Did I choose God or did God choose me? Now that I’m saved will I always been saved or can I lose my salvation? Is God all powerful or are there some things outside his control?
To most people these aren’t just academic questions they have profound significance for ones understanding of themselves and their relationship with God and others. So which is right? Am I free to choose or does God choose for me? Are my decisions pre-determined or do I have free will.
The answer is both! Here’s why.
Both Calvanism and Arminianism are Affirmed and Denied in Scripture
I think we should start with TULIP
T – Total Depratvity
U – Unconditional Election
L- Limited Atonement
I – Irresistable Grace
Once saved always saved or can you lose your salvation? Can’t it be both. I think it can. Here’s why. If case you didn’t know that’s a combination of the terms Calvanist and Arminian. A Calvanist sees the emphasis in scripture on God’s sovereignty. An Arminian sees the emphasis on man’s responsibility. But I see the two as two sides of the same coin. Because God is sovereign man is responsible. Man’s responsibility implies God’s sovereignty. Why am I a Calminianist. Here’s why.
P – Preservation of the Saints
2. Jesus teaching is based in paradox.
This Bible isn’t a game of chess where only one side can logically out maneuver the other. Throw your board away. Jesus taught in paradoxes. A paradox is: A seemingly absurd or self-contradictory statement or proposition that when investigated or explained may prove to be well founded or true
The first are last and the last first
If you want to lead you must become the servant
If you want to be in power you must become like a little child.
It’s upside down. The way of the cross is not a neat game of chess. It doesn’t make sense on an apparently rational level. Sure there are reasons. There is evidence, but locking in all down in some tighty arrangement fails to see the big picture of God.
3. Both help and harm.
Calvanism is comforting. It teaches us to trust in an all powerful God who works everything according to his plan. The God of Calvanism is a God I can trust in the good times and the bad. He has everything under control. God is on his throne.
But there’s a problem with this view. If everything is under God’s control. Why should I pray? Why should I ask God to change things. Why should I seek him? If everything is going to work out according to his plan then what need do I have to participate with him. He will do exactly what he wants to do. It tends toward fatalism and apathy.
Armininism is motivating. It teaches us that God wants us to come to him and seek him. And in seeking him he will change things for the better. He will make things right when we choose him first. He is honored, proud of us when we do right. When we praise him by our actions and our words. He has asked us to do things and when we do things he rewards us like he promised.
Arminisim however has the problem of fear. What If don’t? What if can’t? What if I haven’t? Will God still love me. Will he still hold my hand through this situation. Will abandon me because I have not upheld my end of the bargin. Will he forsake me because I have forsaken him? Fear in such situation can be gripping.
The calvanist says that if you truly trust in the sovereignty of God it will motivate you and you won’t be apathetic to his plan and power. The arminist on the other hand will say that if you truly seek God you won’t be fearful of your condition.
I see that both are right but neither one is truly a calvanist or an arminist. Sure they say they are. But what they have come to truly experience is something in the middle. A place where God’s sovereignty is motivating and motivation is due to God’s sovereignty. Niether one has gone to far to the edge but they have inched closer and closer to the center between the two.
The two notions are guards rails, keeping us from the dangers that lurk beyond them. When I fear, I know I can trust a sovereign God. When I apathetic I recognize that I must perform those things that he has asked me to do least I stumble and fall away. I fear and honor the one who is sovereign.
