Doctrine of Grace
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1) INTRODUCTION
1) INTRODUCTION
John Calvin 1509-1564
Jacob Arminius 1560-1609
1610 the students of Arminius constructed the Remonstrance (protest) to certain Reformation Doctrines.
1618-19 the Synod of Dordrecht - the students of Calvin systemized his teaching to counter the Remonstrance.
2) COMPARE
2) COMPARE
Compare Beliefs of Calvinism Vs. Arminianism
God's Sovereignty
The sovereignty of God is the belief that God is in complete control over everything that happens in the universe. His rule is supreme, and his will is the final cause of all things.
Calvinism: In Calvinist thinking, God's sovereignty is unconditional, unlimited, and absolute. All things are predetermined by the good pleasure of God's will. God foreknew because of his own planning.
Questions:
Do this mean we are robots?
Is this fatalism?
Arminianism: To the Arminian, God is sovereign, but has limited his control in correspondence with man's freedom and response. God's decrees are associated with his foreknowledge of man's response.
Does this mean there was a time when God did not know?
Does this mean that God’s reactive?
Does this mean that God simulated several different scenarios to come up with the one plan He has for the world?
Man's Depravity
Calvinist believe in the total depravity of man while Arminians hold to an idea dubbed "partial depravity."
Calvinism: Because of the Fall, man is totally depraved and dead in his sin. Man is unable to save himself and, therefore, God must initiate salvation.
Arminianism: Because of the Fall, man has inherited a corrupted, depraved nature. Through "prevenient grace," God removed the guilt of Adam's sin. Prevenient grace is defined as the preparatory work of the Holy Spirit, given to all, enabling a person to respond to God's call to salvation.
How do we understand
And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
Arminian - the word “death” means “separated or alienated” - .
Calvinism - The word “death” means without life - The context of .
Election
Election refers to the concept of how people are chosen for salvation. Calvinists believe election is unconditional, while Arminians believe election is conditional.
Calvinism: Before the foundation of the world, God unconditionally chose (or "elected") some to be saved. Election has nothing to do with man's future response. The elect are chosen by God.
Arminianism: Election is based on God's foreknowledge of those who would believe in him through faith. In other words, God elected those who would choose him of their own free will. Conditional election is based on man's response to God's offer of salvation.
How do you understand
Redemptive
National
Christ's Atonement
Atonement is the most controversial aspect of the Calvinism vs. Arminianism debate. It refers to Christ's sacrifice for sinners. To the Calvinist, Christ's atonement is limited to the elect. In Arminian thinking, atonement is unlimited. Jesus died for all people.
Calvinism: Jesus Christ died to save only those who were given to him (elected) by the Father in eternity past. Since Christ did not die for everyone, but only for the elect, his atonement is wholly successful.
Arminianism: Christ died for everyone. The Savior's atoning death provided the means of salvation for the entire human race. Christ's atonement, however, is effective only for those who believe.
Questions
For whom did Christ do all this for?
Whose sins did He atone for?
For whom did He purchase all the benefits of Heaven for?
What did Christ achieve on the cross for those whom He died for?
Did His death make all me savable?
Did His death decisively secure salvation of anyone?
For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.
As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.
All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.
No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.
Grace
God's grace has to do with his call to salvation. Calvinism says God’s grace is irresistible, while Arminianism argues that it can be resisted.
Calvinism: While God extends his common grace to all humankind, it is not sufficient to save anyone. Only God's irresistible grace can draw the elect to salvation and make a person willing to respond. This grace cannot be obstructed or resisted.
Arminianism: Through the preparatory (prevenient) grace given to all by the Holy Spirit, man is able to cooperate with God and respond in faith to salvation. Through prevenient grace, God removed the effects of Adam's sin. Because of "free will" men are also able to resist God's grace.
Questions
Can people resist the grace of God?
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Man's Will
Man's Will
How do we define irresistible?
Remember back when God saved you. What happened or changed that made you a believer in Jesus Christ?
Man's Will
The free will of man versus God's sovereign will is linked to many points in the Calvinism vs. Arminianism debate.
Calvinism: All men are totally depraved, and this depravity extends to the entire person, including the will. Except for God's irresistible grace, men are entirely incapable of responding to God on their own.
Arminianism: Because prevenient grace is given to all men by the Holy Spirit, and this grace extends to the entire person, all people have free will.
What is Prevenient Grace
The word "prevenient" (or "preventing") means "coming before, preceding, or antecedent." According to Wesleyan/Arminianism, God's prevenient grace counteracts our total deadness in sin, but doesn't totally regenerate us either. According to Arminians, God awakens us even in our unregenerate state, so that all sinners have a real "chance" to turn to God for salvation. But Arminian prevenient grace does not guarantee salvation. According to Arminians, God gives prevenient grace to everybody, hoping that some will respond and be saved, but knowing that most will choose to return to spiritual death.
Why is Prevenient Grace Necessary
It is the unbeliever who is deceitful and wicked (), full of evil (), loves darkness rather than light and does evil (), does not seek for God nor does any good (), is ungodly (), dead in his sins (), by nature a child of wrath (), cannot accept or understand spiritual things (), and a slave of sin ().
Is this Biblical?
Arminian verses
But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
2. Calvinist verses
And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables: That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.
Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you. And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee.
At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight. All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.
Perseverance
Perseverance of the saints is tied to the "once saved, always saved" debate and the question of eternal security. The Calvinist says the elect will persevere in faith and will not permanently deny Christ or turn away from Him. The Arminian may insist that a person can fall away and lose his or her salvation. However, some Arminians embrace eternal security.
Calvinism: Believers will persevere in salvation because God will see to it that none will be lost. Believers are secure in the faith because God will finish the work he began.
Arminianism: By the exercise of free will, believers can turn away or fall away from grace and lose their salvation.
3) WHERE DO I STAND?
3) WHERE DO I STAND?
I believe in the five points of Calvin
Nothing about grace is fair
Several places in the New Testament the word “mystery” occurs related to grace, salvation, the time of the Gentiles and the restoration of Israel.
This is not an easy doctrine to understand
The importance of this doctrine
Who receives the credit for salvation?
Who are we trusting in?
State of man before salvation: wholly defiled
Work of the Father in salvation: unconditional choice
Work of the Son in salvation: personal salvation
Work of the Spirit in salvation: supernatural transformation
State of man after salvation: in faith, preservation.
God does not take pleasure in the death of the wicked
Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?
God wills all people to be saved
I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
People are responsible to repent
Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
No one will be saved without the Gospel being preached
For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.