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The Christ of Arminianism
A Puritan's Mind ^ | unknown | Rev. Steven Houck

Posted on 09/07/2003 6:36:06 PM PDT by nobdysfool

The Christ of Arminianism

The Bible warns us that in the last days in which we live there will be many false Christs-those who claim to be Christ but who are imposters. Jesus said, "Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying I am Christ; and shall deceive many." (Matt. 24:4-5). We who profess to be Christians must take heed. We must be very careful that we are not deceived. Our calling is to trust, love, and follow the true Christ and Him only. We may have nothing to do with the false Christs who are so numerous in our day.

We know about the Christ of the cults and other religions. He is a good man, a prophet, the first creation of God, a great spirit, a divine idea, or even a god himself. But he is not true and eternal God. He receives his existence from another who is greater than he. He is not the Christ of the Bible. We are not deceived by this Christ. He is a false Christ.

We know about the Christ of Roman Catholicism. They profess that He is true God. He suffered and died for the forgiveness of sin. He arose again, ascended into heaven, and is coming again. But he is not a complete Savior. The Christ of the Roman Catholics can not save sinners without their own good works and the intercession of priests. He is not the Christ of the Bible. We are not deceived by this Christ. He is a false Christ.

There is, however, another false Christ who is much more dangerous than the Christ of the cults and the Christ of Roman Catholicism. He has deceived people for many years and he continues to deceive millions. This Christ is so dangerous that, if it were not impossible, he would deceive the very elect (Matt. 24:24). He is the Christ of Arminianism.

This false Christ is extremely dangerous because in many ways he appears to be the True Christ. They say that he is true God, equal with the Father and the Holy Spirit. They say that he died on the cross to save sinners. They even say that he saves by his grace alone, without the work of man. This Christ will have nothing to do with the Christ of the cults and the Christ of Roman Catholicism.

But watch out! Be warned! The Christ of Arminianism is not the Christ of the Bible. Do not be fooled!

1. The Christ of Arminianism - loves every individual person in the world and sincerely desires their salvation.

The Christ of the Bible - earnestly loves and desires the salvation of only those whom God has unconditionally chosen to salvation. (Ps. 5:5, Ps. 7:11, Ps. 11:5, Matt. 11:27, John 17:9-10, Acts 2:47, Acts 13:48, Rom. 9:10-13, Rom. 9:21-24, Eph. 1:3-4)

2. The Christ of Arminianism - offers salvation to every sinner and does all in his power to bring them to salvation. His offer and work are often frustrated, for many refuse to come.

The Christ of the Bible - effectually calls to Himself only the elect and sovereignly brings them to salvation. Not one of them will be lost. (Isa. 55:11, John 5:21, John 6:37-40, John 10:25-30, John 17:2, Phil. 2:13)

3. The Christ of Arminianism - can not regenerate and save a sinner who does not first choose Christ with his own "free will." All men have a "free will" by which they can either accept or reject Christ. That "free will" may not be violated by Christ.

The Christ of the Bible - sovereignly regenerates the elect sinner apart from his choice, for without regeneration the spiritually dead sinner can not choose Christ. Faith is not man's contribution to salvation but the gift of Christ which He sovereignly imparts in regeneration. (John 3:3, John 6:44 & 65, John 15:16, Acts 11:18, Rom. 9:16, Eph. 2:1,Eph. 2:8-10, Phil. 1:29, Hebr. 12:2)

4. The Christ of Arminianism - died on the cross for every individual person and thereby made it possible for every person to be saved. His death, apart from the choice of man, was not able to actually save anyone for many for whom he died are lost.

The Christ of the Bible - died for only God's elect people and thereby actually obtained salvation for all those for whom He died. His death was a substitutionary satisfaction which actually took away the guilt of His chosen people. (Luke 19:10, John 10:14-15 & 26, Acts 20:28, Rom. 5:10, Eph. 5:25, Hebr. 9:12, I Peter 3:18)

5. The Christ of Arminianism - loses many whom he has "saved" because they do not continue in faith. Even if he does give them "eternal security," as some say, that security is not based upon his will or work but the choice which the sinner made when he accepted Christ.

The Christ of the Bible - preserves His chosen people so that they can not lose their salvation but persevere in the faith to the very end. He preserves them by the sovereign electing will of God, the power of His death, and the mighty working of His Spirit. (John 5:24, John 10:26-29, Rom. 8:29-30, Rom. 8:35-39, I Peter 1:2-5, Jude 24-25)

As you can see, although the Christ of Arminianism and the Christ of the Bible may at first seem to be the same, they are very different. One is a false Christ. The other is the true Christ. One is weak and helpless. He bows before the sovereign "free will" of man. The other is the reigning Lord Who wills what He pleases and sovereignly accomplishes all that He wills.

