Calvinism, Arminianism,

and the Truth

Calvinism, Arminianism,
and the Truth
The Controversy about Salvation
You should clearly grasp these two terms.

They are commonly used in some circles.

They are used less with today’s ignorance.

They help identify one’s view of salvation.

There is more to this
topic than our short
review tonight.

See links at end.

The Names Come from Two Men

John Calvin (1509-1564) James Arminius (1560-1609)

 Never write
Armenian for
Arminian!
Is a pen a pin?
An Armenian is
a person from
Armenia!
Is a Nazarite a
Nazarene?
Not even close!
The Names Come from Two Men

John Calvin (1509-1564) James Arminius (1560-1609)

If you want to know
more about the
two men …

Google them!
Calvinism was the state religion in Holland.

The Arminians in 1610 confronted the state.

They wrote five points against Calvinism.

The five points summarize the controversy.

Now known as the five points of Calvinism.

Only the well-read
know the extent of
this controversy.
It has divided …
nations,
denominations,
churches,
families.
Five Points

≠
Five Phases
Here is a Table:
http://www.letgodbetrue.com/pdf/calvinism-arminianism-chart.pdf
 Thank you,
Calvinists,
for showing
us some truth!
 Our Early Calvinist Helpers

Jonathan Edwards
Loraine Boettner
John Owen
Arthur Pink
John Gill
John Brine
Spurgeon
 Total Depravity
ARMINIANISM CALVINISM

• Man sinned in Eden. • Man sinned / died in Eden.

• But he still has a free will. • His nature is totally corrupt.

• He can choose to obey God. • He cannot / will not obey.

• He can respond to truth. • God’s truth is foolish to him.

• He obeys first to be saved. • He must have a new nature.

We always disagree
with Arminianism,
because it is not
in the Bible!
We agree with
Calvinism here,
because it is
in the Bible!
But of the tree of the knowledge of good
and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the
day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt
surely die.
Genesis 2:17
And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye
shall not surely die:
Genesis 3:4
Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin
did my mother conceive me.
Psalm 51:5
The wicked are estranged from the womb:
they go astray as soon as they be born,
speaking lies.
Psalm 58:3
1 The fool hath said in his heart, There is no
God. They are corrupt, they have done
abominable works, there is none that doeth
good.
2 The LORD looked down from heaven upon
the children of men, to see if there were any
that did understand, and seek God.
3 They are all gone aside, they are all
together become filthy: there is none that
doeth good, no, not one.
Psalm 14:1-3
10 As it is written, There is none righteous,
no, not one:
11 There is none that understandeth, there
is none that seeketh after God.
12 They are all gone out of the way, they are
together become unprofitable; there is none
that doeth good, no, not one.
18 There is no fear of God before their eyes.
Romans 3:10-12,18
But the natural man receiveth not the things
of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness
unto him: neither can he know them,
because they are spiritually discerned.
I Corinthians 2:14
7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against
God: for it is not subject to the law of God,
neither indeed can be.
8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot
please God.
Romans 8:7-8
Let favour be shewed to the wicked, yet will
he not learn righteousness: in the land of
uprightness will he deal unjustly, and will
not behold the majesty of the LORD.
Isaiah 26:10
And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses
and the prophets, neither will they be
persuaded, though one rose from the dead.
Luke 16:31
 Unconditional Election
ARMINIANISM CALVINISM

• God loves all men equally. • God loves only some men.

• He wants to save them all. • He will save all of them.

• He chose the ones believing. • He chose by His own will.

• He would not do otherwise. • Otherwise none are saved.

