The Difference?

Hi wtrsju;
The best way to find out is to read the post on the board there is also archives you can check out.
Another way is to type the name of the doctrine in your browser address bar and hit go. then check out the references.
May Christ Shine His Light On Us All;
Mike

 

Hello wtrsju nice to meet you.

I think the easiest way to start is to let you know that as far as Calvinism is concerned it is concerned with the Sovereignty of God. This is the backbone of Calvinism, it's strength and it's glory.

As far as I know Calvinism is the only religion in the world that says that it is God that saves men and God alone. Nothing the man does or thinks will help him to put his faith in Jesus unless Jesus gives him the faith he needs. It is God's choice who He loves.
The reason man is in this condition is because of original sin and this is known as Total Depravity (also known as Total Inability).
God determined that there was to be no condition needed for salvation except His choice. He chooses the saved (elect) according to His will and this is not based on anything in man. This is called Unconditional Election.
That fact that God chooses some and does not choose others means that the atonement, the sacrifice Jesus suffered on the cross, was made for a limited number of people. This is called Limited Atonement.
Irresistable grace is so called because those God has chosen are called effectually. That is, those that were chosen are saved regardless of anything else even themselves.
Perseverance of the Saints means that those chosen are saved forever regardless of anything else. There can be no loss of salvation.
Those points are known as TULIP. There is a lot more about Calvinism but these five points are the best known.

Just reverse these five points to see the Arminians beliefs. I doubt whether any will claim to be Arminians because Arminians use the name Calvinism as a slight against us, followers of men we are called. Followers of scripture we are.

You have an unusual name, you Polish?

It's a bit rough and ready but the details can come if you want.

johnp.

 

wtrsju,
Just so you'll know, Johnp's post is his opinion only! There is little truth exposed by it!

 

Welcome to the Arminian Calvinist debate wtrsju.

Make sure of all things I think Wes is saying.

johnp.

 

Hi wtrsju,

Here are some good articles on the subject

"A Comaprison of Calvinism and Arminianism"

http://www.the-highway.com/compare.html

Also from my Favorite Website! Monergism.com The Best Theology Website Online, these two articles

http://www.monergism.com/thethreshold/articles/topic/arminianism.html

http://www.monergism.com/thethreshold/articles/topic/hypercalvinism.html

Plus a look at hypercalvinism or hardshellism by Philip Johnson

http://www.spurgeon.org/~phil/articles/hypercal.htm

 

Hello wtrsju.

Did you find the answers to your questions? What conclusions if any have you come to?

johnp.

 

The term came from Jacobus Arminius (sp?)who propose 5 anti-Calvinistic principles shortly after Calvin Died.

 

Just curious as to why you would call the counterpoints to Calvins 5 points "Anti Calvinist"?

 

Just curious as to why you would call the counterpoints to Calvins 5 points "Anti Calvinist"? </font>[/QUOTE]The Arminians did not propose counterpoints to Calvin's 5 points. Calvin didn't have 5 points. Arminius' followers proposed 5 points of theological (mis)understanding, each of which differed from the majority view of the church at the time. The 5 points presented by the Arminians were soundly rejected, and the representatives instead formulated what have become known as the 5 points of "Calvinism" in response. And, all of this occurred long after Calvin's death.

 

Thanks for the info Whatever, but that doesn't answer the question I ask of billwald.

 

For the same reason many folks have, over the years, referred to us as anti-Missions Baptists. It's not necessarily "what we are all about", but for those who are familiar with Missionary Baptists, the term will give them the idea that we are counter to their beliefs.

It could just as easily be said that Calvinists have the 5-points of anti-Arminianism.

I don't think you should read much more into it than that.

There is no doubt that the so-called 5-points of Calvinism are about as anti-Arminian as you can get.

Of course, the question was not asked of me, so I can't be fore sure of the motive behind writing the phrase in such a way, but it seems that I may be correct in my assumption.

I am also not a big fan of Calvanism, although many times we are labeled hyper-calvinist, but I am much closer to that theology than that of the Arminians.

It seems to me that many people who proclaim to be Calvinists also believe in some form of works doctrine, so their claim in a belief of solely grace is moot.

As for the op ed, the basic difference, and I mean BASIC in the extreme, can be summed up as such; Calvinsists believe that an elect people were chosen to be in heaven before the world began, and that number can not be altered one way or the other, while Arminians believe that the whole Adamic world is saved, but that each individual makes a choice of whether they get to go to heaven or not.

That is the difference in the simplest form, and I am really generalizing here. There are mixtures of the 2 with many people, with very few actually holding to all of the "points" of either theology.

Hope this helps.

 

Hello Bro. James Reed.

That's the good fight. We are forever falling into that which is our natural nature. It takes much effort to keep remembering that it is by grace that we are saved.

johnp.

 

JohnP
It takes much effort to keep remembering that it is by grace that we are saved through faith.
Mike

 

ILUVLIGHT
It takes much effort to keep remembering that it is by grace that we are saved.

johnp.

 

For while God is abiding in His grace toward mankind, we are save through faith, and not of ourselves it, salvation, is a gift of God. Not of works lest any man should boast.

God's behavior toward mankind, Grace, is a gift, but it is not "given" to man as in a transfer of ownership the way that most "gifts" are given.

Salvation however, is a gift of transferrence in that man is the beneficiary of eternal life, which is salvation. Therefore the Gift of God to man is man's salvation while God abides in his grace toward man.

Man's only requirement is FAITH in God! and FAITH is not a work, else Paul would not have said, "NOT OF WORKS, lest anyman should boast".

Grace is not what saves us, it is the one who possesses divine Grace, God, that does the saving!