Arminian Or Calvinist?

[General Mung Beans]

I used to think most fundamentalist Christians (especially Baptists) were generally Arminian in direction but going to this subforum I've noticed many Calvinists. So are you a Calvinist or an Arminian?

 

[Bob Jones Student]

[FONT=Times New Roman,Times]I have my own opinion that there is no such thing as preaching Christ and Him crucified, unless we preach what nowadays is called Calvinism. It is a nickname to call it Calvinism; Calvinism is the gospel, and nothing else. I do not believe we can preach the gospel if we do not preach justification by faith without works; nor unless we preach the sovereignty of God in His dispensation of grace; nor unless we exalt the electing unchangeable eternal, immutable, conquering love of Jehovah; nor do I think we can preach the gospel unless we base it upon the special and particular redemption of His elect and chosen people which Christ wrought out upon the cross. (Charles Spurgeon, The New Park Street Pulpit, Vol. 1, 1856).[/FONT]
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[FONT=Times New Roman,Times]... and I will go as far as Martin Luther, in that strong assertion of his, where he says, ‘If any man doth ascribe of salvation, even the very least, to the free will of man, he knoweth nothing of grace, and he hath not learnt Jesus Christ aright.’ It may seem a harsh sentiment; but he who in his soul believes that man does of his own free will turn to God, cannot have been taught of God, for that is one of the first principles taught us when God begins with us, that we have neither will nor power, but that He gives both; that he is ‘Alpha and Omega’ in the salvation of men. (C.H. Spurgeon from the sermon "Free Will A Slave", 1855).[/FONT]
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[FONT=Times New Roman,Times]You must first deny the authenticity and full inspiration of the Holy Scripture before you can legitimately and truly deny election. (Charles Spurgeon, Sermons, Vol. 3, p.130).[/FONT]
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[FONT=Times New Roman,Times]When I was coming to Christ, I thought I was doing it all myself, and though I sought the Lord earnestly, I had no idea the Lord was seeking me. I do not think the young convert is at first aware of this. I can recall the very day and hour when first I received those truths in my own soul - when they were as John Bunyan says, burnt into my heart as with a hot iron; and I can recollect how I felt that I had grown all of a sudden from a babe into a man - that I had made progress in scriptural knowledge, through having found, once for all, the clue to the truth of God ... I saw that God was at the bottom of it all, and that He was the Author of my faith, and so the whole doctrine of grace opened up to me, and from that doctrine I have not departed to this day, and I desire to make this my constant confession, I ascribe my change wholly to God. (Charles Spurgeon, Autobiography: 1, The Early Years, Banner of Truth, pp. 164-165).[/FONT]
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[FONT=Times New Roman,Times]George Whitefield said, "We are all born Arminians." It is grace that turns us into Calvinists. (Charles Spurgeon, Sermons, Vol. 2, p. 124).[/FONT]
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[FONT=Times New Roman,Times]Calvinism did not spring from Calvin. We believe that it sprang from the great Founder of all truth. (Charles Spurgeon, Sermons, Vol. 7, p. 298).[/FONT]

 

[TimRout]

I am a Calvinist Baptist. Calvinists have played a very significant part in Baptist history. I have been saved for 18 years and spent the first three or so firmly committed to the Arminian soteriological position. Over time, God convinced me that His Word does not teach libertarian human freedom, and that the "Doctrines of Grace" espoused by Calvinists are in fact eminently Scriptural. Therefore, after many years slowly moving away from Arminianism, I woke up one day and realized that I had become a Calvinist.

 

[DeaconDean]

As a friend here on the forums once described me:

I am an Orthodox, Fundamental, Reformed, Calvinistic Baptist.

And proud of it.

God Bless

Till all are one.

 

[Stan53]

I am a charasmatic fundamentalist arminian calvinist. I believe in predestination and human responsibility. I take my Bible seriously. I absolutely believe that I am saved by grace alone, though faith alone in Christ alone. Jesus said, and I believe it, that no one comes to the father but by Him. By my own experience I am absolutely convinced of my own inability to meet the most basic requirements for salvation, let alone sanctification. At the same time, I believe it is a choice and one which we, personally, have a responsibility to say yes or no. And that we will be held accountable for the choice we make. Howizat?

 

[Izdaari Eristikon]

I hold to the 1910 'five fundamentals', but most people here wouldn't call me a fundamentalist.

My church is Assemblies of God, which is Arminian, but that's an area where I differ from them: I'm Lutheran on soteriology. That's pretty similar to a 4pt. Calvinist with single predestination.

