Reformed v. Arminian--Historical Background

I'm going to try to attempt to explain these 2 camps by giving historical background and then comparing and contrasting the 2 views. This will take several blog posts. And I'm not convinced that I will do this justice. But I want to try:


First, I would like to give some historical context. And then in later posts, I would like to define and touch on the differences in the points of the 2 camps.

It was 1618 and a controversy had arisen in the Dutch church over the teachings of Arminius and his followers who had raised some objections to the Belgic Confession and to the teachings of John Calvin. These objections were formulated into a document called The Remonstrance of 1610.


The Remonstrance had 5 points.
1. Partial human depravity
2. The election on the basis of foreseen faith
3. Universal atonement
4. Resistible grace and
5. The possibility of lapse from grace


A council convened at Dordrecht to settle the controversy. This council is known as the Synod of Dort. The Council concluded with the rejection of these views and set forth 5 points to answer the 5 points of The Remonstrance. These 5 counter-points have also been called the 5 points of Calvinism.


Here are the 5 points as spelled out in the response to The Remonstrance
1. Total human depravity
2. Unconditional Election
3. Limited Atonement
4. Irresistible grace
5. Perseverance of the Saints.


Together they form the acronym T-U-L-I-P.

Notes from Death of Death by John Owen

I've just started reading The Death of Death in the Death of Christ by John Owen. I imagine that this book will take me quite some time to get through, but from time to time I'll share some notes from the book that are noteworthy. So here goes:

Why did Christ come into the world?

The Son of Man came to save that which was lost. (Matt 18:11)
Paul says of the Savior, "This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners." (I Tim 1:15)

Who are these sinners that He came to save?

Matt. 20:28 He came to "give His life a ransom for many".
Gal 1:4 He "gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father."

That was the will and intention of God, that He should give Himself for us, that we might be saved, being separated from the world.

He gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. Titus 2:14

What is accomplished and fulfilled by the death, blood-shedding of Jesus Christ?

1. Reconciliation--removal of the enmity between God and man
2. Justification--right standing with God
3. Sanctification--renewing us to the image of God and supplying us with the graces of the Spirit of holiness
4. Adoption--given the glorious privileges which appertain to the sons of God.
5. An eternal redemption and heavenly home

If Christ died to redeem everyone, then either:

1. God and Christ failed to accomplish their end and Christ's death was not a fit means to the end goal.
OR
2. All men must be saved, purged, sanctified and glorified.