Over the course of the last week, we have looked at some of the theological differences between those who proclaim themselves Calvinists and those who call themselves Arminian. Today we shall look at works, then conclude with ideas concerning free will. Does God’s Sovereignty preclude His giving free will to mankind? Or could it be, in His Sovereignty and Wisdom; He did just that.
Works
Calvin: “Although justification is free, sanctification becomes the believer’s response of gratitude. No one can embrace the grace of the gospel, but he must depart from the error of his former life, enter into the right way, and devote all his attention to the exercise of repentance.” (Bromiley, Historical Theology, 238).
Arminian: One can lose their salvation. (Enns, Theology, 486).
The entire book of Galatians addresses this issue of works, justification is by grace through faith; then, sanctification is the work of the Holy Spirit in the heart of the believer. Our only part is to keep our eyes focused on Jesus Christ- “the author and finisher of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2), abiding in Him for life giving sap (John 15:6-10). The more we learn of Him, the more we love Him. The more we love Him, the more we desire to please Him in all that we do. For some, that takes a lifetime of the Spirit revealing and burning away the chaff one bit at a time.
Yet, God’s promises are:
“Moreover, whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified” (Romans 8:30).
“But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord” (2 Corinthians 3:18).
Although, it may be a dim glass that I see His Glory as compared to who He is; yet, with eyes and hearts open to see His Hand in every circumstance of our life, we are being transformed one tiny glory at a time until one day we will look like Him. That is the work of the Holy Spirit in us transforming the heart of every believer.
Ah, so; neither our salvation nor our sanctification can be effectually accomplished by our own effort. My only hope rests in my leaning into Christ, acknowledging my own inability to live this Christian life, dying to self that He might live in me and through me. Furthermore, taking up my cross daily to follow Him; laying self upon that cross. Then, surrendering my life into His hands, trusting Him to know what is best for me.
Eternal Security
There was nothing that I could do to earn my salvation, and there is nothing I can do to lose it. My anchor holds; because, of Jesus Christ.
Romans 8:
33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth.
34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
It was with a broken and contrite heart, that day I wrote in the margins of my Bible, “Thank God, not even I can separate me from your love.”
Free Will vs Sovereignty
There is so much of God, I must confess I do not know; yet, one day when I stand before Him, I will understand it all. Still, I do not see why it is inconceivable to some that a Sovereign God would not choose to give to His Created Beings, free will. His Sovereignty reigning supreme, He chose to give mankind free will. Nor was His Sovereignty lessened when He allowed Adam to sin. Despite His knowing the consequences, in His Sovereignty, He allowed it. He with great sorrow and long suffering willingly endured the evil, while steadying His Hand of justice.
For love to be fully experienced by those created and for them to find the greatest fulfillment of joy in Him, it was necessary that the created beings be able to see all of His attributes of Glory, equally. He knew the risk and He knew the sorrow He would face; yet, to have created mere robots was not an option of love. “What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: and that he might make know the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory” (Romans 9:22-23).
How Can Both Be True?
Again, God does not live in our time/space confinement. He knew before He created the earth, all that would happen. Furthermore, He knew all who would believe and all who would reject. The fact that He steadies His hand of grace, awaiting the last one who will accept His gift, is an act of love. What matters most. God loves you. He sent His Son to die on a cross to pay the penalty for your sin. Today, He bids you come to receive His Gift of Salvation. Won’t you come, just as your are?
Am I a Calvinist or an Armenian? Perhaps, I would stand as C.S. Lewis and say that since both are based on our time/space continuum, the argument may not matter so much. There are parts within both that are true. For that reason, their works are of great importance to the Kingdom. Never to be wielded as a sword to divide. Rather, we as Christians should unite, studying the scripture with open faces.
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