arminianism: ancient legalism revisited

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Arminianism: Ancient Legalism Revisited by Gary Lenaire

April, 1999

What is Arminianism? What is Legalism? What is Calvinism? Who cares? I do now butfor most of my first 11 years in the Lord, I didn't. All I knew of Arminian Theology was thatit opposed Calvinistic Theology and that I didn't appreciate the way many Christians arguedabout it. That turned me off and so I dismissed the subject repeatedly. I knew deep down thatGod was the One Who saved me and that was good enough for me. I mean, if having such astaunch view of something meant you were suppose to argue with other Christians that don'tagree with you, then I didn't want to be staunch anything . In short, I wanted to remainsimplistic in my thinking. Well, in October of 1996 the Lord moved in my life marking a newseason for me, my family and ministry. In the same way that I had to begin unlearning worldly systems of thinking when I was converted to Christianity, I had to begin unlearningArminian systems of thinking in order to embrace the Biblical view of God's sovereignty andgrace. Let's look at some definitions to establish this topic.

Arminianism embraces the view that man is inherently good and participates in his

own salvation by accepting God. Today Arminians may neither know nor acknowledgethat they comply to the theology of Jacobus Arminius (1560-1609). The term applies to allwho believe that God is more a suitor to sovereign man than a sovereign God who doeswhatever He wills. While the Protestant church has, throughout history, understood God to betotally omnipotent, the high view of man in Arminianism characterizes much of the churchtoday. It asserts, in sum:

1) All men have a "corrupt" nature, but this corruption is not of the nature of sin. Menare responsible only for their voluntary acts.

2) Man has not lost his ability to be good (after The Fall).

3) This ability (merely) needs a boos t or woo from God for salvation and holy living.

4) This boost, or grace, is sufficient for all men to repent, believe, and keep thecommandments of God.

5) Those who cooperate are saved. An important distinctive between Arminianism andCalvinism is that the former views election as the broad purpose of God to save all who havethe "will" to believe, while the latter views election as Gods work in those predestined to

believe. [The five numbered points are paraphrased from Charles Hodges SystematicTheology, Vol. II: Anthropology. Reprinted by Eerdmans, Grand Rapids, 1995.]

Arminianism's roots are found earlier than Jacobus Arminius. The position thatsalvation is not at all a gracious gift from God but a human achievement based on personalgoodness and moral self-effort is characteristic of pagan religion and philosophy. Early inchurch history, a British monk named Pelagius tried to teach pagan moralism as Christiandoctrine. Pelagius was condemned as a heretic, and his system was labeled Pelagianism. InPelagianism, the saving work of Christ is not necessary; a man can save himself by leading agood and moral life. Yet even the Pelagian claims to teach a salvation by grace. According tothe Pelagian, it is only by the grace of God that he was created as a man, a noble creaturewith the moral ability to earn heaven, and not as a frog or a rock. When the Pelagian speaksof the grace associated with salvation, he is referring to the grace of creation which iscommon to all men. When the orthodox Christian talks about salvation by grace, he is


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referring to the special grace of God which is based upon the work of Christ and which savesundeserving sinners.* As a man, Arminius obviously had much in common with Pelagius.

C alvinism is a term used to describe the biblical view of man which acknowledges thatwe are all inherently God-hating rebels (and legally dead) until or unless God sovereignlysaves us according to His pleasure. Calvin's teachings are really a continuation of the Biblicalteachings of Augustine, the great teacher from the 4th Century. Calvinists are not "followers"of the man John Calvin (1509-1564). The term is used to distinguish Calvinists fromArminians. Calvinism is often discussed in reference to soteriology, the doctrine of salvation.To do this, however, limits the scope of its comprehensive, biblical, world view. The greatestsynod of Reformed churches ever held, the Synod of Dort (1618-1619), unanimouslyrejected, and emphatically condemned, the teachings of Arminianism, thereby recognizingthe orthodoxy of Calvinism. It was during this synod that the acrostic "TULIP" was devisedto explain Calvinisms soteriology (soteriology refers to the doctrines of salvation as asserted

by such theologians as Calvin and Arminius. Ones soteriology will demonstrate as muchabout ones view of the condition and nature of man as it does about a belief in how man is"saved"). TULIP is an acrostic often attributed to theologian John Calvin, but was actuallydevised after his death to explain Calvinism, particularly regarding soteriology. TULIP is areminder of the:

T otal depravity of man apart from God;Unconditional election (we have nothing to do with our salvation); the atoning work of JesusChrist beingL imited to His predestinated elect (but not limited in power);Irresistible grace (we cannot run or hide if God elects us as His own); andP erseverance of the saints, which promises steady advancement of the church, the body of Christ on earth.

