Discipleship: An Introduction to Systematic Theology and Apologetics Protestant Reformation Doctrines of Salvation The Heights Church November 18, 2018

Which one of the following statements best describes your understanding of how you came to believe in Christ? I decided on my own to believe in Christ and received the Holy Spirit after I believed. God graciously used the Holy Spirit to help me choose to believe in Christ but I could have also chosen to not believe. God alone changed my dead heart of stone to a heart of flesh so that the only possibility was that I willingly and freely chose to believe in Christ.

Reformed vs Arminian Soteriology – the essential differences Subject Calvinists Arminians Depravity/ Free Will Free Will was lost in the Fall. Every natural born person was corrupted by the Fall but Free Will was not lost in the Fall. Election God elected a remnant of people based on his love/grace/mercy and not based upon any merit of each individual elect person. God elected those he omnisciently foresaw would come to faith by their own Free Will. Atonement Christ’s atonement was only for the elect. Christ’s atonement was for every person. Grace The Holy Spirit changes the heart of the elect so that it is impossible for them to not believe in Christ. The Holy Spirit tries to woo every person to believe in Christ but leaves the final choice up to each person’s Free Will. Eternal Security The elect cannot lose their salvation. A true believer can lose their salvation because of Free Will.

Protestant Reformation Doctrines of Salvation The Fall - Original Sin The Doctrines of Grace (“Five Points of Calvinism”) Jesus the God-man The Atonement The Role of the Holy Spirit Grace (Common vs Saving) Regeneration Conversion Justification Adoption Sanctification Death and the Intermediate State Union with Christ

Reformed vs Arminian Soteriology – Review In the Fall all of Adam’s descendants lost Free Will (The ability to equally chose between any available moral option). When a person is regenerated (“born again”) Free Will is restored BUT they were not regenerated as a result of their Free Will. They were regenerated by irresistible grace! So every person who is a true believer (regenerated): Is of the elect and has been regenerated by the triune GOD alone Freely and willingly has chosen to believe in Christ Has Free Will Cannot lose their salvation

Reformed vs Arminian Soteriology – Unconditional Election Doesn’t foreknew mean God elects those he knows will believe? And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. (Romans 8:28 – 30) Arminians think this verse reads “For those whom he foreknew would believe by their own Free Will he also predestined…”

Reformed vs Arminian Soteriology – Unconditional Election What is it that God foreknows? Foreknew does not mean that in God’s omniscience he knows the actions people will freely choose, namely who will believe on their own. Rather to foreknow has to do with knowing his people relationally whom he “chose before the foundation of the world.” Of course God does know who will believe because by his loving, merciful and gracious sovereignty he chose, called, justified and glorified every one of the elect!

Reformed vs Arminian Soteriology – Unconditional Election And not only so, but also when Rebekah had conceived children by one man, our forefather Isaac, though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad--in order that God's purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls-she was told, "The older will serve the younger. "As it is written, "Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated." What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God's part? By no means! For he says to Moses, "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion."  So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy.    (Romans 9:10 – 16)

Reformed vs Arminian Soteriology – Unconditional Election The Greek word miseō translated as hated occurs 11 other times in the NT. you will be hated by all for my name's sake. (Matthew 10:22; Mark 13:13; Luke 21:17) "Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name's sake. (Matthew 24:9)  But his citizens hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, 'We do not want this man to reign over us.’ (Luke 19:17) "If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you (John 15:18) but now they have seen and hated both me and my Father (John 15:24)  I have given them your word, and the world has hated them (John 17:14)  For no one ever hated his own flesh, (Ephesians 5:29) You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; (Hebrews 1:9)

Reformed vs Arminian Soteriology – Unconditional Election For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, "For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth."  So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills. You will say to me then, "Why does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?" But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, "Why have you made me like this?" (Romans 9:17 – 20)

Reformed vs Arminian Soteriology – Unconditional Election Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use? What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory- even us whom he has called, not from the Jews only but also from the Gentiles? (Romans 9:21 – 24) To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: (Romans 1:7)

Unconditional Election - The Elect From now on Christians (meaning “true Christians”) will usually be referred to as the elect. Technically the term elect includes: all the OT Saints, all who have died as believers, all deceased “true Christians” all living “true Christians” all living people who currently are not “true Christians” but will be “Born again” before their death all the unborn people who will become “true Christians” in their lifetimes.