The Write Place

Much is made of the debate of divine sovereignty in the role of salvation. There may be no shortage of differences between the Arminian (libertarian free will) and the Calvinist (co-determinist/determinist) camps. Much issue has been made of the freedom of the will (often with assumed definitions). What has often been left unsaid is the issue in relation to what the believer is believing in, in effect what must his doctrine be? When we consider this last question, the need for God’s sovereignty in saving faith itself becomes pronounced.

The Arminian argument often goes it is unjust for God to force anybody to believe. Aside from the oddity of accusing the savior of injustice for his saving action, the Arminian in his argument is assuming his salvation is contingent upon his consent. What however, is the Arminian consenting too? The Gospel of course but what is the Gospel? Aside from the works accusation that this places the believer in the position of doing something for himself the serious question is raised, what is the Arminian consenting to as the Gospel?

If the believer understands salvation by faith alone but not every jot and title, did he really consent? What if he understands God saved him but not the role of Grace in his salvation? If he understands the Five Solas but not the detail of the trinitarian doctrine, is he really saved? After all he did not know to perfection what he was consenting to when he accepted the Gospel.

In short, if Arminianism is true one’s salvation is contingent on the perfection of his theology right down to the moment of his salvation. Otherwise, God sovereignly fills in the gap, and that without our consent. If he does not we are left simply guessing as to whether we are saved, a fate worse than the accusation made of Calvinism in regard to eternal security.

Arminianism, far from securing peace by placing salvation in the hands of the believer, creates an unbearable insecurity. Unless God is the author and perfector of our faith, we can be sure of nothing in our salvation.