• He elected those that chose. • His choice is the basis for all.
We always disagree
with Arminianism,
because it is not
in the Bible!
We agree with
Calvinism here,
because it is
in the Bible!
And we know that all things work together
for good to them that love God, to them
who are the called according to his purpose.
Romans 8:28
Who shall lay any thing to the charge of
God’s elect? It is God that justifieth.
Romans 8:33
(For the children being not yet born, neither
having done any good or evil, that the
purpose of God according to election might
stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;)
Romans 9:11
21 Hath not the potter power over the clay,
of the same lump to make one vessel unto
honour, and another unto dishonour?
22 What if God, willing to shew his wrath,
and to make his power known, endured with
much longsuffering the vessels of wrath
fitted to destruction:
23 And that he might make known the
riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy,
which he had afore prepared unto glory,
Romans 9:21-24
What then? Israel hath not obtained that
which he seeketh for; but the election hath
obtained it, and the rest were blinded
Romans 11:7
4 According as he hath chosen us in him
before the foundation of the world, that we
should be holy and without blame before
him in love:
5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption
of children by Jesus Christ to himself,
according to the good pleasure of his will,
Ephesians 1:4-5
In whom also we have obtained an
inheritance, being predestinated according
to the purpose of him who worketh all
things after the counsel of his own will:
Ephesians 1:11
Who hath saved us, and called us with an
holy calling, not according to our works, but
according to his own purpose and grace,
which was given us in Christ Jesus before the
world began,
II Timothy 1:9
But we are bound to give thanks alway to
God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord,
because God hath from the beginning
chosen you to salvation through
sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the
truth:
II Thessalonians 2:13
As thou hast given him power over all flesh,
that he should give eternal life to as many as
thou hast given him.
John 17:2
And when the Gentiles heard this, they were
glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and
as many as were ordained to eternal life
believed.
Acts 13:48
 Limited Atonement
ARMINIANISM CALVINISM

• God loves all men equally. • God loves only the elect.

• Jesus died for all their sins. • Jesus died for all their sins.

• His death did not save any. • He was a substitute for each.

• Men must accept His death. • They obtain all the benefits.

• Men go to hell for unbelief. • Not one can ever be lost.

We always disagree
with Arminianism,
because it is not
in the Bible!
We agree with
Calvinism here,
because it is
in the Bible!
The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou
hatest all workers of iniquity.
Psalm 5:5
And then will I profess unto them, I never
knew you: depart from me, ye that work
iniquity.
Matthew 7:23
And she shall bring forth a son, and thou
shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save
his people from their sins.
Matthew 1:21
38 For I came down from heaven, not to do
mine own will, but the will of him that sent
me.
39 And this is the Father’s will which hath
sent me, that of all which he hath given me I
should lose nothing, but should raise it up
again at the last day.
John 6:38-39
I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd
giveth his life for the sheep.
John 10:11
26 But ye believe not, because ye are not of
my sheep, as I said unto you.
27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know
them, and they follow me:
28 And I give unto them eternal life; and
they shall never perish, neither shall any
man pluck them out of my hand.
29 My Father, which gave them me, is
greater than all; and no man is able to pluck
them out of my Father’s hand.
John 10:26-29
For if, when we were enemies, we were
reconciled to God by the death of his Son,
much more, being reconciled, we shall be
saved by his life.
Romans 5:10
For as by one man’s disobedience many
were made sinners, so by the obedience of
one shall many be made righteous.
Romans 5:19
Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ
also loved the church, and gave himself for
it;
Ephesians 5:25
And for this cause he is the mediator of the
new testament, that by means of death, for
the redemption of the transgressions that
were under the first testament, they which
are called might receive the promise of
eternal inheritance.
Hebrews 9:15
 Irresistible Grace (1)

ARMINIANISM CALVINISM

• The Spirit convicts all men. • The Spirit convicts all elect.

• Some obey for regeneration. • He uses gospel preaching.

• Most resist the Spirit’s work. • He gives the faith to believe.

• God cannot violate their will. • The elect cannot resist Him.

• He waits on them to obey. • All elect believe and obey.

We disagree with
Arminianism and
Calvinism here …
neither are
in the Bible!
 Irresistible Grace (2)

• God regenerates dead elect by resurrection power.

• They are totally passive without any cooperation.
• They are totally passive without any resistance.
• God does not use the gospel to regenerate elect.
• The elect may resist or fall away from conversion.
• The gospel is for assurance and practical benefits.
• The gospel is not for regeneration or eternal life.
 Irresistible Grace (3)

• Arminians: Irresistible grace is heretical violence!

