Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

The Grace of God
GodRules.net | Unknown | James Arminius

Posted on 06/28/2002 5:31:19 PM PDT by fortheDeclaration

IV. THE GRACE OF GOD

In reference to Divine Grace, I believe, 1. It is a gratuitous affection by which God is kindly affected towards a miserable sinner, and according to which he, in the first place, gives his Son, "that whosoever believers in him might have eternal life," and, afterwards, he justifies him in Christ Jesus and for his sake, and adopts him into the right of sons, unto salvation. 2. It is an infusion (both into the human understanding and into the will and affections,) of all those gifts of the Holy Spirit which appertain to the regeneration and renewing of man -- such as faith, hope, charity, &c.; for, without these gracious gifts, man is not sufficient to think, will, or do any thing that is good. 3. It is that perpetual assistance and continued aid of the Holy Spirit, according to which He acts upon and excites to good the man who has been already renewed, by infusing into him salutary cogitations, and by inspiring him with good desires, that he may thus actually will whatever is good; and according to which God may then will and work together with man, that man may perform whatever he wills.

In this manner, I ascribe to grace the commencement, the continuance and the consummation of all good, and to such an extent do I carry its influence, that a man, though already regenerate, can neither conceive, will, nor do any good at all, nor resist any evil temptation, without this preventing and exciting, this following and co-operating grace. From this statement it will clearly appear, that I by no means do injustice to grace, by attributing, as it is reported of me, too much to man's free-will. For the whole controversy reduces itself to the solution of this question, "is the grace of God a certain irresistible force?" That is, the controversy does not relate to those actions or operations which may be ascribed to grace, (for I acknowledge and inculcate as many of these actions or operations as any man ever did,) but it relates solely to the mode of operation, whether it be irresistible or not. With respect to which, I believe, according to the scriptures, that many persons resist the Holy Spirit and reject the grace that is offered.


TOPICS: General Discusssion
KEYWORDS: arminius; grace
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-44 next last

1 posted on 06/28/2002 5:31:19 PM PDT by fortheDeclaration
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: fortheDeclaration; Revelation 911; xzins; winstonchurchill; maestro; The Grammarian; Goldhammer
Bump for read (sorry-no pictures)
2 posted on 06/28/2002 5:33:18 PM PDT by fortheDeclaration
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: fortheDeclaration; RnMomof7; Wrigley; CCWoody
***by infusing into him salutary cogitations***

This sounds like the Kingfish of Amos and Andy fame...

'Oh Yeah, He infuses some salutary cogitations allowin' the guy to cogitate and then salute!'

3 posted on 06/28/2002 6:55:10 PM PDT by drstevej
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: fortheDeclaration; winstonchurchill; Revelation 911; The Grammarian; ShadowAce; drstevej
The issue isn't if "believing" is a work. The issue is whether grace is irresistible.

If grace CAN be resisted, then it also can be cooperated with.

If grace CANNOT be resisted, then anything that follows CANNOT possibly be a work.

4 posted on 06/28/2002 9:37:22 PM PDT by xzins
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: xzins
The issue isn't if "believing" is a work. The issue is whether grace is irresistible. If grace CAN be resisted, then it also can be cooperated with. If grace CANNOT be resisted, then anything that follows CANNOT possibly be a work.

Amen!

5 posted on 06/28/2002 11:27:29 PM PDT by fortheDeclaration
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: drstevej; xzins; winstonchurchill; Revelation 911
***by infusing into him salutary cogitations*** This sounds like the Kingfish of Amos and Andy fame... 'Oh Yeah, He infuses some salutary cogitations allowin' the guy to cogitate and then salute!'

And you said I was being puerile!

