his will is not "free"; there is no choice to do anything but believe regardless of the circumstances. 2) God allegedly "foresees" Joe Smith as believing and decrees that he will believe. But at the given moment which God allegedly "foresaw" Joe Smith believing, he gets a call on his cell phone that his daughter has just been hit by a speeding car and is being rushed to the hospital. Consequently, Joe Smith drops everything and rushes to the hospital to see his daughter. His "foreseen" believing never takes place. Thus, God's sovereign decree is thwarted.

The same can be said about all of the "Five Points" of the Arminian system of soteriology. Every point can be said to be dependent upon what MAN chooses and that God's Omnipotence can be potentially thwarted. a) God desires to save all, but most are not. b) Christ died for all, paying the penalty for all their sins, but yet the majority of mankind is cast into hell despite Christ's atonement in their behalf. c) God gives prevenient grace to all so that they can believe, but the majority resist this influence and remain in unbelief. d) The Holy Spirit is given to all who believe, but potentially some, many, all can fall away.

True. How could it be otherwise, given that Arminianism teaches a synergistic salvation; Man saves himself with God's help.

False! What I wrote was that I have read in excess of 60 books and tomes of articles which included the writings of Jacobus Arminius and his followers... as well as the official documents submitted by the Remonstrants and the recorded documents which rejected them. Without question, I have also consulted the writings of Calvinists, e.g., Reformers and Puritans who were more than aware of what CLASSIC Arminianism and semi-Pelagianism taught, critiqued those systems and soundly refuted them. On the other hand, it appears that your main source of information concerning Arminianism is the writings and dialog with modern Arminians... and perhaps your own favorable studies.

If one wanted to know what Presbyterianism teaches, it would be a gross mistake to consult the writings of modern so-called Presbyterians, e.g., the PCUSA, UPC, many in the EPC, et al. For they reject what historic CLASSIC Presbyterians believed. The same can be said, and even more so concerning Congregationalism. It would be fool hearty to consult 99%+ of the modern Congregationalists in order to ascertain what Congregationalism teaches. The intelligent choice would be to consult the "Savoy Declaration" and those who held to it faithfully, e.g., Thomas Goodwin, John Owen, etc.

Already answered above. Arminianism teaches that God elects those who He "foresees" as believing (conditional election based upon man's determinative action). Arminianism teaches UNREGENERATE sinners have the ability to believe on Christ or to reject Christ. This believing is solely the prerogative of man and his free-will. All that God has done and willed is dependent upon this one act of man. As Billy Graham wrote, "God has done everything He can do to save you... Now it's up to you." (How to Be Born Again). Thus, "faith" in the Arminian system is man's contribution to salvation, aka: synergism.

It is essential to remember, that the doctrines submitted to the Synod of Dordt were in essence an attempt to return to Rome, albeit taking a mediating position for Roman Catholicism is semi-Pelagian.

This is nonsense and totally illogical. IF, as you insist as do all Arminians insist that man's will is "free = self-determined" then man is capable of choosing anything he so desires at any particular time and under any circumstance. What God allegedly "foresees" is only a possibility, a theoretical situation. For if man's will is as free as you would say it is, then the one "foreseen" is more than capable of not believing, cf. my illustration above. If that alleged "foreseen faith" is fixed by God's decree, then that person's will is no longer free to choose to the contrary.