Arminianism Deconstructed

Reply to Aresman,

First we have a Creator with sovereignty over His creation, God either causes or allows whatsoever comes to pass. Some rewrite the definition of sovereignty as code for exhaustive determinism, but that is not what the word actually means.

Nothing transcends God, He is All Powerful and does as He pleases. God has attributes such as He is just and the justifier of the unjust. This is revealed truth. So rather than judging the Creator, when men invent unjust behavior and attribute it to God, they are demeaning God.

God did not have to give mankind the ability to make autonomous choices, He chose to do it and indicated He did it and therefore to deny He did it demeans God. God sets before us the choice of life or death, not life only to some, and death only to others which is the Calvinist rewrite of God's inspired Word.

Next, God is able to know exhaustively what anyone will choose to do, such as Jesus telling Peter that one day Peter would stretch out his hands and go where he did not want to go, and in this way telling Peter how he would die.

Calvinists say out of one side of their mouth, God predestines everything, but they say it in code, i.e. God is sovereign, and then say out of the other side, God is not the author of sin. But that premise is a logical impossibility. If God predestined our sins, He is the author of our sin.

But rather than address the issue, they misrepresent their opponents position or disparage them. Why, because their doctrines are false and cannot be defended biblically.

 

The T of the TULIP is false doctrine, fallen men can understand the milk of the gospel, but not spiritual meat which requires being indwelt with the Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 2:14-3:3.

The U of the TULIP is false doctrine, God chooses those rich in faith, those who are heirs to the promise God made to those who love Him, James 2:5.

The L of the TULIP is false doctrine, Christ became the propitiation or means of salvation for the whole world, all mankind. He died as a ransom for all. 1 John 2:2

The I of the TULIP is false doctrine, if applied to the call of the gospel, but those whose faith He credits as righteousness are put spiritually in Christ, 1 Cor. 1:30 and are kept for their inheritance by the power of God who protects their faith forever, 1 Peter 1:3-5.

Romans 9:16 is an interesting verse, first it says men can be willing, proving the T is unbiblical, and then it say God has mercy on whom He chooses, proving His selection based on faith is not based on merit.

 

Hi Bobby, I expect your question was rhetorical, of course we look at how words are used in context in every passage they appear in to arrive at the most probable word meaning for the passage we are considering.

One of the arguments often used by Calvinists is what I call fairy dust, they suggest a verse does not mean what it says because of "context" but never present how the context supposed alters the meaning.

My position is supported by the entire bible, but sometimes my understanding of a passage or verse will be very different from the meaning assigned by Calvinism. But when I explain the difference, I like to think my view is consistent with the immediate context and with every other passage that impinges upon the topic.

 

Hi Don,

I did not think we were debating, I was attempting to explain my position to you because you indicated interest in understanding my views.

Here is where we were:

The issue is the timing of election, Arminianism claims God conditionally elected foreseen individuals for salvation before creation. I say God conditionally elects existing individuals for salvation during their lifetime, after they have lived without mercy, and His election is based on Him crediting our faith in Christ as righteousness.

 

Yes Bobby, case in point, Ephesians 1:4. Viewed in isolation, it seems to say individuals were elected for salvation before the foundation of the world, but when viewed with the other verses addressing election for salvation, an alternate understanding, He chose us in Him [corporately but not individually] before the foundation of the world.

Rather than take an understanding of one verse, and then nullify the others that do not fit, I believe the correct understanding will fit with all scripture, contextually considered.

 

Hi Don, rather than change the subject to an attribute of God, lets stick with what scripture actually says about election.

Here are some questions: Does Ephesians 1:4 say whether the election before the foundation of the world was individual or corporate? My answer is no, either view is possible when you look at that verse in isolation.

Does James 2:5 say God chooses those poor in the eyes of the world, rich in faith and heirs to the promise to those who love God? If it does, and I believe it does, then individual election must occur during our lifetime. Do you agree.

The Arminian view is negated not with speculation but with specific scripture. Scripture says we are chosen individually during our lifetime.

 

Yes Don, the Arminian view has God setting salvation before men, and when men accept it they put themselves into Christ. A synergistic view. Unbiblical, 1 Corinthians 1:30 says God puts us in Christ, we do not do it for it does not depend upon the man that wills, Romans 9:16.

But Don, please answer my questions, just two, from post number 34.

 

Faith does not cause election and faith is not the result of election for salvation. Faith provides our access to the grace of salvation, Romans 5:2. We are saved by grace through faith. Like a door into a room, we go through the door to enter the room. God credits our faith as righteousness before we enter the kingdom of Christ, thus our faith provides our access to the grace in which we stand. Many are called, few are chosen.

 

Reply to Bobby

This line of thought does not fall into the mix, except to say our choice to accept or reject the gospel was not predestined and our choice to seek God and trust in Christ was not predestined. Christ would not lay down His life for the whole world if some among the world were predestined to Hades and Gehenna. When we hear the gospel and receive it, i.e. we commit to Christ alone as our savior and trust fully in Him and not in our works of righteousness, God knows our heart. If in His Sovereign judgment, we "believe from the heart" then He will credit our faith as righteousness and spiritually put us into Christ, and this action of spiritual transfer is performed by the Holy Spirit, 2 Thessalonians 2:13.

Thus our individual election for salvation does not occur before the foundation of the world, but from the beginning or from the foundation of the world.

My view, Bobby, is based on scripture and not on the speculation of men.