The Doctrines of Grace
Part Two
by
Dr. Jay Worth Allen
Three men whose Doctrine and Theology has had the greater influence upon the lives of Christians today are Jacobus Arminius, John Calvin, and the Apostle Paul. Sad to say, Arminius’ and Calvin’s influences are far in advance of Paul’s.
Jacob Arminius was born in Amsterdam, Holland, four years before the death of John Calvin. He became a champion of Calvinistic Dutch Reformed theology. Ultimately chosen to write a defense against attacks upon Calvinism, Arminius came to the conclusion that he could not support many of Calvin’s doctrines and abandoned them entirely. In rejecting Calvinism, and in the attempt to construct his own scheme of beliefs, Arminius made the Fatal Mistake of mixing 5th century Pelagian Dogma with the Scriptures.
Pelagius, the English monk who sought to reform the Roman Catholic Church, became a life-long theological antagonist of Augustine. Pelagius insisted that man did not inherit Adam’s sinfulness, but was only affected by Adam’s example. He believed that man’s will was Free to choose for, or against, God. Hence, via Arminius, we have our present-day Arminianism or Christian Humanism, i.e., man is master of his own fate – with God’s help – if he chooses.
Using Pelagianism instead of the Scriptures, Arminius based man’s Salvation upon the will of Fallen man. Arminianism is an anti-sovereignty, anti-security, anti-grace, pro-works religion. Arminians believe that God, through Redemption, bestows a “Common Grace” upon all men, thereby making it possible for the individual to exercise his Free Will either for, or, against God’s sovereignty.
In Arminianism, man is not Totally Depraved – man’s will remains Free to decide his own destiny. It is man’s Will to believe, and God’s grace to assist. Biblical “foreknowledge” in Arminianism, means that God “foreknows” those who will receive the Savior, and upon that basis He may cast a vote for them. Those who Choose to reject the Savior, God opts-out. The final decision is made by Man, and God then acts upon that decision. Thus, in Arminianism man is Sovereign.
The ultimate factor in Arminian salvation is the sinner’s choice of God, and not God’s choice of the sinner. Those elected by God are chosen only in the sense that He “foresaw their faith and good works” — both of which arise from themselves and are not “wrought” of God. The human will is exalted to the place of Sovereignty and, according to this system, man becomes his own Savior. Grace never actually saves the sinner, but only enables him to save himself . . . if he wills.
Because the Arminian begins with his own Free Will, his end is the same as his beginning — he can come in and go out as he chooses. The little Security and Assurance of salvation the Arminian has, is founded upon whatever momentary merits and emotional experiences he can muster-up along the way. His Christian existence is experience-based, which is beset by fears, uncertainties, backslidings, and failure.
Doctrinally established Unconditional Eternal Security of the Believer, grounded upon faith in the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ is utterly rejected by the Arminian. Their misleading error in the field of Salvation is that it persists in attempting to build the Christian’s standing upon man’s feeble and faltering daily life, rather than on the sufficient and Immutable Merit of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Arminian’s Salvation becomes little more than a system of human conduct; for, “though the idea of regeneration is incorporated, it is, in the Arminian idea of it, of no abiding value, being supported only by a supposed human merit.” L. S. Chafer (Systematic Theology, Book 3, pp.356).
Arminianism existed for centuries as just one more Heresy in the outskirts of true Christianity. In fact, it was not championed by an organized Christian Church until the year 1784, at which time it was incorporated into the system of Doctrine of the Methodist Church in England by John Benjamin Wesley.
Today’s Christendom has been overrun by Arminianism – being spread by the Pentecostal and Holiness movements, the out-of-control Charismatic movement, and the influence of denominations such as the Assemblies of God, Church of God, Church of God in Christ, Church of Christ, Disciples of Christ, Nazarene, Mennonite, Christian & Missionary Alliances, and many others.
The basic teachings of Arminianism is this: Human depravity has not rendered man incapable of exercising his will to trust Jesus for salvation. God’s grace is Resistible in the final sense so that man can ultimately thwart God’s purpose to Save him. God’s election is Conditioned upon His divine “Foresight of Faith” in certain men whom God, then, designates as His elect. Jesus’ atonement was exactly the same for everyone with no discrimination whatever, rendering all men Savable, but actually Guaranteeing the Salvation of none. Salvation is possible for believers, but ultimate victory rests with their Continuance in the faith, so that ultimate Apostasy and Hell may be possible for the Elect. Dominated by the Free Will of man, Arminianism is characterized by fleshly lawlessness. The Arminian’s center and object is himself – not God.
Arminianism is to be avoided at all cost!
“Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them who cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them” (Rom. 16:17).
Next week: John Calvin, the theologian of the Reformers.
written 26 December 2010 / published The County Journal 6 Jan. 2011
© dr. jay & miss diana ministries, inc.