• Arminians: Man has free will; God never forces!

• Calvinists: Grace is irresistible in regeneration.

• Calvinists: Grace is also irresistible in conversion.

• Truth: Grace is irresistible in regeneration only.

• Truth: Grace is resistible or lost in conversion.
Which were born, not of blood, nor of the
will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but
of God.
John 1:13
Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is
coming, and now is, when the dead shall
hear the voice of the Son of God: and they
that hear shall live.
John 5:25
15 So, as much as in me is, I am ready to
preach the gospel to you that are at Rome
also.
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of
Christ: for it is the power of God unto
salvation to every one that believeth; to the
Jew first, and also to the Greek.
17 For therein is the righteousness of God
revealed from faith to faith: as it is written,
The just shall live by faith.
Romans 1:15-17
For the preaching of the cross is to them that
perish foolishness; but unto us which are
saved it is the power of God.
I Corinthians 1:18
22 For the Jews require a sign, and the
Greeks seek after wisdom:
23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the
Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks
foolishness;
24 But unto them which are called, both
Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God,
and the wisdom of God.
I Corinthians 1:22-24
Not by works of righteousness which we
have done, but according to his mercy he
saved us, by the washing of regeneration,
and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
Titus 3:5
19 Brethren, if any of you do err from the
truth, and one convert him;
20 Let him know, that he which converteth
the sinner from the error of his way shall
save a soul from death, and shall hide a
multitude of sins.
James 5:19-20
As concerning the gospel, they are enemies
for your sakes: but as touching the election,
they are beloved for the fathers’ sakes.
Romans 11:28
1 Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being
left us of entering into his rest, any of you
should seem to come short of it.
2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as
well as unto them: but the word preached
did not profit them, not being mixed with
faith in them that heard it.
Hebrews 4:1-2
But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast?
can I bring him back again? I shall go to him,
but he shall not return to me.
II Samuel 12:23
 Perseverance of the Saints (1)

ARMINIANISM CALVINISM

• Honest Arminians fall away. • All the elect make heaven.

• They get saved again, again. • The Spirit keeps their faith.

• Most say you cannot lose it. • He keeps them living holy.

• One decision is good forever. • They will persevere to end.

• They reject Lordship duties. • They cannot finally backslide.

We disagree with
Arminianism and
Calvinism here …
neither are
in the Bible!
 Perseverance of the Saints (2)

• God preserves His elect from losing eternal life.

• But God does not guarantee their perseverance.
• He does not force them to faith and obedience.
• Elect faith may be very weak and lost at times.
• It is God’s faithfulness that counts, not the elect’s.
• Abram, Lot, Samson, and Paul are all saved alike.
• Many fall away in gospel doctrine and/or practice.
 Perseverance of the Saints (3)

• Arminians: You got yourself in … keep yourself in!

• Arminians: Your choice is key; ignore persevering!

• Calvinists: God guarantees elect faith / holiness.

• Calvinists: Backsliders will repent before death.

• Truth: No two elect are the same in obedience.

