29. God's working/man's obedience

.... Next we come to a sore spot between Calvinism and Arminianism, and it quite honestly seems as though both sides have avoided looking at this area fairly because they’re afraid of putting a feather in the other man’s cap.

. .... Calvinism teaches that a Christian will certainly persevere in the faith, and justifies this belief by resting the entire burden of salvation on the shoulders of God. Some very good scriptural quotations are used in making this point, and should be given full consideration if we are to consider the subject properly:

.... "Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful, who will also do it."

(1 Thess 5:23-24)

.... "And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever. Amen!"

(2 Tim 4:18)

.... "Our Lord Jesus Christ . . . will confirm you to the end, that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ."

(1 Cor 1:7-8)

.... Besides these, there are many other such Scriptures that could be quoted, and they mean just what they say: that God is the One who works in us to preserve us to the end. As Jesus Himself said:

.... " . . . without Me you can do nothing."

(John 15:5)

.... Arminianism conflicts when certain other verses are taken into consideration. These verses seem to qualify this assurance, making it conditional on matters such as obedience, reverence, continuance, endurance or perseverance, and faithfulness. As such, they call a sure result into question by implication. Here are some of the verses to be considered:

.... "And you . . . He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and irreproachable in His sight- if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel . . ."

(Col 1:21-23)

.... "But he who endures to the end shall be saved."

(Matt 24:13)

.... "For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either. Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off."

(Rom 11:21-22)

.... As the basis for reconciling this difference, we would do well to look to a Calvinistic perspective first of all: that our ability to persevere is only by the power of God; and we have previously seen that His empowerment is given in the form of grace.

. .... However, we see by 2 Cor 6:1; Gal 2:21; 5:4; Heb 12:15; and possibly Heb 10:29 and Jude 4, that it is clearly possible to frustrate the working of God’s grace in our lives. Therefore a doctrine of ‘irresistible’ grace is Scripturally untrue.

.

.... But what happens if someone should fall from grace (Gal 5:4)? Clearly that would mark an episode of human, not Divine, failure, but is that the end of the matter? What of God’s Divine response to this situation?

. .... In respect to the Calvinistic position, we should remember that ‘God makes all things work together for our good in conforming us to the image of His Son’ (Rom 8:28-29). He is a good Shepherd and will seek His sheep when they go astray. Though they may fall, He will enlighten their path with the light of life, working with them to restore them again. It is probably the weakest point in the Armenian argument that they do not give God full credit for His ability to turn a bad situation for the better, and to make us more like His Son as a result (which is not only His ability, but His stated intention). But God will not justify a fallen Christian in his sins; He will require repentance and confession in their restoration.

.... "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

(1 John 1:9)

.... Beyond this however, Armenians have a valid argument in the verses that they are quoting, in saying that assurance is conditional (which should in no way trouble the sincere Calvinist since, no matter what those conditions may be, he trusts in God to get him through them):

.... "His divine power has given us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust."

(2 Peter 1:3-4)

.... In the passage above, God empowers believers to know Him and become partakers of His nature (which is to conform them to the image of Christ), escaping the corruption of sin that is in the world. But they must walk in a manner worthy of their calling (Eph 4:1).

. .... Therefore, it would seem consistent with all ends to say that God empowers believers to be conformed to the image of Christ, but they must receive the grace of God responsibly and walk in it. And God plays a part even in our obedience, being infinitely capable of intervening for our good, wonderfully counseling us, and leading us in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Even in aspects of our own obedience He works in us, through us, and on us, "working in [us] both to will and to do for His good pleasure." (Phil 2:13).

. .... A good example of this principle is given in the fruit of the spirit known as self-control. Self-control is self-control; we exercise it; nevertheless ‘self’-control is a fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22-23).

. .... But what if they don’t behave responsibly? Does it mean they have lost their salvation? (For an extended series on this question, please click here).

To continue the present discussion with Part 30, Salvation as a Consumation, click here.