The Question Arminians Can't Answer

Arminians can answer the question sufficiently according to their theology but not sufficiently according to the Scriptures. The Scriptures do not teach that people "choose" to believe in Jesus Christ. Therefore, they are guilty of adding to the word of God.

 

Spurgeon may have done just that, believed that Arminians were not true Christians. But what many do not know is that many Strict Baptists and also non-baptists of like faith (Huntingtonians)believed Spurgeon was not a true Christian, and with good reasons. Because they believed the Holy Spirit would teach true believer the truth, but Spurgeon held to several untruths that clearly contradicted revealed scriptures. For an example he held to the heresy of duty faith and duty repentance if I am not very wrongly informed. He also held to the heretical notion of the so called "free offer" of the Gospel. He also reportedly supported Moody the arminian revivalist heretic when he visited England with Sankey. Spurgeon has also been shown to have believed the heresy that "God wants to save everybody (without exception)". Quotes can also be shown where he is in clear error respecting the doctrine of justification. In addition to these I think it not a lie that he held to the error of open communion. Plus that his claimed conversion occured under the preaching of a preacher known to be a free will arminian, which thing does not add to his credibility. Spurgeon has been hailed as "the prince of preachers", and praised to the skies as a "soul-winner", but many, including myself, greatly doubt all this.

To his credit must be acknowledged, in all honesty, that he did hold to and teach some truths, no denying to that. But so did also Luther, the much praised Reformer so called, who denied the preservation of the saints, who was amiss on justification, who taught baptismal or rhantismal regeneration, who stole the second commandment of Moses from one of the cathechisms just like the papists, etc. etc. In addition to this Luther consented to the persecution of Anabaptists and their killing in some instances, and oftentimes brushed all with the same comb as the Munsterites, calling them most blasphemous things. These things should not be.

Harald

 

Mixed thoughts here.

On one hand, I have little patience with those who strongly object to the doctrines of grace (though I must recognize that scripture does require patience of me.) Part of that comes from the aggravation of having been misled for many years by Arminian teaching. But there's another part of me that realizes that a right understanding of these doctrines are important, because God's glory is at stake!! (as we're told not one--or even two--but three times in the fisrt two chapters of Ephesians).

Another concern that I have is that of pride. Someone else said it first, but its true--"A proud calvinist would be an oxymoron." These doctrines, these truths, must always humble us: Never make us proud.

BTW, Samuel, I've read several of your posts, and I like your style. Good to have you aboard.

 

Let's hold the horses here just a minute.

From Spurgeon's A Defence of Calvinism:

There is no soul living who holds more firmly to the doctrines of grace than I do, and if any man asks me whether I am ashamed to be called a Calvinist, I answer—I wish to be called nothing but a Christian; but if you ask me, do I hold the doctrinal views which were held by John Calvin, I reply, I do in the main hold them, and rejoice to avow it. But far be it from me even to imagine that Zion contains none but Calvinistic Christians within her walls, or that there are none saved who do not hold our views. Most atrocious things have been spoken about the character and spiritual condition of John Wesley, the modern prince of Arminians. I can only say concerning him that, while I detest many of the doctrines which he preached, yet for the man himself I have a reverence second to no Wesleyan; and if there were wanted two apostles to be added to the number of the twelve, I do not believe that there could be found two men more fit to be so added than George Whitefield and John Wesley. The character of John Wesley stands beyond all imputation for self-sacrifice, zeal, holiness, and communion with God; he lived far above the ordinary level of common Christians, and was one "of whom the world was not worthy." I believe there are multitudes of men who cannot see these truths, or, at least, cannot see them in the way in which we put them, who nevertheless have received Christ as their Saviour, and are as dear to the heart of the God of grace as the soundest Calvinist in or out of Heaven.

 

I think you will find that Spurgeon differentiated between false doctrines and those who held certain false doctrines. Spurgeon believed in salvation in Jesus Christ, not in salvation by correct theology.

After all, none of us has perfect theology.

 

Two places I stay away from, in order to keep my
blood pressure in check, are this area and one
other certain area. So what do I do today. I must
be nuts.

But coming from an Arminian background, and
being still in the process of sorting it out, I
suggest that Arminianis will be totally amazed
to spend eternity with Calvinists, and Calvinists
will be just as amazed. In each side, there are
many who think the other side to be heathen.

As a holiness-Arminian, I thought I chose to
accept our God's gracious offer, and I thought
I chose to remain in Him. I was taught to do
many things to assure that my salvation would
remain, and I lived in constant fear of losing it.

