What is Calvinism & Arminianism?

Hello, in this video, I will be presenting a basic overview of the two opposing systems of theology,

Calvinism and Arminianism. Calvinism is named after the

French theologian John Calvin, and Arminianism is named after the

Dutch Reformed theologian Jacob Arminius. Today, Calvinism is known for the five points that carefully define the doctrine.

These points were not developed by John Calvin, but were given by the

Synod of Dort in 1619. The Synod of Dort was a response to the five points of the

Arminian Remonstrance, a document drawn up in 1610 by the

Arminians of the Dutch Reformed Church, presenting the differences between their doctrines and those of the

Calvinists. The five points of Calvinism are known by the acronym

TULIP. The five points are T, Total Depravity, U, Unconditional Election, L for Limited Atonement, I for Irresistible Grace, and then

P stands for the Perseverance of the Saints. The five points of Arminianism are in contrast to the five points of Calvinism.

The Arminian five points are Human Free Will, Conditional Election, Universal Atonement, Resistible Grace, and Fall from Grace.

So let's go back and define these points. The five points of Calvinism, again, are

T for Total Depravity. This means that human beings are corrupted by sin and are unable to choose or to do good apart from the grace of God.

Unconditional Election teaches that God chooses some people to be saved according to His sovereign will, not based on any merit or foreseen faith in them.

Limited Atonement teaches that Christ died only for the elect, securing their salvation and guaranteeing their redemption.

Irresistible Grace says that God's grace is effectual and cannot be resisted or rejected by the elect who are regenerated and enabled to believe and repent.

Perseverance of the Saints says that God preserves the elect and keeps them from falling away, ensuring their final salvation.

The five points of Arminianism explained are 1. Human Free Will.

This states that though man has fallen, he is not incapacitated by the sinful nature and can freely choose

God. 2. Conditional Election.

God chooses people for salvation based on the precondition that He foreknows or foresees that they will have faith.

So God looks into the future to see who would respond to the gospel message and He elects them in response to this foreknowledge.

3. Universal Atonement. The position that Jesus bore the sin of literally every human being who has ever lived.

4. Resistible Grace. The teaching that the grace of God can be resisted and finally beaten so as to reject salvation in Christ.

And then 5. Fall from Grace. The teaching that a person can fall from grace, meaning people can, and in fact do, lose their salvation.

Calvinist theology is typically found in Presbyterian, Congregational, and Reformed churches.

Arminian theology is typically found within Methodist and Pentecostal churches as well as the

Salvation Army. Baptist and non -denominational churches tend to be more Calvinistic, although they can go either way, with many rejecting the whole idea that you have to believe one or the other.

So in conclusion, some believe the Bible teaches Calvinism, others believe the scripture teaches

Arminianism, there are people who accept some parts and not others, and then there are those who reject the whole thing, claiming the two opposing systems really just present a false dichotomy, that you don't have to believe any of it.

Whatever the case. One last comment, Calvinist theologian R .C. Sproul once said that this debate over which side is correct, he said, this is an in -house debate among Christians.

In other words, neither position is heresy. People can hold to one or the other, or neither, and still be a true follower of Christ.

Thank you for listening. I hope you found this video helpful. If you liked it, consider sharing it or giving it a thumbs up.

That way YouTube will recommend it to others. And until next time, may the Lord be with you and have a great day.