t _ : : .::- ; :., ',' .:. 50. Theories of Original Sin (S) LD '- (S) N '- N lSI lSI LD Viewpoint Argument Pelagianism Man's soul is created by God (each individual near or at birth). Man's soul is created without corruption. The influence of Adam's sin is that of an example. Man has free voljtion. God's grace is universal since all men have free will; adults may obtain forgiveness through baptism. Thus, Adam's sin does not directly affect others, there is no such thing as original sin, and man is not depraved.. Since man is not born in sin, it is possible for him to be preserved and to never need salvation. Arminianism Man receives from Adam a corrupted nature but does not receive Adam's guilt. This nature is corrupted physically and intellectuaJly. but not volitionaUy. Prevenient grace enables man to believe. Thus, man is nottotally depraved, but still retains the volition to seek God . Calvinism Each individual is related to Adam. There are two primary views: Federal Headship (creationist view of origin of the soul} . The individual receives the physical nature from parents; God creates each soul. Adam was our representative, as ordained by God. "This representation l2,arallels manfs being in Christ unto righteousness Natural Headship (traducianist view of origin of soul-Augustine) The individual receives the physical nature and the soul from the parents. Thus, aJl people were present in Adam in germinal or seminal form. Each inclividual participates in the sin of Adam. Thus, each individual inherits Adam's sin. I-' W W 0"1 -..j I-' W .P- en I-' Ul I-' co en o I H Z fT1 If) fT1 ttl 1> II -1 H If) -1 2 c ;:0 II 1> (j) fT1 (S) N '- I-' lSI t ) ;;
Pelagianism Mans soul is created by God (each individual near or at birth)
Mans soul is created without corruption
The influence of Adams sin is that of an example
Man has free voljtion
Gods grace is universal since all men have free will adults may obtain forgiveness through baptism
Thus Adams sin does not directly affect others there is no such thing as original sin and man is not depraved
Since man is not born in sin it is possible for him to be preserved and to never need salvation
Arminianism Man receives from Adam a corrupted nature but does not receive Adams guilt
This nature is corrupted physically and intellectuaJly but not volitionaUy
Prevenient grace enables man to believe
Thus man is nottotally depraved but still retains the volition to seek God
Calvinism Each individual is related to Adam There are two primary views
Federal Headship (creationist view of origin of the soul
The individual receives the physical nature from parents
God creates each soul
Adam was our representative as ordained by God
This representation l2arallels manfs being in Christ unto righteousness
Natural Headship (traducianist view of origin of soul-Augustine)
The individual receives the physical nature and the soul from the parents
Thus aJl people were present in Adam in germinal or seminal form
Each inclividual participates in the sin of Adam
Thus each individual inherits Adams sin
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( 53 Definition of Key Terms In Salvation
Term Scripture Definition
Mltt 2214 ActsElection Thlt aspect of the eternal purpose of God whereby he certtlinly and 1348 Eph 1 4 2 eternally determines by means of unconditionll and loving choice Thess213 who will believe This is not merely the Intention of God to sav~ )11
who may believe ro-ther it determines who will believe
Ps 139 1-4 Isa4028 Rom 11 33 Heb
Omniscience
413
Acts 223 Rom 829 11 2 Eph 15
Foreknowledge
Eph 15 Gods predetermination of)]] things thlll OCcur In his creation both events and a persons actions All things that hltlppen extemamp1 to God ~re determined by him and are certOlin
Foreordination
Rom 829middot30Predestination
Calling General Mltltt 22 14 John 316-18
Effectual John 644 Rom 8 28-301 Cor 1 2324
John 3 J6-17 637 Acts 4 12
Salvation
Relates to Gods lltnowJedge of ltlll that is or could be lie has full knowledge of himself and all of his creation Hegt knows from eternity all that will OCCUr for certain ~md aloo all that could occur
The selective knowledgl of God that molkes one ~n object of Gods love it is more thm mere knowledge or cognition beforehand The term focuses on Gods motivation to act relating to persons rather than what the persons 111111 Or will not do
Differs from foreordinCltion in that the former concerns the determlnll shytion of II things whereas predestination relates spedfictllly to the
determination of the elect and their conformity to the image of Christ Predestinlt)tion never occurs in the sense of ones being predestined to damnation
General The call of the Gospel through proclam~ 1ion in which all persons are invited to receIve Christ
Effectual The application of the word of the Gospel to the elect The Holy Spirit does this work only in the elect and this results in sIlvation
The culmlnltltion of election the sum tot1 of all Gods work for man in delivering him from his lost condition in sin and presenting him in glory It is received through faith but fltlith is not El cause or reason for which God has justified the person The CclU~e of Oods salvation Is Wholly In Himself not in man (Rom 9 12 16)
Reprobation Isa 69-10 Rom God s pgtlive flttltude in passing over lome people in the bestowment 927 117 of $alvatlon It i$ an expression of Gods d ivine just ice in condemning
them to eternal punishment for sins
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55 Salvation Terms Compared
Concept Teaching of the Old Testament Teaching of the New Testament
Law God establIshed ~ covemmt with his people by gr(lce The role of thtl I~w is not to justify but to show The I~w was ~impl y Ue standard God let for those us what sin is It was a $choolm~ste( to Icad who would adhere to that covenant (Gen 177) us to Chrit (Gal 2]6 324)
Salvation Based entirely on the work of Christ Grece w~s Based entirely on the work of Christ He DCCltlme Indirectly received Believers did not know how thllt l CUrse for us He is the propitiation for OUr grace hlld been effected It was achlcvcd by the sins Grace Is reejved directly thwugh faith future deElth of Christ Grace WClS mediElted by which Is l gift of God The Holy SpIrit priests f)nd sacrificial rites it did not corne Elbout permanently indwells the believer (Rom 325 through e direct person)l rcl~tionship with Christ Gel 313 Eph28-9) The Ioly Spirit had not come in h is fullness
Justification God estlblished i CovenltJnt with his people Although We lTe illstlfied by f)ith iT] ChrIst His silcrifilte the coven~nt w~s certified by ~n extemtl) ritual satisfied Gods rightec)l~s demands mcl he eircurnci$ion thet alone did not ~flve A circumci now counts as righteous all those who trut in sion of the heelrt WIIltl required IlS wei) (Deut 10 16 him (Rom 45 5 J) bull Jer 44) Nor was it the fulfillment of the law that saved salvation came through faith Abraham
believed God and his faith was accounted to him ~s righteousness (Gal 36) If personElI fulfillment of the I~w h2ld been required no one would have been saved
Regeneration There is no proof thlt OT saints were not regencr- The spiritual chilnge wrought In 3 person by the atcd Moses identified a number of Jews who h2ld l-tolySplrit by which he becomes the circumcised he3rts (Dcut 306) They were true posessor of a new life The chtlnge from the JewEl who were cleansed from within having their Itate of spiritual death to thltrtof spiritu~llife [jve~ F1ltered to conform to the will of God (Rom A change in our nature (2 Cor 5 17 Eph 2 1 22829) Isaiah al~o de~ltribed chtlnge th2Jt 1 John 47) resemble the New Te5tament depiction of the new birth (Isa 57 15) These F1ppeFlr to be more thn figurative
Sanctification In the Old Testament we find cases of what the New The work of God in developing the new life 3nd Te tament terms the fmlt of the Spirit No~h and bringing it to perfect jon The epElTtion from Job were both righteous men blameless In the sinful ~nd setting aprt For s~ced conduct Special attention Is given to Abraham purpose Though snctified fully In Chrl5t we f iUl Joephs goodnessvoses meekness me gradually becoming experientIally whElt we Solomons wisdom and Daniel s self-control are posltloMlly (Rom 6 11 ] 2 1 i 1 Cor 1 2) These believers did not hve the fullnlo of tbe Holy Spirit but enjoyed his Indwelling (P~ 5110shy12) and gifts (Exod 361 Num 11 26-30)
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~ 57 Traditional Arguments on Election
Arminianism
Arguments For Arguments Against
God desires all persons to be saved and does not desire the death of the wicked (Ezek 33 1 1 Tim 23middot4 2 Peter 39)
The universal chltlracter of Gods commands and exhortations reveal his desire to save all people (John 33 5middot 7 1 Peter 1 J6) Also God issues a universal invitation for all to come to Christ (Isa 551 Matt 11 28 John 937middot39)
All people are able to believe and be saved because God has issued a universal call to salvation and because God has given all people prevenient grace to counteract sin and to render everyone able to respond to the gospel There is no need for speciltll grace from God for salvation
It would be unjust of God to hold people responshysible for what they are unable to do
God does choose some to salvation and pass over others because he has foreseen who will accept the offer of salvation in Christ Foreshyknowledge is Gods knowing beforehand who will receive salvation and is closely tied with election (Rom 829 ] Peter] 1middot2)
God has selected some to be saved not all and he has even chosen not to reveal some truths to some people (Matt 131016 John 1024shy30)
Gods standard does not change because of mans inability to obey a person can come to God only if God draws him (John 635-4044shy4765)
The term prevenient grace is not found in the Bible Paul expresses the fact that man is unable to turn to God and does not even seek God but that he rejects the revelation he has been given (Rom ] 18middot32 310middot19)
Foreknowledge as used in Scripture is not just knowledge of future events but is a relational term shOWing that God has loved and related to the elect before they came into existence and chose them to be saved because he chose to love them regardless of their deeds (Rom 926-29)
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t~ 57 Traditional Arauments on Election (continued)~
~~
Calvinism
Arguments For Arguments Against
The whole human race is lost in sin and each individual is totally corrupted in intellect will and emotions by sin Man is unable to respond to Gods offer of salvation because he is spiritually dead (Jer J 79 John 644 Rom 3 1middot23 2 Cor 43-4 Eph 2 1-3)
If man is unable to respond and cannot obey God then how can God truly offer salvation to all through the Gospel and expect obedience from man (Matt 1128-30 John 316 6 35)
God is sovereign in all he does and he does all according to his good will and pleasure He is not answerable to man because he is the Creator and can choose whomever he wills to save (Rom 920-21 Eph 15 Phil 2 13 Rev 411)
God desires everyone to be saved (1 Tim 23-4 2 Peter 39)
God has chosen certain people for his special grace irrespective of their physical descent character or good deeds Specifically in salvation he has chosen to save certain people through faith in Christ (John 63744 65 1516 Acts 1348 Rom 96 -24 Eph 14-5)
God would not be fair in choosing only some to eternal life and passing over others because this would violate mans fre~ will to choose and because the offer of the Gospel to a]l would not be in good faith
Election is an expression of Gods sovereign will and is the cause of faith (Eph 28- J 0)
God cannot demand that man believe if faith comes from him
Election is certainly effective for the salvation of all the eject Those whom God chooses will certainly come to faith in Christ (Rom 829-30)
Election is from all eternity and is immutable (Eph 14 gJ 1)
There Is the possibility that those who have come to faith may fall from grace and lose their salvation
God foresaw those who would believe and elected them in eternity (Rom 829)
58 Major Evangelical Views of Election Calvinism Moderate Calvinism Arminianism
Definition The conditional choice of God by whIch he determined who would believe based on his foreknowlshyedge of who will exercise fltlith It i the result of rnansfoith
The uncondltional and lovinq choice of God by which h~ determines who mlJst believe Jt is the CIlI1S( of m)ns faith
The unconditionil) lt1nd lovinq choice of God by which he determines who wll believe It Is the ltrJuse of mans fehh
John Calvin ChFlrles Spurgeon MIIlZlrd J EricksonJ~cob)s Irminius John WsleyNotable Adherents
Historical Roots
Pros
Cons
SCfiptural Evidence
In the eltJrly 17th century the Dutch ptor Arminiu5 while ott~mptshying to defcnd 13ezltls vIew became convinced th~t Flezll emd Calvin were wrong Weley later went beyond Arminiu by emphltlsi~lng prevenient grace
Emphasizes the reltponsiblIlty of mJn to melee a ChQice Also acknowledge mems depravity and hclplessne wlUl0ut Gods Intcrvntion ost ~ttroctive aspct is its allowance for moms free will to choose Mltln cem r~9i5t Gods gracc
Deemphilsizes Gods sollerelgnty By putting God In 0 position of dependence on the decisions of a created being this view makes It E1ppear that God i~ not in control of hi unlvers~ AJIo acknowlshy~dging the doctrine of total depravity r~quired Wesley to come up with prevenient grltllte which hos no basis In ScriptuTe
Central text No logical tre~tje can be found to support the Armlniltln position Thugt they appeol to the llnlversltll character of Gods invitation to sEllvationi 1 Timothy 23-4 Is offered as evidence that God desires ltIII people to be BElVed (~cc al90 Ia 55 1 E~ek 33 11 Acts 1730shy31 2 Peter 39)
During the Reformation Colvin picked up on Augustlne~ emphFlsls on Gods IrregtiiUble grFJce mans gin nature tlnd predestln~tion Calvin WIlS
gtucceeded by leza Who went ltI
tep fUlther
Emphasizes tile holIness and sovereignty of God lind thus his right to mElke such decrees IS
election to salvation
RIghtly emphlt1slzeS the total dcprilvity of man Md his InltIbiJity to choose whllt Is right unaided The OVrriding doctrine Is the absolute sovereignty of God who Is not dependent on the whim or will of mom Man connot reltist Gods grace
This view Is supported by an overwhelming omount of Scriptural evidence
DeemplJsi7lOS mans responsibility Seem~ to eclipse mlt1ns frclt will ~nd thus his r~spon5lbllity for his sin CrlUcs chrqe that it i foteli5Uc and detroys motive for eVFlngelism Biggest problem Jpparent logiCll contr~diction to human freedom
C~ntrill text Romns 96middot2tl Thl demonstr~t~ thlt1t election Is bltlsed on God~ just chltlracter and his sovereignty Therefor~ he will not mllke on unjAst declsion Clnd he Is not requlrcd to xplElin to man why he still find fault with those whom he did not choose
PrimaMly ~ recent intcrpretfJtlon
Emphasizes the holiness and sOI)eurorelgnty of Cod while O1t thlt same tIme prcsemlng the idea ofmilJis responsibility Gods grce jg frresistible but only because God hall chosen to mllke it so appcilling to the elect tholt they wm accept il In other words God enobles the elect to want hi grfJce
