If we are going to debate one another and discuss doctrines of the Bible we should at least understand one another. I realize there are many more theological ideas than those listed here, but it’s a start. Oftentimes, we classify those who are actually believers of Pelagianism and Semi-Pelagianism as Arminians. Likewise, Primitive Baptists are often called Calvinist when most are not. I do not wish to prove or disprove any doctrine within this brief writing but only clarify the differences between Arminianism, Calvinism, and what the Primitive Baptists believe. I will use the 5-point TULIP format for convenience.
| ARMINIANISM | CALVINISM | THE TRUTH |
| Free-will & Human Ability | Total Depravity | Total Depravity |
| Although human nature was seriously affected by the fall, man has not been left in a state of total spiritual helplessness. God graciously enables every sinner to repent and believe, but He does not interfere with man’s freedom. Each sinner posses a free will, and his eternal destiny depends on how he uses it. Man’s freedom consists of his ability to choose good over evil in spiritual matters; his will is not enslaved to his sinful nature. The sinner has the power to either cooperate with God’s Spirit and be regenerated or resist God’s grace and perish. The lost sinner needs the Spirit’s assistance, but he does not have to be regenerated by the Spirit before he can believe, for faith is man’s act and precedes the new birth. Faith is the sinner’s gift to God; it is man’s contribution to salvation. | Because of the fall, man is unable of himself to savingly believe the gospel. The sinner is dead, blind, and deaf to the things of God; his heart is deceitful and desperately corrupt. His will is not free, it is in bondage to his evil nature, therefore, he will not - indeed he cannot - choose good over evil in the spiritual realm. Consequently, it takes much more than the Spirit’s assistance to bring a sinner to Christ - it takes regeneration by which the Spirit makes the sinner alive and gives him a new nature. Faith is not something man contributes to salvation but is itself a part of God’s gift of salvation - it is God’s gift to the sinner, not the sinner’s gift to God. | All men are sinners by nature, and are dead to spiritual things. Apart from God they are unable to do good or to seek Him. They are not only passively overcome by sin, but actively and willingly engage their strength, ability and gifts in its pursuit. |
| Conditional Election | Unconditional Election | Unconditional Election |
| God’s choice of certain individuals unto salvation before the foundation of the world was based upon His foreseeing that they would respond to His call. He selected only those whom He knew would of themselves freely believe the gospel. Election therefore was determined by or conditioned upon what man would do. The faith which God foresaw and upon which He based His choice was not given to the sinner by God (it was not created by the regenerating power of the Holy Spirit) but resulted solely from man’s will. It was left entirely up to man as to who would believe and therefore as to who would be elected unto salvation. God chose those whom He knew would, of their own free will, choose Christ. Thus the sinner’s choice of Christ, not God’s choice of the sinner, is the ultimate cause of salvation. | God’s choice of certain individuals unto salvation before the foundation of the world rested solely in His own sovereign will. His choice of particular sinners was not based on any foreseen response of obedience on their part, such as faith, repentance, etc. On the contrary, God gives faith and repentance to each individual whom He selected. These acts are the result, not the cause of God’s choice. Election therefore was not determined by or conditioned upon any virtuous quality or act foreseen in man. Those whom God sovereignly elected He brings through the power of the Spirit to a willing acceptance of Christ. Thus God’s choice of the sinner, not the sinner’s choice of Christ, is the ultimate cause of salvation. | Election is God’s eternal choice of certain definite individuals unto salvation. This choice was not based on any seen or foreseen merit in these individuals, but was motivated solely by His sovereign love. |
| Universal Atonement | Specific Atonement | Specific Atonement |
| Christ’s redeeming work made it possible for everyone to be saved but did not actually secure the salvation of anyone. Although Christ died for all men and for every man, only those who believe on Him are saved. His death enabled God to pardon sinners on the condition that they believe, but it did not actually put away anyone’s sins. Christ’s redemption becomes effective only if man chooses to accept it. | Christ’s redeeming work was intended to save the elect only and actually secured salvation for them. His death was substitutionary endurance of the penalty of sin in the place of certain specified sinners. In addition to putting away the sins of His people, Christ’s redemption secured everything necessary for their salvation, including faith which unites them to Him. The gift of faith is infallibly applied by the Spirit to all for whom Christ died, therefore guaranteeing their salvation. | The benefit of Christ’s atoning death accrues to all of the elect, and to only the elect. His redemptive work did not make salvation a possibility, but was alone sufficient to secure the salvation of all those loved and elected by the Father. |
| Resistable Grace | Irresistable Grace | Irresistable Grace |
| The Spirit calls inwardly all those who are called outwardly by the gospel invitation; He does all that He can to bring every sinner to salvation. But inasmuch as man is free, he can successfully resist the Spirit’s call. The Spirit cannot regenerate the sinner until he believes; faith (which is man’s contribution) proceeds and makes possible the new birth. Thus, man’s free will limits the Spirit in the application of Christ’s saving work. The Holy Spirit can only draw to Christ those who allow Him to have His way with them. Until the sinner responds, the Spirit cannot give life. God’s grace, therefore, is not invincible; it can be, and often is, resisted and thwarted by man. | In addition to the outward general call to salvation which is made to everyone who hears the gospel, the Holy Spirit extends to the elect a special inward call that inevitably brings them to salvation. The internal call (which is made only to the elect) cannot be rejected; it always results in conversion. By means of this special call the Spirit irresistibly draws sinners to Christ. He is not limited in His work of applying salvation by man’s will, nor is He dependent upon man’s cooperation for success. The Spirit graciously causes the elect sinner to cooperate, to believe, to repent, to come freely and willingly to Christ. God’s grace, therefore, is invincible; it never fails to result in the salvation of those to whom it is extended. | All of the elect will be quickened, or born again: this infallible, irresistible operation of the Holy Spirit in the hearts of the elect turns them from the power of Satan unto God. God doesn’t try to save men. He doesn’t plead with them. He saves them! What He purposes, He does; nothing can stand in the way. |
| Perserverence of the Saints | Perserverence of the Saints | Preservation of the Saints |
| Those who believe and are truly saved can lose their salvation by failing to keep up their faith, etc. All Arminians have not been agreed on this point; some have held that believers are eternally secure in Christ - that once a sinner is regenerated, he can never be lost. | All who are chosen by God, redeemed by Christ, and given faith by the Spirit are eternally saved. They are kept in faith by the power of Almighty God and thus persevere to the end. If they fail to perservere in the faith, this is evidence that they never were a child of God. | Through God’s preserving grace, the indwelling Holy Spirit powerfully enables and equips each of the elect to persevere through faith, growing in grace. Though they may stumble along the way, God’s elect will never finally be lost, for they are kept by the power of God. All those loved by God before the foundation of the world will thus eternally delight in His presence. |
I will continue with this subject as I have time. There are many things to consider in the Bible concerning this subject which goes far beyond the brief explanations above. This makes for a good starting point though. Be careful to read the table above and notice the details. For instance, look at the last point made about perserverance and preservation. While the Arminian and Calvinist columns are labeled the same, they do not agree. Also, after reading the Calvinist belief, you might be inclined to think the Primitive Baptist belief is the same. It is not. I pray the truth might become obvious to those who seek it.
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Thank you for the effort you put into this. It makes it very easy to see the differences~