• Truth: Their sins or false teachers wreck havoc.
 Arminianism
is antinomian
denial of man’s
responsibility.
 Calvinism is
fatalism that
God will keep
you living right.
 The truth has
God saving and
man working
for assurance.
31 If they break my statutes, and keep not
my commandments;
32 Then will I visit their transgression with
the rod, and their iniquity with stripes.
33 Nevertheless my lovingkindness will I not
utterly take from him, nor suffer my
faithfulness to fail.
Psalm 89:31-33
Christ is become of no effect unto you,
whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye
are fallen from grace.
Galatians 5:4
1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you
the gospel which I preached unto you, which
also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in
memory what I preached unto you, unless ye
have believed in vain.
I Corinthians 15:1-2
3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the
serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so
your minds should be corrupted from the
simplicity that is in Christ.
4 For if he that cometh preacheth another
Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye
receive another spirit, which ye have not
received, or another gospel, which ye have
not accepted, ye might well bear with him.
II Corinthians 11:3-4
Take heed unto thyself, and unto the
doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this
thou shalt both save thyself, and them that
hear thee.
I Timothy 4:16
18 Who concerning the truth have erred,
saying that the resurrection is past already;
and overthrow the faith of some.
19 Nevertheless the foundation of God
standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord
knoweth them that are his. And, Let every
one that nameth the name of Christ depart
from iniquity.
II Timothy 2:18-19
1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the
husbandman.
2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit
he taketh away: and every branch that
beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring
forth more fruit.
John 15:1-2
30 For this cause many are weak and sickly
among you, and many sleep.
31 For if we would judge ourselves, we
should not be judged.
32 But when we are judged, we are
chastened of the Lord, that we should not be
condemned with the world.
I Corinthians 11:30-32
12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any
of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing
from the living God.
13 But exhort one another daily, while it is
called To day; lest any of you be hardened
through the deceitfulness of sin.
Hebrews 3:12-13
And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil
work, and will preserve me unto his
heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for
ever and ever. Amen.
II Timothy 4:18
The Calvinist’s favorite
verse for perseverance
has nothing to do with
eternal life!
 “But he that shall
endure unto the end,
the same shall be
saved.”
Matthew 24:13
 How dare we
sit in judgment
of great men
on both sides?
7 I said, Days should speak, and multitude
of years should teach wisdom.
8 But there is a spirit in man: and the
inspiration of the Almighty giveth them
understanding.
9 Great men are not always wise: neither do
the aged understand judgment.
Job 32:6-9
98 Thou through thy commandments hast
made me wiser than mine enemies: for they
are ever with me.
99 I have more understanding than all my
teachers: for thy testimonies are my
meditation.
100 I understand more than the ancients,
because I keep thy precepts.
Psalm 119:98-100
16 All scripture is given by inspiration of
God, and is profitable for doctrine, for
reproof, for correction, for instruction in
righteousness:
17 That the man of God may be perfect,
throughly furnished unto all good works.
II Timothy 3:16-17
Most Calvinists
miss the subject,
mode, purpose
of baptism!!!!!
John Calvin was
accomplice to
the murder of
Michael Servetus!
 A Big Conundrum Solved!
• Reconcile God’s sovereignty vs man’s responsibility.

• Arminians emphasize man’s responsibility to God.

• Calvinists emphasize God’s sovereignty over man.

• We see God sovereign saving His elect w/o means.

• But elect have much duty for any assurance of it!

 Are there Unconverted Elect?
• Yes. The Bible has examples i.e. Rom 11:28, etc.

• Yes. There are other examples i.e. I Cor 10:1-5.

• All elect are unconverted to some degree. Think!

• This is the only way David’s baby got to heaven.

• Arminians & Calvinists fail with how much faith?

 Are there De-Converted Elect?
• Yes. God has not guaranteed final perseverance.

• Yes. The Bible has examples i.e. II Tim 4:18, etc.

• Yes. The Bible has many more examples of them.

• Conversion depends on diligence i.e. I Tim 4:16.

• Yes. See the Bible details above for perseverance.

 What of “The Sovereignty of God”?
• A.W. Pink was a Calvinist, and his errors are in it.

• We give it away for its great lesson of dominion.

• We also give Woodrow’s away with Matt 24 issues.

• We also give out devotionals, chronologies, etc.

 There are
KEY TERMS
to know.
 Key Terms to Know (1)

• Monergism = regeneration by one – God alone.

• Synergism = regeneration by cooperation.

• 4-point Calvinists (LA) = Arminians in disguise.

• Lordship salvation = Calminians using “Lord.”

 There are
KEY POINTS
to remember.
 Key Points to Remember (1)

• We start with total depravity until fully grasped.

• All Calvinists end up with justification of Arminians.

• Cornelius is example of regeneration w/o gospel.

• If Calvinist’s IG is right, then why preach to any?

• If Calvinist’s PS is right, then why press the saints?

 Key Points to Remember (2)

• Faith is no more key than baptism, works, or love.

• Five Points of Calvinism ≠ Five Phases of salvation.