Thus God works his sovereign will through th~ will of the elect StrIkes II balmced position between tmditional Calvinism and ArminiElni~m
L1ck~ 8 clear precedent In church history Borders on semllntic 1dodging whcn it dlstln9ui~hes between God rendering something eert)in tlnd something necessary (Gods deciding that someshything will happen ltIS oppoled to deciding that it mUt heppen)
No central text is sp~cificltl[Jy offered Erickson bose hi~ posltlon on th~ strength9 of the Calvinist position and the weakn~ss of the Arminion JJld Is motiv~t~d by the ppltlrent contradiction of Gods sovereignty poundJnd mEln free will He would lelln to the Clvinlst position in most pssges
1 Total Inability or Total Depravity1 Free Will or Human Ability
Total Depravity
Uncondi~
tional Election
Although human n~ture was s~riou$ly affected by tile foil man has not been left in a stlt1te or total spiritual helplessness God grdously enables every shiner to repent and believe but he does not Interfere with m~n~ freedom Each sinner possesses a free will and his eternal destiny depends on how he uses It Msns freedom consists In his ability to choose good over evil in spiritual matterSj his will is not enslaved to his ~jnful nature The sinner has the power either to cooperate with Gods Spirit ltlnd be r0generated or to reljst Gods grace and perish The lost sinner n~ds the Spirits asslstlnce but he does not howe to be regeneroted by the Spirit before he can believe for faith is mans aCI and precedes the new birth Faith is the sinners gift to God It is rnltlns contribution to SltIlvlltion
Becluse of the fall rniln is unble of himself to s~vingly believe th~ Gosp~1 The sinner i5 deltld blind and deltlfto the things of God his heltlrt is sinful and desperately corrupt His will is not free it is in bondOlge to his evil nature therlfore he will not-Indeed he Cltlnnotshychoos~ good over evil In the spirltultll realm Consequently it takes much more than the Spirlts assistance to bring a sinner to Christmiddotmiddotlt takes regeneration by which the Spirit makes the sinner alive ltlnd gives him OJ new nature but is itself a part of Gods gift of Mlvation Sltllvation is Gods gif1 to the sinner not the slnner~ gift to God
2 Unconditional Election 2 Conditional Election
Ood~ choice of certain Individulls to salvation before the foundation of th~ world was ba$~d on his foreseeing that they would respond to his c11 He selected only those whom he knew would of themselves freely believe the Gospel Election therefore WllS determined by or conditioned on what aperson would do The faith which God foresaw and upon which he based his choice was not given to the sinner by God (it was not created by the regenerating power of the Holy Spirit) but resulted from mans free will coopersting Ihe Spirits working God chose thos whom he knew would of their own free will choose Christ In this sense Gods election Is conditional
Gods choice of certain individuals to salvltltlon before the foundation of the world f(isted solely In his own sovereign will His choice of particular sinners was not beurolsed on any foreseen responst or obedience on their part such lt1$ faith repentance Nt On the contrary God gives faith and repentance to each individultll whom he selected These acts are the result not the Cltluse of Gods choice Election therefore WM not determined by or ~I
conditioned on any virtuous quality or act foreseen in man Those whom God sovereignly j ejected he Jgtrings through the power of the
~ Spirit to a willing acceptance of Christ Thus I
Gods choice of the sinner not the sInners choice of Christ is the ultimate cause of salviltion
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Irresistible Grace
Imiddot I
L i I
60 The Five Points (continued) Arminianism CalvinismCategory
3 Particular Redemption or 3 Universal Redemption or Limited AtonementGeneral Atonement
5 Perseverance of the Saints5 Falling From Grace
Limited Atonement
Persevershyance of the Saints
I middot
100
Christs redeeming work rrJElde It possible for everyone to be saved but did not actUiillly secure the sltlhration of lnyone Although Christ died for all people ind for evcry person only those who believe on him are sltlved His deOlth enabled God to pardon sinners on th~ condition thilt they believe but It did Dot actuZllly put awZlY _myones sins Christs redemption becomes effective only if B person chooscs to accept It
Christs redeeming work was intended to save the elect only and actullly secured salvi1tion for them In )ddition to putting Elway the sins of his people Christs redemption secured everything necessary for their salvation including fltlith which unites them to him The gift of faith i~ infElllibly applied by the Spirit to all for whom Christ died therefore guaranteeing their salvalon
4 The Efficacious Call of the Spirit4 The Holy Spirit Able to Be or Irresistible Grace Effectually Resisted
The SpIrit calls inwltlrdly all those who are called outwardly by the Gospel Invitation he does all that he can to bring ev~ry sinner to salvatIon But inasmuch as man is free he can successfully resist the Spirits CQIl The Spirit cannot regenN~te the slnnN until he believes f~ith (which is mems contribution) precedes and makes possible the new bIrth Thus mans free will limits the Spirit in the appllcEltion of Christs saving work The Holy Spirit can draw to Christ only those who allow him to have his way with them Until the sinner respond the Spirit Cmnot give life Gods grace therefore is not invincible it can bebullbullmd often is resisted and thwClrted by men
Tho~e who believe and Ire truly saved can lose their salvation by failing to keep up their faith
Not all Arminlans agree on this point some hold th~t believers Je eternally ecure In Christ~ that Once a sinner is regen~rltlted he cn never be lost
R~ected
by the Synod of Dort -rhls was the system of thought cont-lined In the
Remonstrance (though the five points were not originally arranged in this order) It was submitted by the ArminipoundJns to the Church of Hollilnd In 1610 for adoption but was rejected by the Synod of Dort in 1619 on the ground that it was unscriptural
In addition to the outward generli call to salvOlshytlon which is mlde to everyont Who hears the Gospel the Holy Spirit extends to the elect specio1inward call thOlt ineVitably brings them to salvotion The external call (Which is mltlde to all without distinction) can be ond often is rejected whereas the internal call (Which is made only to the elect) CltInnot be rejected it alwFlYs r~ults in conversion By means of this special cali the Spirit Iriesistibly draw sinners to Christ He is not limited in J-jis wor[( of ZlppJying sltlvation to D1~ns will nor is he dlgtpendent on mans COoperlt1tion for success The Spirit grZlciously causes the elect sinner to cooperate to believe to repent to come Freely and willingly to Christ Gods grltlte thereFore is invincible It never fails to result in the salvatIon of those to Whom it Is extended
All who -lre chosen by God redeemed by Christ and given faIth by the Spirit ltIre eternally saved They me kept in faith by the power of Almighty God ~1d thus persevere to the end
Reaffirmed by the Synod of Dort
This system of theology WElS reaffirmed by the SYnod of Dort in 1619 as the doctrine of salv1ltion contained In the Holy Scriptures The ystCtTl w~s ~t tht time formulated into five points (in answer to the fIve points submitted by the ArminiElns) and has ever since been known as the five pOints of CIlvinism
It involves the presentation of the Gospel in which the individual is offered the promise of salvation in Christ and invited to accept Christ by faith in order to receive the forgiveness of sins and etemallife
Issued by the Father to all who hear the Gospel mediated especiaUy through believers empowered by the Holy Spirit of God as they communicate the Gospel as revealed in the Word of God
t is for all people but heard only by those who hear the Gospel
l-any are called but few are chosen~ tatt 2214)
It reveals the great love of God to sinners in general
It reveals Gods holiness and righteousness
It does not necessarily result in salvation lt
It can be rejected resutting in the sinners condemnashytion
It is prior to conversion and rna or may not lead to it
Effectual Calling
It involves the general calling of God in the Gospel made effective in an individual as he or she believes the Gospel and accepts Christ as Savior and Lord
It is issued by the Father and made effective by the work of the Holy Spirit as he iUuminates and enables the individual to understand and respond positively to the Gospel of the Lord Jesus as contained in the Word of God
It is given only to al of the elect
Sau - Acts 91-19 Lydia - Acts 1614 Romans 830
I
Because of manss total depravity it is absolutely necessary I in order to bring the elect to faith and conversion
I
Since it is effectual and irrevocable it necessarily results in salvation
It is impossible to reject
It is logically prior to conversion and necessarily Jeads to it
CHINESE BAPTIST CHUR PAGE 03 1009 02 2009 1335 7134515185
( 53 Definition of Key Terms In Salvation
Term Scripture Definition
Mltt 2214 ActsElection Thlt aspect of the eternal purpose of God whereby he certtlinly and 1348 Eph 1 4 2 eternally determines by means of unconditionll and loving choice Thess213 who will believe This is not merely the Intention of God to sav~ )11
who may believe ro-ther it determines who will believe
Ps 139 1-4 Isa4028 Rom 11 33 Heb
Omniscience
413
Acts 223 Rom 829 11 2 Eph 15
Foreknowledge
Eph 15 Gods predetermination of)]] things thlll OCcur In his creation both events and a persons actions All things that hltlppen extemamp1 to God ~re determined by him and are certOlin
Foreordination
Rom 829middot30Predestination
Calling General Mltltt 22 14 John 316-18
Effectual John 644 Rom 8 28-301 Cor 1 2324
John 3 J6-17 637 Acts 4 12
Salvation
Relates to Gods lltnowJedge of ltlll that is or could be lie has full knowledge of himself and all of his creation Hegt knows from eternity all that will OCCUr for certain ~md aloo all that could occur
The selective knowledgl of God that molkes one ~n object of Gods love it is more thm mere knowledge or cognition beforehand The term focuses on Gods motivation to act relating to persons rather than what the persons 111111 Or will not do
Differs from foreordinCltion in that the former concerns the determlnll shytion of II things whereas predestination relates spedfictllly to the
determination of the elect and their conformity to the image of Christ Predestinlt)tion never occurs in the sense of ones being predestined to damnation
General The call of the Gospel through proclam~ 1ion in which all persons are invited to receIve Christ
Effectual The application of the word of the Gospel to the elect The Holy Spirit does this work only in the elect and this results in sIlvation
The culmlnltltion of election the sum tot1 of all Gods work for man in delivering him from his lost condition in sin and presenting him in glory It is received through faith but fltlith is not El cause or reason for which God has justified the person The CclU~e of Oods salvation Is Wholly In Himself not in man (Rom 9 12 16)
Reprobation Isa 69-10 Rom God s pgtlive flttltude in passing over lome people in the bestowment 927 117 of $alvatlon It i$ an expression of Gods d ivine just ice in condemning
them to eternal punishment for sins
91
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55 Salvation Terms Compared
Concept Teaching of the Old Testament Teaching of the New Testament
Law God establIshed ~ covemmt with his people by gr(lce The role of thtl I~w is not to justify but to show The I~w was ~impl y Ue standard God let for those us what sin is It was a $choolm~ste( to Icad who would adhere to that covenant (Gen 177) us to Chrit (Gal 2]6 324)
Salvation Based entirely on the work of Christ Grece w~s Based entirely on the work of Christ He DCCltlme Indirectly received Believers did not know how thllt l CUrse for us He is the propitiation for OUr grace hlld been effected It was achlcvcd by the sins Grace Is reejved directly thwugh faith future deElth of Christ Grace WClS mediElted by which Is l gift of God The Holy SpIrit priests f)nd sacrificial rites it did not corne Elbout permanently indwells the believer (Rom 325 through e direct person)l rcl~tionship with Christ Gel 313 Eph28-9) The Ioly Spirit had not come in h is fullness
Justification God estlblished i CovenltJnt with his people Although We lTe illstlfied by f)ith iT] ChrIst His silcrifilte the coven~nt w~s certified by ~n extemtl) ritual satisfied Gods rightec)l~s demands mcl he eircurnci$ion thet alone did not ~flve A circumci now counts as righteous all those who trut in sion of the heelrt WIIltl required IlS wei) (Deut 10 16 him (Rom 45 5 J) bull Jer 44) Nor was it the fulfillment of the law that saved salvation came through faith Abraham
believed God and his faith was accounted to him ~s righteousness (Gal 36) If personElI fulfillment of the I~w h2ld been required no one would have been saved
Regeneration There is no proof thlt OT saints were not regencr- The spiritual chilnge wrought In 3 person by the atcd Moses identified a number of Jews who h2ld l-tolySplrit by which he becomes the circumcised he3rts (Dcut 306) They were true posessor of a new life The chtlnge from the JewEl who were cleansed from within having their Itate of spiritual death to thltrtof spiritu~llife [jve~ F1ltered to conform to the will of God (Rom A change in our nature (2 Cor 5 17 Eph 2 1 22829) Isaiah al~o de~ltribed chtlnge th2Jt 1 John 47) resemble the New Te5tament depiction of the new birth (Isa 57 15) These F1ppeFlr to be more thn figurative
Sanctification In the Old Testament we find cases of what the New The work of God in developing the new life 3nd Te tament terms the fmlt of the Spirit No~h and bringing it to perfect jon The epElTtion from Job were both righteous men blameless In the sinful ~nd setting aprt For s~ced conduct Special attention Is given to Abraham purpose Though snctified fully In Chrl5t we f iUl Joephs goodnessvoses meekness me gradually becoming experientIally whElt we Solomons wisdom and Daniel s self-control are posltloMlly (Rom 6 11 ] 2 1 i 1 Cor 1 2) These believers did not hve the fullnlo of tbe Holy Spirit but enjoyed his Indwelling (P~ 5110shy12) and gifts (Exod 361 Num 11 26-30)
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~ 57 Traditional Arguments on Election
Arminianism
Arguments For Arguments Against
God desires all persons to be saved and does not desire the death of the wicked (Ezek 33 1 1 Tim 23middot4 2 Peter 39)
The universal chltlracter of Gods commands and exhortations reveal his desire to save all people (John 33 5middot 7 1 Peter 1 J6) Also God issues a universal invitation for all to come to Christ (Isa 551 Matt 11 28 John 937middot39)
All people are able to believe and be saved because God has issued a universal call to salvation and because God has given all people prevenient grace to counteract sin and to render everyone able to respond to the gospel There is no need for speciltll grace from God for salvation
