| Calvinism and Arminianism, and |
Created Date: 26-Jan-2019 |
| Freewill vs. Predestined |
Last updated: 5-May-2026 |
| A A A help |
| 1 | Summary of the two views |
| 2 | Problems in Calvinism and Arminianism |
| 3 | We are the Metachoi |
| 4 | Predestine vs. Free Will |
| 5 | Five Points of Calvinism and Arminianism |
| 6 | God Doesn't Love Everyone? |
| This is an excerpt from the
Death Psalm 22 topic: It was necessary for God the Son to make the restitution payment for all people in history of the world, even when there will be those who do not accept Him as their Savior, in order for the perfect judgment of Jesus Christ at the Great White Thrown of Judgment to be perfect in fairness for those that rejected Him. |
Calvinism believes that all the Believers, that really did accept Jesus Christ as their Savior will persevere in their Faith until their death. If the Believer did not persevere then they were never a Believer.
Arminianism believes that Believers can lose their Salvation and Believers are always in jeopardy of losing their Salvation based on their works towards Salvation.
Both of these views have some correct views (listed below) but contain false assertions based on incorrect interpretation of the whole Word of God. There is absolutely nothing that anyone can do to lose their Salvation. Rewards in Heaven are based on works which has nothing to do with Salvation.
The person who believes in Arminianism, believes "works" are an essential part of keeping Salvation. If a person doesn't maintain a works path based on some list or on emotional conclusions, then they person would fear that they lost their Salvation.
A person who has accepted Jesus Christ as their Personal Savior is a Believer. Metachoi means:
A Believer (metachoi) has:
Predestined:
| Romans 8:29 | 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. |
| Proverbs 16:9 | The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps. |
| Ephesians 1:4-5 | 4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, |
Freewill in our Lives:
| Joshua 24:15 | And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. |
| Revelation 3:20 | Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. |
| 1 Corinthians 10:13 | No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. |
God states in Isaiah 46:10 and many other scriptures that He knows the end from the beginning.
| Isaiah 46:8-10 | 8 Remember this and stand firm, recall it to mind, you transgressors, 9 remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, 10 declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose, |
The problem of understanding the possible paradox of predestination vs. freewill, will go away when we remember that:
Therefore, God knows our eventual choices to select Him, which God initiates, and then the Holy Spirit helps us in our life.
Remember that Jesus Christ died for All and for those who would receive Him would be Saved. These four Scriptures alone point out part of the problems with both Calvinism and Arminianism. If Jesus Christ:
then we have reassurance in our Faith!
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2 Corinthian 5:14-15 |
14 For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died; 15 and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf. |
| Hebrews 2:9 | But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. |
| John 1:12 | But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, |
| John 17:12 | While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. |
| John 10:29 | My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father s hand. |
In the list below, the true and false indicators may require the reader to spend more time researching, which is a rewarding pursuit for the Christian when we study the whole Word of God. If you have not read the topic on Salvation and that Salvation cannot be lost or forfeited, then read them before going looking at the two tables below.
The Calvinistic has an acronym called T.U.L.I.P. which stands for:
| # | Description | Calvinism's explanation | Correct? | A few Scriptural References |
| 1 | Total Depravity | mankind is totally depraved | TRUE | Mark 7:21; Ecclesiastes 7:20; Romans 3:23 |
| 2 | Unconditional Election | God does not choose us for anything that God sees in mankind. Additionally, God does not select anyone based on someone accepting Jesus Christ in the future. | FALSE | Partially true but God does see a future for all of mankind that would repent and love Him. Ephesians 1:4-5 |
| 3 | Limited Atonement | Jesus died only for the "elect" | FALSE | Hebrews 2:9; John 12:32; Luke 2:10 |
| 4 | Irresistible Grace | When God selects someone, then the person cannot resist the invitation to accept Salvation through Jesus Christ. | FALSE | Proverbs 1:24-26; John 12:48; 2 Chronicles 36:16; Romans 2:8; John 3:18-19 |
| 5 | Perseverance of the Saints | No one can lose their Salvation. | TRUE | Salvation Cannot Be Lost |
The Arminianism also has five points:
| # | Description | Arminianism's explanation | Correct? | A few Scriptural References |
| 1 | Partial Depravity | Mankind will still seek God in the depraved state. | TRUE | God is revealed in Creation. When mankind hears the Word Of God, then there is revelation that can be received or rejected. Romans 1:20; Romans 2:14-15; 2 Timothy 3:16 |
| 2 | Conditional Election | God will only choose those who He knew would accept Him | FALSE | God reaches out to everyone. John 3:16 |
| 3 | Unlimited Atonement | Jesus Christ died for everyone even though there are those who would not accept Him | TRUE | John 3:16; Hebrews 2:9; John 12:32; Luke 2:10 |
| 4 | Resistible Grace | People will still reject God even if God witnesses Himself to all People | TRUE | Proverbs 1:24-26; John 12:48; 2 Chronicles 36:16; Romans 2:8; John 3:18-19 |
| 5 | Conditional Salvation | Salvation can be lost. | FALSE | Salvation Cannot Be Lost |
There is a textual image shown below, that this author put a red "X" through it, are of scriptures being sent on social media that states "God Doesn't Love Everyone". Creation and sending of the image on social media has at least these three negative and blasphemy implications:
Imagine if someone said:
The scriptural verses selected in the graphic screen capture, which this author put a red "X" through, are easily proven to convey incorrectly:
which in this author's opinion, the person that originated the textual image is doing a form of blasphemy even though the image creator may not realize it.
