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Christian Universalism, Calvinism, and Arminianism: Where Do You Fit In?
All of the various denominations of professing Christians may be classified as either Calvinists, Arminianists, or Universalists. While fancy titles are very impressive, the bottom-line behind these titles is unveiling the details of what these groups actually believe about the gospel of Jesus Christ. The following will give you those answers and also provide you with the insights you need to determine which camp you fall into as well. Here are the agreements and the differences between these three perspectives as it relates to the plans and purposes of God through the cross of Jesus Christ: CHRISTIAN UNIVERSALISM - There is one God. - There is one Mediator between God and men, and that Mediator is "the Man Christ Jesus." - The one Mediator gave himself a ransom for all. - All those for whom the Mediator died will be saved. - God's purposes in the creation of the human race embraced the final holiness and happiness of all mankind. - God's purpose in reference to the final destiny of his creatures cannot be defeated. - God has the power to make all his creatures holy and happy. - God wills the salvation of all his creatures. - God's will in reference to the ultimate destiny of his creatures will be done. - God can save all mankind, and will. - The object of Christ's mission to our world was to save all mankind from their sins. - Christ will succeed in accomplishing the object of his mission. - All for whom Christ died will be saved. - A glorious and happy destiny awaits every individual of the entire human race. CALVINISM - There is one God. - There is one Mediator between God and men, and that Mediator is the very and eternal God himself. - The one Mediator gave himself a ransom for a part only of mankind. - All those for whom the Mediator died will be saved. - God's purposes in the creation of the human race embraced the final holiness and happiness of a part, and the endless misery of the rest. - God's purpose in reference to the final destiny of his creatures cannot be defeated. - God has the power to make all his creatures holy and happy. - God wills the salvation of a part of his creatures, and the damnation of the rest. - God's will in reference to the ultimate destiny of his creatures will be done. - God can save all mankind, but will not. - The object of Christ's mission to our world was to save a part only of mankind from endless misery. - Christ will succeed in accomplishing the object of his mission. - All for whom Christ died will be saved. - A glorious and happy destiny awaits a portion of the human race, and a most inglorious, unhappy and miserable destiny awaits the rest. ARMINIANISM - There is one God. - There is one Mediator between God and men, and that Mediator is the very and eternal God himself. - The one Mediator gave himself a ransom for all. - A part only of those for whom the Mediator died will be saved. - God's purposes in the creation of the human race embraced the final holiness and happiness of all mankind. - God's purpose in reference to the final destiny of a part of his creatures will be defeated. - God has not the power to make all his creatures holy and happy. - God wills the salvation of all his creatures. - God's will in reference to the ultimate destiny of a part of his creatures will not be done. - God would save all mankind, but cannot. - The object of Christ's mission to our world was to save all mankind from endless misery. - Christ will succeed in accomplishing a part only of the object of his mission. - Some for whom Christ died will not be saved. - A glorious and happy destiny awaits a portion of the human race, and a most inglorious, unhappy and miserable destiny awaits the rest. The Bottom Line The Calvinist God has the ability and power to save all mankind but refuses to do so. The Christian Universalist God has the power, the ability, and the desire to save all mankind and will do so. The Arminian God would like to save all mankind but does not have the power and ability to do so. Which God is the God of the scriptures and where do you fit in in what you believe about the gospel of Jesus Christ? Grace and peace to you always! John Moneypenny Gospel For Today Ministries' president, John Moneypenny, is an ordained minister with a Master of Divinity degree who has traveled across the country teaching and preaching the liberating message of God's redemption of all mankind through the cross of Jesus Christ. John is the author of numerous teaching articles and the moderator of one of the most popular Christian Discussion Forums (Alexa Ranking: 52,000) on the internet. Visit Gospel For Today's main website at http://www.gospelfortoday.org/ and the Christian Discussion forum at http://www.gospelfortoday.org/gftforum/
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