It would be unjust of God to hold people responshysible for what they are unable to do
God does choose some to salvation and pass over others because he has foreseen who will accept the offer of salvation in Christ Foreshyknowledge is Gods knowing beforehand who will receive salvation and is closely tied with election (Rom 829 ] Peter] 1middot2)
God has selected some to be saved not all and he has even chosen not to reveal some truths to some people (Matt 131016 John 1024shy30)
Gods standard does not change because of mans inability to obey a person can come to God only if God draws him (John 635-4044shy4765)
The term prevenient grace is not found in the Bible Paul expresses the fact that man is unable to turn to God and does not even seek God but that he rejects the revelation he has been given (Rom ] 18middot32 310middot19)
Foreknowledge as used in Scripture is not just knowledge of future events but is a relational term shOWing that God has loved and related to the elect before they came into existence and chose them to be saved because he chose to love them regardless of their deeds (Rom 926-29)
95
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t~ 57 Traditional Arauments on Election (continued)~
~~
Calvinism
Arguments For Arguments Against
The whole human race is lost in sin and each individual is totally corrupted in intellect will and emotions by sin Man is unable to respond to Gods offer of salvation because he is spiritually dead (Jer J 79 John 644 Rom 3 1middot23 2 Cor 43-4 Eph 2 1-3)
If man is unable to respond and cannot obey God then how can God truly offer salvation to all through the Gospel and expect obedience from man (Matt 1128-30 John 316 6 35)
God is sovereign in all he does and he does all according to his good will and pleasure He is not answerable to man because he is the Creator and can choose whomever he wills to save (Rom 920-21 Eph 15 Phil 2 13 Rev 411)
God desires everyone to be saved (1 Tim 23-4 2 Peter 39)
God has chosen certain people for his special grace irrespective of their physical descent character or good deeds Specifically in salvation he has chosen to save certain people through faith in Christ (John 63744 65 1516 Acts 1348 Rom 96 -24 Eph 14-5)
God would not be fair in choosing only some to eternal life and passing over others because this would violate mans fre~ will to choose and because the offer of the Gospel to a]l would not be in good faith
Election is an expression of Gods sovereign will and is the cause of faith (Eph 28- J 0)
God cannot demand that man believe if faith comes from him
Election is certainly effective for the salvation of all the eject Those whom God chooses will certainly come to faith in Christ (Rom 829-30)
Election is from all eternity and is immutable (Eph 14 gJ 1)
There Is the possibility that those who have come to faith may fall from grace and lose their salvation
God foresaw those who would believe and elected them in eternity (Rom 829)
58 Major Evangelical Views of Election Calvinism Moderate Calvinism Arminianism
Definition The conditional choice of God by whIch he determined who would believe based on his foreknowlshyedge of who will exercise fltlith It i the result of rnansfoith
The uncondltional and lovinq choice of God by which h~ determines who mlJst believe Jt is the CIlI1S( of m)ns faith
The unconditionil) lt1nd lovinq choice of God by which he determines who wll believe It Is the ltrJuse of mans fehh
John Calvin ChFlrles Spurgeon MIIlZlrd J EricksonJ~cob)s Irminius John WsleyNotable Adherents
Historical Roots
Pros
Cons
SCfiptural Evidence
In the eltJrly 17th century the Dutch ptor Arminiu5 while ott~mptshying to defcnd 13ezltls vIew became convinced th~t Flezll emd Calvin were wrong Weley later went beyond Arminiu by emphltlsi~lng prevenient grace
Emphasizes the reltponsiblIlty of mJn to melee a ChQice Also acknowledge mems depravity and hclplessne wlUl0ut Gods Intcrvntion ost ~ttroctive aspct is its allowance for moms free will to choose Mltln cem r~9i5t Gods gracc
Deemphilsizes Gods sollerelgnty By putting God In 0 position of dependence on the decisions of a created being this view makes It E1ppear that God i~ not in control of hi unlvers~ AJIo acknowlshy~dging the doctrine of total depravity r~quired Wesley to come up with prevenient grltllte which hos no basis In ScriptuTe
Central text No logical tre~tje can be found to support the Armlniltln position Thugt they appeol to the llnlversltll character of Gods invitation to sEllvationi 1 Timothy 23-4 Is offered as evidence that God desires ltIII people to be BElVed (~cc al90 Ia 55 1 E~ek 33 11 Acts 1730shy31 2 Peter 39)
During the Reformation Colvin picked up on Augustlne~ emphFlsls on Gods IrregtiiUble grFJce mans gin nature tlnd predestln~tion Calvin WIlS
gtucceeded by leza Who went ltI
tep fUlther
Emphasizes tile holIness and sovereignty of God lind thus his right to mElke such decrees IS
election to salvation
RIghtly emphlt1slzeS the total dcprilvity of man Md his InltIbiJity to choose whllt Is right unaided The OVrriding doctrine Is the absolute sovereignty of God who Is not dependent on the whim or will of mom Man connot reltist Gods grace
This view Is supported by an overwhelming omount of Scriptural evidence
DeemplJsi7lOS mans responsibility Seem~ to eclipse mlt1ns frclt will ~nd thus his r~spon5lbllity for his sin CrlUcs chrqe that it i foteli5Uc and detroys motive for eVFlngelism Biggest problem Jpparent logiCll contr~diction to human freedom
C~ntrill text Romns 96middot2tl Thl demonstr~t~ thlt1t election Is bltlsed on God~ just chltlracter and his sovereignty Therefor~ he will not mllke on unjAst declsion Clnd he Is not requlrcd to xplElin to man why he still find fault with those whom he did not choose
PrimaMly ~ recent intcrpretfJtlon
Emphasizes the holiness and sOI)eurorelgnty of Cod while O1t thlt same tIme prcsemlng the idea ofmilJis responsibility Gods grce jg frresistible but only because God hall chosen to mllke it so appcilling to the elect tholt they wm accept il In other words God enobles the elect to want hi grfJce
Thus God works his sovereign will through th~ will of the elect StrIkes II balmced position between tmditional Calvinism and ArminiElni~m
L1ck~ 8 clear precedent In church history Borders on semllntic 1dodging whcn it dlstln9ui~hes between God rendering something eert)in tlnd something necessary (Gods deciding that someshything will happen ltIS oppoled to deciding that it mUt heppen)
No central text is sp~cificltl[Jy offered Erickson bose hi~ posltlon on th~ strength9 of the Calvinist position and the weakn~ss of the Arminion JJld Is motiv~t~d by the ppltlrent contradiction of Gods sovereignty poundJnd mEln free will He would lelln to the Clvinlst position in most pssges
1 Total Inability or Total Depravity1 Free Will or Human Ability
Total Depravity
Uncondi~
tional Election
Although human n~ture was s~riou$ly affected by tile foil man has not been left in a stlt1te or total spiritual helplessness God grdously enables every shiner to repent and believe but he does not Interfere with m~n~ freedom Each sinner possesses a free will and his eternal destiny depends on how he uses It Msns freedom consists In his ability to choose good over evil in spiritual matterSj his will is not enslaved to his ~jnful nature The sinner has the power either to cooperate with Gods Spirit ltlnd be r0generated or to reljst Gods grace and perish The lost sinner n~ds the Spirits asslstlnce but he does not howe to be regeneroted by the Spirit before he can believe for faith is mans aCI and precedes the new birth Faith is the sinners gift to God It is rnltlns contribution to SltIlvlltion
Becluse of the fall rniln is unble of himself to s~vingly believe th~ Gosp~1 The sinner i5 deltld blind and deltlfto the things of God his heltlrt is sinful and desperately corrupt His will is not free it is in bondOlge to his evil nature therlfore he will not-Indeed he Cltlnnotshychoos~ good over evil In the spirltultll realm Consequently it takes much more than the Spirlts assistance to bring a sinner to Christmiddotmiddotlt takes regeneration by which the Spirit makes the sinner alive ltlnd gives him OJ new nature but is itself a part of Gods gift of Mlvation Sltllvation is Gods gif1 to the sinner not the slnner~ gift to God
2 Unconditional Election 2 Conditional Election
Ood~ choice of certain Individulls to salvation before the foundation of th~ world was ba$~d on his foreseeing that they would respond to his c11 He selected only those whom he knew would of themselves freely believe the Gospel Election therefore WllS determined by or conditioned on what aperson would do The faith which God foresaw and upon which he based his choice was not given to the sinner by God (it was not created by the regenerating power of the Holy Spirit) but resulted from mans free will coopersting Ihe Spirits working God chose thos whom he knew would of their own free will choose Christ In this sense Gods election Is conditional
Gods choice of certain individuals to salvltltlon before the foundation of the world f(isted solely In his own sovereign will His choice of particular sinners was not beurolsed on any foreseen responst or obedience on their part such lt1$ faith repentance Nt On the contrary God gives faith and repentance to each individultll whom he selected These acts are the result not the Cltluse of Gods choice Election therefore WM not determined by or ~I
conditioned on any virtuous quality or act foreseen in man Those whom God sovereignly j ejected he Jgtrings through the power of the
~ Spirit to a willing acceptance of Christ Thus I
Gods choice of the sinner not the sInners choice of Christ is the ultimate cause of salviltion
99
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Irresistible Grace
Imiddot I
L i I
60 The Five Points (continued) Arminianism CalvinismCategory
3 Particular Redemption or 3 Universal Redemption or Limited AtonementGeneral Atonement
5 Perseverance of the Saints5 Falling From Grace
Limited Atonement
Persevershyance of the Saints
I middot
100
Christs redeeming work rrJElde It possible for everyone to be saved but did not actUiillly secure the sltlhration of lnyone Although Christ died for all people ind for evcry person only those who believe on him are sltlved His deOlth enabled God to pardon sinners on th~ condition thilt they believe but It did Dot actuZllly put awZlY _myones sins Christs redemption becomes effective only if B person chooscs to accept It
Christs redeeming work was intended to save the elect only and actullly secured salvi1tion for them In )ddition to putting Elway the sins of his people Christs redemption secured everything necessary for their salvation including fltlith which unites them to him The gift of faith i~ infElllibly applied by the Spirit to all for whom Christ died therefore guaranteeing their salvalon
4 The Efficacious Call of the Spirit4 The Holy Spirit Able to Be or Irresistible Grace Effectually Resisted
The SpIrit calls inwltlrdly all those who are called outwardly by the Gospel Invitation he does all that he can to bring ev~ry sinner to salvatIon But inasmuch as man is free he can successfully resist the Spirits CQIl The Spirit cannot regenN~te the slnnN until he believes f~ith (which is mems contribution) precedes and makes possible the new bIrth Thus mans free will limits the Spirit in the appllcEltion of Christs saving work The Holy Spirit can draw to Christ only those who allow him to have his way with them Until the sinner respond the Spirit Cmnot give life Gods grace therefore is not invincible it can bebullbullmd often is resisted and thwClrted by men
Tho~e who believe and Ire truly saved can lose their salvation by failing to keep up their faith
Not all Arminlans agree on this point some hold th~t believers Je eternally ecure In Christ~ that Once a sinner is regen~rltlted he cn never be lost
R~ected
by the Synod of Dort -rhls was the system of thought cont-lined In the
Remonstrance (though the five points were not originally arranged in this order) It was submitted by the ArminipoundJns to the Church of Hollilnd In 1610 for adoption but was rejected by the Synod of Dort in 1619 on the ground that it was unscriptural
In addition to the outward generli call to salvOlshytlon which is mlde to everyont Who hears the Gospel the Holy Spirit extends to the elect specio1inward call thOlt ineVitably brings them to salvotion The external call (Which is mltlde to all without distinction) can be ond often is rejected whereas the internal call (Which is made only to the elect) CltInnot be rejected it alwFlYs r~ults in conversion By means of this special cali the Spirit Iriesistibly draw sinners to Christ He is not limited in J-jis wor[( of ZlppJying sltlvation to D1~ns will nor is he dlgtpendent on mans COoperlt1tion for success The Spirit grZlciously causes the elect sinner to cooperate to believe to repent to come Freely and willingly to Christ Gods grltlte thereFore is invincible It never fails to result in the salvatIon of those to Whom it Is extended
All who -lre chosen by God redeemed by Christ and given faIth by the Spirit ltIre eternally saved They me kept in faith by the power of Almighty God ~1d thus persevere to the end
Reaffirmed by the Synod of Dort
This system of theology WElS reaffirmed by the SYnod of Dort in 1619 as the doctrine of salv1ltion contained In the Holy Scriptures The ystCtTl w~s ~t tht time formulated into five points (in answer to the fIve points submitted by the ArminiElns) and has ever since been known as the five pOints of CIlvinism
It involves the presentation of the Gospel in which the individual is offered the promise of salvation in Christ and invited to accept Christ by faith in order to receive the forgiveness of sins and etemallife
Issued by the Father to all who hear the Gospel mediated especiaUy through believers empowered by the Holy Spirit of God as they communicate the Gospel as revealed in the Word of God
t is for all people but heard only by those who hear the Gospel
l-any are called but few are chosen~ tatt 2214)
It reveals the great love of God to sinners in general
It reveals Gods holiness and righteousness
It does not necessarily result in salvation lt
It can be rejected resutting in the sinners condemnashytion
It is prior to conversion and rna or may not lead to it
Effectual Calling
It involves the general calling of God in the Gospel made effective in an individual as he or she believes the Gospel and accepts Christ as Savior and Lord
It is issued by the Father and made effective by the work of the Holy Spirit as he iUuminates and enables the individual to understand and respond positively to the Gospel of the Lord Jesus as contained in the Word of God
It is given only to al of the elect
Sau - Acts 91-19 Lydia - Acts 1614 Romans 830
I
Because of manss total depravity it is absolutely necessary I in order to bring the elect to faith and conversion
I
Since it is effectual and irrevocable it necessarily results in salvation
It is impossible to reject
It is logically prior to conversion and necessarily Jeads to it
09022009 1335 7134515185 CHINESE BAPTIST CHUR PAGE 04H) [
55 Salvation Terms Compared
