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IGNITE 2 0 1 7 WORKBOOK Calvinism (Day One) DAY ONE Calvinism vs. Arminianism (Day Two) (Adapted from Dr. Tim Beougher, Ph.D.) 1. WHY STUDY ARMINIANISM AND CALVINISM? a. Significant regarding church history b. Your interpretive lens needs to be accurate c. The issues raised by Arminianism and Calvinism relate to eternal salvation (key questions!) 2. HOW SHOULD ONE APPROACH THIS ISSUE? a. Focus: “What does the Bible teach?” b. Attitude: humility and charity (unfortunately a lot of mean-spirited attacks on both sides of the issue) 3. BACKGROUND: a. Arminians submitted 5 points to the Church of Holland in 1610. b. Synod of Dort in 1619 responded with the 5 points of Calvinism (TULIP) TOTAL DEPRAVITY [Radical Corruption] 1. Key Question: How great is the effect of the Fall? Do we have “free will” to accept or reject Christ? 2. Scriptural References (Calvinism) a. Eph. 2:1-3; Rom. 3:1-23 (esp. 9-11); John 6:44; Jer. 17:9 b. Ephesians 2: 1 -- “And you were dead in your trespasses and sins . .” c. Total (not ABSOLUTE) depravity [radical corruption] -- we are not as bad as we can be Total inability -- the sinner cannot convert himself d. The emphasis is not on Physical inability but Moral inability; Mankind “can” believe but he “won’t” believe. LIMITED/Unlimited ATONEMENT [Definite Atonement] (For whom did Christ die?) 1. Some argue that Christ died only for the elect, while others emphasize that the death of Christ was universal -- He died for everyone even though not everyone will be saved. AREAS OF AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE TWO POSITIONS: a. Not all will be saved (unlimited atonement is sometimes called “hypothetical universalism”) b. The gospel can and should be offered to everyone. The Scriptures teach that “whosoever will” may come to Christ for salvation, and no one who comes to him will be turned away. Jesus said, “Him who comes to me I will not cast out.” (John 6:37) c. All agree that Christ’s death has infinite merit and is in itself sufficient to pay the penalty of the sins of as many or as few as the Father and Son should determine. 2 | DESTINY IGNITE 2017 AREAS OF AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE TWO POSITIONS: a. Not all will be saved (unlimited atonement is sometimes called “hypothetical universalism”) b. The gospel can and should be offered to everyone. The Scriptures teach that “whosoever will” may come to Christ for salvation, and no one who comes to him will be turned away. Jesus said, “Him who comes to me I will not cast out.” (John 6:37) c. All agree that Christ’s death has infinite merit and is in itself sufficient to pay the penalty of the sins of as many or as few as the Father and Son should determine. KEY QUESTION: “When Christ died on the cross, did He pay for the sins of the entire human race or only for the sins of those who he knew would ultimately be saved?” Argument for Limited Atonement a. Christ’s coming was not to make salvation possible for all humankind, but to render certain the salvation of the elect. b. Many Calvinists prefer the term “definite” rather than “limited.” “Limited” is sometimes misunderstood to mean that Christ’s atoning work was only capable of limited efficacy. (Actually, both viewpoints “limit” the atonement in some way) c. Reformed -- limited in scope to just the elect -- ensures their salvation d. Arminian -- limited in efficacy as to what it accomplishes -- doesn’t save anyone 1. Verses which emphasize Christ died for a particular group of people and not for everyone a. Matthew 1:21 -- He brought salvation to His people b. John J0:11, 15, 26 -- Jesus died for His sheep John 15:14 -- He died for His friends c. Acts 20:28; Eph. 5:25 -- Christ gave His life for the church, His bride d. Rom. 8:32-35 -- Christ died for the elect e. Gal. 3:13 -- “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us.” f. Eph. 1:3-7 -- Christ is the Redeemer of His elect people g. RESPONSE: These verses refer to the elect, who are those who will be ultimately saved. But Christ died for more than just the elect. To say that Christ died for the elect does not logically imply He died for them alone and no one else. 2. The intercessory work of Christ was for His own (John 17:1-2, 9) a. “These things Jesus spoke; and lifting up His eyes to heaven, He said, ‘Father, the hour has come; glorify Thy Son, that the Son may glorify Thee, even as Thou gavest Him authority over all mankind, that to all whom Thou hast given Him, He may give eternal life. I ask on their behalf; I do not ask on behalf of the world, but of those whom Thou has given Me is from Thee.” DESTINY IGNITE 2017 | 3 b. Since he prayed only for a particular group, he intended to provide salvation for that group. Did Christ die for those for whom He would not pray? i. RESPONSE: Only a certain number of people (the elect) will be saved. Christ knew who these would be and these are the people for whom He prayed. 