Legalism is the teaching that a person can earn salvation by keeping God's Law.

Grace is defined "unmerited favor" or "unearned blessing". The Greek word translatedgrace has as its root idea the concept of bringing joy and gladness through gifts. The ApostlePaul uses this word to refer to the unmerited and freely given favor and mercy which God

bestows upon the sinner in salvation. Through this grace, the sinner is delivered from sin and judgment. This grace, though freely given, is precious and costly, for its basis is the savingwork of Jesus Christ. A salvation that is received by grace is the very opposite of a salvationthat is earned by working or by obeying the law of God. A person who is saved by grace hasno basis for boasting in his salvation for he has done nothing to earn or merit it. The gospel of grace is the only true gospel. Those who teach a salvation that is earned or merited throughobedience of any sort have to some degree fallen from the teachings of grace into legalism.*Some verses to amplify this:

"Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt ." Romans4:4

F or you know the grace of our Lord Jesus C hrist, that though He was rich, yet foryour sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich. 2Corinthians 8:9

I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the graceof C hrist, to a different gospel. Galatians 1:6


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Y ou have become estranged from C hrist, you who attempt to be justified by law;you have fallen from grace. Galatians 5:4

F or by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it isthe gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. Ephesians 2:8-9

(God) has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works,but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in C hrist Jesusbefore time began. 2 Timothy 1:9

In Genesis we find an important revelation. There are two seeds. "And I will putenmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; he shallbruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel." (Gen 3:15) This is the seed of antichristand the seed Christ. These two races of people, two tribes if you will, are seen all through theBible starting in Genesis, after the Fall. The line of Seth and the line of Cain. A holy line andan unholy line of people. A line of continued blessing and a line of continued wickedness.This is not to say that the holy line of people never sinned, but that they were blessed. Alsonote that the unholy line often claimed righteousness. Jesus said it clearly in John 8:44 " Y ouare of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a

murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truthin him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and thefather of it." Now He spoke those words to religious people. These people were "Children of Israel" and claimed that they were holy but Jesus revealed to us who they were children of Satan. Why were they children of Satan? Because they were born children of Satan, by hisseed, in his line. In Romans 9, Paul points out that not all born of Abraham are saved: But itis not that the word of God has taken no effect. F or they are not all Israel who are of Israel, nor are they all children because they are the seed of Abraham; but, "In Isaacyour seed shall be called." That is, those who are the children of the flesh, these are notthe children of God; but the children of the promise are counted as the seed. Rom 9:6-8

We learn a significant lesson in these two different kinds of people in Genesis chapter

4: Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore C ain, and said, "I haveacquired a man from the LORD." Then she bore again, this time his brother Abel. NowAbel was a keeper of sheep, but C ain was a tiller of the ground. And in the process of time it came to pass that C ain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to theLORD. Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. And the LORDrespected Abel and his offering, but He did not respect C ain and his offering. And C ainwas very angry, and his countenance fell. So the LORD said to C ain, "Why are youangry? And why has your countenance fallen? "If you do well, will you not be accepted?And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you shouldrule over it." Now C ain talked with Abel his brother; and it came to pass, when theywere in the field, that C ain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him. Gen 4:1-8

Cain tilled the ground. Abel kept sheep, he raised them. This was apart of the curse, towork the ground and eat of it. Through the text we read of their two offerings. One of fruitand one of sin substitution. The two offerings reveal so much to us of who these two menwere and their intentions. One had works and the other had faith. Cain brought a sacrifice of his labor and Abel brought a sacrifice of God's gift. Cain assumed that God would accept himon the merits of his own labor while Abel understood that only faith in God's gift of substitution would be sufficient. Cain was working for his salvation but Abel had already

bowed to God's command of repentance in faith. Abel had learned from God (probablythrough Adam) that faith in God's promise was the way of pleasing God. Faith in God's

provision was the way of salvation for Abel. God's covenant with them was sufficient for


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pleasing God. Abel dared not add anything to it, nor vary from its perfection. Cain was not inactive belief of that covenant relationship and therefore was not accepted by God.

The rejection from God angered Cain. He did what the others in that wicked line of people would do for centuries right up to our day. They seek to kill the righteous. They covetthe blessing but dispise it's content. They claim righteousness but don't possess it. Theyexchange true worship for idols. They dwell in the doctrines of man, in the wisdom of theworld, in the sovereignty of themselves. They refuse God's Way and insist that they have a

better one. They spurn rebuke but demand the rebuke of their brothers. They accuse the godlyof false charges. In short, like their father, they desire to be God and rise above Him. This isthe wicked rebellion of the ungodly seed of Satan.