God did not create evil! God did not Start Evil! These two statement are part of the implication of the Textual Image, which is why this author is stating the person who created the Textual Image is committing blasphemy.
| The Textual Image's Scriptural Verse | Notes from Biblical Thoughts' author to refute the blasphemy of the Textual Image. | |
| 1 | Proverbs 16:4: Jehovah hath made everything for its own end; Yea, even the wicked for the day of evil. |
* God did not create evil, people chose to be evil. * Verse taken out of context with the other surrounding verses. * The surrounding verses are stating everyone of us should seek the works that God would have us do, depart from evil, and then God will direct our path. * God will cause the wicked to reap the consequences unto a day or days of evil. * Read the entire Proverbs Chapter 16. |
| 2 | Romans 9:13 "Even as it is written, Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated." |
* God does not hate without a reason and we cannot judge God for His
reasons. * God does hate sins, and God from the evidence of scriptures can hate any of us for sins we do. * Esau was hated by God for not valuing his birthright and sold the birthright for a morsel of meat. This also showed disrespect for Esau and his twin brother Jacob's father. Later Esau regretted his sin and begged to regain it. In Hebrews 12:16-17 we learn the sin had no repentance to regain the birthright. "16 that there be no immoral or godless person like Esau, who sold his own birthright for a single meal. 17 For you know that even afterwards, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought for it with tears." * This is an excerpt from the Losing Salvation Possible topic: We do not know from the scriptures if Esau will be in Heaven based on Hebrews 12:16-17, but taking the whole Word of God into consideration, the answer is hopefully "yes". Consider the possible evidence that the descendants of Esau, the Edomites, served Israel. As long as there is a desire with repenting then the ability to accept means the desire for God. Also, Esau knew that Jacob had tricked him and years later Esau forgave Jacob. |
| 3 | Romans 9:21-23 "21 Or hath not the potter a right over the clay, from the same lump to make one part a vessel unto honor, and another unto dishonor? 22 What if God, willing to show his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering vessels of wrath fitted unto destruction: 23 and that he might make known the riches of his glory upon vessels of mercy, which he afore prepared unto glory," |
* These verses are conveying God's sovereignty to Judge righteously,
and not the implied vindictiveness of the Textual Image Author's
negativity towards God by including this scriptural passage with the
others. * Read the full Romans 9 chapter. The verses surrounding 21-23 convey that choosing to live by God's guidance will have us being "called sons of the living God". People doing evil will not have God's guidance and have the potential have having their heart hardened as it was with Pharaoh. * God is stating it His sovereignty to have "So then he hath mercy on whom he will, and whom he will he hardeneth". The author of the Textual Image is committing blasphemy by implying that God is wrong in His Judgment. |
| 4 | 2 Peter 2:12 "But these, as creatures without reason, born mere animals to be taken and destroyed, railing in matters whereof they are ignorant, shall in their destroying surely be destroyed," |
* Taken out of the context point of the entire Chapter 2's points. * The verse 12 is part of a very long sentence that is stating the actions of doing evil for those that are evil will show that they are: They are destroyers unto their own destruction. Rail against God's principle proving they are ignorant. Will have their wrongs done until themselves. Have eyes of Adultery that cannot cease to covet as many souls in the same. Forsaken the right way in life. Followed the same path as Balaam son of Beor who loved hiring for wrong doing. |
| 5 | Proverbs 8:17 "I love them that love me; And those that seek me diligently shall find me." |
* Taken out of context of the
prayer, which is a form of having a conversation, where the verse is
reminding himself of God's promises and the blessings. * NONE of us seek God without God first reaching out for us FIRST. * The author of the Textual Image is trying to apply God will not chose us if we do not chose Him first, which is absolutely wrong Read the topic Salvation Process that lists the scriptures that show God reaches out to us first. |
| 6 | Ephesians 1:4 "even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blemish before him in love:" |
* Nothing negative against the Textual Image listing this verse out
of context. * This is proof of Salvation Process. * Gives us a clue that the author of the Textual Image might actually be a more mature Christian. |
| 7 | John 17:9 "I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for those whom thou hast given me; for they are thine:" |
* This is part of the prayer
of communication that Jesus
Christ is having with God the Father. * Jesus Christ is handing over the guidance of the people that believed in Jesus Christ while Jesus Christ takes on the role of restitution and temporary separation from God the Father and God the Holy Sprit for the Crucifixion and days before the resurrection. Jesus Christ had to take on the full punishment of the entire human population from the beginning to the end, which impossible for us to grasp in the full understanding which required the separation from the God Trinity. * The Textual Image author is implying those given to Jesus Christ could be lost and that is impossible. |
This is the Textual Image being sent in Social Media that is misleading. It is isolating a scriptural verse that potentially leads readers to wrong conclusions that God is capable of evil.
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All of the misunderstandings of the how God knows the end from the beginning is
because God is outside of His Creation
and exists in Eternity along with
being eternal outside the
Time Domains that we exist inside
of. There are at least ten
dimensions according to scientific discoveries which have very interesting
theories and our
entire universe is a subset of a larger reality! The entirety of the
Bible has always stated there is a larger reality!
What to read next?
What is Salvation? Is it is possible to lose Salvation? We have eternal life. Evolution is not real. When a Christian suffers is there benefits from it. Rewards in heaven. Do we Tithe? What does the 3rd Commandment tell us? What is Grace and Mercy? Is there an Age of Accountability? Is there a place of unending punishment and exile form God?