5 Points of Arminianism
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The Pelagian Captivity of the Church
“Many more quotes could be given that display the Pelagian and Semi-Pelagian theology of modern Evangelicalism across the world board. It would be a waste of space to continue to quote men like Max Lucado, Chuck Swindoll, Charles Stanley, Benny Hinn, Kenneth Copeland, Louis Palau, anyone appearing on the Trinity Broadcast Network, and others who spout off Pelagian and Semi-Pelagian doctrines each Sunday morning, and corrupt the airwaves with their various degrees of horrible theology. John Owen rightly states that the church of Jesus Christ “cannot wrap in her communion Austin and Pelagius, Calvin and Arminius.”[68] This is an impossibility. One cannot be bedfellows with Reformed Orthodoxy and hold to Pelagian or Semi-Pelagian teachings. Pastors must choose whom they follow – Paul or Pelagius? When they preach a sermon, they are practically choosing their theological roots by what they say in the pulpit. They may not use the same word of phrase, but their meaning is quite the same, and sometimes just as strong as Pelagius or Arminius of old. Instead of wrestling with these ideas, Evangelicals today simply follow the crowd at chow time. They eat what their pastors give them without any recourse to study what is being said or check if their pastor is right. Instead, because of a charismata that is easier to feel than exegesis is to study, they are falling headlong into the abyss of Pelagian and Semi-Pelagian doctrine which is another Gospel, or no Gospel, altogether. Entire Christian universities and theological schools have been given over to this blatant kind of religious humanism. John Owen rightly said in his day, “Many at this day will condemn both Pelagius and the doctrine that he taught, in the words wherein he taught it, and yet embrace and approve of the things themselves which he intended.”[69]However, though Owen said this four hundred years ago, it is more true today than it was at his time. But there has been a change. It is not that men deny Pelagianism, for most pastors have no idea what Pelagianism or Semi-Pelagianism is at all. Rather, they simply believe the doctrines of Pelagius and Arminius at the expense of even knowing in which theological camp they are historically bound. Truly, the Evangelical church today is captive. It is impossible to deny the overwhelming degree that the church is under the Pelagian captivity of old.”
Show me one problem Calvinism causes in the church today and I’ll show you 10,000 caused by Pelagianism…
“Many more quotes could be given that display the Pelagian and Semi-Pelagian theology of modern Evangelicalism across the world board. It would be a waste of space to continue to quote men like Max Lucado, Chuck Swindoll, Charles Stanley, Benny Hinn, Kenneth Copeland, Louis Palau, anyone appearing on the Trinity Broadcast Network, and others who spout off Pelagian and Semi-Pelagian doctrines each Sunday morning, and corrupt the airwaves with their various degrees of horrible theology. John Owen rightly states that the church of Jesus Christ “cannot wrap in her communion Austin and Pelagius, Calvin and Arminius.”[68] This is an impossibility. One cannot be bedfellows with Reformed Orthodoxy and hold to Pelagian or Semi-Pelagian teachings. Pastors must choose whom they follow – Paul or Pelagius? When they preach a sermon, they are practically choosing their theological roots by what they say in the pulpit. They may not use the same word of phrase, but their meaning is quite the same, and sometimes just as strong as Pelagius or Arminius of old. Instead of wrestling with these ideas, Evangelicals today simply follow the crowd at chow time. They eat what their pastors give them without any recourse to study what is being said or check if their pastor is right. Instead, because of a charismata that is easier to feel than exegesis is to study, they are falling headlong into the abyss of Pelagian and Semi-Pelagian doctrine which is another Gospel, or no Gospel, altogether. Entire Christian universities and theological schools have been given over to this blatant kind of religious humanism. John Owen rightly said in his day, “Many at this day will condemn both Pelagius and the doctrine that he taught, in the words wherein he taught it, and yet embrace and approve of the things themselves which he intended.”[69]However, though Owen said this four hundred years ago, it is more true today than it was at his time. But there has been a change. It is not that men deny Pelagianism, for most pastors have no idea what Pelagianism or Semi-Pelagianism is at all. Rather, they simply believe the doctrines of Pelagius and Arminius at the expense of even knowing in which theological camp they are historically bound. Truly, the Evangelical church today is captive. It is impossible to deny the overwhelming degree that the church is under the Pelagian captivity of old.”
Show me one problem Calvinism causes in the church today and I’ll show you 10,000 caused by Pelagianism…
Calvinism teaches that before any humans were born, God picked out who would have eternal life with Him and which ones would end up in eternal conscious torment.
Oh I know, spiritual people accept hard doctrines!
Actually spiritual people reject a doctrine which maligns God,
Even a well controlled false theology and adherents does not redeem its foundational heresy.