Concept Teaching of the Old Testament Teaching of the New Testament
Law God establIshed ~ covemmt with his people by gr(lce The role of thtl I~w is not to justify but to show The I~w was ~impl y Ue standard God let for those us what sin is It was a $choolm~ste( to Icad who would adhere to that covenant (Gen 177) us to Chrit (Gal 2]6 324)
Salvation Based entirely on the work of Christ Grece w~s Based entirely on the work of Christ He DCCltlme Indirectly received Believers did not know how thllt l CUrse for us He is the propitiation for OUr grace hlld been effected It was achlcvcd by the sins Grace Is reejved directly thwugh faith future deElth of Christ Grace WClS mediElted by which Is l gift of God The Holy SpIrit priests f)nd sacrificial rites it did not corne Elbout permanently indwells the believer (Rom 325 through e direct person)l rcl~tionship with Christ Gel 313 Eph28-9) The Ioly Spirit had not come in h is fullness
Justification God estlblished i CovenltJnt with his people Although We lTe illstlfied by f)ith iT] ChrIst His silcrifilte the coven~nt w~s certified by ~n extemtl) ritual satisfied Gods rightec)l~s demands mcl he eircurnci$ion thet alone did not ~flve A circumci now counts as righteous all those who trut in sion of the heelrt WIIltl required IlS wei) (Deut 10 16 him (Rom 45 5 J) bull Jer 44) Nor was it the fulfillment of the law that saved salvation came through faith Abraham
believed God and his faith was accounted to him ~s righteousness (Gal 36) If personElI fulfillment of the I~w h2ld been required no one would have been saved
Regeneration There is no proof thlt OT saints were not regencr- The spiritual chilnge wrought In 3 person by the atcd Moses identified a number of Jews who h2ld l-tolySplrit by which he becomes the circumcised he3rts (Dcut 306) They were true posessor of a new life The chtlnge from the JewEl who were cleansed from within having their Itate of spiritual death to thltrtof spiritu~llife [jve~ F1ltered to conform to the will of God (Rom A change in our nature (2 Cor 5 17 Eph 2 1 22829) Isaiah al~o de~ltribed chtlnge th2Jt 1 John 47) resemble the New Te5tament depiction of the new birth (Isa 57 15) These F1ppeFlr to be more thn figurative
Sanctification In the Old Testament we find cases of what the New The work of God in developing the new life 3nd Te tament terms the fmlt of the Spirit No~h and bringing it to perfect jon The epElTtion from Job were both righteous men blameless In the sinful ~nd setting aprt For s~ced conduct Special attention Is given to Abraham purpose Though snctified fully In Chrl5t we f iUl Joephs goodnessvoses meekness me gradually becoming experientIally whElt we Solomons wisdom and Daniel s self-control are posltloMlly (Rom 6 11 ] 2 1 i 1 Cor 1 2) These believers did not hve the fullnlo of tbe Holy Spirit but enjoyed his Indwelling (P~ 5110shy12) and gifts (Exod 361 Num 11 26-30)
II
i I
93
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~ ~
~ 57 Traditional Arguments on Election
Arminianism
Arguments For Arguments Against
God desires all persons to be saved and does not desire the death of the wicked (Ezek 33 1 1 Tim 23middot4 2 Peter 39)
The universal chltlracter of Gods commands and exhortations reveal his desire to save all people (John 33 5middot 7 1 Peter 1 J6) Also God issues a universal invitation for all to come to Christ (Isa 551 Matt 11 28 John 937middot39)
All people are able to believe and be saved because God has issued a universal call to salvation and because God has given all people prevenient grace to counteract sin and to render everyone able to respond to the gospel There is no need for speciltll grace from God for salvation
It would be unjust of God to hold people responshysible for what they are unable to do
God does choose some to salvation and pass over others because he has foreseen who will accept the offer of salvation in Christ Foreshyknowledge is Gods knowing beforehand who will receive salvation and is closely tied with election (Rom 829 ] Peter] 1middot2)
God has selected some to be saved not all and he has even chosen not to reveal some truths to some people (Matt 131016 John 1024shy30)
Gods standard does not change because of mans inability to obey a person can come to God only if God draws him (John 635-4044shy4765)
The term prevenient grace is not found in the Bible Paul expresses the fact that man is unable to turn to God and does not even seek God but that he rejects the revelation he has been given (Rom ] 18middot32 310middot19)
Foreknowledge as used in Scripture is not just knowledge of future events but is a relational term shOWing that God has loved and related to the elect before they came into existence and chose them to be saved because he chose to love them regardless of their deeds (Rom 926-29)
95
CHINESE BAPTIST CHUR PAGE 051009022009 1335 7134515185
t~ 57 Traditional Arauments on Election (continued)~
~~
Calvinism
Arguments For Arguments Against
The whole human race is lost in sin and each individual is totally corrupted in intellect will and emotions by sin Man is unable to respond to Gods offer of salvation because he is spiritually dead (Jer J 79 John 644 Rom 3 1middot23 2 Cor 43-4 Eph 2 1-3)
If man is unable to respond and cannot obey God then how can God truly offer salvation to all through the Gospel and expect obedience from man (Matt 1128-30 John 316 6 35)
God is sovereign in all he does and he does all according to his good will and pleasure He is not answerable to man because he is the Creator and can choose whomever he wills to save (Rom 920-21 Eph 15 Phil 2 13 Rev 411)
God desires everyone to be saved (1 Tim 23-4 2 Peter 39)
God has chosen certain people for his special grace irrespective of their physical descent character or good deeds Specifically in salvation he has chosen to save certain people through faith in Christ (John 63744 65 1516 Acts 1348 Rom 96 -24 Eph 14-5)
God would not be fair in choosing only some to eternal life and passing over others because this would violate mans fre~ will to choose and because the offer of the Gospel to a]l would not be in good faith
Election is an expression of Gods sovereign will and is the cause of faith (Eph 28- J 0)
God cannot demand that man believe if faith comes from him
Election is certainly effective for the salvation of all the eject Those whom God chooses will certainly come to faith in Christ (Rom 829-30)
Election is from all eternity and is immutable (Eph 14 gJ 1)
There Is the possibility that those who have come to faith may fall from grace and lose their salvation
God foresaw those who would believe and elected them in eternity (Rom 829)
58 Major Evangelical Views of Election Calvinism Moderate Calvinism Arminianism
Definition The conditional choice of God by whIch he determined who would believe based on his foreknowlshyedge of who will exercise fltlith It i the result of rnansfoith
The uncondltional and lovinq choice of God by which h~ determines who mlJst believe Jt is the CIlI1S( of m)ns faith
The unconditionil) lt1nd lovinq choice of God by which he determines who wll believe It Is the ltrJuse of mans fehh
John Calvin ChFlrles Spurgeon MIIlZlrd J EricksonJ~cob)s Irminius John WsleyNotable Adherents
Historical Roots
Pros
Cons
SCfiptural Evidence
In the eltJrly 17th century the Dutch ptor Arminiu5 while ott~mptshying to defcnd 13ezltls vIew became convinced th~t Flezll emd Calvin were wrong Weley later went beyond Arminiu by emphltlsi~lng prevenient grace
Emphasizes the reltponsiblIlty of mJn to melee a ChQice Also acknowledge mems depravity and hclplessne wlUl0ut Gods Intcrvntion ost ~ttroctive aspct is its allowance for moms free will to choose Mltln cem r~9i5t Gods gracc
Deemphilsizes Gods sollerelgnty By putting God In 0 position of dependence on the decisions of a created being this view makes It E1ppear that God i~ not in control of hi unlvers~ AJIo acknowlshy~dging the doctrine of total depravity r~quired Wesley to come up with prevenient grltllte which hos no basis In ScriptuTe
Central text No logical tre~tje can be found to support the Armlniltln position Thugt they appeol to the llnlversltll character of Gods invitation to sEllvationi 1 Timothy 23-4 Is offered as evidence that God desires ltIII people to be BElVed (~cc al90 Ia 55 1 E~ek 33 11 Acts 1730shy31 2 Peter 39)
During the Reformation Colvin picked up on Augustlne~ emphFlsls on Gods IrregtiiUble grFJce mans gin nature tlnd predestln~tion Calvin WIlS
gtucceeded by leza Who went ltI
tep fUlther
Emphasizes tile holIness and sovereignty of God lind thus his right to mElke such decrees IS
election to salvation
RIghtly emphlt1slzeS the total dcprilvity of man Md his InltIbiJity to choose whllt Is right unaided The OVrriding doctrine Is the absolute sovereignty of God who Is not dependent on the whim or will of mom Man connot reltist Gods grace
This view Is supported by an overwhelming omount of Scriptural evidence
DeemplJsi7lOS mans responsibility Seem~ to eclipse mlt1ns frclt will ~nd thus his r~spon5lbllity for his sin CrlUcs chrqe that it i foteli5Uc and detroys motive for eVFlngelism Biggest problem Jpparent logiCll contr~diction to human freedom
C~ntrill text Romns 96middot2tl Thl demonstr~t~ thlt1t election Is bltlsed on God~ just chltlracter and his sovereignty Therefor~ he will not mllke on unjAst declsion Clnd he Is not requlrcd to xplElin to man why he still find fault with those whom he did not choose
PrimaMly ~ recent intcrpretfJtlon
Emphasizes the holiness and sOI)eurorelgnty of Cod while O1t thlt same tIme prcsemlng the idea ofmilJis responsibility Gods grce jg frresistible but only because God hall chosen to mllke it so appcilling to the elect tholt they wm accept il In other words God enobles the elect to want hi grfJce
Thus God works his sovereign will through th~ will of the elect StrIkes II balmced position between tmditional Calvinism and ArminiElni~m
L1ck~ 8 clear precedent In church history Borders on semllntic 1dodging whcn it dlstln9ui~hes between God rendering something eert)in tlnd something necessary (Gods deciding that someshything will happen ltIS oppoled to deciding that it mUt heppen)
No central text is sp~cificltl[Jy offered Erickson bose hi~ posltlon on th~ strength9 of the Calvinist position and the weakn~ss of the Arminion JJld Is motiv~t~d by the ppltlrent contradiction of Gods sovereignty poundJnd mEln free will He would lelln to the Clvinlst position in most pssges
1 Total Inability or Total Depravity1 Free Will or Human Ability
Total Depravity
Uncondi~
tional Election
Although human n~ture was s~riou$ly affected by tile foil man has not been left in a stlt1te or total spiritual helplessness God grdously enables every shiner to repent and believe but he does not Interfere with m~n~ freedom Each sinner possesses a free will and his eternal destiny depends on how he uses It Msns freedom consists In his ability to choose good over evil in spiritual matterSj his will is not enslaved to his ~jnful nature The sinner has the power either to cooperate with Gods Spirit ltlnd be r0generated or to reljst Gods grace and perish The lost sinner n~ds the Spirits asslstlnce but he does not howe to be regeneroted by the Spirit before he can believe for faith is mans aCI and precedes the new birth Faith is the sinners gift to God It is rnltlns contribution to SltIlvlltion
Becluse of the fall rniln is unble of himself to s~vingly believe th~ Gosp~1 The sinner i5 deltld blind and deltlfto the things of God his heltlrt is sinful and desperately corrupt His will is not free it is in bondOlge to his evil nature therlfore he will not-Indeed he Cltlnnotshychoos~ good over evil In the spirltultll realm Consequently it takes much more than the Spirlts assistance to bring a sinner to Christmiddotmiddotlt takes regeneration by which the Spirit makes the sinner alive ltlnd gives him OJ new nature but is itself a part of Gods gift of Mlvation Sltllvation is Gods gif1 to the sinner not the slnner~ gift to God
2 Unconditional Election 2 Conditional Election
Ood~ choice of certain Individulls to salvation before the foundation of th~ world was ba$~d on his foreseeing that they would respond to his c11 He selected only those whom he knew would of themselves freely believe the Gospel Election therefore WllS determined by or conditioned on what aperson would do The faith which God foresaw and upon which he based his choice was not given to the sinner by God (it was not created by the regenerating power of the Holy Spirit) but resulted from mans free will coopersting Ihe Spirits working God chose thos whom he knew would of their own free will choose Christ In this sense Gods election Is conditional
Gods choice of certain individuals to salvltltlon before the foundation of the world f(isted solely In his own sovereign will His choice of particular sinners was not beurolsed on any foreseen responst or obedience on their part such lt1$ faith repentance Nt On the contrary God gives faith and repentance to each individultll whom he selected These acts are the result not the Cltluse of Gods choice Election therefore WM not determined by or ~I
conditioned on any virtuous quality or act foreseen in man Those whom God sovereignly j ejected he Jgtrings through the power of the
~ Spirit to a willing acceptance of Christ Thus I
Gods choice of the sinner not the sInners choice of Christ is the ultimate cause of salviltion
99
CHINESE BAPTIST CHUR PAGE 0910713461518609022009 1336
Irresistible Grace
Imiddot I
L i I
60 The Five Points (continued) Arminianism CalvinismCategory
3 Particular Redemption or 3 Universal Redemption or Limited AtonementGeneral Atonement
5 Perseverance of the Saints5 Falling From Grace
Limited Atonement
Persevershyance of the Saints
I middot
100
Christs redeeming work rrJElde It possible for everyone to be saved but did not actUiillly secure the sltlhration of lnyone Although Christ died for all people ind for evcry person only those who believe on him are sltlved His deOlth enabled God to pardon sinners on th~ condition thilt they believe but It did Dot actuZllly put awZlY _myones sins Christs redemption becomes effective only if B person chooscs to accept It
Christs redeeming work was intended to save the elect only and actullly secured salvi1tion for them In )ddition to putting Elway the sins of his people Christs redemption secured everything necessary for their salvation including fltlith which unites them to him The gift of faith i~ infElllibly applied by the Spirit to all for whom Christ died therefore guaranteeing their salvalon
4 The Efficacious Call of the Spirit4 The Holy Spirit Able to Be or Irresistible Grace Effectually Resisted
The SpIrit calls inwltlrdly all those who are called outwardly by the Gospel Invitation he does all that he can to bring ev~ry sinner to salvatIon But inasmuch as man is free he can successfully resist the Spirits CQIl The Spirit cannot regenN~te the slnnN until he believes f~ith (which is mems contribution) precedes and makes possible the new bIrth Thus mans free will limits the Spirit in the appllcEltion of Christs saving work The Holy Spirit can draw to Christ only those who allow him to have his way with them Until the sinner respond the Spirit Cmnot give life Gods grace therefore is not invincible it can bebullbullmd often is resisted and thwClrted by men