How does Arminianism fit into all this? Arminian Theology, as we examined above,declares what? It declares that man is not in the radically sinful state that God says he is in. Itinsists man's autonomy from the sovereignty of God as declared in His Word: So then it isnot of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy. ( Rom 9:16) Letme get to the heart of the matter. The Bible. It is God's Word. It is the final authority. It is

perfect revelation to us from God. Its contents reveal that which we could never understandwithout it. How does Satan and his followers do battle? Eve was tempted with the opening

words from Satan:

"Has God indeed said, ' Y ou shall not eat of every tree of the garden'?" Gen 3:1

The devil opens with a question, a questioning of God's Word. Has God indeed said....? Notice, when Jesus was tempted in the desert after fasting forty days, the last words spokento Him from God before the 40 days were "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am wellpleased." Matt 3:17 Again the devil opens the temptation with the questioning of God'sWord:

"If Y ou are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread." Matt 4:3

God had just said to Jesus " This is my beloved Son...." Jesus used the Word of God toanswer the enemy and then the devil fled from Him. The line of battle is drawn on God'sWord. The questioning and twisting of the spoken command of God is where the sin of unbelief breeds disobedience. It is at that precise point that the enemy attacks to kill millions,to destroy the lives of men and women. To lie and deceive in order to usurp the authority of God delegated to men. Is it not customary for the enemy to attack the validity of God's Word?Look at the systematic way that the so called hig her critici sm of the Scriptures has been so

popular in the late 19th Century and all through the 20th Century. These higher critics pick and choose what portions of Scripture is valid. Sound familiar? It is precisely what the devilhas done since his fall from glory, challenging God and His Word! We must not ignore whatcurrent mask that the deceiver wears in our generation. If we do, we cannot be effective in

battle against him. Who will hear God's Word and obey it? Jesus says

"Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, butclimbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. "But he who enters by thedoor is the shepherd of the sheep. "To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear hisvoice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. "And when he brings outhis own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. John 10:1-4

God's people hear and obey His voice, His Word. Not the wicked, they are thieves androbbers, read on: " All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep


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did not hear them. I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will goin and out and find pasture. The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and todestroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it moreabundantly ." John 10:8-10

Arminian Theology is not sound teaching. It is damaging and deceiving. It challengesGod's Word. It is, at it's root, a doctrine of legalism. So many, like Cain, have offered Godthings that He has not commanded, such as the "strange fire" of Aaron's sons: Then Nadaband Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire in it, put incense on it,and offered profane fire before the LORD, which He had not commanded them. So firewent out from the LORD and devoured them, and they died before the LORD. (Lev10:1-2) As Christians, our worship is a response to God's commandments in Spirit and Truth.Our worship and teachings of worship are not based on man's philosophy, which always

places m an in control ( aut onomo u sly sov ereign).

It can be reduced to a simple formula:

God's Way: God is sovereign.Mans way: man is sovereign.

Arminianism and Legalism: man trying to mix the two above ways.

That is why legalism and hypocrisy are so repellent to God. It makes an appearance of godliness but denies the power of God. It tries to mix man's stubborn way with God's Way.Legalism claims righteousness but has an amazing way of varying from the very Law itclaims to keep. It adds to its ordinances and twists its statutes to fit individual lifestyles. ThePharisees and Scribes were masters of this. They, by the time of Christ, had added so manylaws to the Law of Moses that they couldn't even keep those laws themselves. Jesus rebukedthem for this. They were busy looking good on the outside but had no holy motive for their religion. THEY THOUGHT THEY COULD PLEASE GOD IN THEIR WORKS. There it is,again. Works, just like Cain. Regardless of the variation of God's commands, you can't berighteous outside of the Lord's free gift of righteousness, His finished work on the cross,

nothing more. Nothing but God's grace in the provision of the cross, bestowed on us as a giftfrom God, can save us. We cannot improve that, mix it or add to it. One of the biggestdownfalls to Israel was to mix and compromise God's Word with pagan philosophy andliving. The end result was a strange imposter of the formally pure Israel. Arminianism isnothing more than another heresy comprised of pagan philosophy and Biblical teaching.

Pelagianism and Arminianism were found heretical by godly counsels for a reason. Andagain, people who subscribe to its teachings may not even be aware that they subscribe to ateaching that was condemned as heresy. Arminianism starts with man, not God. It placesman, ultimately, in the center of the universe. Historically, this is clearly a rehashed methodof ancient philosophy that insists that man is ultimately in control of his destiny. A methodthat the devil has used for centuries.

So why is it important to choose Arminianism or C alvinism?

