Mere Arminianism – Part Three (TULIP or Not to TULIP)

This continuing series is a look at C.S. Lewis’s views on Predestination and Free Will…

The Arminian and Calvinist Positions Compared

Having defined terms relevant to the discussion of Reformed Theology and Arminianism, one may now be able to approach how these two very distinct theologies contrast with one another on five major parts of contention between the two camps: human ability to obey God, the cause of an individual’s election, the scope and  intent of Christ’s atoning work, the efficacy of the grace of God, and whether or not a Christian can lose his salvation. These five areas of theology and soteriology[1] are the major reasons there is disagreement between the monergists and synergists. While the details of Calvinist and Arminian positions are greater than this paper allows for discussion, the following chart[2] offers a brief comparison between the major differences and the emphasis held by each position.

Arminian Position	Calvinist Position
Human Ability The Fall has damaged human nature, but not rendered it totally disabled. Human nature is not enslaved to sin, and is more or less sick. As a result, the unrepentant sinner’s ability to either freely choose or reject Christ is unaffected by the Fall.	Total Depravity The Fall has not only damaged human nature, but has rendered it completely corrupted. Human nature is enslaved to sin, and even spiritually dead – unresponsive. This deadness makes him utterly unable and unwilling to ever choose God.
Conditional Election God’s choice to save the sinner is based upon his knowledge of that sinner deciding to come to him, freely at a point in the future. The sinner’s choosing God does not depend on God’s first choosing him or her.	Unconditional Election God’s choice to save the sinner is not contingent on any prior action or decision of the sinner. Nothing merits this election – God elects on the basis of his own pleasure. Because the will is depraved, God must elect for any to be saved.
Indefinite Atonement Jesus’ death was for the redemption and forgiveness of sins for the entire world – every individual. However only the believer reaps the benefits of Christ’s work. Because this atonement is for all, the individual sinner is the one who ratifies, or actualizes, the work on the cross. The effect of this atonement is limited.	Limited Atonement Jesus’ death was intended to fully accomplish salvation for the elect and for the elect only. Jesus atones for the sins of the elect, but not for the sins of those who never come to faith in him. There is nothing the sinner does to ratify the work of Christ – as he offered himself as a perfect substitute on the cross, finishing his redemptive work. The intent of this atonement is limited.
Resistible Grace All who hear the good news of the forgiveness of sins as a result of Jesus’ work on the cross are called to trust in Christ, not only outwardly but inwardly. God speaks to every sinner’s heart to persuade them to repent and trust in Him; however the individual is free to resist this wooing, and will not be regenerated unless they first repent. The Holy Spirit cannot cause someone to be “born again” without the sinner’s permission.	Irresistible Grace While the outward call to respond to the gospel via repentance and faith is made to all, this call is insufficient to save the sinner (due to his depraved nature). As a result, the Holy Spirit actively works within the heart of the elect sinner, and successfully draws (or drags) that person to Christ. In this process, the Holy Spirit takes away the unregenerate “heart of stone” and gives him or her “a heart of flesh.”
Perseverance of Some Saints Those who believe in Christ are truly saved; however a genuine Christian may commit apostasy and lose his salvation. The faithfulness of Christ to the believer is the result of the believer’s faithfulness to Christ.	Preservation of the Saints As a result of Christ’s finished redemptive work on behalf of the elect, Christ is faithful and refuses to give up those for whom he bore the wrath of God. Apostates prove themselves to have never been truly regenerate. The faithfulness of the believer is the result of Christ’s faithfulness to the believer.

 

…to be continued…

---

[1] Soteriology is that which deals with the doctrine of salvation – how one is saved.

[2] This chart, rather than one particular source, has utilized several sources, including Doctrines of Grace, What Is Reformed Theology, and a chart available at http://the-highway.com/compare.html. Multiple sources were reviewed in order to make sure the Arminian Position was represented in the best possible light, that no one source would paint it in an unfavorable fashion.