The 5 Points of Calvinism

The 5 Points of Arminianism

Total Depravity

Man is totally depraved, spiritually dead and blind, and unable to repent. God must initiate the work of repentance.

Free Will

Man is a sinner who has the free will to either cooperate with God’s Spirit and be regenerated, or resist God’s grace and perish.

Unconditional Election

God’s election is based upon His sovereignty. His election is His own decision, and is not based on the foreseen response of anyone’s faith and repentance.

Conditional Election

God’s election is based upon His foreknowledge. He chooses everyone whom He knew would, of their own free will, respond to the gospel and choose Christ.

Limited Atonement

When Christ died on the cross, He shed His blood only for those who have been elected and no one else.

Unlimited Atonement

When Christ died on the cross, He shed His blood for everyone.  He paid a provisional price for all but guaranteed it for none.

Irresistible Grace

Grace is extended only to the elect. The internal call by God’s grace cannot be resisted and always results in conversion. Grace is not extended to the non-elect.

Resistible Grace

Saving grace can be resisted because God won’t overrule man’s free will. Man is born again when he believes and receives God’s grace.

Perseverance of the Saints

God preserves the elect so they persevere to the end, so no chosen person will ever be lost.

Falling from Grace

Those who are truly saved can lose their salvation by falling away from the faith. (Not all Arminians agree on this point. Some believe that believers are eternally secure in Christ and cannot be lost)

5 Points of Evangelicalism

Many Christians agree with parts of Calvinism and parts of Arminianism.

The 5 Points of Calvinism

The 5 Points of Arminianism

Total Depravity

Man is totally depraved, spiritually dead and blind, and unable to repent. God must initiate the work of repentance.

Rom 3:10-11 “There is none righteous, not even one. There is none who understands, there is none who seeks for God.”

(While it is true that man is totally unrighteous, that doesn’t mean he cannot call out to be saved.)

Free Will

Man is a sinner who has the free will to either cooperate with God’s Spirit and be regenerated, or resist God’s grace and perish.

2 Pet. 3:9 “The Lord is . . . not wishing for any to perish, but for all to come to repentance.”

Rom. 10:13 "Whoever will call upon the name of the Lord will be saved." (God wants everyone to be saved, but will only save those who call out to Him)

Conditional Election

God’s election is based upon His foreknowledge. He chooses everyone whom He knew would, of their own free will, respond to the gospel and choose Christ.

1 Peter 1:1-2 “. . . who are chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father . . .” (God knows ahead who will want to be saved, so he chooses them based on that foreknowledge)

Unlimited Atonement

When Christ died on the cross, He shed His blood for everyone.  He paid a provisional price for all but guaranteed it for none.

1 John 2:2 “He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for the whole world.”

(Jesus died for everyone, but only those who believe in Him will receive His salvation)

Resistible Grace

Saving grace can be resisted because God won’t overrule man’s free will. Man is born again when he believes and receives God’s grace.

John 3:18 “He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already . . .”

Matt. 22:14 "For many are called, but few are chosen."

(Although God offers His grace to everyone, many people will refuse it)

Perseverance of the Saints

God preserves the elect so they persevere to the end, so no chosen person will ever be lost.

John 10:28 “And I give eternal life to them, and they shall never perish, and no one shall snatch them out of My hand.”

(“Eternal” and “never perish” means than no genuine child of God can lose his salvation.)