Southern Baptist Founders Conference Midwest

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Southern Baptist Founders Conference Midwest
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Calvinism Arminianism

• From J. I. Packers intro to John Owens The
  Death of Death in the Death of Christ
• Packer speaks of a New Gospel in our day.
• He describes it as

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A change in perspective, character, interest
emphasis

• It fails to make man . . .
• . . . God centered in his thoughts
• . . . God fearing in his heart

• It fails to produce
• Deep repentance
• Deep reverence
• Deep humility
• A spirit of worship
• A concern for the Church

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Center of reference is MAN

• Concernto be helpful to man
• Aimto make man feel better
• Subjecthow God can give man help
• Too little emphasis on the glory of God

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A change in content

• Ignore great themes (as not useful)
• Mans natural inability to believe
• Gods free election as the ultimate cause of
  salvation
• Christ dying specifically for his sheep

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ARMINIANISM

• Anthropocentric doctrine

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Philosophical Principles

• Divine sovereignty is incompatible with human
  freedom (responsibility).
• Ability limits obligation (a point of agreement
  with Hyper-Calvinism).
• Hyper-Calvinism does not believe that all men
  have a duty to believe Christ. Their rejection
  of duty faith tendencies to Antinomianism
  distinguish them from true Calvinism.

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Deductions fromPhilosophical Principles

• Since faith is a free responsible human act,
  faith cannot be caused by God but is exercised
  freely by man (independent from God).
• Since faith is obligatory, ability to believe
  must be universal.

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Interprets Scripture to teach

• Man is not completely corrupted by sin he can
  believe God.
• Man is not completely controlled by God he can
  reject God.
• Gods election prompted by God foreseeing mans
  faith acts.
• Christs death did not ensure salvation of anyone
  rather it made salvation possible (potential
  rather than actual subjective rather than
  objective).
• Believers must keep themselves.

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Results of omissions

• Part of the gospel is preached as if it is the
  whole gospel
• Appeal is made to men as if they can find God at
  any time they want
• Redemption is reduced to a possibility for us to
  save ourselves
• Gods love becomes a general willingness to
  save
• The Father Son are rendered impotent in
  salvation

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Conclusion

• salvation rests with man himself his choice

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Calvinism

• Theocentric doctrine

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the Synod of Dort, 1618

• Since the fall, man lacks the power to believe
  savingly
• Gods election is
• Free
• Sovereign
• Unconditional

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the Synod of Dort, 1618

• Redemption
• Endredeeming work of Christ
• Goalsalvation of the elect
• The Holy Spirit never fails to bring men to
  Christ
• Believers are kept by grace through faith

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The differences betweenArminianism Calvinism

• one of content not emphasis

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Who saves?

• Arminianism
• God enables man to save himself

• Calvinism
• God saves

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The work of the Trinity

• Arminianism
• The Son redeems all.
• The Holy Spirit calls those who hear.
• The Father elects those who respond.
• Calvinism
• The Son redeems the elect.
• The Holy Spirit calls the elect.
• The Father elects the elect.

• Because each view has a difference reference,
  they use the three terms (election, calling
  redemption) with different definitions.
• The Trinity works toward the salvation of the
  same group of people.

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Different TermsElectionthe work of God the
Father

• Arminianism
• Conditional
• Resolve to receive
• I owe my election to my faith

• Calvinism
• Unconditional
• Choice by God
• I owe my faith to election

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Different Terms Redemptionthe work of God the
Son

• Arminianism
• Generalsubjective atonement
• Removing of an obstacle
• Opportunity to save self
• I could not gain my salvation without Calvary.

• Calvinism
• Particular definite objective atonement
• Christ is actually a substitute.
• The cross savesthe sine qua non of salvation
• Christ gained my salvation on the cross.

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Different TermsInternal Gracethe work of God
the Holy Spirit

• Arminianism
• Resistible
• Moral persuasion
• Spiritual enlightenment

• Calvinism
• Irresistible effective
• The regenerating work of the Holy Spirit destroys
  the disposition to resist

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Different Conclusions

• Arminianism
• Salvation is a work of man.
• Faith is mans contribution to his salvation.
• Man divides the glory with God.
• God built the machinery of salvation.
• Man operates that machinery.

• Calvinism
• Salvation is Gods work entirely.
• Faith is a part of Gods gift of salvation.
• God earns all the glory.

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Soli Deo Gloria

• Glory to God alone