 

[desmalia]

I think there are mostly Calvinists in the Fundamentalist section, but some Arminians to. I started a poll here once, but it had to get shut down because it got too heated, lol. There are a mix of four and five pointers and some Arminians, from what I've seen.

As for me, I think what Dean said pretty much sums it up.

 

[Tangible]

I adhere to the original five fundamental positions:

The inspiration of the Bible by the Holy Spirit and the inerrancy of Scripture as a result of this.
The virgin birth of Christ.
The belief that Christ's death was the atonement for sin.
The bodily resurrection of Christ.
The historical reality of Christ's miracles.

But as a Confessional Lutheran I am neither Calvinist nor Arminian.
( Here's a handy, dandy chart for your reference.)

 

[Izdaari Eristikon]

I adhere to the original five fundamental positions:

The inspiration of the Bible by the Holy Spirit and the inerrancy of Scripture as a result of this.
The virgin birth of Christ.
The belief that Christ's death was the atonement for sin.
The bodily resurrection of Christ.
The historical reality of Christ's miracles.

But as a Confessional Lutheran I am neither Calvinist nor Arminian.
( Here's a handy, dandy chart for your reference.)

Right. Nice link!

Ditto for me, except that I'm only a "closet Lutheran".

 

[Vince53]

Neither.

I reject both Calvinism and Arminianism in favor of Biblical theology.

 

[GQ Chris]

I'm a Calvinist but only because it was how I was really taught Jesus Christ. I'm not one of those guys who enjoys pointless debates with people.

 

[Space Cadet]

I really don't like the labeling. I never considered myself a Calvinist, though I was taught from a reformed perspective.

 

[desmalia]

Neither.

I reject both Calvinism and Arminianism in favor of Biblical theology.

Ah, so you're Arminian.

 

[Vince53]

Originally Posted by Vince53

Neither.

I reject both Calvinism and Arminianism in favor of Biblical theology.
​

Ah, so you're Arminian.

Nah, too many Scriptures show that it's wrong. Same as Calvinism.

 

[Tzaousios]

Nah, too many Scriptures show that it's wrong. Same as Calvinism.

So what is the difference between "Biblical theology" and just your theological interpretation of the text? How do you distinguish between the two?

 

[Vince53]

My friend Tzaousios asks "So what is the difference between "Biblical theology" and just your theological interpretation of the text? How do you distinguish between the two?"

The Bible clearly teaches that Jesus died for all men, and that God wants all men to be saved. Before the foundation of the world, God chose to save everyone who would believe in Him, predestining them to be conformed to the image of His Son. But no one was chosen to repent and believe. No one was predestined to trust Christ. These are things that God does to those who trust Him.

Having saved someone, God keeps them secure, and they cannot lose their salvation.

 

[DeaconDean]

The Bible clearly teaches that Jesus died for all men,

No, it does not.

What it does say though is that Jesus would save His people in their sins. And that He came to give His life as a ransom for many not all.

and that God wants all men to be saved.

Again, no, it does not. What it does say, however, is that God is not willing that any should perish and that all would come to repentance.

And I take it from your statement above that you also support or believe in "Universalism".

Because that is what your all but saying you believe.

Before the foundation of the world, God chose to save everyone who would believe in Him,

Again, no. That is not even in the bible.

predestining them to be conformed to the image of His Son.

Ahh...election, that is another matter altogether.

I seriously think you need to go back and read a few items from the bible.

God Bless

Till all are one.

 

[desmalia]

My friend Tzaousios asks "So what is the difference between "Biblical theology" and just your theological interpretation of the text? How do you distinguish between the two?"

The Bible clearly teaches that Jesus died for all men, and that God wants all men to be saved. Before the foundation of the world, God chose to save everyone who would believe in Him, predestining them to be conformed to the image of His Son. But no one was chosen to repent and believe. No one was predestined to trust Christ. These are things that God does to those who trust Him.

Having saved someone, God keeps them secure, and they cannot lose their salvation.

See, now? I was right after all. What you've just shared there is Arminian doctrine (sorry if you don't like the label but it does fit very well). Of course some Arminians hold to Perseverance of the Saints (as it appears you do from your post), and some do not. Other than that, you've nailed it quite well.

 

[Vince53]

It was good to hear from you, Desmalia. None of the doctrines that I believe were invented by Arminius; they are all taught in the Scriptures. Baptists believed in eternal security long before Arminius was born.

Intending to blend Christianity with paganism to produce a better religion, St. Augustine popularized the pagan doctrines of statue-worship, prayer to dead people, infant sprinkling, and unconditional election. Hailed as a hero by both Catholics and Protestants, he is Christianity's most successful false prophet.

 

[Tangible]

Baptist believed in eternal security long before Arminius was born.

Sorry, but