1 – The Contrast
Between Calvinism and Arminianism – Introduction
The battle rages on, but certain of the
differences between Calvinism and Arminianism are of paramount importance to the evangelical believer.
In General
Arminianism strongly
defends Christ’s virgin birth, miracles, bodily resurrection, and
substitutionary atonement (his suffering for the punishment believers would
have received), the dynamic inspiration and infallibility of Scripture,
justification by grace alone through faith alone, and the final destinies of
heaven and hell. It is therefore
evangelical, but an evangelicalism that differs at certain important points from
evangelical Calvinism. (Walter A.
Elwell, Ed., Evangelical Dictionary of
Theology, Second Edition, (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, A Division of Baker Book
House CO. 2001), p. 98)
Calvinism takes its name from John Calvin
(1509-1564), who is often spoken of as the Father of Reformed Theology. Therefore, Calvinism is often linked with
Reformed Theology. Calvinism, sometimes
referred to as the “Reformed Tradition,” is embodied in the Latin phrase, sola
Scriptura (Scripture only.) Arminianism
takes its name from Jacobus Arminius who lived from 1560-1609. Ibid. pp. 201 and 97)
Calvin “rejected the medieval fourfold
interpretation that allowed allegorizing, spiritualizing and moralizing,
insisting that the literal meaning of the words was to be taken in their
historical context.” Calvin “constantly
stressed the fact that while the Bible reveals God and his purposes to us, yet
there is always the mystery of the divine Being and counsel which no human
thought can penetrate. Deuteronomy 29:29
was a verse to which he referred many times.”
Ibid. p. 201
In this writing, I will look at both schools
of thought in the following areas:
I.
The
Providence of God
A.
General
B.
Evil
C.
Free
Will
D.
Restoration
E.
The
Future
II.
Predestination
A.
Election
B.
Reprobation
Next we’ll look at “The Providence of God.”
Doug
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