“I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”
– Luke 5:32 NKJV
Much is often made about the call of God within the Arminian and Calvinist frameworks. The Calvinist insists that the call of God is for the elect to come to salvation, and while they acknowledge that the Bible uses terms such as “all” (1 Timothy 2:1-6) or “the world” (John 3:16; 1 John 2:2), the reality is that God is only calling His elect to salvation. These “universal” calls are meant for the whole world but only the elect will respond. In essence, the call goes forth but only the elect respond.
The Arminian response holds that we agree with much of what the Calvinist view holds concerning God’s call. However, we believe that these calls are not merely mysterious calls for the elect but that God genuinely wants to call all to repentance. Arminianism believes that the universal texts such as John 3:16 or John 12:32 or 1 Timothy 2:1-6 are not giving lip service to God’s universal call but are truthful calls from God to the nations (Isaiah 55:1-5).
An example of this thinking is found in Luke 5:32 where Jesus Himself describes those whom He came to call. Jesus says that He came to call sinners to repentance. The question is, “Who are the sinners that Jesus is calling?” The Bible answers this in Romans 3:23 when it says that all have sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God. Since all of us are sinners in need of a Savior, it logically follows that all of us can then be saved through faith in Jesus Christ. Jesus came to call sinners to repentance and all are commanded to repent (Acts 17:30-31). The Bible even says that it is God’s kindness given to the world through Jesus Christ that leads us to salvation (Romans 2:4). The universal call goes forth into all nations and the Bible says that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved (Romans 10:13). All sinners need a Savior and all can be saved through Jesus the Savior of the world (John 1:29; 1 John 4:14).
What a glorious atonement Jesus purchased through His blood! The wonder that His blood was so powerful that He can save whomever comes to God through Him! That truly is grace that we cannot fathom (Romans 5:1-11)!
[Link to original post and comments on Roy Ingle’s website.]