Tho~e who believe and Ire truly saved can lose their salvation by failing to keep up their faith
Not all Arminlans agree on this point some hold th~t believers Je eternally ecure In Christ~ that Once a sinner is regen~rltlted he cn never be lost
R~ected
by the Synod of Dort -rhls was the system of thought cont-lined In the
Remonstrance (though the five points were not originally arranged in this order) It was submitted by the ArminipoundJns to the Church of Hollilnd In 1610 for adoption but was rejected by the Synod of Dort in 1619 on the ground that it was unscriptural
In addition to the outward generli call to salvOlshytlon which is mlde to everyont Who hears the Gospel the Holy Spirit extends to the elect specio1inward call thOlt ineVitably brings them to salvotion The external call (Which is mltlde to all without distinction) can be ond often is rejected whereas the internal call (Which is made only to the elect) CltInnot be rejected it alwFlYs r~ults in conversion By means of this special cali the Spirit Iriesistibly draw sinners to Christ He is not limited in J-jis wor[( of ZlppJying sltlvation to D1~ns will nor is he dlgtpendent on mans COoperlt1tion for success The Spirit grZlciously causes the elect sinner to cooperate to believe to repent to come Freely and willingly to Christ Gods grltlte thereFore is invincible It never fails to result in the salvatIon of those to Whom it Is extended
All who -lre chosen by God redeemed by Christ and given faIth by the Spirit ltIre eternally saved They me kept in faith by the power of Almighty God ~1d thus persevere to the end
Reaffirmed by the Synod of Dort
This system of theology WElS reaffirmed by the SYnod of Dort in 1619 as the doctrine of salv1ltion contained In the Holy Scriptures The ystCtTl w~s ~t tht time formulated into five points (in answer to the fIve points submitted by the ArminiElns) and has ever since been known as the five pOints of CIlvinism
It involves the presentation of the Gospel in which the individual is offered the promise of salvation in Christ and invited to accept Christ by faith in order to receive the forgiveness of sins and etemallife
Issued by the Father to all who hear the Gospel mediated especiaUy through believers empowered by the Holy Spirit of God as they communicate the Gospel as revealed in the Word of God
t is for all people but heard only by those who hear the Gospel
l-any are called but few are chosen~ tatt 2214)
It reveals the great love of God to sinners in general
It reveals Gods holiness and righteousness
It does not necessarily result in salvation lt
It can be rejected resutting in the sinners condemnashytion
It is prior to conversion and rna or may not lead to it
Effectual Calling
It involves the general calling of God in the Gospel made effective in an individual as he or she believes the Gospel and accepts Christ as Savior and Lord
It is issued by the Father and made effective by the work of the Holy Spirit as he iUuminates and enables the individual to understand and respond positively to the Gospel of the Lord Jesus as contained in the Word of God
It is given only to al of the elect
Sau - Acts 91-19 Lydia - Acts 1614 Romans 830
I
Because of manss total depravity it is absolutely necessary I in order to bring the elect to faith and conversion
I
Since it is effectual and irrevocable it necessarily results in salvation
It is impossible to reject
It is logically prior to conversion and necessarily Jeads to it
713451518509022009 1335
~ ~
~ 57 Traditional Arguments on Election
Arminianism
Arguments For Arguments Against
God desires all persons to be saved and does not desire the death of the wicked (Ezek 33 1 1 Tim 23middot4 2 Peter 39)
The universal chltlracter of Gods commands and exhortations reveal his desire to save all people (John 33 5middot 7 1 Peter 1 J6) Also God issues a universal invitation for all to come to Christ (Isa 551 Matt 11 28 John 937middot39)
All people are able to believe and be saved because God has issued a universal call to salvation and because God has given all people prevenient grace to counteract sin and to render everyone able to respond to the gospel There is no need for speciltll grace from God for salvation
It would be unjust of God to hold people responshysible for what they are unable to do
God does choose some to salvation and pass over others because he has foreseen who will accept the offer of salvation in Christ Foreshyknowledge is Gods knowing beforehand who will receive salvation and is closely tied with election (Rom 829 ] Peter] 1middot2)
God has selected some to be saved not all and he has even chosen not to reveal some truths to some people (Matt 131016 John 1024shy30)
Gods standard does not change because of mans inability to obey a person can come to God only if God draws him (John 635-4044shy4765)
The term prevenient grace is not found in the Bible Paul expresses the fact that man is unable to turn to God and does not even seek God but that he rejects the revelation he has been given (Rom ] 18middot32 310middot19)
Foreknowledge as used in Scripture is not just knowledge of future events but is a relational term shOWing that God has loved and related to the elect before they came into existence and chose them to be saved because he chose to love them regardless of their deeds (Rom 926-29)
95
CHINESE BAPTIST CHUR PAGE 051009022009 1335 7134515185
t~ 57 Traditional Arauments on Election (continued)~
~~
Calvinism
Arguments For Arguments Against
The whole human race is lost in sin and each individual is totally corrupted in intellect will and emotions by sin Man is unable to respond to Gods offer of salvation because he is spiritually dead (Jer J 79 John 644 Rom 3 1middot23 2 Cor 43-4 Eph 2 1-3)
If man is unable to respond and cannot obey God then how can God truly offer salvation to all through the Gospel and expect obedience from man (Matt 1128-30 John 316 6 35)
God is sovereign in all he does and he does all according to his good will and pleasure He is not answerable to man because he is the Creator and can choose whomever he wills to save (Rom 920-21 Eph 15 Phil 2 13 Rev 411)
God desires everyone to be saved (1 Tim 23-4 2 Peter 39)
God has chosen certain people for his special grace irrespective of their physical descent character or good deeds Specifically in salvation he has chosen to save certain people through faith in Christ (John 63744 65 1516 Acts 1348 Rom 96 -24 Eph 14-5)
God would not be fair in choosing only some to eternal life and passing over others because this would violate mans fre~ will to choose and because the offer of the Gospel to a]l would not be in good faith
Election is an expression of Gods sovereign will and is the cause of faith (Eph 28- J 0)
God cannot demand that man believe if faith comes from him
Election is certainly effective for the salvation of all the eject Those whom God chooses will certainly come to faith in Christ (Rom 829-30)
Election is from all eternity and is immutable (Eph 14 gJ 1)
There Is the possibility that those who have come to faith may fall from grace and lose their salvation
God foresaw those who would believe and elected them in eternity (Rom 829)
58 Major Evangelical Views of Election Calvinism Moderate Calvinism Arminianism
Definition The conditional choice of God by whIch he determined who would believe based on his foreknowlshyedge of who will exercise fltlith It i the result of rnansfoith
The uncondltional and lovinq choice of God by which h~ determines who mlJst believe Jt is the CIlI1S( of m)ns faith
The unconditionil) lt1nd lovinq choice of God by which he determines who wll believe It Is the ltrJuse of mans fehh
John Calvin ChFlrles Spurgeon MIIlZlrd J EricksonJ~cob)s Irminius John WsleyNotable Adherents
Historical Roots
Pros
Cons
SCfiptural Evidence
In the eltJrly 17th century the Dutch ptor Arminiu5 while ott~mptshying to defcnd 13ezltls vIew became convinced th~t Flezll emd Calvin were wrong Weley later went beyond Arminiu by emphltlsi~lng prevenient grace
Emphasizes the reltponsiblIlty of mJn to melee a ChQice Also acknowledge mems depravity and hclplessne wlUl0ut Gods Intcrvntion ost ~ttroctive aspct is its allowance for moms free will to choose Mltln cem r~9i5t Gods gracc
Deemphilsizes Gods sollerelgnty By putting God In 0 position of dependence on the decisions of a created being this view makes It E1ppear that God i~ not in control of hi unlvers~ AJIo acknowlshy~dging the doctrine of total depravity r~quired Wesley to come up with prevenient grltllte which hos no basis In ScriptuTe
Central text No logical tre~tje can be found to support the Armlniltln position Thugt they appeol to the llnlversltll character of Gods invitation to sEllvationi 1 Timothy 23-4 Is offered as evidence that God desires ltIII people to be BElVed (~cc al90 Ia 55 1 E~ek 33 11 Acts 1730shy31 2 Peter 39)
During the Reformation Colvin picked up on Augustlne~ emphFlsls on Gods IrregtiiUble grFJce mans gin nature tlnd predestln~tion Calvin WIlS
gtucceeded by leza Who went ltI
tep fUlther
Emphasizes tile holIness and sovereignty of God lind thus his right to mElke such decrees IS
election to salvation
RIghtly emphlt1slzeS the total dcprilvity of man Md his InltIbiJity to choose whllt Is right unaided The OVrriding doctrine Is the absolute sovereignty of God who Is not dependent on the whim or will of mom Man connot reltist Gods grace
This view Is supported by an overwhelming omount of Scriptural evidence
DeemplJsi7lOS mans responsibility Seem~ to eclipse mlt1ns frclt will ~nd thus his r~spon5lbllity for his sin CrlUcs chrqe that it i foteli5Uc and detroys motive for eVFlngelism Biggest problem Jpparent logiCll contr~diction to human freedom
C~ntrill text Romns 96middot2tl Thl demonstr~t~ thlt1t election Is bltlsed on God~ just chltlracter and his sovereignty Therefor~ he will not mllke on unjAst declsion Clnd he Is not requlrcd to xplElin to man why he still find fault with those whom he did not choose
PrimaMly ~ recent intcrpretfJtlon
Emphasizes the holiness and sOI)eurorelgnty of Cod while O1t thlt same tIme prcsemlng the idea ofmilJis responsibility Gods grce jg frresistible but only because God hall chosen to mllke it so appcilling to the elect tholt they wm accept il In other words God enobles the elect to want hi grfJce
Thus God works his sovereign will through th~ will of the elect StrIkes II balmced position between tmditional Calvinism and ArminiElni~m
L1ck~ 8 clear precedent In church history Borders on semllntic 1dodging whcn it dlstln9ui~hes between God rendering something eert)in tlnd something necessary (Gods deciding that someshything will happen ltIS oppoled to deciding that it mUt heppen)
No central text is sp~cificltl[Jy offered Erickson bose hi~ posltlon on th~ strength9 of the Calvinist position and the weakn~ss of the Arminion JJld Is motiv~t~d by the ppltlrent contradiction of Gods sovereignty poundJnd mEln free will He would lelln to the Clvinlst position in most pssges
1 Total Inability or Total Depravity1 Free Will or Human Ability
Total Depravity
Uncondi~
tional Election
Although human n~ture was s~riou$ly affected by tile foil man has not been left in a stlt1te or total spiritual helplessness God grdously enables every shiner to repent and believe but he does not Interfere with m~n~ freedom Each sinner possesses a free will and his eternal destiny depends on how he uses It Msns freedom consists In his ability to choose good over evil in spiritual matterSj his will is not enslaved to his ~jnful nature The sinner has the power either to cooperate with Gods Spirit ltlnd be r0generated or to reljst Gods grace and perish The lost sinner n~ds the Spirits asslstlnce but he does not howe to be regeneroted by the Spirit before he can believe for faith is mans aCI and precedes the new birth Faith is the sinners gift to God It is rnltlns contribution to SltIlvlltion
Becluse of the fall rniln is unble of himself to s~vingly believe th~ Gosp~1 The sinner i5 deltld blind and deltlfto the things of God his heltlrt is sinful and desperately corrupt His will is not free it is in bondOlge to his evil nature therlfore he will not-Indeed he Cltlnnotshychoos~ good over evil In the spirltultll realm Consequently it takes much more than the Spirlts assistance to bring a sinner to Christmiddotmiddotlt takes regeneration by which the Spirit makes the sinner alive ltlnd gives him OJ new nature but is itself a part of Gods gift of Mlvation Sltllvation is Gods gif1 to the sinner not the slnner~ gift to God
2 Unconditional Election 2 Conditional Election
Ood~ choice of certain Individulls to salvation before the foundation of th~ world was ba$~d on his foreseeing that they would respond to his c11 He selected only those whom he knew would of themselves freely believe the Gospel Election therefore WllS determined by or conditioned on what aperson would do The faith which God foresaw and upon which he based his choice was not given to the sinner by God (it was not created by the regenerating power of the Holy Spirit) but resulted from mans free will coopersting Ihe Spirits working God chose thos whom he knew would of their own free will choose Christ In this sense Gods election Is conditional
Gods choice of certain individuals to salvltltlon before the foundation of the world f(isted solely In his own sovereign will His choice of particular sinners was not beurolsed on any foreseen responst or obedience on their part such lt1$ faith repentance Nt On the contrary God gives faith and repentance to each individultll whom he selected These acts are the result not the Cltluse of Gods choice Election therefore WM not determined by or ~I
conditioned on any virtuous quality or act foreseen in man Those whom God sovereignly j ejected he Jgtrings through the power of the
~ Spirit to a willing acceptance of Christ Thus I
Gods choice of the sinner not the sInners choice of Christ is the ultimate cause of salviltion
99
CHINESE BAPTIST CHUR PAGE 0910713461518609022009 1336
Irresistible Grace
Imiddot I
L i I
60 The Five Points (continued) Arminianism CalvinismCategory
3 Particular Redemption or 3 Universal Redemption or Limited AtonementGeneral Atonement
5 Perseverance of the Saints5 Falling From Grace
Limited Atonement
Persevershyance of the Saints
I middot
100
Christs redeeming work rrJElde It possible for everyone to be saved but did not actUiillly secure the sltlhration of lnyone Although Christ died for all people ind for evcry person only those who believe on him are sltlved His deOlth enabled God to pardon sinners on th~ condition thilt they believe but It did Dot actuZllly put awZlY _myones sins Christs redemption becomes effective only if B person chooscs to accept It
Christs redeeming work was intended to save the elect only and actullly secured salvi1tion for them In )ddition to putting Elway the sins of his people Christs redemption secured everything necessary for their salvation including fltlith which unites them to him The gift of faith i~ infElllibly applied by the Spirit to all for whom Christ died therefore guaranteeing their salvalon