If you believe and serve the Christ of Arminianism, you must recognize the fact that you do not serve the Christ of the Bible. You have been deceived! Study the Scriptures and learn of the True Christ. Pray for grace to repent and trust Christ as your sovereign


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I know this debate is old, but this still deserves to be said, again and again.
1 posted on 09/07/2003 6:36:06 PM PDT by nobdysfool
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To: nobdysfool
I strenuously object to the notion put forward that the "Roman Catholic Christ" is a "false Christ" and is lumped in with cults.

The Catholics can stick up for themselves, no doubt, and if this thread lasts for any length of time, you'll deserve what you get from them.
2 posted on 09/07/2003 6:40:20 PM PDT by wimpycat (Down with Kooks and Kookery!)
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To: nobdysfool

3 posted on 09/07/2003 6:58:18 PM PDT by Gamecock (Why TULIP? Because the Bible teaches it as the inspired word of The One Holy Sovereign God!)
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To: wimpycat
As I read the article Catholicism is not lumped in with the cults.

***There is, however, another false Christ who is much more dangerous than the Christ of the cults and the Christ of Roman Catholicism.***

and again..

***This Christ will have nothing to do with the Christ of the cults and the Christ of Roman Catholicism.***


To be sure Catholicism receives harsh treatment, but no harsher than Arminianism which is Protestant.

Catholics, Arminians and Calvinists affirm the Nicean creed. When the Worldwide Church of God embraced the Trinity they were embraced by the NAE (National Association of Evangelicals) and were no longer considered a cult by mainstream evangelicalism. The Nicean creed is not under discussion here.

This thread is a Calvinism - Arminianism thread primarily. Catholicism and Arminians are closer on the issues mentioned than are Calvinists and Arminians.

4 posted on 09/07/2003 6:58:48 PM PDT by drstevej
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To: nobdysfool
"The LORD is patient, not willing that ANY should perish, but "EVERYONE" to come to repentence." 2 Peter 3:9b.

If God "chose" who will be saved and will "not be saved" "Sovereignly, then why did Jesus tell his disciples to "Go into all the world, and preach the gospel to EVERY CREATURE, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you, baptizing them in the name of The Father, The Son, and The Holy Ghost"?

What you're saying is that Jesus told His disciples to do something that would absolutely worthless, waste of time, and even blasphemous since it is God who will choose who is saved, According to "The Gospel According to nobdysfool".

Heretics always choose which parts of the Bible they want to believe and those parts that they "Sovereignly" decide not to believe because it destroys their "religion".

5 posted on 09/07/2003 7:00:32 PM PDT by webber
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To: wimpycat
I strenuously object to the notion put forward that the "Roman Catholic Christ" is a "false Christ" and is lumped in with cults.

The Catholics can stick up for themselves, no doubt, and if this thread lasts for any length of time, you'll deserve what you get from them.

Don't strain too hard. That the Roman Catholic Church is an apostate group is a position held by the Reformed for centuries. The pretty much hold the same view of us. They pretty much stay out of our threads as we pretty much stay out of theirs.

So, let the Catholics 'stick up for themselves' if they feel it necessary, but I doubt most of them feel threatened by this article.

6 posted on 09/07/2003 7:04:14 PM PDT by Frumanchu (mene mene tekel upharsin)
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To: webber
If God "chose" who will be saved and will "not be saved" "Sovereignly, then why did Jesus tell his disciples to "Go into all the world, and preach the gospel to EVERY CREATURE, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you, baptizing them in the name of The Father, The Son, and The Holy Ghost"?

This is a weak, tired argument. The message needs to be heard!

Might I suggest you study Romans 8 and 9

7 posted on 09/07/2003 7:12:17 PM PDT by Gamecock (Why TULIP? Because the Bible teaches it as the inspired word of The One Holy Sovereign God!)
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To: webber
Heretics always choose which parts of the Bible they want to believe and those parts that they "Sovereignly" decide not to believe because it destroys their "religion".

You mean just like you chose that verse with grievous disregard to its context?

8 posted on 09/07/2003 7:12:22 PM PDT by Frumanchu (mene mene tekel upharsin)
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To: webber
If God "chose" who will be saved and will "not be saved" "Sovereignly, then why did Jesus tell his disciples to "Go into all the world, and preach the gospel to EVERY CREATURE, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you, baptizing them in the name of The Father, The Son, and The Holy Ghost"?

That's not very logical. He commands us to do what he commands because what he commands is the RIGHT and holy thing to do. Being perfectly holy, he could do no other. Really simple as always... either God is in control or you are. I'll take the latter, thanks.