It is that perpetual assistance and continued aid of the Holy Spirit, according to which He acts upon and excites to good the man who has been already renewed, by infusing into him salutary cogitations, and by inspiring him with good desires, that he may thus actually will whatever is good; and according to which God may then will and work together with man, that man may perform whatever he wills.
I see nothing in the statement that a Calvinist would object to! Salutary cogitations would refer to the renewing of the mind (Rom.12:2)

It is certainly a better phrase then Ignorance is learning

6 posted on 06/29/2002 12:27:01 AM PDT by fortheDeclaration
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: fortheDeclaration
Puerile, perchance.
7 posted on 06/29/2002 5:13:28 AM PDT by drstevej
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: drstevej
This sounds like the Kingfish of Amos and Andy fame...

Pardon me, sir. Aren't you the same gentleman whose feelings were so terribly assaulted by my references to "Little Johnny's construct"? Perhaps I am mistaken, but I thought you were the one whose tender feelings toward the embittered determinist of Geneva were thus so deeply wounded? Tell me, sir, are you not the one?

[Available response: "I don't even understand what you're talking about." (Mark 14:68)]

8 posted on 06/29/2002 7:54:51 AM PDT by winstonchurchill
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: winstonchurchill
My problem with the little 'Johnny's construct' is not that it imploys humor (eye of the beholder) but that it is INCESSSANT. Your critique will be valid when I use Kingfish for the ump-teenth thousandth (hyperbole OFF) time.
9 posted on 06/29/2002 9:14:21 AM PDT by drstevej
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: fortheDeclaration
In this manner, I ascribe to grace the commencement, the continuance and the consummation of all good, and to such an extent do I carry its influence, that a man, though already regenerate, can neither conceive, will, nor do any good at all, nor resist any evil temptation, without this preventing and exciting, this following and co-operating grace. From this statement it will clearly appear, that I by no means do injustice to grace, by attributing, as it is reported of me, too much to man's free-will. For the whole controversy reduces itself to the solution of this question, "is the grace of God a certain irresistible force?" That is, the controversy does not relate to those actions or operations which may be ascribed to grace, (for I acknowledge and inculcate as many of these actions or operations as any man ever did,) but it relates solely to the mode of operation, whether it be irresistible or not. With respect to which, I believe, according to the scriptures, that many persons resist the Holy Spirit and reject the grace that is offered.

The tortured logic we have inherited from those sharing the responsibility for the confusion within Christianity for two thousand years. If God offered salvation to only those who could interpret this mans ramblings scarcely would anyone be saved.

10 posted on 06/29/2002 9:31:07 AM PDT by vmatt
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: vmatt; xzins; Revelation 911; winstonchurchill
In this manner, I ascribe to grace the commencement, the continuance and the consummation of all good, and to such an extent do I carry its influence, that a man, though already regenerate, can neither conceive, will, nor do any good at all, nor resist any evil temptation, without this preventing and exciting, this following and co-operating grace. From this statement it will clearly appear, that I by no means do injustice to grace, by attributing, as it is reported of me, too much to man's free-will. For the whole controversy reduces itself to the solution of this question, "is the grace of God a certain irresistible force?" That is, the controversy does not relate to those actions or operations which may be ascribed to grace, (for I acknowledge and inculcate as many of these actions or operations as any man ever did,) but it relates solely to the mode of operation, whether it be irresistible or not. With respect to which, I believe, according to the scriptures, that many persons resist the Holy Spirit and reject the grace that is offered. The tortured logic we have inherited from those sharing the responsibility for the confusion within Christianity for two thousand years. If God offered salvation to only those who could interpret this mans ramblings scarcely would anyone be saved.

You want to read some ramblings read Calvin trying to explain how God is willing everything, but still not the author of sin! LOL!

No, we do not look to the theologians to see how we may be saved, we look to the Scriptures,

Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved (Acts.16:31)
Is that simple enough for you?
11 posted on 06/30/2002 2:46:51 AM PDT by fortheDeclaration
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: fortheDeclaration
No, we do not look to the theologians to see how we may be saved, we look to the Scriptures, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved (Acts.16:31) Is that simple enough for you?

Just one question I've been meaning to ask, does the phrase "believe on" rather than "believe in" have any noted significance? Thank you and God bless.

