Sermon Tone Analysis

Calvinism and Arminianism share both history and many doctrines, and the history of Christian theology.

The distinction is whether God desires to save all yet allows individuals to resist the grace offered (in the Arminian doctrine) or if God desires to save only some and grace is irresistible to those chosen (in the Calvinist doctrine)

Both sides will agree on the total depravity of man and the horrible effects of sin.

Both will also agree that salvation only comes through the agency of the Holy Spirit working in the lives of people.

Now, the question is to whom does the Holy Spirit work?

Defining Terms

Predestination: Pre-establish boundaries before creation

Free-Will: Idea that people have choice independent from God

Calvinism/Reformed Perspectives

5 Pillars of Calvinism: Total Depravity, Unconditional Election; Limited Atonement; Irresistible Grace; Perseverance of the Saints

Terms for Timing of Salvation under Calvinism

Infralapsarianism: (1) God decreed the creation of mankind, (2) God decreed mankind would be allowed to fall into sin through their own self-determination, (3) God decreed to save some of the fallen, and (4) God decreed to provide Jesus Christ as the Redeemer.

Sublapsarianism: (1) God decreed to create human beings, (2) God decreed to permit the fall, (3) God decreed to provide salvation sufficient to all, and (4) God decreed to choose some to receive this salvation.

Supralapsarianism: (1) God decreed the election of some and the eternal condemnation of others, (2) God decreed to create those elected and eternally condemned, (3) God decreed to permit the fall, and (4) God decreed to provide salvation for the elect through Jesus Christ.

Compatibilist Freedom: Agent is free as long as the action is not coerced, so long as the agent does what they want to do, even if they are determined.

You do what you want to do, but you have been caused to have the desires you have and want what you want.

You can not want/desire anything else.

Arminian/Wesleyan Perspectives

Prevenient Grace: It is divine grace that precedes human decision.

In other words, God will start showing love to that individual at a certain point in his lifetime.

Belief that grace enables, but does not ensure, personal acceptance of the gift of salvation.

Foreknowledge: Idea that God knows the future while still allowing human free-will.

It is believe that God can know and bless people based upon his future vision.

Libertarian Freedom: A free action is not determined by prior causes or conditions.

Free actions are chosen for reasons.

Reasons can explain actions but they do not determine them.

(ie.

Our freedom is in our ability to rationalize).

Support for Reformed Perspective

Do the scriptures teach God’s comprehensive sovereignty?

“All things” means all things

"All things” are both things in heaven and earth or everything

The days of our individual lives are formed and ordained by God

Random/insignificant events occur by God’s will.

The will of kings is turned by God.

He does not mean that God does not care, but that no human being can object the will of God.

God’s will is accomplished.

There are multiple “Spectrum” texts indicating God’s control over all things.

God creates both the good things and the calamity/evil things that happen.

The Lord makes these things.

We would never attribute killing to God.

We would never attribute wounding to God.

We often attribute the good from God, but this verse attributes bad as coming from God as well.

The reason a Calvinist believes in the gospel is not because of individual free-will but because of God’s choice of the individual.

They do not deny the responsibility of humanity to choose to believe and repent.

Peter did not preach in Acts 2, “Consider if you are elect.”

Instead, he said,

Choose for yourself!

They will not deny the individuals choice.

The ultimate reason they choose is because of God’s election and choice of us.

It is God gracious work in the lives of the elect.

It does not say, “All those who believe were appointed for eternal life.”

It says, “those who were appointed believed”

First comes the appointment, then the belief.

Coming & Believing (v.35) are similar words for believing.

Now, v.37 could be expressed this way, “All that the father gives to me believes in me.”

That wouldn’t not be all people!

Some do not believe in Jesus.

Therefore, the conclusion would be that only some people are given to Jesus and therefore only some people are predetermined/elected for salvation.

Those that are given to Jesus by the Father come, PERIOD.

They come because they were given.

No one is able to come or has the ability to come.

Those who are dead in trespasses and sins are dead and therefore can not come unless they are drawn, irresistibly, by a persuading will (not against their will) to the Father.

Those whom are called are justified.

All that are called are justified.

So, if everyone is called, then everyone is justified … there are some people who are not justified.

Calling does not mean invite, but an effectual call.

Calling creates faith within a person.

This calling mentality is seen in the calling of Lazarus to life.

Jesus called Lazarus in his death and he became alive.

God chose so that no one could boast before God.

v.30 it is because of God that we are in Christ Jesus.

They believe that all the credit to an individual choosing God goes to God.

We would not have chosen Him apart from His grace.

His glory alone is the reason that people choose him.

Compatibilist Freedom is the Freedom used in the Bible

Joseph approaches his brothers and gives credit to God.

It isn’t that God used what the brothers did, but rather God sent.

v.7, God sent.

v.8, it was not you, but God

Does Joseph really believe that his brothers did what they wanted to do? -YES

Now, Joseph tells that he realizes God was behind all of this.

We see the relationship between man’s actions and God’s will.

Who sent Joseph to Egypt? -The Brothers did and God! (Both / And)

Moral framework shows the Brothers were evil but God was good.

How did Jesus get nailed to the cross?

-Wicked Men & God!

The wicked action, of crucifying Jesus, that people do is the same action that God does in his love and grace.

God raised up Assyria to be a tool against his people.

As Assyrians tramples people in the streets, they do not see themselves as an instrument of God.

Assyria has an arrogant heart and they will be judged.

Now, who brought destruction on Israel?

-Assyria & God

God raised up that wicked nation to destroy and they did exactly what he wanted them to do.

If the authors had freedom to write whatever they wanted, then God was fortunate that the authors wrote what He wanted.

Did God predestine them to be the writers or predestine what they would write?

Support for Arminian Perspective

Reformed Perspective is Unfair

Calvinism seems “unfair.”

However, this should not be the starting point for Arminian theology.