• Arminians are humanists depending only on man.

• Calvinists are fatalists presuming on God to do it.

• The truth sees God’s work and our duty from it.
 Key Points to Remember (3)

• Abraham is #1 example of salvation in the N.T.

• Was Abraham saved before, at, or after Gen 15:6?

• Historical evidence of doctrine is of little value.

• Hyper-Calvinism is typically antinomian fatalism.

• But we are hyper-Calvinists by improving IG & PS.

 Key Points to Remember (4)

• Regeneration and conversion are not the same.

• Dividing regeneration and conversion is crucial.

• No Calvinist can handle four Hebrews warnings.

• After all, God guaranteed all to finally persevere.

• They apply all such passages to “false professors.”

 Key Points to Remember (5)

• God has secret and revealed things/will (Deut 29:29).

• Arminians minimize His secret will for revealed.

• Calvinists minimize His revealed will for secret.

• The truth glorifies and trusts God for His secret

will and works with great diligence for revealed.
You must work
out what God
has worked in!
Fully grasp this
wonderful text
of combination!
12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have
always obeyed, not as in my presence only,
but now much more in my absence, work
out your own salvation with fear and
trembling.
13 For it is God which worketh in you both
to will and to do of his good pleasure.
Philippians 2:12-13
This balance or
combination is
truth we hold!
Arminians reject
all working – a
decision suffices.
Calvinists reject
fear – since God
guarantees it all.
What must I do
to be saved?
 Repent of sins (Acts 2:38)
Believe on Jesus (Acts 16:31)
Get Baptized (Mark 16:16)
Add Works (II Pet 1:5-11)
Continue (Jn 8:31; Col 1:23)
Those five responses by
you are evidence of
Election
Justification
Regeneration
Glorification (future)
Those five responses by
you are conditions for
Conversion
Assurance
Fellowship
Knowledge
Fruitfulness
Peace & Power
Etc.
 Those five responses
cannot be conditions for
Election
Justification
Regeneration
Glorification (future)
How can I know I am
one of God’s elect?
Same as above!
2 We give thanks to God always for you all,
making mention of you in our prayers;
3 Remembering without ceasing your work
of faith, and labour of love, and patience of
hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of
God and our Father;
4 Knowing, brethren beloved, your election
of God.
I Thessalonians 1:2-4
5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to
your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
6 And to knowledge temperance; and to
temperance patience; and to patience
godliness;
7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and
to brotherly kindness charity.
II Peter 1:5-7
10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give
diligence to make your calling and election
sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never
fall:
11 For so an entrance shall be ministered
unto you abundantly into the everlasting
kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus
Christ.
II Peter 1:10-11
 For Further Study
Calvinism, Arminianism (Word) … http://www.letgodbetrue.com/sermons/salvation/calvinism-arminianism/sermon.php.
Unconditional Salvation … http://www.letgodbetrue.com/sermons/salvation/unconditional-salvation/sermon.php.
Phases of Salvation … http://www.letgodbetrue.com/sermons/salvation/five-phases-of-salvation/sermon.php.
Questions for Arminians … http://www.letgodbetrue.com/pdf/questions-for-arminians.pdf.
Facets of Salvation … http://www.letgodbetrue.com/sermons/salvation/facets-of-salvation/sermon.php.
Problem Texts … http://www.letgodbetrue.com/sermons/salvation/salvation-problem-texts/sermon.php.
Why Preach? … http://www.letgodbetrue.com/pdf/why-preach-the-gospel.pdf.
Why No Invitations? … http://www.letgodbetrue.com/pdf/why-no-invitation.pdf.
Great Commission … http://www.letgodbetrue.com/pdf/great-commission.pdf.
Salvation By Works … http://www.letgodbetrue.com/sermons/salvation/salvation-by-works/sermon.php.
Once Saved, Always Saved … http://www.letgodbetrue.com/sermons/heresy/once-saved-always-saved/sermon.php.
Malaysia Bible Conference … see the author about this massive unpublished ten-section presentation about salvation.

www.LetGodBeTrue.com