Arminianism Exposed

It has increasingly frustrated me how that people will take a straightforward verse of Scripture and deny it by twisting it like a lawyer. This is the first in a series I call "Why Can't They See?" This first segment will deal with the soteriological system called Armininanism so named for the Dutch Reformed theologian Jacob Arminius. This was a direct reaction to the system called Calvinism named for the famous Protestant reformer, John Calvin, which emphasized arbitrary election as to salvation. Arminianism basically emphasizes the free will of man to accept or reject Christ, which is well enough. The most repulsive tenet of Arminianism, however, is their belief that believers are able to resist sin but are not beyond the possibility of falling from grace through persistent unrepented-of sin. This is a belief of a group of Baptist churches which are called Freewill Baptists. I recently had a conversation with a pastor who came from a Freewill Baptist background. His position is that it is possible, not probable, for a saved person to fall from grace and perish, if they repudiate their faith. I took him to John 5:24 and asked him why it says that one who is a believer (saved) shall not come into condemnation. His reply was that if one "keeps believing" that he will not come into condemnation because of the participle being in the present tense, indicating continuous action. The verse I want us to look at is John 3:16, which I believe to be the center of the Bible.

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

1) The word "whosoever" in that verse means all. This means that there is no exceptions to the promise God makes to the believer. It applies to all who are saved. This is a verse that these same people, or any Missionary Baptist, would use to reject the limited atonement of Calvinism. However, they prove themselves to not really believe it.

2) The word for "not" is "un" which is a particle of negation, which means it is not possible for whatever is negated to occur.

3) The word for "perish" is in the middle voice, which indicates the action is reflected back upon the one doing the action. This means that it is not possible for a believer to perish himself. This directly contradicts the teaching of Arminianism which attempts to rebut eternal security, or "once saved always saved" by arguing that it is not God that rejects the believer, but the believer who comes to reject his faith.

4) Why is it called "eternal life"? Eternal means without cessation. If we could lose it, it wouldn't be eternal.

5) In John 5:24, it says that a believer "hath" eternal life, or we are not waiting to see if we have gained eternal life through our endurance in the faith. We have it presently. "Shall not come into condemnation" means you cannot fall from the state of grace at any point in the future.

6) Jesus said in John 10:28: "And I give unto them eternal life..." David in Psalm 51:12 called it "thy salvation", or God's salvation. Peter wrote in 1 Peter 3:5: "Who are kept by the power of God through faith..." If we say that it is even probable (it matters not whether you say it is probable or possible because what is essential is can you or can't you) for a saved person to lose their salvation and perish in hell, then you are 1) calling God a liar, and 2) saying Christ is not sufficient. Again, in John 3:16, that was the very purpose that Christ was given is so that we would not perish, or lose our salvation! Also, faith is not a work. It is accepting Christ's sacrifice on the Cross of Calvary and trusting Him to do what we cannot do for ourselves.

7) The whole crux of their argument is built upon Hebrews 6:4-6. I wanted to explain that it was saying that if (hypothetically) we could lose our salvation, it would be impossible to be saved again (most who say you can lose it will say you can be repeatedly saved again), because you have put Christ to shame, or shown Him to be insufficient to save. He would not let me finish.

Can someone please help me to understand why proponents of this false doctrine say that you can lose your salvation with such clear proof to the contrary? Also, does this belief keep a person from being saved if they trust Christ alone for salvation?

What About AWANA?

I don't know who all may be reading this, and it may perhaps stomp on some toes, but there are many ABA churches who are using the AWANA ministry in their youth program. What has fired me up about this is that it was brought to the attention of our General Epistles class by our instructor in relation to our study today on 2 John an agreement with this program that the AWANA doctrinal statement must be taught in its entirety. Whether a church must still sign an agreement with these particular terms is unclear. The agreement posted on the AWANA website (www.awana.org) says that a church using the program is solely responsible for its religious instruction while at the same time the church is not allowed to modify the materials. However, I talked to an operator at 1-888-292-6249 who told me that while the individual church's doctrinal position may be presented, that the AWANA position and the lesson materials must be presented in their entirety. The following is three of their stated beliefs that we are fundamentally in disagreement with.

