MonkeeSage Registered User
Posts: 196
(4/16/02 3:01 pm) Reply
What is an Arminain?
The Remonstrant Articles
Article 1
That God, by an eternal and unchangeable purpose in Jesus Christ his Son, before the foundation of the world, hath determined, out of the fallen, sinful race of men, to save in Christ, for Christ’s sake, and through Christ, those who, through the grace of the Holy Ghost, shall believe on this his son Jesus, and shall persevere in this faith and obedience of faith, through this grace, even to the end; and, on the other hand, to leave the incorrigible and unbelieving in sin and under wrath, and to condemn them as alienate from Christ, according to the word of the Gospel in John 3:36: “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him,” and according to other passages of Scripture also.
Article 2
That agreeably thereunto, Jesus Christ the Savior of the world, died for all men and for every man, so that he has obtained for them all, by his death on the cross, redemption and the forgiveness of sins; yet that no one actually enjoys this forgiveness of sins except the believer, according to the word of the Gospel of John 3:16, “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.” And in the First Epistle of John 2:2: “And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.”
Article 3
That man has not saving grace of himself, nor of the energy of his free will, inasmuch as he, in the state of apostasy and sin, can of an by himself neither think, will, nor do any thing that is truly good (such as saving Faith eminently is); but that it is needful that he be born again of God in Christ, through his Holy Spirit, and renewed in understanding, inclination, or will, and all his powers, in order that he may rightly understand, think, will, and effect what is truly good, according to the Word of Christ, John 15:5, “Without me ye can do nothing.”
Article 4
That this grace of God is the beginning, continuance, and accomplishment of all good, even to this extent, that the regenerate man himself, without prevenient or assisting, awakening, following and cooperative grace, can neither think, will, nor do good, nor withstand any temptations to evil; so that all good deeds or movements, that can be conceived, must be ascribed to the grace of God in Christ. But respects the mode of the operation of this grace, it is not irresistible; inasmuch as it is written concerning many, that they have resisted the Holy Ghost. Acts 7, and elsewhere in many places.
Article 5
That those who are incorporated into Christ by true faith, and have thereby become partakers of his life-giving Spirit, have thereby full power to strive against Satan, sin, the world, and their own flesh, and to win the victory; it being well understood that it is ever through the assisting grace of the Holy Ghost; and that Jesus Christ assists them through his Spirit in all temptations, extends to them his hand, and if only they are ready for the conflict, and desire his help, and are not inactive, keeps them from falling, so that they, by no craft or power of Satan, can be misled nor plucked out of Christ’s hands, according to the Word of Christ, John 10:28: “Neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” But whether they are capable, through negligence, of forsaking again the first beginning of their life in Christ, of again returning to this present evil world, of turning away from the holy doctrine which was delivered them, of losing a good conscience, of becoming devoid of grace, that must be more particularly determined out of the Holy Scripture, before we ourselves can teach it with the full persuasion of our mind.
These Articles, thus set forth and taught, the Remonstrants deem agreeable to the Word of God, tending to edification, and, as regards this argument, sufficient for salvation, so that it is not necessary or edifying to rise higher or to descend deeper.
(In: ______; The Creeds of Christendom, ed. Phillip Schaff, Volume 3 [Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 1996], pp. 545-ff.).
If you believe these points of doctrine, you are a historical Arminian.
This is just an FYI post, no need to respond. See: www.apuritansmind.com/Cre...inions.htm for the second (and more in depth) statment of their creed, which they presented to the Synod of Dordrecht.
naaaa no problem bro... I'll respond... hey if you want to label me with men that believe this... I have no problem with it... some points I don't agree with, but all in all I believe what they believe on the major points... if someone asked me what are you... my answer will still be the same though... servant to Christ my Lord and a child of God...
MonkeeSage Registered User
Posts: 204
(4/17/02 6:18 am) Reply
Re: What is an Arminain?
"The late lamented Mr. Denham has put, at the foot of his portrait, a most admirable text, "Salvation is of the Lord." That is just an epitome of Calvinism; it is the sum and substance of it. If anyone should ask me what I mean by a Calvinist, I should reply, "He is one who says, Salvation is of the Lord." I cannot find in Scripture any other doctrine than this. It is the essence of the Bible. "He only is my rock and my salvation." Tell me anything contrary to this truth, and it will be a heresy; tell me a heresy, and I shall find its essence here, that it has departed from this great, this fundamental, this rock-truth, "God is my rock and my salvation."
What is the heresy of Rome, but the addition of something to the perfect merits of Jesus Christ-the bringing in of the works of the flesh, to assist in our justification? And what is the heresy of Arminianism but the addition of something to the work of the Redeemer? Every heresy, if brought to the touchstone, will discover itself here.
I have my own Private opinion that there is no such thing as preaching Christ and Him crucified, unless we preach what nowadays is called Calvinism. It is a nickname to call it Calvinism; Calvinism is the gospel, and nothing else. I do not believe we can preach the gospel, if we do not preach justification by faith, without works; nor unless we preach the sovereignty of God in His dispensation of grace; nor unless we exalt the electing, unchangeable, eternal, immutable, conquering love of Jehovah; nor do I think we can preach the gospel, unless we base it upon the special and particular redemption of His elect and chosen people which Christ wrought out upon the cross; nor can I comprehend a gospel which lets saints fall away after they are called, and suffers the children of God to be burned in the fires of damnation after having once believed in Jesus. Such a gospel I abhor.
"If ever it should come to pass,
That sheep of Christ might fall away,
My fickle, feeble soul, alas!
Would fall a thousand times a day""
Re: What is an Arminain?
Well brother I too can post what Arminains have quoted I'm sure... but #1 I don't know any to send this way... and #2 what would it serve, its their quotes not me
MonkeeSage Registered User
Posts: 207
(4/17/02 8:47 am) Reply
Re: What is an Arminain?
You pointed out that you only follow Christ, as if being called an Arminian meant you followed Arminius OVER Christ (it doesn't). And since that seemed to be the implication, the Calvinists would also follow Calvin OVER Christ--which they don't
Thus quoting Spurgeon goes to show that we both claim to follow Christ and that nicknames for our systems of doctrine don't mean that we don't follow Christ.
Also, why is it that you seem to think that if words didn't come out of your mouth (or, fingers, as it were) then they can't be what you believe? All through our discussions you've said things that seem to indicate that.
Who cares if Calvin said it, who cares if Gill said it, who cares if Wesley said it; anyone can say the truth; the question that is vital to be asked is if what any given person has said on any given issue, is the truth. :)
Re: What is an Arminain?
Well no thats not what I mean... what I mean is if you want to label me as one fine... judge me that and be done with it... I myself hold me as one saved by Christ and nothing more. I don't even call myself a trinitarian, but you may... I hold msyelf away from all doctrine other then what I believe is the truth of the word of God as given to me by the Holy Ghost... some find fault with that... so be it
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