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These kinds of threads are in general not very fruitful. Why so?
Because one view robs man of his responsibility to receive the Gospel.
And the other robs God of His sovereign choice.
And the fact is that the Scriptures delineates BOTH realities.
Therefore, why should we be so compelled to rob anybody?
And only that, we are demanding that (according to our obdurate, insufferable ignorant opinion) God should not/cannot save somebody or else is compelled irrespective of His will to save everybody. NEITHER of which is any of our business.
We are not in the saving business. We are in the preaching/teaching/witnessing/testifying business. That's it and that is all.
God is doing the rest.
I try and maneuver around these Arminian vs Calvinism threads. Why get sucked into the folly of choosing sides?
It may be true that the time I spend laboring on the utterly thankless and brutal "Watchman on the Wall" ministry on the "corruption" and "war" threads has more potential to have somebody see the world for what it really is and flee to the safe embrace of the Everlasting Arms. Maybe. I hope so.
Because one view robs man of his responsibility to receive the Gospel.
And the other robs God of His sovereign choice.
And the fact is that the Scriptures delineates BOTH realities.
Therefore, why should we be so compelled to rob anybody?
And only that, we are demanding that (according to our obdurate, insufferable ignorant opinion) God should not/cannot save somebody or else is compelled irrespective of His will to save everybody. NEITHER of which is any of our business.
We are not in the saving business. We are in the preaching/teaching/witnessing/testifying business. That's it and that is all.
God is doing the rest.
I try and maneuver around these Arminian vs Calvinism threads. Why get sucked into the folly of choosing sides?
It may be true that the time I spend laboring on the utterly thankless and brutal "Watchman on the Wall" ministry on the "corruption" and "war" threads has more potential to have somebody see the world for what it really is and flee to the safe embrace of the Everlasting Arms. Maybe. I hope so.
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Do Christians believe what Pelagius taught? Here is a summation of Pelagianism from Got Questions: "Pelagianism is the unbiblical teaching that Adam’s sin did not affect future generations of humanity. According to Pelagianism, Adam’s sin was solely his own, and Adam’s descendants did not inherit a sinful nature passed down to them."
Christians who reject Calvinism would certainly not agree with Pelagius. The very fact that all humans are subject to death confirms the truth that Adam's sin brought sin and death upon the whole human race. But that does NOT automatically mean that sinners are unable to respond to the Gospel. The Bible says that the Gospel is THE POWER OF GOD UNTO SALVATION. Which means that the Gospel -- the Word of God -- has the power to bring sinners to repentance through the simultaneous power of the Holy Spirit working with the Gospel. If this were not true, then we would not have the commandments of Christ to go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature.
But Calvinism DENIES THE POWER OF THE GOSPEL. That is in addition to all the other errors and heresies included in Five Point Calvinism.
Christians who reject Calvinism would certainly not agree with Pelagius. The very fact that all humans are subject to death confirms the truth that Adam's sin brought sin and death upon the whole human race. But that does NOT automatically mean that sinners are unable to respond to the Gospel. The Bible says that the Gospel is THE POWER OF GOD UNTO SALVATION. Which means that the Gospel -- the Word of God -- has the power to bring sinners to repentance through the simultaneous power of the Holy Spirit working with the Gospel. If this were not true, then we would not have the commandments of Christ to go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature.
But Calvinism DENIES THE POWER OF THE GOSPEL. That is in addition to all the other errors and heresies included in Five Point Calvinism.
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After 11 full chapters of astounding revelation and doctrinal truths, Paul gets down on his knees and proclaims:
Rom 11:33
O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!
Rom 11:34
For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?
Rom 11:35
Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again?
Rom 11:36
For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.
Thats the sum of it. We are searching the unsearchable, judging the unjudgeable, and vainly propounding to know the mind of God.
He then moves on in chapters 12-16 to the more prosaic practical aspects of our response to these devastating truths.
Rom 11:33
O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!
Rom 11:34
For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?
Rom 11:35
Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again?
Rom 11:36
For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.
Thats the sum of it. We are searching the unsearchable, judging the unjudgeable, and vainly propounding to know the mind of God.
He then moves on in chapters 12-16 to the more prosaic practical aspects of our response to these devastating truths.
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It all boils down to our definition of the word "foreknow" in Romans 8. Some people (I believe, Arminians) think it's God's thinking ahead of time that so-and-so will believe, and so he saves him or her. The word's meaning in the Bible is an intimate, personal love for that person, when it is used between people or between God and people. For example, in Genesis 4, "Adam knew Eve," which we all know ended up with the birth of Cain (KJV). It was that personal love that God had for every future believer before he created anything (Ephesians 1) in Romans 8, and all of the other actions of God follow in that same passage.
Here you are.