THE BIBLE
We believe that the Bible, both Old and New Testaments, is supernaturally inspired, so that it is inerrant in the original manuscripts and preserved by God in its verbal and plenary inspiration, so that it is a divinely authoritative standard for every age and every life. (Matthew 5:18; 1 Corinthians 2:13; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:21) (Notice that we do not have the original manuscripts available to us today, so according to AWANA, we do not have the inspired Word of God today.)

THE CHURCH
We believe that the true Church is composed of all persons who are regenerated by the Holy Spirit through saving faith in Jesus Christ; that they are united together in the body of Christ of which He is Lord and Head; and are commissioned for the God-given tasks of worshiping, fellowshipping, teaching, evangelizing and exercising the spiritual gifts. (Acts 2:42,47; Romans 12:5; Ephesians 1:22-23, 5:23-24; 1 Corinthians 12:12-14; 2 Corinthians 11:2) (Notice this is an outright universal church position) (Italics mine).

THE ORDINANCES
We believe the ordinances for the believer are water baptism by immersion and the Lord's supper as a memorial. They are, however, not to be regarded as a means of salvation. But both of which are an evidence of obedience and fellowship with the Lord. (Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 2:38, 41, 8:12, 35-38; Luke 22:19-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-29) (Notice there is no mention of church authority here: about the restriction of the Supper to local church members only and the necessity of authority by a Scriptural, New Testament (Baptist) church for baptism to be valid.)

In any case, it makes no difference to me. 2 John 10,11 makes it very plain: "If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds." Many preachers will say that as long as they are right on salvation, that it is okay to use a program if we are allowed to control what is taught. Here is what the universal church doctrine does as is attested by the above article of the AWANA statement of beliefs: 1) it directly contradicts the Bible's teaching of a local, visible church only; 2) it unites those who (although individually they may trust Christ alone apart from works or ceremonies per Revelation 18:4) are part of false churches who teach a false plan of salvation; and 3) declares them to be in fellowship. If we in any way show affinity for a program, a conference, a worship service, a church, teaching of the universal church heresy, etc. that joins together with false religion, then we are bidding God speed to a false gospel. If our ABA has a similar program called Discovery, what excuse is there to go out from the truth to use a program such as AWANA? That is what programs like Discovery and All The Kings Men (an alternative to the Promise Keepers) are for. I have heard the argument that Discovery is too expensive or that all the other churches in town use AWANA and we don't want our children going to those. Let me ask this: what monetary value do we place on the truth and the souls of men? Is this the direction we want our ABA to go? Do we want to go from the Bible position to one that is ecumenical? God forbid! At some point, we will no longer be able to ignore these departures by our churches in order for us to stay true to God. This and other issues need to keep being pressed.

What About Lordship Salvation?

I have heard good preachers use the terminolgy "Accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior". It used to be "accept Jesus as your personal Savior." However, there is a vast difference between receiving Him as our Savior and as our Lord and Savior. Luke 2:11 says: "For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord." To those who are lost, He must be their Savior before He can be their Lord. What did Jesus say in Luke 6:46? "And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?" Therefore, if one must vow to surrender his life to Christ as a condition of salvation and not as a result of it, then he has effectively brought works into his salvation. Making a vow was a component of the Law. "When thou shalt vow a vow unto the LORD your God, thou shalt not slack to pay it: for the LORD thy God will surely require it of thee; and it would be sin in thee." Jesus Christ rendered the necessary obedience to make our salvation possible. "For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righetous." (Romans 5:19). Salvation is by grace alone through faith without any regard to works--past or future. "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God" Not of works, lest any man should boast." (John 6:28) The Jews asked Jesus: What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?" Jesus answered them: "This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent." (v. 29) Faith is all that's necessary for salvation. Our two best examples are the publican in Luke 18 and the thief on the cross. Do you see in either of their prayers, "I now ask you to take control of my life" that sinners are told to pray today? No. The publican "would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven" and prayed "God be merciful to me a sinner." He felt his helplessness and his unworthiness! What about the thief? What could he promise? Nothing. He was dying! He implored, "Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom." He only wanted to even be a thought in Jesus' mind when He came to reign. He realized that he deserved his punishment. Am I advocating antinomianism, or living just like you want to after salvation? Absolutely not! "What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? (Romans 6:1,2) I am not denying the Lordship of Christ over the believer (the one already saved); there must be a change of the heart of the lost about sin (repentance): but works does not enter into the mind of the sinner coming to God for salvation.