4 The Efficacious Call of the Spirit4 The Holy Spirit Able to Be or Irresistible Grace Effectually Resisted
The SpIrit calls inwltlrdly all those who are called outwardly by the Gospel Invitation he does all that he can to bring ev~ry sinner to salvatIon But inasmuch as man is free he can successfully resist the Spirits CQIl The Spirit cannot regenN~te the slnnN until he believes f~ith (which is mems contribution) precedes and makes possible the new bIrth Thus mans free will limits the Spirit in the appllcEltion of Christs saving work The Holy Spirit can draw to Christ only those who allow him to have his way with them Until the sinner respond the Spirit Cmnot give life Gods grace therefore is not invincible it can bebullbullmd often is resisted and thwClrted by men
Tho~e who believe and Ire truly saved can lose their salvation by failing to keep up their faith
Not all Arminlans agree on this point some hold th~t believers Je eternally ecure In Christ~ that Once a sinner is regen~rltlted he cn never be lost
R~ected
by the Synod of Dort -rhls was the system of thought cont-lined In the
Remonstrance (though the five points were not originally arranged in this order) It was submitted by the ArminipoundJns to the Church of Hollilnd In 1610 for adoption but was rejected by the Synod of Dort in 1619 on the ground that it was unscriptural
In addition to the outward generli call to salvOlshytlon which is mlde to everyont Who hears the Gospel the Holy Spirit extends to the elect specio1inward call thOlt ineVitably brings them to salvotion The external call (Which is mltlde to all without distinction) can be ond often is rejected whereas the internal call (Which is made only to the elect) CltInnot be rejected it alwFlYs r~ults in conversion By means of this special cali the Spirit Iriesistibly draw sinners to Christ He is not limited in J-jis wor[( of ZlppJying sltlvation to D1~ns will nor is he dlgtpendent on mans COoperlt1tion for success The Spirit grZlciously causes the elect sinner to cooperate to believe to repent to come Freely and willingly to Christ Gods grltlte thereFore is invincible It never fails to result in the salvatIon of those to Whom it Is extended
All who -lre chosen by God redeemed by Christ and given faIth by the Spirit ltIre eternally saved They me kept in faith by the power of Almighty God ~1d thus persevere to the end
Reaffirmed by the Synod of Dort
This system of theology WElS reaffirmed by the SYnod of Dort in 1619 as the doctrine of salv1ltion contained In the Holy Scriptures The ystCtTl w~s ~t tht time formulated into five points (in answer to the fIve points submitted by the ArminiElns) and has ever since been known as the five pOints of CIlvinism
It involves the presentation of the Gospel in which the individual is offered the promise of salvation in Christ and invited to accept Christ by faith in order to receive the forgiveness of sins and etemallife
Issued by the Father to all who hear the Gospel mediated especiaUy through believers empowered by the Holy Spirit of God as they communicate the Gospel as revealed in the Word of God
t is for all people but heard only by those who hear the Gospel
l-any are called but few are chosen~ tatt 2214)
It reveals the great love of God to sinners in general
It reveals Gods holiness and righteousness
It does not necessarily result in salvation lt
It can be rejected resutting in the sinners condemnashytion
It is prior to conversion and rna or may not lead to it
Effectual Calling
It involves the general calling of God in the Gospel made effective in an individual as he or she believes the Gospel and accepts Christ as Savior and Lord
It is issued by the Father and made effective by the work of the Holy Spirit as he iUuminates and enables the individual to understand and respond positively to the Gospel of the Lord Jesus as contained in the Word of God
It is given only to al of the elect
Sau - Acts 91-19 Lydia - Acts 1614 Romans 830
I
Because of manss total depravity it is absolutely necessary I in order to bring the elect to faith and conversion
I
Since it is effectual and irrevocable it necessarily results in salvation
It is impossible to reject
It is logically prior to conversion and necessarily Jeads to it
CHINESE BAPTIST CHUR PAGE 051009022009 1335 7134515185
t~ 57 Traditional Arauments on Election (continued)~
~~
Calvinism
Arguments For Arguments Against
The whole human race is lost in sin and each individual is totally corrupted in intellect will and emotions by sin Man is unable to respond to Gods offer of salvation because he is spiritually dead (Jer J 79 John 644 Rom 3 1middot23 2 Cor 43-4 Eph 2 1-3)
If man is unable to respond and cannot obey God then how can God truly offer salvation to all through the Gospel and expect obedience from man (Matt 1128-30 John 316 6 35)
God is sovereign in all he does and he does all according to his good will and pleasure He is not answerable to man because he is the Creator and can choose whomever he wills to save (Rom 920-21 Eph 15 Phil 2 13 Rev 411)
God desires everyone to be saved (1 Tim 23-4 2 Peter 39)
God has chosen certain people for his special grace irrespective of their physical descent character or good deeds Specifically in salvation he has chosen to save certain people through faith in Christ (John 63744 65 1516 Acts 1348 Rom 96 -24 Eph 14-5)
God would not be fair in choosing only some to eternal life and passing over others because this would violate mans fre~ will to choose and because the offer of the Gospel to a]l would not be in good faith
Election is an expression of Gods sovereign will and is the cause of faith (Eph 28- J 0)
God cannot demand that man believe if faith comes from him
Election is certainly effective for the salvation of all the eject Those whom God chooses will certainly come to faith in Christ (Rom 829-30)
Election is from all eternity and is immutable (Eph 14 gJ 1)
There Is the possibility that those who have come to faith may fall from grace and lose their salvation
God foresaw those who would believe and elected them in eternity (Rom 829)
58 Major Evangelical Views of Election Calvinism Moderate Calvinism Arminianism
Definition The conditional choice of God by whIch he determined who would believe based on his foreknowlshyedge of who will exercise fltlith It i the result of rnansfoith
The uncondltional and lovinq choice of God by which h~ determines who mlJst believe Jt is the CIlI1S( of m)ns faith
The unconditionil) lt1nd lovinq choice of God by which he determines who wll believe It Is the ltrJuse of mans fehh
John Calvin ChFlrles Spurgeon MIIlZlrd J EricksonJ~cob)s Irminius John WsleyNotable Adherents
Historical Roots
Pros
Cons
SCfiptural Evidence
In the eltJrly 17th century the Dutch ptor Arminiu5 while ott~mptshying to defcnd 13ezltls vIew became convinced th~t Flezll emd Calvin were wrong Weley later went beyond Arminiu by emphltlsi~lng prevenient grace
Emphasizes the reltponsiblIlty of mJn to melee a ChQice Also acknowledge mems depravity and hclplessne wlUl0ut Gods Intcrvntion ost ~ttroctive aspct is its allowance for moms free will to choose Mltln cem r~9i5t Gods gracc
Deemphilsizes Gods sollerelgnty By putting God In 0 position of dependence on the decisions of a created being this view makes It E1ppear that God i~ not in control of hi unlvers~ AJIo acknowlshy~dging the doctrine of total depravity r~quired Wesley to come up with prevenient grltllte which hos no basis In ScriptuTe
Central text No logical tre~tje can be found to support the Armlniltln position Thugt they appeol to the llnlversltll character of Gods invitation to sEllvationi 1 Timothy 23-4 Is offered as evidence that God desires ltIII people to be BElVed (~cc al90 Ia 55 1 E~ek 33 11 Acts 1730shy31 2 Peter 39)
During the Reformation Colvin picked up on Augustlne~ emphFlsls on Gods IrregtiiUble grFJce mans gin nature tlnd predestln~tion Calvin WIlS
gtucceeded by leza Who went ltI
tep fUlther
Emphasizes tile holIness and sovereignty of God lind thus his right to mElke such decrees IS
election to salvation
RIghtly emphlt1slzeS the total dcprilvity of man Md his InltIbiJity to choose whllt Is right unaided The OVrriding doctrine Is the absolute sovereignty of God who Is not dependent on the whim or will of mom Man connot reltist Gods grace
This view Is supported by an overwhelming omount of Scriptural evidence
DeemplJsi7lOS mans responsibility Seem~ to eclipse mlt1ns frclt will ~nd thus his r~spon5lbllity for his sin CrlUcs chrqe that it i foteli5Uc and detroys motive for eVFlngelism Biggest problem Jpparent logiCll contr~diction to human freedom
C~ntrill text Romns 96middot2tl Thl demonstr~t~ thlt1t election Is bltlsed on God~ just chltlracter and his sovereignty Therefor~ he will not mllke on unjAst declsion Clnd he Is not requlrcd to xplElin to man why he still find fault with those whom he did not choose
PrimaMly ~ recent intcrpretfJtlon
Emphasizes the holiness and sOI)eurorelgnty of Cod while O1t thlt same tIme prcsemlng the idea ofmilJis responsibility Gods grce jg frresistible but only because God hall chosen to mllke it so appcilling to the elect tholt they wm accept il In other words God enobles the elect to want hi grfJce
Thus God works his sovereign will through th~ will of the elect StrIkes II balmced position between tmditional Calvinism and ArminiElni~m
L1ck~ 8 clear precedent In church history Borders on semllntic 1dodging whcn it dlstln9ui~hes between God rendering something eert)in tlnd something necessary (Gods deciding that someshything will happen ltIS oppoled to deciding that it mUt heppen)
No central text is sp~cificltl[Jy offered Erickson bose hi~ posltlon on th~ strength9 of the Calvinist position and the weakn~ss of the Arminion JJld Is motiv~t~d by the ppltlrent contradiction of Gods sovereignty poundJnd mEln free will He would lelln to the Clvinlst position in most pssges
1 Total Inability or Total Depravity1 Free Will or Human Ability
Total Depravity
Uncondi~
tional Election
Although human n~ture was s~riou$ly affected by tile foil man has not been left in a stlt1te or total spiritual helplessness God grdously enables every shiner to repent and believe but he does not Interfere with m~n~ freedom Each sinner possesses a free will and his eternal destiny depends on how he uses It Msns freedom consists In his ability to choose good over evil in spiritual matterSj his will is not enslaved to his ~jnful nature The sinner has the power either to cooperate with Gods Spirit ltlnd be r0generated or to reljst Gods grace and perish The lost sinner n~ds the Spirits asslstlnce but he does not howe to be regeneroted by the Spirit before he can believe for faith is mans aCI and precedes the new birth Faith is the sinners gift to God It is rnltlns contribution to SltIlvlltion
Becluse of the fall rniln is unble of himself to s~vingly believe th~ Gosp~1 The sinner i5 deltld blind and deltlfto the things of God his heltlrt is sinful and desperately corrupt His will is not free it is in bondOlge to his evil nature therlfore he will not-Indeed he Cltlnnotshychoos~ good over evil In the spirltultll realm Consequently it takes much more than the Spirlts assistance to bring a sinner to Christmiddotmiddotlt takes regeneration by which the Spirit makes the sinner alive ltlnd gives him OJ new nature but is itself a part of Gods gift of Mlvation Sltllvation is Gods gif1 to the sinner not the slnner~ gift to God
2 Unconditional Election 2 Conditional Election
Ood~ choice of certain Individulls to salvation before the foundation of th~ world was ba$~d on his foreseeing that they would respond to his c11 He selected only those whom he knew would of themselves freely believe the Gospel Election therefore WllS determined by or conditioned on what aperson would do The faith which God foresaw and upon which he based his choice was not given to the sinner by God (it was not created by the regenerating power of the Holy Spirit) but resulted from mans free will coopersting Ihe Spirits working God chose thos whom he knew would of their own free will choose Christ In this sense Gods election Is conditional
Gods choice of certain individuals to salvltltlon before the foundation of the world f(isted solely In his own sovereign will His choice of particular sinners was not beurolsed on any foreseen responst or obedience on their part such lt1$ faith repentance Nt On the contrary God gives faith and repentance to each individultll whom he selected These acts are the result not the Cltluse of Gods choice Election therefore WM not determined by or ~I
conditioned on any virtuous quality or act foreseen in man Those whom God sovereignly j ejected he Jgtrings through the power of the
~ Spirit to a willing acceptance of Christ Thus I
Gods choice of the sinner not the sInners choice of Christ is the ultimate cause of salviltion
99
CHINESE BAPTIST CHUR PAGE 0910713461518609022009 1336
Irresistible Grace
Imiddot I
L i I
60 The Five Points (continued) Arminianism CalvinismCategory
3 Particular Redemption or 3 Universal Redemption or Limited AtonementGeneral Atonement
5 Perseverance of the Saints5 Falling From Grace
Limited Atonement
Persevershyance of the Saints
I middot
100
Christs redeeming work rrJElde It possible for everyone to be saved but did not actUiillly secure the sltlhration of lnyone Although Christ died for all people ind for evcry person only those who believe on him are sltlved His deOlth enabled God to pardon sinners on th~ condition thilt they believe but It did Dot actuZllly put awZlY _myones sins Christs redemption becomes effective only if B person chooscs to accept It
Christs redeeming work was intended to save the elect only and actullly secured salvi1tion for them In )ddition to putting Elway the sins of his people Christs redemption secured everything necessary for their salvation including fltlith which unites them to him The gift of faith i~ infElllibly applied by the Spirit to all for whom Christ died therefore guaranteeing their salvalon
4 The Efficacious Call of the Spirit4 The Holy Spirit Able to Be or Irresistible Grace Effectually Resisted
The SpIrit calls inwltlrdly all those who are called outwardly by the Gospel Invitation he does all that he can to bring ev~ry sinner to salvatIon But inasmuch as man is free he can successfully resist the Spirits CQIl The Spirit cannot regenN~te the slnnN until he believes f~ith (which is mems contribution) precedes and makes possible the new bIrth Thus mans free will limits the Spirit in the appllcEltion of Christs saving work The Holy Spirit can draw to Christ only those who allow him to have his way with them Until the sinner respond the Spirit Cmnot give life Gods grace therefore is not invincible it can bebullbullmd often is resisted and thwClrted by men
Tho~e who believe and Ire truly saved can lose their salvation by failing to keep up their faith
Not all Arminlans agree on this point some hold th~t believers Je eternally ecure In Christ~ that Once a sinner is regen~rltlted he cn never be lost
R~ected
by the Synod of Dort -rhls was the system of thought cont-lined In the
Remonstrance (though the five points were not originally arranged in this order) It was submitted by the ArminipoundJns to the Church of Hollilnd In 1610 for adoption but was rejected by the Synod of Dort in 1619 on the ground that it was unscriptural
