Calvin vs Arminius - An Unfruitful Topic of Debate
March 20th - John Calvin vs Jacob Arminius
Years ago I looked into the views of John Calvin and Jacob Arminius. I came away feeling like the author of the following Scripture.
“Yet furthermore, my son, beyond these, be warned; of the making of many scrolls there is no end; and much study is a weariness to the flesh.” (Ecclesiastes 12:12)
I found that both John Calvin and Jacob Arminius taught that it was the GRACE of God that saves. Calvin taught that God predestines some but not all to receive grace and salvation. Arminius taught that it was up to the free will of each person to choose to be saved by the grace of God.
"According to the grace of God which is being granted to me, as a wise foreman I lay a foundation, yet another is building on it. Yet let each one beware how he is building on it. For other foundation can no one lay beside that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone is building on this foundation gold and silver, precious stones, wood, grass, straw, each one's work will become apparent, for the day will make it evident, for it is being revealed by fire. And the fire, it will be testing each one's work -- what kind it is. If anyone's work will be remaining which he builds on it, he will get wages. If anyone's work shall be burned up, he will forfeit it, yet he shall be saved, yet thus, as through fire." (1 Corinthians 3:12-
“Yet furthermore, my son, beyond these, be warned; of the making of many scrolls there is no end; and much study is a weariness to the flesh.” (Ecclesiastes 12:12)
I found that both John Calvin and Jacob Arminius taught that it was the GRACE of God that saves. Calvin taught that God predestines some but not all to receive grace and salvation. Arminius taught that it was up to the free will of each person to choose to be saved by the grace of God.
The truth is they were both wrong. They should have brought unity to the Body of Christ by saying at a joint press conference...
"God, in his GRACE, has predestined the salvation of humanity, and all will eventually choose to place their trust in Jesus by the overwhelming evidence presented to them after their resurrection."
Humanity has been predestined to salvation - all of us.
"Wherefore, also, God highly exalts Him, and graces Him with the name that is above every name, that in the name of Jesus every knee should be bowing, celestial and terrestrial and subterranean, and every tongue should be acclaiming that Jesus Christ is Lord, for the glory of God, the Father." (Philippians 2:10-11)
"Wherefore, also, God highly exalts Him, and graces Him with the name that is above every name, that in the name of Jesus every knee should be bowing, celestial and terrestrial and subterranean, and every tongue should be acclaiming that Jesus Christ is Lord, for the glory of God, the Father." (Philippians 2:10-11)
“It is a trustworthy statement deserving full acceptance. Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners…God our Savior wills ALL men to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who have Himself a ransom for ALL...we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of ALL mankind, especially of believers. Prescribe and teach these things.” (1 Timothy 1:15; 2:3-6; 4:10)
John Calvin and Jacob Arminius used wood, grass, and straw to buildt upon the foundation of Christ Jesus. These building materials will be become apparent after their resurrection, and their false doctrines burnt up - yet they will be saved.
John Calvin and Jacob Arminius used wood, grass, and straw to buildt upon the foundation of Christ Jesus. These building materials will be become apparent after their resurrection, and their false doctrines burnt up - yet they will be saved.