9 posted on 09/07/2003 7:13:51 PM PDT by Texas_Dawg
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To: Texas_Dawg
Amen! God in charge for me.
10 posted on 09/07/2003 7:15:55 PM PDT by CARepubGal
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To: webber
webber, you misquoted the verse. Let's look at what it actually says and let the text provide the meaning if the words with a large semantic domain (i.e. pas, all)
The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.

Notice that "the Lord is patient toward you." Who is "you"? In Ch. 3 vs 1, Peter says that his letter was to "you, beloved". In Ch 1 v1, we see the addressees

To those who have received a faith of the same kind as ours, by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ

So, we see that this is addressed to belivers. The apotle's point here is that he doesn't want any of His believers to perish, so He will wait until His work is finished. This is certainly consistent with John 6:35-65.

11 posted on 09/07/2003 7:17:47 PM PDT by RochesterFan
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To: wimpycat
I strenuously object to the notion put forward that the "Roman Catholic Christ" is a "false Christ" and is lumped in with cults.

Isa 8:20 To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.

12 posted on 09/07/2003 7:20:58 PM PDT by nobdysfool (All men are born Arminians...the Christian ones that grow up become Calvinists...)
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To: RochesterFan
The apotle's point here is that he doesn't want any of His believers to perish, so He will wait until His work is finished.

Amen. The Lord is faithful. He did not elect men just to abandon them in a 'rush to Judgement.' The elect will be brought to repentance down to every last man. Let the scoffers scoff.

13 posted on 09/07/2003 7:28:08 PM PDT by Frumanchu (mene mene tekel upharsin)
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To: RochesterFan
The apotle's point here is that he doesn't want any of His believers to perish, so He will wait until His work is finished.

Amen. The Lord is faithful. He did not elect men just to abandon them in a 'rush to Judgement.' The elect will be brought to repentance down to every last man. Let the scoffers scoff.

14 posted on 09/07/2003 7:30:27 PM PDT by Frumanchu (mene mene tekel upharsin)
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To: Frumanchu
My apologies for the double-post
15 posted on 09/07/2003 7:30:51 PM PDT by Frumanchu (mene mene tekel upharsin)
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To: Frumanchu
Your summary was quite articulate. I wonder how many of Norman Geisler's "Big Three" verses (Matthew 23:37, 1 Timothy 2:4, and 2 Peter 3:9) we will see here...
16 posted on 09/07/2003 7:43:56 PM PDT by RochesterFan
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To: webber; Frumanchu; RochesterFan; drstevej
What you're saying is that Jesus told His disciples to do something that would absolutely worthless, waste of time, and even blasphemous since it is God who will choose who is saved, According to "The Gospel According to nobdysfool". Heretics always choose which parts of the Bible they want to believe and those parts that they "Sovereignly" decide not to believe because it destroys their "religion".

This is not the "Gospel According To Nobdysfool". This is the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Word of God. Any Gospel I'd write wouldn't be worth a plugged nickel, unless the Holy Spirit inspired me the same way He did Paul, Peter, and the others, and even then, it wouldn't be included in the Bible. So let's stop the wild accusations and insults. Your problem is with the doctrine, not with me. Let's keep it in that realm, OK?

That God has chosen, before the foundation of the world, those whom He will save, does not set aside the command to preach the Gospel. The biggest reason is, we don't know whom He has chosen. He hasn't, and will not share that information with us. He is under no obligation to do so. So, we preach. God uses that which we do in obedience to Him to accomplish His purpose in bringing those whom He has chosen to repentance and faith in Him.

There is nothing blasphemous in that. That's a ridiculous charge to bring. I think you need to begin reading your Bible again. You missed some things.

17 posted on 09/07/2003 7:45:28 PM PDT by nobdysfool (All men are born Arminians...the Christian ones that grow up become Calvinists...)
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To: RochesterFan
I wonder how many of Norman Geisler's "Big Three" verses (Matthew 23:37, 1 Timothy 2:4, and 2 Peter 3:9) we will see here...

My money's on all three....:o)

18 posted on 09/07/2003 7:46:31 PM PDT by nobdysfool (All men are born Arminians...the Christian ones that grow up become Calvinists...)
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To: nobdysfool
That God has chosen, before the foundation of the world, those whom He will save

Change "has chosen" to "knows" and "He will", to "will be saved", you will then have it right. Come on boy get with the program. :)

BigMack

19 posted on 09/07/2003 7:52:23 PM PDT by PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain (Prov. 9:7-8)
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To: PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain
Hi Mack. Are you advocating simple foreknowledge? I would submit that God's knowledge of His elect is much more intimate. Recall how God knew the Psalmist in the womb. He knows His sheep and His sheep respond to His voice. Also recall the basis upon which the goats are dispatched to judgement, "I never knew you."
20 posted on 09/07/2003 7:57:55 PM PDT by RochesterFan
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