In addition to the outward generli call to salvOlshytlon which is mlde to everyont Who hears the Gospel the Holy Spirit extends to the elect specio1inward call thOlt ineVitably brings them to salvotion The external call (Which is mltlde to all without distinction) can be ond often is rejected whereas the internal call (Which is made only to the elect) CltInnot be rejected it alwFlYs r~ults in conversion By means of this special cali the Spirit Iriesistibly draw sinners to Christ He is not limited in J-jis wor[( of ZlppJying sltlvation to D1~ns will nor is he dlgtpendent on mans COoperlt1tion for success The Spirit grZlciously causes the elect sinner to cooperate to believe to repent to come Freely and willingly to Christ Gods grltlte thereFore is invincible It never fails to result in the salvatIon of those to Whom it Is extended
All who -lre chosen by God redeemed by Christ and given faIth by the Spirit ltIre eternally saved They me kept in faith by the power of Almighty God ~1d thus persevere to the end
Reaffirmed by the Synod of Dort
This system of theology WElS reaffirmed by the SYnod of Dort in 1619 as the doctrine of salv1ltion contained In the Holy Scriptures The ystCtTl w~s ~t tht time formulated into five points (in answer to the fIve points submitted by the ArminiElns) and has ever since been known as the five pOints of CIlvinism
It involves the presentation of the Gospel in which the individual is offered the promise of salvation in Christ and invited to accept Christ by faith in order to receive the forgiveness of sins and etemallife
Issued by the Father to all who hear the Gospel mediated especiaUy through believers empowered by the Holy Spirit of God as they communicate the Gospel as revealed in the Word of God
t is for all people but heard only by those who hear the Gospel
l-any are called but few are chosen~ tatt 2214)
It reveals the great love of God to sinners in general
It reveals Gods holiness and righteousness
It does not necessarily result in salvation lt
It can be rejected resutting in the sinners condemnashytion
It is prior to conversion and rna or may not lead to it
Effectual Calling
It involves the general calling of God in the Gospel made effective in an individual as he or she believes the Gospel and accepts Christ as Savior and Lord
It is issued by the Father and made effective by the work of the Holy Spirit as he iUuminates and enables the individual to understand and respond positively to the Gospel of the Lord Jesus as contained in the Word of God
It is given only to al of the elect
Sau - Acts 91-19 Lydia - Acts 1614 Romans 830
I
Because of manss total depravity it is absolutely necessary I in order to bring the elect to faith and conversion
I
Since it is effectual and irrevocable it necessarily results in salvation
It is impossible to reject
It is logically prior to conversion and necessarily Jeads to it
58 Major Evangelical Views of Election Calvinism Moderate Calvinism Arminianism
Definition The conditional choice of God by whIch he determined who would believe based on his foreknowlshyedge of who will exercise fltlith It i the result of rnansfoith
The uncondltional and lovinq choice of God by which h~ determines who mlJst believe Jt is the CIlI1S( of m)ns faith
The unconditionil) lt1nd lovinq choice of God by which he determines who wll believe It Is the ltrJuse of mans fehh
John Calvin ChFlrles Spurgeon MIIlZlrd J EricksonJ~cob)s Irminius John WsleyNotable Adherents
Historical Roots
Pros
Cons
SCfiptural Evidence
In the eltJrly 17th century the Dutch ptor Arminiu5 while ott~mptshying to defcnd 13ezltls vIew became convinced th~t Flezll emd Calvin were wrong Weley later went beyond Arminiu by emphltlsi~lng prevenient grace
Emphasizes the reltponsiblIlty of mJn to melee a ChQice Also acknowledge mems depravity and hclplessne wlUl0ut Gods Intcrvntion ost ~ttroctive aspct is its allowance for moms free will to choose Mltln cem r~9i5t Gods gracc
Deemphilsizes Gods sollerelgnty By putting God In 0 position of dependence on the decisions of a created being this view makes It E1ppear that God i~ not in control of hi unlvers~ AJIo acknowlshy~dging the doctrine of total depravity r~quired Wesley to come up with prevenient grltllte which hos no basis In ScriptuTe
Central text No logical tre~tje can be found to support the Armlniltln position Thugt they appeol to the llnlversltll character of Gods invitation to sEllvationi 1 Timothy 23-4 Is offered as evidence that God desires ltIII people to be BElVed (~cc al90 Ia 55 1 E~ek 33 11 Acts 1730shy31 2 Peter 39)
During the Reformation Colvin picked up on Augustlne~ emphFlsls on Gods IrregtiiUble grFJce mans gin nature tlnd predestln~tion Calvin WIlS
gtucceeded by leza Who went ltI
tep fUlther
Emphasizes tile holIness and sovereignty of God lind thus his right to mElke such decrees IS
election to salvation
RIghtly emphlt1slzeS the total dcprilvity of man Md his InltIbiJity to choose whllt Is right unaided The OVrriding doctrine Is the absolute sovereignty of God who Is not dependent on the whim or will of mom Man connot reltist Gods grace
This view Is supported by an overwhelming omount of Scriptural evidence
DeemplJsi7lOS mans responsibility Seem~ to eclipse mlt1ns frclt will ~nd thus his r~spon5lbllity for his sin CrlUcs chrqe that it i foteli5Uc and detroys motive for eVFlngelism Biggest problem Jpparent logiCll contr~diction to human freedom
C~ntrill text Romns 96middot2tl Thl demonstr~t~ thlt1t election Is bltlsed on God~ just chltlracter and his sovereignty Therefor~ he will not mllke on unjAst declsion Clnd he Is not requlrcd to xplElin to man why he still find fault with those whom he did not choose
PrimaMly ~ recent intcrpretfJtlon
Emphasizes the holiness and sOI)eurorelgnty of Cod while O1t thlt same tIme prcsemlng the idea ofmilJis responsibility Gods grce jg frresistible but only because God hall chosen to mllke it so appcilling to the elect tholt they wm accept il In other words God enobles the elect to want hi grfJce
Thus God works his sovereign will through th~ will of the elect StrIkes II balmced position between tmditional Calvinism and ArminiElni~m
L1ck~ 8 clear precedent In church history Borders on semllntic 1dodging whcn it dlstln9ui~hes between God rendering something eert)in tlnd something necessary (Gods deciding that someshything will happen ltIS oppoled to deciding that it mUt heppen)
No central text is sp~cificltl[Jy offered Erickson bose hi~ posltlon on th~ strength9 of the Calvinist position and the weakn~ss of the Arminion JJld Is motiv~t~d by the ppltlrent contradiction of Gods sovereignty poundJnd mEln free will He would lelln to the Clvinlst position in most pssges
1 Total Inability or Total Depravity1 Free Will or Human Ability
Total Depravity
Uncondi~
tional Election
Although human n~ture was s~riou$ly affected by tile foil man has not been left in a stlt1te or total spiritual helplessness God grdously enables every shiner to repent and believe but he does not Interfere with m~n~ freedom Each sinner possesses a free will and his eternal destiny depends on how he uses It Msns freedom consists In his ability to choose good over evil in spiritual matterSj his will is not enslaved to his ~jnful nature The sinner has the power either to cooperate with Gods Spirit ltlnd be r0generated or to reljst Gods grace and perish The lost sinner n~ds the Spirits asslstlnce but he does not howe to be regeneroted by the Spirit before he can believe for faith is mans aCI and precedes the new birth Faith is the sinners gift to God It is rnltlns contribution to SltIlvlltion
Becluse of the fall rniln is unble of himself to s~vingly believe th~ Gosp~1 The sinner i5 deltld blind and deltlfto the things of God his heltlrt is sinful and desperately corrupt His will is not free it is in bondOlge to his evil nature therlfore he will not-Indeed he Cltlnnotshychoos~ good over evil In the spirltultll realm Consequently it takes much more than the Spirlts assistance to bring a sinner to Christmiddotmiddotlt takes regeneration by which the Spirit makes the sinner alive ltlnd gives him OJ new nature but is itself a part of Gods gift of Mlvation Sltllvation is Gods gif1 to the sinner not the slnner~ gift to God
2 Unconditional Election 2 Conditional Election
Ood~ choice of certain Individulls to salvation before the foundation of th~ world was ba$~d on his foreseeing that they would respond to his c11 He selected only those whom he knew would of themselves freely believe the Gospel Election therefore WllS determined by or conditioned on what aperson would do The faith which God foresaw and upon which he based his choice was not given to the sinner by God (it was not created by the regenerating power of the Holy Spirit) but resulted from mans free will coopersting Ihe Spirits working God chose thos whom he knew would of their own free will choose Christ In this sense Gods election Is conditional
Gods choice of certain individuals to salvltltlon before the foundation of the world f(isted solely In his own sovereign will His choice of particular sinners was not beurolsed on any foreseen responst or obedience on their part such lt1$ faith repentance Nt On the contrary God gives faith and repentance to each individultll whom he selected These acts are the result not the Cltluse of Gods choice Election therefore WM not determined by or ~I
conditioned on any virtuous quality or act foreseen in man Those whom God sovereignly j ejected he Jgtrings through the power of the
~ Spirit to a willing acceptance of Christ Thus I
Gods choice of the sinner not the sInners choice of Christ is the ultimate cause of salviltion
99
CHINESE BAPTIST CHUR PAGE 0910713461518609022009 1336
Irresistible Grace
Imiddot I
L i I
60 The Five Points (continued) Arminianism CalvinismCategory
3 Particular Redemption or 3 Universal Redemption or Limited AtonementGeneral Atonement
5 Perseverance of the Saints5 Falling From Grace
Limited Atonement
Persevershyance of the Saints
I middot
100
Christs redeeming work rrJElde It possible for everyone to be saved but did not actUiillly secure the sltlhration of lnyone Although Christ died for all people ind for evcry person only those who believe on him are sltlved His deOlth enabled God to pardon sinners on th~ condition thilt they believe but It did Dot actuZllly put awZlY _myones sins Christs redemption becomes effective only if B person chooscs to accept It
Christs redeeming work was intended to save the elect only and actullly secured salvi1tion for them In )ddition to putting Elway the sins of his people Christs redemption secured everything necessary for their salvation including fltlith which unites them to him The gift of faith i~ infElllibly applied by the Spirit to all for whom Christ died therefore guaranteeing their salvalon
4 The Efficacious Call of the Spirit4 The Holy Spirit Able to Be or Irresistible Grace Effectually Resisted
The SpIrit calls inwltlrdly all those who are called outwardly by the Gospel Invitation he does all that he can to bring ev~ry sinner to salvatIon But inasmuch as man is free he can successfully resist the Spirits CQIl The Spirit cannot regenN~te the slnnN until he believes f~ith (which is mems contribution) precedes and makes possible the new bIrth Thus mans free will limits the Spirit in the appllcEltion of Christs saving work The Holy Spirit can draw to Christ only those who allow him to have his way with them Until the sinner respond the Spirit Cmnot give life Gods grace therefore is not invincible it can bebullbullmd often is resisted and thwClrted by men
Tho~e who believe and Ire truly saved can lose their salvation by failing to keep up their faith
Not all Arminlans agree on this point some hold th~t believers Je eternally ecure In Christ~ that Once a sinner is regen~rltlted he cn never be lost
R~ected
by the Synod of Dort -rhls was the system of thought cont-lined In the
Remonstrance (though the five points were not originally arranged in this order) It was submitted by the ArminipoundJns to the Church of Hollilnd In 1610 for adoption but was rejected by the Synod of Dort in 1619 on the ground that it was unscriptural
In addition to the outward generli call to salvOlshytlon which is mlde to everyont Who hears the Gospel the Holy Spirit extends to the elect specio1inward call thOlt ineVitably brings them to salvotion The external call (Which is mltlde to all without distinction) can be ond often is rejected whereas the internal call (Which is made only to the elect) CltInnot be rejected it alwFlYs r~ults in conversion By means of this special cali the Spirit Iriesistibly draw sinners to Christ He is not limited in J-jis wor[( of ZlppJying sltlvation to D1~ns will nor is he dlgtpendent on mans COoperlt1tion for success The Spirit grZlciously causes the elect sinner to cooperate to believe to repent to come Freely and willingly to Christ Gods grltlte thereFore is invincible It never fails to result in the salvatIon of those to Whom it Is extended
All who -lre chosen by God redeemed by Christ and given faIth by the Spirit ltIre eternally saved They me kept in faith by the power of Almighty God ~1d thus persevere to the end
Reaffirmed by the Synod of Dort
This system of theology WElS reaffirmed by the SYnod of Dort in 1619 as the doctrine of salv1ltion contained In the Holy Scriptures The ystCtTl w~s ~t tht time formulated into five points (in answer to the fIve points submitted by the ArminiElns) and has ever since been known as the five pOints of CIlvinism
It involves the presentation of the Gospel in which the individual is offered the promise of salvation in Christ and invited to accept Christ by faith in order to receive the forgiveness of sins and etemallife
Issued by the Father to all who hear the Gospel mediated especiaUy through believers empowered by the Holy Spirit of God as they communicate the Gospel as revealed in the Word of God
t is for all people but heard only by those who hear the Gospel
l-any are called but few are chosen~ tatt 2214)
It reveals the great love of God to sinners in general
It reveals Gods holiness and righteousness
It does not necessarily result in salvation lt
It can be rejected resutting in the sinners condemnashytion
It is prior to conversion and rna or may not lead to it
Effectual Calling
It involves the general calling of God in the Gospel made effective in an individual as he or she believes the Gospel and accepts Christ as Savior and Lord
It is issued by the Father and made effective by the work of the Holy Spirit as he iUuminates and enables the individual to understand and respond positively to the Gospel of the Lord Jesus as contained in the Word of God
It is given only to al of the elect
Sau - Acts 91-19 Lydia - Acts 1614 Romans 830
I
Because of manss total depravity it is absolutely necessary I in order to bring the elect to faith and conversion
I
Since it is effectual and irrevocable it necessarily results in salvation
It is impossible to reject
It is logically prior to conversion and necessarily Jeads to it
1 Total Inability or Total Depravity1 Free Will or Human Ability