To me, the information given already should be answer enough to this question. Thetendency for man is to claim himself as governor and also to be religious and self righteous.The way you see these doctrines will affect every part of your life. It will determine the wayyou see yourself as a witness of Christ. It will determine the way you see yourself in God'sKingdom and how others enter it. It will determine how you preach and how you see peopleresponding to the message. It will certainly affect the way you understand God's love andmercy for you and your love for Him. And finally, it will have a huge impact on how you see


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God. Do you see Him as God Almighty, Holy and yet merciful, or as an arbitrary deity thatisn't in total control of His universe?

The doctrines of grace are certainly humbling. It is humbling to know that all I have has been given to me. It is humbling to think that when I do anything pleasing to God, the creditmust go entirely to Jesus. It is humbling to learn that there are doctrines that I will never fullyunderstand because of my limitations as a finite creature. It is humbling to find out that butfor the grace of God, I would still be in bondage to sin. It is humbling to discover that I foundGod only because He first found me. It is humbling to realize that I stand firm in the faithonly because God keeps me from falling. These doctrines are very humbling, and perhapsthat is why some people reject them in spite of their strong and clear Biblical basis.

A baby can't be born of a woman unless God first forms him/her in the womb. Peoplecan't be born again of the Holy Spirit unless God first gives it to them. As I look back on mynatural childbirth, I know a great deal more about it in retrospect than I did when I was onlyminutes old. As I look back on my birth in the Holy Spirit, I realize that before I was bornagain I was dead, lost and hopeless until He gave me life. HE LOVED ME BE F ORE ILOVED HIM, BE F ORE THE F OUNDATION O F THE WORLD . As a new believer,however, I understood very little about God, I first needed milk before I could handle meat. It

is not easy to swallow meat when you are a infant, and it is impossible to be an infant unlessGod sovereignly creates you.

Jacob and Esau were once in a woman's womb, God had already chosen one of them toreceive the promise. Rom 9:10-13 : And n o t only t hi s, but when Re becca al so had c oncei ved b y one man , even b y our fat her I saac ( f or t he children n o t yet being bo rn , nor having d oneany g oo d or e vil , t hat t he purp os e o f God acc ording t o electi on mig ht stand , no t o f work s but o f Him who call s ) , it wa s said t o her , "T he o lder shall ser ve t he younger." A s it i s written , "Jac ob I have l oved , but E sau I have hated." (NKJ)

In our theologizing, the temptation is to look for elements of human sovereignty in our deliverance, to theorize ways to hold God responsible for our mistakes, and to hope that there

might not be some degree of truth in Satan's claim that man can be "as God" (Genesis 3:5). Afriend of mine claims that he is "Calminian," that is, he is both Arminian and Calvinist. Tosome extent, I believe him because he is Arminian in his sermons but is more Calvinistic inhis prayers. A true Arminian knows, however, you cannot ride the fence with these issues. Inorder to walk the fence with this issue, you are forced to explain it away with philosophy andstatements like, "we mortals cannot comprehend such matters." As C.H. Spurgeon has

pointed out, all true Christians pray in terms of the doctrines of grace. All true Christians prayin terms of divine sovereignty and human responsibility and never in terms of humansovereignty and divine culpability. We lower our eyes, smite our breast, and cry out, "God, bemerciful to me a sinner!" We never look God proudly in the eye and say, "God, I thank youthat I am the man I am!" Allow me to leave you with Mr. Spurgeon's thoughts on thissubject:*

You have heard a great many Arminian sermons, I dare say; but you never heard anArminian prayer -- for the saints in prayer appear as one in word, and deed and mind. AnArminian on his knees would pray desperately like a Calvinist. He cannot pray about freewill: there is no room for it. Fancy him praying, "Lord, I thank thee I am not like those poor

presumptuous Calvinists. Lord, I was born with a glorious free-will; I was born with power by which I can turn to thee of myself; I have improved my grace. If everybody had done thesame with their grace that I have, they might all have been saved. Lord, I know that thou dostnot make us willing if we are not willing ourselves. Thou givest grace to everybody; some donot improve it, but I do. There are many that will go to hell as much bought with the blood of


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Christ as I was; they had as much of the Holy Ghost given to them; they had as good achance, and were as blessed as I am. It was not thy grace that made us to differ; I know it dida great deal, still I turned the point; I made use of what was given me, and others did not --that is the difference between me and them."

That is a prayer for the devil, for nobody else would offer such a prayer as that. Ah!when they are preaching and talking very slowly, there may be wrong doctrine; but whenthey come to pray, the true thing slips out; they cannot help it. If a man talks very slowly, hemay speak in a fine manner; but when he comes to talk fast, the old brogue of his country,where he was born, slips out.

* partly adapted from Grover E. Gunn's G race And Salvation Grover E. Gunn, M. Div, Reformed Theological Seminary

arminianism: ancient legalism revisited

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