If You are Not a Calvinist then What are You (II)?
In my last article, we reviewed the origin of the conflict that brought us the nickname for the Gospel of grace, which is “Calvinism.” We noted, first, that God chose a select people for Himself in eternity past. Second, we looked at how Christ died for those same chosen people. We closed with a third consideration, the plight of man, being his total depravity.
The Arminians believe man’s condition is not so bad. They presume men want to be saved. They believe each person is one wise decision away from eternal life. They tell us that salvation is a choice of man, not God, executed by man’s free will.
Arminians loathe the idea that our sovereign God chose a people of His own free will (Jn 1:12–13; Rom 9:15–16; 11:5; 1 Pet 2:9), but they celebrate man’s free will to determine his own salvation. They insist Christ died for everyone, but they render Christ’s effectual atonement, an utter failure, because Christ’s death saved absolutely no one. Salvation, according to the Arminian, only becomes effectual when a person chooses to let Christ save him. The power of salvation is found in man’s choice to save himself, by his own decision to trust Christ. This is why it is nicknamed, “man-centered theology,” because man retains the power of salvation. This is simply not true.
This brings us to our fourth point, which is the true way of salvation. The apostle Paul wrote, “For by grace you have been saved (Eph 2:8).” The grace of God is the work of God toward His people. The qualifying term under this heading is, “irresistible.”
Nothing could hinder God the Father’s choice of His beloved. That was an irresistible act of love, from the heart of God. Nothing could hinder God the Son’s mission to save God’s elect, given to Him, as His beloved bride (Eph 5:25). The cross was an irresistible act of Christ’s love, for His body, the church (Rom 5:8; Col 1:24).
In the same way, today, nothing hinders the Holy Spirit’s movement to baptize and indwell each elect soul (Mt 3:11; Jn 14:17; Rom 8:9, 11), for whom Christ died. Grace appears when the Holy Spirit takes up residence in the heart of His saint.
The Arminian concocts a story, claiming God’s Spirit is a gentleman, who would never force Himself upon a person. It is at this point that Arminians, today, invent the well-meant offer of the gospel, an act of their gentleman god. Instead of preaching Christ crucified, and irresistible grace, Arminians “offer” Christ, as a product or service available to everyone, everywhere, and at all times. Have you received your “invitation” to exercise your sovereign will in determining your own salvation?
In truth, the Gospel of Jesus Christ is heralded by Spirit-filled preachers, sent by the Spirit, to whomever He wills. Both God’s elect and the reprobate hear the Word of God proclaimed, but grace is given to the elect, while the reprobate remain without God’s grace. The grace of God causes the one, appointed to eternal life (Acts 13:48), to repent and to believe the Gospel report (Acts 5:31; Phil 1:29). The difference between a believer in Jesus, and an unbeliever without Christ, is the presence or absence of the Holy Spirit and His work of grace in one, but not in the other.
Finally, the fifth point of these doctrines of grace (God’s work for the benefit of the Christian), reveals the power of God to preserve. The preservation of the saints is God’s wisdom and power to complete the good work He began in the one set apart by the Gospel (Phil 1:6). The regenerated believer’s faith in Christ, allocated in the measure of God’s choosing (Rom 12:3), is authored and perfected by Christ (Heb 12:2).
The elect, redeemed, child of God is baptized into Christ (Rom 6:3), and nothing can separate her from the love of God in Christ Jesus (Rom 8:35–39). God grants to her the token of His everlasting love, which is the gift of the Holy Spirit (Rom 5:5; 2 Cor 1:22; 5:5; Eph 1:14).
The Holy Spirit permanently resides in the heart, of the chosen vessel of mercy being prepared for glory (Rom 9:23). The assurance of salvation is found in the promise of God to never leave, nor forsake, the called of the Lord Jesus Christ (Heb 13:5; Rom 1:6; 8:30).
He who began this good work of salvation, that is, who is Christ in the regenerated saint (Gal 2:20), has purposed to sanctify completely (Rom 15:16; 1 Thess 5:23; 2 Thess 2:13; 1 Pet 1:2), those He plans to present to the Father, at the consummation of all things (Col 1:28).
Because election belongs to the Father (Eph 1:4–5), and redemption belongs to the Son (Rom 5:8; Eph 1:7), and appropriation belongs to the Holy Spirit (Jn 3:1–8; Eph 2:5; Col 2:13; 1 Pet 1:3), salvation is eternal (Mk 16:20; Heb 5:9). It belongs to our eternal God (Ps 3:8; Jon 2:9; Rev 19:1), who has reserved the inheritance of the saints with Christ in heaven (1 Pet 1:4). That inheritance, the riches of His glory, cannot be lost or stolen by the will of man or devil. God does not fail to do all His holy will (Eph 1:11). This is Calvinism. It is the Gospel of God, the doctrines of grace.
If this is not what you believe, then you have embraced another gospel, consisting of unsound doctrine. What you believe is a twisted man-centered gospel that is no gospel at all. Trusting in sinful man, even trusting in yourself, to make a controlling decision that dictates your eternal destination is simply misplaced trust (Ps 118:8–9).
You must repent to the sovereign grace of God in salvation. You must accept the fact: salvation from beginning to end is God’s work, alone — from predestined election to glorification. To be a Calvinist is to be a Christian, why would you be anything else?
David Norczyk
Spokane Valley, Washington
November 16, 2021
