Some assume that Arminians and Calvinists have virtually nothing in common. In fact, some feel that we have been at “war” with each other for hundreds of years. Unknown to them, however, is that Arminians and Calvinists have much in common with one another if we would simply take time to discover these points of agreement.
My wife’s grandfather, for example, is a Calvinist and he often wonders how I could name my second born son after the Calvinist Baptist preacher, Charles Haddon Spurgeon. My reply is always tongue in cheek, “We can’t all be perfect.” What he fails to see is that I can read, study, and enjoy Charles Spurgeon and many other Calvinists such as John MacArthur, John Piper, most of the Puritans, and many others because we do have much in common. I find that I don’t agree with anyone all the time. I have even disagreed with myself over some of my past writings in my journals from my early Christian days. I do agree with the Bible but I don’t always agree with men’s interpretation of it.
So what are some points of agreement between this Arminian and Calvinists? In order to be to the point, I will list only ten.
1. Salvation through Christ alone by faith (John 14:6; Acts 4:12; 1 Timothy 2:1-7).
2. God is sovereign in salvation (Jonah 2:9; John 6:44-48; Ephesians 1:3-14).
3. The Bible is inerrant and infallible for faith and practice and it alone is the written Word of God (2 Timothy 3:16-17; Hebrews 4:12-13).
4. Man’s only hope for eternal salvation is the blood of Christ (Matthew 26:28; Ephesians 1:7; Hebrews 9:22).
5. Good works are evidences of salvation but do not result in salvation (Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5-7).
6. Jesus Christ was God manifested in the flesh who came to die for our sins (John 1:1, 12-14; 3:16-17; Romans 9:5; Philippians 2:5-11).
7. Believers are imputed with the righteousness of Christ through faith in his blood shed on the cross for our sins (Romans 4:24-25; Philippians 3:9).
8. Jesus rose again from the dead bodily and lives forevermore making intercession for the saints (Luke 24:5-6; 1 Corinthians 15; Hebrews 7:25).
9. Jesus is coming again (Acts 1:11; Hebrews 9:27-28; 2 Peter 3:10-13; Revelation 22:20).
10. The gospel must be preached in every nation (Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:15-16; Acts 1:8; 2 Corinthians 5:20-21).
These are just ten points out of many areas that I agree with with my Calvinist brethren. While some Calvinists will try to deny Arminians salvation and vise verse, I hold that Jesus alone saves by his grace (Acts 15:11) and that while I might disagree over some theological issues I can still fellowship with my brethren. My prayer is that Jesus will use what we do agree on in our faith to spread the gospel (John 17:23). There are so many who need Christ and his forgiveness (Romans 10:1) and my prayer is that we all, Arminians and Calvinists, will seek to evangelize the nations with the power of the Spirit. I also believe that, in light of the attacks coming from the secular world, liberals in the Church, cults and false religions, it’s important that we know what we share in common as disciples of Jesus to proclaim the truth of the everlasting gospel.
[Editor’s note: Not all Arminians would agree with every point of agreement Roy lists here, but many would, and all evangelical Arminians would agree with most of them.]
[Link to original post and comments on Roy Ingle’s blog, Arminian Today]