12 posted on 06/30/2002 8:32:45 AM PDT by vmatt
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: drstevej
My problem with the little 'Johnny's construct' is not that it imploys humor (eye of the beholder) but that it is INCESSSANT. Your critique will be valid when I use Kingfish for the ump-teenth thousandth (hyperbole OFF) time.

I don't incessantly quote Arminius (or Kingfish for that matter) as your coreligionists incessantly quote Calvin as though he were something more than a mere man who had some ideas -- some of which were valid and some wholly erroneous. As soon as your co-religionists quit quoting his silly doctrines, I will surely and quickly quit my references to Little Johnny Calvin and his Construct Five. Calvin has heaped more harm on Christianity than most any ten popes you could name (or at least that I could name, since I don't know ten). Anything I can do to undermine that harm, I will gladly so to do.

13 posted on 06/30/2002 10:24:32 AM PDT by winstonchurchill
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: vmatt
The tortured logic we have inherited from those sharing the responsibility for the confusion within Christianity for two thousand years. If God offered salvation to only those who could interpret this mans ramblings scarcely would anyone be saved.

Remember, vmatt, we only know this man because of his prodigious efforts to refute the foolish dogmas of Little Johnny Calvin, which have introduced incalculable harm to Gospel of Jesus Christ. I dare say if tomorrow the determinists ceased pushing their vicious little construct, we would not hear from Arminius again. He is merely an effective antidote to a virulent poison afloat in Christianity.

14 posted on 06/30/2002 10:28:42 AM PDT by winstonchurchill
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: drstevej
***by infusing into him salutary cogitations***
This sounds like the Kingfish of Amos and Andy fame...
'Oh Yeah, He infuses some salutary cogitations allowin' the guy to cogitate and then salute!'

I think taht is also called a "green light"


15 posted on 06/30/2002 10:31:10 AM PDT by RnMomof7
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: xzins
The issue isn't if "believing" is a work. The issue is whether grace is irresistible.
If grace CAN be resisted, then it also can be cooperated with.
If grace CANNOT be resisted, then anything that follows CANNOT possibly be a work
.

The issue clearly stated :

Does man will trump God's grace? If it does who is god?

If mans will trumps grace and he must activate his will in order for Gods grace to be effective then mans decision is a work of man...thus salvation is all of man!

16 posted on 06/30/2002 10:36:19 AM PDT by RnMomof7
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: winstonchurchill
Remember, vmatt, we only know this man because of his prodigious efforts to refute the foolish dogmas of Little Johnny Calvin, which have introduced incalculable harm to Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Remember that Little Johnny Wesley was a foil for Rome and worked against the reformation..If was up to Little Johnny Wesley we would all be going to mass on sundays and bowing to the King of England on the way by

It was actually your little Johnney that fought the teachings of the refornmation....which is why you anti reformation guys have no part of the name Protestant..

17 posted on 06/30/2002 10:42:52 AM PDT by RnMomof7
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: fortheDeclaration
You want to read some ramblings read Calvin trying to explain how God is willing everything, but still not the author of sin! LOL!

Or read the ramblings of all the "Open Theology" Arminians who think God has no power..he makes nothing, he knows nothing he is a hapless victim of mans will and his temper . He is a fickle god and changes his mind when he has a temper tantrum..

dec you have a problem underststanding how God can turn mans heart over to it's desires which are always evil..

18 posted on 06/30/2002 11:04:01 AM PDT by RnMomof7
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: RnMomof7; xzins
John 5:21 For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it.

------

Xzins version:

John 5:21 For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is obligated to give it cause they said yes while in the neutral zone.

19 posted on 06/30/2002 11:25:41 AM PDT by drstevej
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: drstevej
cause they said yes while in the neutral zone.

Neutral Zone? What translation can I find that passage in Capt Kirk?

20 posted on 06/30/2002 11:44:46 AM PDT by Codie
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-44 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson