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Calvinism Versus Arminianism (2)
by Samson Hutagalung

Universal Atonement Or Limited Atonement

 The issue on this topic is for whose benefit does Christ die? Who did Christ appease with God when He died on the cross? Who did Christ substitute on the cross? These are few questions that frequently asked when discussed the above topic. The Arminians would confidently utter that Christ died on the cross was for the benefit of all sinners and Christ appeased with God all sinners and He was the substitution of all sinners.[24] The Arminians argue that Christ died not only for a group of people but for all sinners including Esau and Judas Iscariot.[25] When Christ died He atoned for everyone and though Christ offered forgiveness to all sinners, yet not everyone is willing to accept that offer.[26] The Scriptural supports often quoted by the Arminians are such as 1 Jn 2:2 “And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world”; “this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world” (Jn. 4:42); etc. The universal redemption was in view when these verses read by the Arminians.

Calvinism on the other hand argues that Christ’s redeeming work was intended to save the elect only though the forgiveness and eternal life were offered to all sinners, yet this work of Christ is only to secure the salvation of those whom God chose before the foundation of the world.[27] When Christ offered Himself to die on the cross, it was efficient only for the elect. As Khoo rightly commented, “Christ both procured and secured the salvation of the elect. He had in mind His chosen ones when He died on the cross. His atoning work on the cross was specifically and specially for them.”[28] Steel said it in this way, “Christ’s redeeming work was definite in design and accomplishment – that it was intended to render complete satisfaction for certain specified sinners and that it actually secured salvation for these individuals and for no one else.”[29] Christ was a substitutionary atonement of the elect people only. The work of redemption was designed in order to bring to pass the purpose of God’s election.[30]

Having seen the comparison of the two views, the question is raised, if the atoning work of Christ was designed only for the elect, why does the Bible say that Christ died for the world? To this, Augustine said that “Christ’s death was Sufficient for all, efficient for the elect.” God desires that everyone would come to the knowledge and faith of the Lord Jesus Christ. As Peter wrote, “The Lord is not lack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Pet. 2:9). The same desire is expressed in the writing of apostle John that God is truly love the world, when he wrote, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (Jn. 3:16). It is because Christ died sufficiently for the World that the gospel is preached and offered not only to elect but to anyone.[31] The effect of Christ’s atoning work was limited only for those whom God elected. Khoo rightly concludes,

In discussing the third point of Calvinism, namely, limited atonement, we are addressing the intent, not the extent of the atonement. It needs to be reiterated that a correct understanding of Calvin’s doctrine of the atonement requires one to accept that the atonement of Christ is “sufficient for all, efficient for the elect.[32]

Resistible Grace Or Irresistible Grace

 The matter of calling of sinners unto salvation is the mystery of God. Two people heard the preaching of the gospel, one believed and the other rejected. The same thing can happen in the Christian family. Two children of the family were nurtured and taught with the same truth, the gospel; one was convicted to believe in Christ but the other chose to reject the truth. The question is raised, why did one person believe and the other not? Were they hearing the same massage? If yes, then what cause one person to believe in Christ Jesus and the other not? The answer to this question is irresistible grace.[33]

In regard to the calling of sinners unto salvation, the Arminians argue that the Holy Spirit cannot convict sinners of their sins.[34] The Holy Spirit can do His own best in persuading and prompting the sinners to hear and receive the gospel but ultimately the sinner himself is the one can decide whether he wants to believe or to reject. “The Holy Spirit cannot regenerate sinners until he believe.” If the person finally rejected the message of the gospel, then the Holy Spirit can not do anything about it.[35]

The Calvinism says that “in addition to the outward general call to salvation which is made to everyone who hears the gospel, the Holy Spirit extends to the elect a special inward call that inevitably brings them to salvation.”[36] When the gospel is preached the Holy Spirit works to convince sinners of their own sins. This is the internal call. The sinners may reject the external call but if the Holy Spirit is working in His heart, soon or later, he cannot help but to submit to the power of the Holy Spirit and confess that Jesus Christ is His Lord and Saviour. Man by nature cannot choose God but rather hates God and His commandment. Only through the working of the Holy Spirit in the heart of sinner, the hardening heart of sinner can melt before God by believing in the Lord Jesus Christ. The same person perhaps has rejected the gospel message many times but at last the Holy Spirit “graciously causes the elect sinner to cooperate, to believe, to repent, to come freely and willingly to Christ.”[37] The Bible clearly said, “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him and I will raise him up at the last day” (Jn. 6:44). Paul also wrote, “Far as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God” (Rom. 8:14).

 Falling From Grace Or Perseverance Of The Saints

“Once save is forever saved.” This is the very short statement to summaries the discussion of perseverance of the saints and yet it depicts the sovereignty of the Almighty God. However many people have failed to understand this statement. In fact those who do not embrace the teachings of Calvinism have made this statement as a mockery to say that after having known that Christians forever be saved, there will be need of preaching the gospel or doing the will of God. This happens because a little knowledge of Calvinism they comprehend.

The Arminians definitely disagrees to the statement “Once save is forever saved”. To them, salvation is obtained because of the efforts or contribution of man and therefore to maintain salvation it requires the human effort as well.[38] Failure to do so, the salvation can be lost because the salvation is based on the faithfulness of man to uphold his faith. In any case he neglects his faith, he may lose his salvation. Khoo commented on the belief of Arminian, “There is therefore no assurance of salvation for the Arminian. He must always be on his toes. There is no such thing as a backslidden Christian. A person who becomes cold towards his walk with God loses salvation. He needs to reconfess Christ and be saved again.”[39] In other words, man’s response is a determining factor in the assurance of salvation. This is the core teaching of Arminianism.

The Calvinism on the other hand says, “all those were chosen by God, redeemed by Christ and given faith by the Spirit are eternally saved.”[40] The Scripture truly gives many supports on this truth. As John wrote, “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” (Jn. 6:39). In another occasion Jesus said, “And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand” (Jn. 10:28-29). Paul also wrote, “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Christ Jesus” (Phil 1:6). “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?” (Rom. 8:35). If the salvation is based on the ability of man to uphold it, then no one will receive eternal life for man knows that he does not always succeed to tackle the many temptations he faces. True believer does not mean having a life of sinless perfection. It is not an easy road for Christian to live in this world. As a result there will be a time of up and down in the spiritual life. If salvation is not based on the faithful of God, no one will ever enter heaven.

The Bible uses the term “justification” to depict the condition of man who believes in the Lord Jesus Christ. A person whom God justified is not a sinless perfective believer but rather a sinner whom God pardons his sins because of his faith in Christ Jesus. The righteousness of Christ is imputed unto sinner who believes. God sees such sinners as if he never sins, and he is like clothed by the righteousness of Christ. Whenever God sees that sinner, he sees the righteousness of Christ on him which clothed by Christ’s righteousness. Steel rightly said, “True believers do fall into temptations, and they do commit grievous sins, but these sins do not cause them to lose their salvation or separate them from Christ.”[41] Therefore the assurance of salvation is not based on the ability of man to preserve his faith but solely upon the faithfulness of God.

 Conclusion

The five points of Arminianism are (1) Free Will/ Human Ability, (2) Conditional Election, (3) Universal Redemption/ General Atonement, (4) The Holy Spirit can be effectually Resisted and (5) Falling from Grace. These five points are without supports from the Word of God. It is the human logical understanding. Those who hold to this view will not be able to harmonize his interpretation of the word of God but rather will make the Bible contradict itself.

Whereas the five points of Calvinism that formulated by Synod of Dort in 1619 are (1) Total Depravity, (2) Unconditional Election, (3) Limited Atonement, (4) Irresistible Grace, and (5) Perseverance of the Saints. These five points are truly rooted and summarized from the Word of God. Though it might not be easy to understand yet the Bible teaches about them as the truth that believers should know and teach in the churches.

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[24]The Arminianism’s point on Universal Redemption/General Atonement states: Christ’s redeeming work made it possible for everyone to be saved but did not actually secure the salvation of anyone. Although Christ died for all men and for every man, only those who believe in Him are saved. His death enabled God to pardon sinners on the condition that they believe, but it did not actually put away anyone’s sins. Christ’s redemption becomes effective only if man chooses to accept it.

[25]Edwin Palmer, Lima Pokok Calvinisme, 59-60. Khoo also said, “Arminians argue that when Christ died on the cross, He died far all men without exception or distinction. Jeffrey Khoo, Arminianism Examined, 7.

[26]Edwin Palmer, Lima Pokok Calvinisme, 60.

[27]The Calvinism’s point on Particular Redemption/Limited Atonement state: Christ’s redeeming work was intended to save the elect only and actually secured salvation for them. His death was a substitutionary endurance of the penalty of sin in the place of certain specified sinners. In addition to putting away the sins of His people, Christ’s redemption secured everything necessary for their salvation, including faith which unites them to Him. The gift of faith is infallibly applied by the Spirit to all for whom Christ died, thereby guaranteeing their salvation.

[28]Jeffrey Khoo, Arminianism Examined, 8.

[29]David N. Steele and Curtis C. Thomas, The Five Points of Calvinism, 39.

[30]David N. Steele and Curtis C. Thomas, The Five Points of Calvinism, 39.

[31]The Hypercalvinist argued that the term “world” in John 3:16 is strictly referred to the elect world, not the world in general. The wrong understanding on this matter has caused many problems in the camp of Calvinistic churches. Yet the Bible clearly said that “the world” in its context is referring to the literal world – the world of unbeliever and believers. 

[32]Jeffrey Khoo, Arminianism Examined, 11-12.

[33]Edwin Palmer, Lima Pokok Calvinisme, 85-86.

[34]The Arminian’s point on The Holy Spirit Can Be Effectually Resisted/ Resistible Grace states: The Spirit calls inwardly all those who are called outwardly by the gospel invitation; He does all that He can to bring every sinner to salvation. But inasmuch as man is free, he can successfully resist the Spirit’s call. The Spirit cannot regenerate the sinner until he believes; faith (which is man’s contribution) precedes and makes possible the new birth. Thus, man’s free will limits the Spirit in the application of Christ’s saving work. The Holy Spirit can only draw to Christ those who allow Him to have His way with them. Until the sinner responds, the Spirit cannot give life. God’s grace, therefore, is not invincible; it can be, and often is, resisted and thwarted by man.

[35]Jeffrey Khoo, Arminianism Examined, 12.

[36]The Calvinism’s point on The Efficacious Call of the Spirit/Irresistible Grace states: In addition to the outward general call to salvation which is made to everyone who hears the gospel, the Holy Spirit extends to the elect a special inward call that inevitably brings them to salvation. The external call (which is made to all without distinction) can be and often is, rejected; whereas the internal call (which is made only to the elect) cannot be rejected; it always results in conversion. By means of this special call the Spirit irresistibly draws sinners to Christ. He is not limited in His work of applying salvation by man’s will, nor is He dependent upon man’s cooperation for success. The Spirit graciously causes the elect sinner to cooperate, to believe, to repent, to come freely and willingly to Christ. God’s grace, therefore, is invincible; it never fails to result in the salvation of those to whom it is extended.

[37]Taken from Calvinism article on the Irresistible Grace.

[38]The Arminians’ point on Falling from Grace states: Those who believe and are truly saved can lose their salvation by falling to keep up their faith, etc. All Arminians have not been agreed on this point; some have held that believers are eternally secure in Christ – that once a sinner is regenerated, he can never be lost.

[39]Jeffrey Khoo, Arminianism Examined, 13-14.

[40]The Calvinism’s point on Perseverance of the Saints states:  All who were chosen by God, redeemed by Christ, and given faith by the Spirit are eternally saved. They are kept in faith by the power of Almighty God and thus persevere to the end.

[41]David N. Steele and Curtis C. Thomas, The Five Points of Calvinism, 56.