3. If Christ truly died for your sins, you will be saved. If the atonement is unlimited, hell is unjust. a. If Christ made a substitutionary atonement for sin, then the objects of that atonement must be only the elect. Otherwise, the atonement’s effect is weakened because not everyone is saved for whom Christ made atonement. That implies “double jeopardy”- -Christ already paid for your sins, but now you must pay for them yourself as well. If Christ’s death paid for the sins of every person who ever lived, then there is no penalty left for anyone to pay. b. RESPONSE: Christ died for all, but the benefit of His death only comes to those who believe. 4. Unlimited atonement has the Persons of the Godhead working for different purposes a. The Reformed position says those whom the Father planned to save are the same people for whom Christ came to die, and to those same people, the Holy Spirit will bring regeneration. b. What God the Father purposed, God the Son and the Holy Spirit agreed to and are carrying out. The key issue is the intention behind the cross. c. John 6:37-39 -- “All that the Father gives me will come to me; and him w ho comes to me I will not cast out . This is the will of Him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that He has given me, but raise it up on the last day.” d. John 6:65 - “no one can come to Me unless it has been granted him from the Father.” e. RESPONSE: i. Arminianism -- Christ intended to die for all ii. Amyraldianism -- Christ’s death was for all; knowing that none would come, God elected some 5. An unlimited atonement means that Christ could have died in vain a. An unlimited atonement teaches a Christ who tried to save everybody but saved nobody. b. RESPONSE: God took that chance 4 | DESTINY IGNITE 2017 IRRESISTIBLE GRACE [Effectual Grace] 1. The Key Question: How does God’s saving grace operate? 2. Grace is unmerited favor -- Ephesians 2:8 3. John 6:37 -- “All that the Father gives Me shall come to Me; and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out.” 4. Effectual grace -- it accomplishes its purposes -- saving grace God changes the heart -- no one enters “kicking and screaming.” Perseverance of the Saints 1. The Issue: Will a true believer ever fall away? 2. Phil. 1:6; John 6:37; John 10:28-29; Romans 8:35-39 3. Philippians I:6 -- “Being confident of this very thing, that he who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. “ 4. Preservation -- God does it DAY TWO Arminianism Total Ability (Man can choose God.) 1. Key Passages for View: John 3: 15-16; John 11:25-26; Acts 2:21; Heb. 3:7-19 2. Romans 10:13 -- “For Whoever will call upon the name of the Lord will be saved.” 3. The offer of the Gospel implies a free will to accept or reject. a. Arminian viewpoint: The Fall weakened our ability, but we still have I t b. Wesleyan perspective: total depravity, but argue that “prevenient grace” restores the ability to believe Conditional Election 1. Key Verses for View: Rom. 8:29; I Peter 1:1-2; 2 Thess. 2: 13 2. Romans 8:29 -- “For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the first-born among many brethren.” 3. God foresees that some will come to faith. God chose those whom he knew would, of their free will, choose Christ. The election is conditional based on foreseen faith. DESTINY IGNITE 2017 | 5 Unlimited Atonement 1. Christ died for all people, though not all will be saved. 2. Verses which emphasize Christ died for the whole world a. John 3: 16 -- God so loved the world 2 Cor. 5: 14-15 -- He died for all b. I John 2:2 - “He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.” c. John 1:29 -- “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” Titus 2: 11 -- “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men” Hebrews 2:9 -- “so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone” 2 Cor.