Calvinism Contrasted with Arminianism
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The Five Points of Calvinism |
The Five Points of Arminianism |
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Total Depravity Sin controls every part of man. He is spiritually dead and blind and unable to obey, believe or repent. He continually sins, for his nature is completely evil. |
Free Will Sin does not control Man’s will. He is sick and near-sighted but still able to obey, believe and repent. He does not continually sin, for his nature is not completely evil. |
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Unconditional Election God chose the elect solely on the basis of His free grace, not anything in them. He has a special love for the elect. God left the rest to be damned for their sin. |
Conditional Election God chose the elect on the basis of their foreseen faith. He loves all men equally. God passed over no one, but gives everyone an equal chance to be saved. |
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Limited Atonement Christ died especially for the elect and paid a definite price for them that guaranteed their salvation. |
Universal Atonement Christ died equally for all men and paid a provisional price that made salvation possible for all but guaranteed it for none. |
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Irresistible Grace Saving grace is irresistible, for the Holy Spirit is invincible and intervenes in Man’s heart. He sovereignly gives the new birth, faith and repentance to the elect. |
Resistible Grace Saving grace is resistible, for God cannot interfere with Man’s free will. Man is born again after he believes, for faith and repentance are not gifts of God. |
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Perseverance of the Saints God preserves all the elect and causes them to persevere in faith and obedience to the end. None are continually backslidden or finally lost. |
Falling from Grace Only a few Christians continue in faith and obedience to the end (Arminians are divided over whether one can actually lose his salvation). |
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GLORY TO GOD’S FREE GRACE |
GLORY TO MAN’S FREE WILL |