Regardless, I think that Calvinists are entirely
too hard on Arminians, but don't worry--they are,
in turn, entirely too hard on Callvinists. One of the
main fears people expressed to me was that
they feared I would suddenly start wallowing in
sin, enjoying it, and seeing how much I could
get by with that I had never done before. Well,
it has had just the opposite effect on me. I get
by with far less now than I did before.

 

Samuel,

Christ comes with His love and grace to us [Ephesians 2:8] but faith [Romans 5:2] is a person's response to the saving message of Christ. Read Hebrews 4:2. Some heard the message and believed, while others did not 'mix faith' with the Gospel message. God and the author of Hebrews did not believe that faith was a 'work' or 'merit' that we offer up to God. Faith is conduit through which Divine grace flows into our lives. The Word does not say that God 'mixed' the faith in Heaven and gave it to specific people, meaning His elect. Faith was their human response of the free will allowing them to either accept the message or to turn it aside. Those in vs. 2 c, & d were those who did not comingle faith after hearing the Gospel.

Grace can be as close to us as the breath we breathe but it is only when we have faith in Jesus that we become justified. [Romans 5:1]

We access His grace by way of the conduit of our faith. [Romans 5:2]

Salvation is all of grace; we cannot receive His grace apart from a faith, trust and belief in His saving benefits accomplished on the middle Cross. [Acts 2:21]

Without a trusting faith in Christ many people only have some mind knowledge of His life on this earth. [Matthew 7:21-23]

 

Samuel. What I said respecting Spurgeon was intended as kind of an attempt at showing that the fact someone uses the epithet Calvinist or is called so by other people does not per se mean he/she is "orthodox",let alone a genuine Christian. I have seen, here and there and in many places, a kind of haughty attitude of many called or calling themselves Calvinist towards such who they call Arminians, as if "Arminian" automatically mean a person less favoured by or in a lesser state or standing before the Almighty God as compared to "Calvinists". Saying this is not an endorsement of free willism, or, arminianism as it is also frequently called. Nor do I want to say there is any merit whatsoever in using the epithet Calvinist or clinging to the Calvinistic system.

When myself encounter people who are quick to call themselves "Calvinists" or who refer much to "Calvinism is the Gospel" and like cliches I do not give much for that. If genuine converts practice such carnal things they stand rebuked by Paul in 1 Corinthians ch. 1 & 3. This worship of a mortal man is a stench in the nostrils of Christ the Lord. I have seen quite a few would-be preachers who are quick to shout "Calvinism is THE Gospel", but who deny the Biblical Gospel on some point or another, so much of such commotion is but empty noise and vanity.

I know this strayed from the topic, but feel it unnecessary for now to start a new thread, so I state it here.

As for your original topic it is an important one, one that is most often neglected today because of a prevailing deceptive climate of unbiblical tolerantism of false teachings in professing Christendom in general. Paul gave quite clear advice regarding error and heresy, e.g. 1Tim. 6:3-5 (KJV), Titus 3:10-11, as did John, 2John 9-11. Many more scriptures could be given. True churches of Christ seek to heed such precepts, but false generally do not bother too much, and they sink deeper in apostasy as time passes on. These are sad and solemn things to think upon.

Harald

 

Abiyah,

You should spend some time in the Menonite-Brethren church. While basically anabaptist and arminian, they are nevertheless quite tolerant of Calvanists in their midst. Indeed, many modern MBs ARE Calvanist, and they likewise show tolerance and patience with their Arjinian brethren.

The key seems to be a culture of forgiving differing theology for the sake of same practice. Really quite amazing. The Canadian MB conference doctrinal staement is a masrterpiece of walking the line; a Calvanist and Arminain can both sign off on it.

 

Perhaps the Bible doesn't say those exact words. But it does say some similar things that are even more strongly worded:

God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes so that they could not see and ears so that they could not hear? Can you tell me where you find in that verse the free will to accept or reject the Gospel?

The above says there is a remnant chosen by grace. It does not say that everyone is offered grace and there is a remnant that chooses to receive it.

 

Because he took upon himself, my sins, and offered his own life for mine, in my stead so that If I believe in HIM, even on HIS name, I am not condemned to the second death, but have life everlasting. By believing in HIM, I am free from condemnation and My spirit is reborn into life everlasting life. The only thing required of me is my belief in HIM. Father, I believe!

 

Work requires effort, what effort does faith require? Faith is not a work! However faith produces good works. If not the faith is dead and ineffective in the one having it.

Regardless of what is affected by faith, faith is not a work!

[ January 22, 2003, 02:29 PM: Message edited by: Yelsew ]