Semi-Pelagianism was promulgated in the fifth century AD by John Cassian and some other church leaders in France. It took a middle-of-the-road approach to depravity; we are depraved, but not totally so. Semi-Pelagianism allows that humanity is tainted by sin, but not to the extent that we cannot cooperate with God’s grace on our own. Semi-Pelagianism is, in essence, partial depravity as opposed to total depravity. We are sinful, but we can still recognize the truth, cooperate with God’s grace, and choose to seek Christ. We need God’s grace to be saved, but we can take the first step toward Christ on our own, apart from grace.
Semi-Pelagianism was promulgated in the fifth century AD by John Cassian and some other church leaders in France. It took a middle-of-the-road approach to depravity; we are depraved, but not totally so. Semi-Pelagianism allows that humanity is tainted by sin, but not to the extent that we cannot cooperate with God’s grace on our own. Semi-Pelagianism is, in essence, partial depravity as opposed to total depravity. We are sinful, but we can still recognize the truth, cooperate with God’s grace, and choose to seek Christ. We need God’s grace to be saved, but we can take the first step toward Christ on our own, apart from grace.
This is true......
The thing is.....WE have no idea upon whom God has set His eternal covenant love. So as far as we are concerned, everyone is a candidate for salvation.
Which is one of the reasons that I am not the slightest bit interested in pursuing or committing to Calvinism or Arminianism or Pelagianism any other -ism.
The thing is.....WE have no idea upon whom God has set His eternal covenant love. So as far as we are concerned, everyone is a candidate for salvation.
Which is one of the reasons that I am not the slightest bit interested in pursuing or committing to Calvinism or Arminianism or Pelagianism any other -ism.
God told Abram to follow Him.
God told Joshua to choose who he follows and he CHOSE to follow God.
The Prophets were told by God to obey Him and they did.
God in the form of Fire not consuming a bush instructed Moses to Obey Him and Moses did.
God told Noah to build the Ark and he obeyed.
Jesus saw each one of His Disciples and said to them FOLLOW ME and they chose to follow Him.
God has an ESTABLISHED PATTERN here because He NEVER CHANGES!!
Just like God came to those before us, God still comes to us about Salvation and he says FOLLOW ME
And just like the others before us, we also CHOOSE to accept God and His Invitation to be our Lord and Savior.
God told Joshua to choose who he follows and he CHOSE to follow God.
The Prophets were told by God to obey Him and they did.
God in the form of Fire not consuming a bush instructed Moses to Obey Him and Moses did.
God told Noah to build the Ark and he obeyed.
Jesus saw each one of His Disciples and said to them FOLLOW ME and they chose to follow Him.
God has an ESTABLISHED PATTERN here because He NEVER CHANGES!!
Just like God came to those before us, God still comes to us about Salvation and he says FOLLOW ME
And just like the others before us, we also CHOOSE to accept God and His Invitation to be our Lord and Savior.
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Of course this is nonsense.
The Gospel is in fact the grace of God offered to all mankind. And when the Holy Spirit is right there convicting and convincing sinners while the Gospel is preached, that is in fact the grace of God. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit draw all men to Christ through the Gospel. That too is the grace of God.
So why don't you ignore "Pelagianism" and "Semi-Pelagianism" AS WELL AS Calvinism, and simply stick to Bible truth?
The Gospel is in fact the grace of God offered to all mankind. And when the Holy Spirit is right there convicting and convincing sinners while the Gospel is preached, that is in fact the grace of God. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit draw all men to Christ through the Gospel. That too is the grace of God.
So why don't you ignore "Pelagianism" and "Semi-Pelagianism" AS WELL AS Calvinism, and simply stick to Bible truth?
They DO harmonize. I've already posted the verses for others to read.
Are you saved? What's your salvation story if you are? Do you have a personal walk with Him? Do you love Him and put Him first?
Are you saved? What's your salvation story if you are? Do you have a personal walk with Him? Do you love Him and put Him first?
When I was born into this world, by natural birth, I did not have a personal walk with God, nor did I love him, and put him first, until he quickened me to the new spiritual life, while I was, yet, spiritually dead, and unable to respond to the things of the Spirit (Eph 2:1).
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The born again child of God is instructed to give an answer to anyone that ask of the hope within us. I don't think, according to 1 Cor 2:14, that the natural man will ask us that question.
None of mankind is a candidate for eternal salvation. Eternal life was given only to those that his Father gave to Jesus, and they were not candidates. Their righteousness was as filthy rags before Christ redeemed them from their sins.
None of mankind is a candidate for eternal salvation. Eternal life was given only to those that his Father gave to Jesus, and they were not candidates. Their righteousness was as filthy rags before Christ redeemed them from their sins.