Subject: Calvin or Armini |
Bible Note: No, you're not wrong.The Bible is the only infallable truth. However,we all use the Bible "to prove our point." I too have utmost confidence in what I believe. All that any Christian can do is ask the Holy Spirit to guide them.But, the only way any of us can discern error from truth is "study both sides." The first place, I think, is to look at church history as far back as possible. It is my opinion that Christians who have maintained the "calvinist view" have strayed far less than the free will or arminian view. All five points that the arminian view express is the "exact opposite" of the calvinist view. What each person must do is look at each point "individually" and see if it lines up with scripture.The Greek text, being the original, is the only way to get to the bottom line. I am not a Greek expert but I do have the tools to study the Greek. Unfortunately, a study of these debated areas will leave the arminians with nothing to stand on. I have done so through many many scriptures for many years. As I said earlier, I started out as free will as can be. One such proof text regarding the eternal security of the believer is Ephesians 1:13: "In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation--having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promice." (NASB) In the Greek "sealed in Him" is an action from eternity past to eternity future. God has sealed the believer in the Holy Spirit from eternity past. Salvation is not eternal if it can be lost. What God has sealed can not be undone. So, therefore, if we can disprove one point of arminism where does that leave the other points? Joseph Arminius was branded "a heretic" by all on the council. Also, I don't think you will find a single, respected, Greek scholar today who is arminian. If you can I would (sincerely) like to see his arguement from the Greek text. |