Calvinism, Arminianism, and the Truth
| Arminianism | Calvinism | God’s Truth | God’s Proof | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Depravity | Though morally hurt by sin in Eden, man has a free will to choose to obey or disobey God. Sin has not destroyed his ability or desire to cooperate with God. The Spirit can woo him to action without violating his will. He must obey by his choice before God will regenerate him. | Man’s nature is corrupt due to his sin in Eden. He lost his ability and desire to choose good or please God. He will not and cannot please God. The things of God are foolish to him. He must be given a new nature by God to see or choose Jesus Christ. | Same as Calvinism. | Genesis 2:17; 5:3; Eph 2:1-3; 4:17-19; Ps 51:5; 58:3; John 3:3; 5:40; 8:47; Rom 3:10-12; 5:12; 8:7-8; Is 26:10; 44:20; Jer 13:23; Luke 16:31; I Cor 1:18; 2:14; II Cor 4:3-4. |
| Unconditional Election | God chose those He saw by foreknowledge would believe for eternal life. He could not choose on any other basis. He elected based on man’s choice, whose ability is in his remaining free will. God wants all men to be saved, and He would never reject any one from eternal life. | God chose some men to eternal life by His own will and purpose and for His own glory. When He viewed mankind, God saw only sin and no faith or good works. It is God’s choice and not the sinner’s that is the only and final basis for eternal life. | Same as Calvinism. | Ps 14:1-3; 53:1-3; Rom 8:28- 33; 9:11,22; Eph 1:3-12; Acts 13:48; II Thess 2:13; II Tim 1:9; Matt 22:14; John 10:26- 29; 17:2; Rom 11:7; I Pet 1:2; 2:8; Jude 1:4; Rev 13:8; 17:8. |
| Limited Atonement | Jesus Christ died for all the sins of all men. His death did not save any for certain, but only made salvation possible for all who will believe or obey. He paid the full sin debt for all men, but they must accept the transaction in order to have the benefits and go to heaven at death | Jesus Christ died for all the Father gave Him to save. He died a substitute for them only, and God accepted and applied His death to them. He secured all spiritual blessings for the elect forever, and they shall never perish, and not even one shall be lost. | Same as Calvinism. | Ge 49:10; Mat 1:21; Lu 1:68; Jn 6:38-39; 10:11,15,27-29; 11:49-52; Rom 5:10,15-19; 8:29-34; 9:24; Eph 5:25; Heb 2:11-13; 7:25; 9:15; 10:10- 14; I Pet 1:2; Rev 5:9; 13:8. |
| Irresistible Grace | The Holy Spirit convicts all men by causing them to know they are sinners and need a Savior. But only some obey Him and get regenerated. Sinners may and do resist this offer of grace. Unless they cooperate, God will not quicken them against their resisting free will. | The Holy Spirit works powerfully with gospel preaching to bring the elect to conversion. Faith and repentance are God’s gifts, and they cannot resist the Spirit’s work. All of the elect will believe and obey the gospel by God’s power. | God regenerates the elect from death in sins by His almighty power. Man is totally passive in his new birth and cannot resist. The born again child may resist or fall from gospel conversion, but salvation to heaven is sure. The gospel is for assurance, peace, and other practical benefits, not regeneration. | Eph 1:19; 2:1-5; Col 2:13; John 1:13; 3:8; 5:21,25-29; Luke 22:32; Acts 7:51; 16:14; Rom 1:8-15; 11:28; II Tim 1:9-10; Titus 3:5; Jas 5:19- 20; I Pet 1:2; II Sam 12:23. |
| Perseverance Of the Saints | Honest Arminians require men to continue in faith and good works to be saved, for sin will take away eternal life. Some say that once saved there is no chance of losing it, because the decision made to accept Jesus gets your name in the book of life, no matter how you live. | All who were chosen by God, bought by Christ, and given faith by the Spirit shall be eternally saved. They are kept in faith and holiness by the power of God and thus all persevere to the end. They cannot finally apostatize or backslide and die in sin. | God preserves His elect, but He does not make them persevere in faith and obedience. Faith may be weak and even lost at times by the elect, yet God is faithful. His faith is the basis of their preservation. Abraham, Lot, Samson, and Paul are finally saved alike by God’s grace and faithfulness, not theirs. | Ps 89:29-37; I Thess 5:23-24; Gal 1:6; 3:1; 4:19; 5:4; Heb 3:12-13; 11:32; Rom 8:28-39; John 10:27-29; 15:1-5; II Pet 2:7-8; II Tim 2:13,16-19; 4:18; I Cor 10:1-5; 11:32. |