Total Depravity
Uncondi~
tional Election
Although human n~ture was s~riou$ly affected by tile foil man has not been left in a stlt1te or total spiritual helplessness God grdously enables every shiner to repent and believe but he does not Interfere with m~n~ freedom Each sinner possesses a free will and his eternal destiny depends on how he uses It Msns freedom consists In his ability to choose good over evil in spiritual matterSj his will is not enslaved to his ~jnful nature The sinner has the power either to cooperate with Gods Spirit ltlnd be r0generated or to reljst Gods grace and perish The lost sinner n~ds the Spirits asslstlnce but he does not howe to be regeneroted by the Spirit before he can believe for faith is mans aCI and precedes the new birth Faith is the sinners gift to God It is rnltlns contribution to SltIlvlltion
Becluse of the fall rniln is unble of himself to s~vingly believe th~ Gosp~1 The sinner i5 deltld blind and deltlfto the things of God his heltlrt is sinful and desperately corrupt His will is not free it is in bondOlge to his evil nature therlfore he will not-Indeed he Cltlnnotshychoos~ good over evil In the spirltultll realm Consequently it takes much more than the Spirlts assistance to bring a sinner to Christmiddotmiddotlt takes regeneration by which the Spirit makes the sinner alive ltlnd gives him OJ new nature but is itself a part of Gods gift of Mlvation Sltllvation is Gods gif1 to the sinner not the slnner~ gift to God
2 Unconditional Election 2 Conditional Election
Ood~ choice of certain Individulls to salvation before the foundation of th~ world was ba$~d on his foreseeing that they would respond to his c11 He selected only those whom he knew would of themselves freely believe the Gospel Election therefore WllS determined by or conditioned on what aperson would do The faith which God foresaw and upon which he based his choice was not given to the sinner by God (it was not created by the regenerating power of the Holy Spirit) but resulted from mans free will coopersting Ihe Spirits working God chose thos whom he knew would of their own free will choose Christ In this sense Gods election Is conditional
Gods choice of certain individuals to salvltltlon before the foundation of the world f(isted solely In his own sovereign will His choice of particular sinners was not beurolsed on any foreseen responst or obedience on their part such lt1$ faith repentance Nt On the contrary God gives faith and repentance to each individultll whom he selected These acts are the result not the Cltluse of Gods choice Election therefore WM not determined by or ~I
conditioned on any virtuous quality or act foreseen in man Those whom God sovereignly j ejected he Jgtrings through the power of the
~ Spirit to a willing acceptance of Christ Thus I
Gods choice of the sinner not the sInners choice of Christ is the ultimate cause of salviltion
99
CHINESE BAPTIST CHUR PAGE 0910713461518609022009 1336
Irresistible Grace
Imiddot I
L i I
60 The Five Points (continued) Arminianism CalvinismCategory
3 Particular Redemption or 3 Universal Redemption or Limited AtonementGeneral Atonement
5 Perseverance of the Saints5 Falling From Grace
Limited Atonement
Persevershyance of the Saints
I middot
100
Christs redeeming work rrJElde It possible for everyone to be saved but did not actUiillly secure the sltlhration of lnyone Although Christ died for all people ind for evcry person only those who believe on him are sltlved His deOlth enabled God to pardon sinners on th~ condition thilt they believe but It did Dot actuZllly put awZlY _myones sins Christs redemption becomes effective only if B person chooscs to accept It
Christs redeeming work was intended to save the elect only and actullly secured salvi1tion for them In )ddition to putting Elway the sins of his people Christs redemption secured everything necessary for their salvation including fltlith which unites them to him The gift of faith i~ infElllibly applied by the Spirit to all for whom Christ died therefore guaranteeing their salvalon
4 The Efficacious Call of the Spirit4 The Holy Spirit Able to Be or Irresistible Grace Effectually Resisted
The SpIrit calls inwltlrdly all those who are called outwardly by the Gospel Invitation he does all that he can to bring ev~ry sinner to salvatIon But inasmuch as man is free he can successfully resist the Spirits CQIl The Spirit cannot regenN~te the slnnN until he believes f~ith (which is mems contribution) precedes and makes possible the new bIrth Thus mans free will limits the Spirit in the appllcEltion of Christs saving work The Holy Spirit can draw to Christ only those who allow him to have his way with them Until the sinner respond the Spirit Cmnot give life Gods grace therefore is not invincible it can bebullbullmd often is resisted and thwClrted by men
Tho~e who believe and Ire truly saved can lose their salvation by failing to keep up their faith
Not all Arminlans agree on this point some hold th~t believers Je eternally ecure In Christ~ that Once a sinner is regen~rltlted he cn never be lost
R~ected
by the Synod of Dort -rhls was the system of thought cont-lined In the
Remonstrance (though the five points were not originally arranged in this order) It was submitted by the ArminipoundJns to the Church of Hollilnd In 1610 for adoption but was rejected by the Synod of Dort in 1619 on the ground that it was unscriptural
In addition to the outward generli call to salvOlshytlon which is mlde to everyont Who hears the Gospel the Holy Spirit extends to the elect specio1inward call thOlt ineVitably brings them to salvotion The external call (Which is mltlde to all without distinction) can be ond often is rejected whereas the internal call (Which is made only to the elect) CltInnot be rejected it alwFlYs r~ults in conversion By means of this special cali the Spirit Iriesistibly draw sinners to Christ He is not limited in J-jis wor[( of ZlppJying sltlvation to D1~ns will nor is he dlgtpendent on mans COoperlt1tion for success The Spirit grZlciously causes the elect sinner to cooperate to believe to repent to come Freely and willingly to Christ Gods grltlte thereFore is invincible It never fails to result in the salvatIon of those to Whom it Is extended
All who -lre chosen by God redeemed by Christ and given faIth by the Spirit ltIre eternally saved They me kept in faith by the power of Almighty God ~1d thus persevere to the end
Reaffirmed by the Synod of Dort
This system of theology WElS reaffirmed by the SYnod of Dort in 1619 as the doctrine of salv1ltion contained In the Holy Scriptures The ystCtTl w~s ~t tht time formulated into five points (in answer to the fIve points submitted by the ArminiElns) and has ever since been known as the five pOints of CIlvinism
It involves the presentation of the Gospel in which the individual is offered the promise of salvation in Christ and invited to accept Christ by faith in order to receive the forgiveness of sins and etemallife
Issued by the Father to all who hear the Gospel mediated especiaUy through believers empowered by the Holy Spirit of God as they communicate the Gospel as revealed in the Word of God
t is for all people but heard only by those who hear the Gospel
l-any are called but few are chosen~ tatt 2214)
It reveals the great love of God to sinners in general
It reveals Gods holiness and righteousness
It does not necessarily result in salvation lt
It can be rejected resutting in the sinners condemnashytion
It is prior to conversion and rna or may not lead to it
Effectual Calling
It involves the general calling of God in the Gospel made effective in an individual as he or she believes the Gospel and accepts Christ as Savior and Lord
It is issued by the Father and made effective by the work of the Holy Spirit as he iUuminates and enables the individual to understand and respond positively to the Gospel of the Lord Jesus as contained in the Word of God
It is given only to al of the elect
Sau - Acts 91-19 Lydia - Acts 1614 Romans 830
I
Because of manss total depravity it is absolutely necessary I in order to bring the elect to faith and conversion
I
Since it is effectual and irrevocable it necessarily results in salvation
It is impossible to reject
It is logically prior to conversion and necessarily Jeads to it
CHINESE BAPTIST CHUR PAGE 0910713461518609022009 1336
Irresistible Grace
Imiddot I
L i I
60 The Five Points (continued) Arminianism CalvinismCategory
3 Particular Redemption or 3 Universal Redemption or Limited AtonementGeneral Atonement
5 Perseverance of the Saints5 Falling From Grace
Limited Atonement
Persevershyance of the Saints
I middot
100
Christs redeeming work rrJElde It possible for everyone to be saved but did not actUiillly secure the sltlhration of lnyone Although Christ died for all people ind for evcry person only those who believe on him are sltlved His deOlth enabled God to pardon sinners on th~ condition thilt they believe but It did Dot actuZllly put awZlY _myones sins Christs redemption becomes effective only if B person chooscs to accept It
Christs redeeming work was intended to save the elect only and actullly secured salvi1tion for them In )ddition to putting Elway the sins of his people Christs redemption secured everything necessary for their salvation including fltlith which unites them to him The gift of faith i~ infElllibly applied by the Spirit to all for whom Christ died therefore guaranteeing their salvalon
4 The Efficacious Call of the Spirit4 The Holy Spirit Able to Be or Irresistible Grace Effectually Resisted
The SpIrit calls inwltlrdly all those who are called outwardly by the Gospel Invitation he does all that he can to bring ev~ry sinner to salvatIon But inasmuch as man is free he can successfully resist the Spirits CQIl The Spirit cannot regenN~te the slnnN until he believes f~ith (which is mems contribution) precedes and makes possible the new bIrth Thus mans free will limits the Spirit in the appllcEltion of Christs saving work The Holy Spirit can draw to Christ only those who allow him to have his way with them Until the sinner respond the Spirit Cmnot give life Gods grace therefore is not invincible it can bebullbullmd often is resisted and thwClrted by men
Tho~e who believe and Ire truly saved can lose their salvation by failing to keep up their faith
Not all Arminlans agree on this point some hold th~t believers Je eternally ecure In Christ~ that Once a sinner is regen~rltlted he cn never be lost
R~ected
by the Synod of Dort -rhls was the system of thought cont-lined In the
Remonstrance (though the five points were not originally arranged in this order) It was submitted by the ArminipoundJns to the Church of Hollilnd In 1610 for adoption but was rejected by the Synod of Dort in 1619 on the ground that it was unscriptural
In addition to the outward generli call to salvOlshytlon which is mlde to everyont Who hears the Gospel the Holy Spirit extends to the elect specio1inward call thOlt ineVitably brings them to salvotion The external call (Which is mltlde to all without distinction) can be ond often is rejected whereas the internal call (Which is made only to the elect) CltInnot be rejected it alwFlYs r~ults in conversion By means of this special cali the Spirit Iriesistibly draw sinners to Christ He is not limited in J-jis wor[( of ZlppJying sltlvation to D1~ns will nor is he dlgtpendent on mans COoperlt1tion for success The Spirit grZlciously causes the elect sinner to cooperate to believe to repent to come Freely and willingly to Christ Gods grltlte thereFore is invincible It never fails to result in the salvatIon of those to Whom it Is extended
All who -lre chosen by God redeemed by Christ and given faIth by the Spirit ltIre eternally saved They me kept in faith by the power of Almighty God ~1d thus persevere to the end
Reaffirmed by the Synod of Dort
This system of theology WElS reaffirmed by the SYnod of Dort in 1619 as the doctrine of salv1ltion contained In the Holy Scriptures The ystCtTl w~s ~t tht time formulated into five points (in answer to the fIve points submitted by the ArminiElns) and has ever since been known as the five pOints of CIlvinism
It involves the presentation of the Gospel in which the individual is offered the promise of salvation in Christ and invited to accept Christ by faith in order to receive the forgiveness of sins and etemallife
Issued by the Father to all who hear the Gospel mediated especiaUy through believers empowered by the Holy Spirit of God as they communicate the Gospel as revealed in the Word of God
t is for all people but heard only by those who hear the Gospel
l-any are called but few are chosen~ tatt 2214)
It reveals the great love of God to sinners in general
It reveals Gods holiness and righteousness
It does not necessarily result in salvation lt
It can be rejected resutting in the sinners condemnashytion
It is prior to conversion and rna or may not lead to it
Effectual Calling
It involves the general calling of God in the Gospel made effective in an individual as he or she believes the Gospel and accepts Christ as Savior and Lord
It is issued by the Father and made effective by the work of the Holy Spirit as he iUuminates and enables the individual to understand and respond positively to the Gospel of the Lord Jesus as contained in the Word of God
It is given only to al of the elect
Sau - Acts 91-19 Lydia - Acts 1614 Romans 830
I
Because of manss total depravity it is absolutely necessary I in order to bring the elect to faith and conversion
I
Since it is effectual and irrevocable it necessarily results in salvation
It is impossible to reject
It is logically prior to conversion and necessarily Jeads to it
It involves the presentation of the Gospel in which the individual is offered the promise of salvation in Christ and invited to accept Christ by faith in order to receive the forgiveness of sins and etemallife
Issued by the Father to all who hear the Gospel mediated especiaUy through believers empowered by the Holy Spirit of God as they communicate the Gospel as revealed in the Word of God
t is for all people but heard only by those who hear the Gospel
l-any are called but few are chosen~ tatt 2214)
It reveals the great love of God to sinners in general
It reveals Gods holiness and righteousness
It does not necessarily result in salvation lt
It can be rejected resutting in the sinners condemnashytion
It is prior to conversion and rna or may not lead to it
Effectual Calling
It involves the general calling of God in the Gospel made effective in an individual as he or she believes the Gospel and accepts Christ as Savior and Lord
It is issued by the Father and made effective by the work of the Holy Spirit as he iUuminates and enables the individual to understand and respond positively to the Gospel of the Lord Jesus as contained in the Word of God
It is given only to al of the elect
Sau - Acts 91-19 Lydia - Acts 1614 Romans 830
I
Because of manss total depravity it is absolutely necessary I in order to bring the elect to faith and conversion
I
Since it is effectual and irrevocable it necessarily results in salvation
It is impossible to reject
It is logically prior to conversion and necessarily Jeads to it
