John 7:18 states: “He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who is seeking the glory of the One who sent Him, He is true, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.
So, how can we best glorify God?
CALVINISM FOCUSES ON GOD.
ARMINIANISM FOCUSES ON MAN.
ARMINIANISM FOCUSES ON MAN.
According to Theologian B. B. Warfield, Calvinism focuses on God: “It begins, it centers, and it ends with the vision of God in His glory: and it sets itself before all things to render to God His rights in every sphere of life activity.”
“It is the vision of God in His majesty, in a word, that lies at the foundation of Calvinistic thinking,”: states Theologian B. B. Warfield.
Westminster Shorter Catechism states it this way: “Man’s chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy him for ever”.
Armianism focuses on the free will of man.
CALVINISM FOCUSES ON THE ATTRIBUTES OF GOD.
ARMINIANISM FOCUSES ON THE ATTRIBUTES OF A GODLY MAN.
I heard of a seminar titled: “Seven Attributes of the Godly Man”. It may very well be a good seminar, yet the title made me think: “I wish there was a seminar on “Seven Attributes of God”.
“Thus says the LORD, “Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches;
but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things,” declares the LORD. Jeremiah 9: 23-24 (emphasis added).
but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things,” declares the LORD. Jeremiah 9: 23-24 (emphasis added).
Does this Scripture praise understanding and knowing the Godly man, or does this Scripture praise understanding and knowing God?
Psalm 40:10 states: “I have not hidden Thy righteousness within my heart; I have spoken of Thy faithfulness and Thy salvation; I have not concealed Thy lovingkindness and Thy truth from the great congregation.” (emphasis added).
Much more important than improving our righteousness is learning about the righteousness of God. Much more important than trying to be more faithful is learning about the faithfulness of God. Do we want to learn more about ourselves or God? Do we want to learn more about what we should do or more about what God has done for us???
CALVINISM FOCUSES ON WHAT GOD HAS DONE.
ARMINIANISM FOCUSES ON WHAT MAN SHOULD DO.
ARMINIANISM FOCUSES ON WHAT MAN SHOULD DO.
“Therefore they (the Jews) said to Him, “What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?”
Jesus answered and said to them, ‘This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.’ ” (Emphasis added.) John 6: 28-29.
Calvinism focuses on the TULIP containing the Unconditional Election of God, the Irresistable Grace of God, and the Perseverance of the Saints a/k/a Preservation of the Saints.
Arminianism focuses on the Free Will of man, the Obstructable Grace (grace that can be obstructed by man), and Fall from Grace (man can lose his salvation).
CALVINISM FOCUSES ON THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD.
ARMINIANISM FOCUSES ON THE ALLEGED “FREE WILL OF MAN”.
ARMINIANISM FOCUSES ON THE ALLEGED “FREE WILL OF MAN”.
CALVINISM HUMBLES MAN BY THE FIRST POINT OF CALVINISM: TOTAL DEPRAVITY.
ARMINIANISM EXALTS MAN BY THEIR FIRST POINT: FREE-WILL.
CALVINISM KNOWS THE GOD THAT EXERCISES LOVINGKINDNESS, JUSTICE, AND RIGHTEOUSNESS.
ARMINIANISM KNOWS THE GOD WHO ONLY EXERCISES LOVINGKINDNESS.
Calvinism preaches and teaches that God only loves His Elect and only gives them (but all of them) the lovingkindness of salvation and that God hates the Reprobates and gives them justice (punishment including hell).
Armianism preaches and teaches that God loves everybody, but they only appreciate and glorify God for His lovingkindness of salvation given to those men whom first choose God by their Free Will.
CALVINISM KNOWS THE GOD WHO HAS ACHIEVED TOTAL PERFECT TRIUMPH.
ARMINIANISM KNOWS THE GOD WHO IS OFTEN DEFEATED BY MAN’S FREE-WILL, BY MAN’S OBSTRUCTION OF GOD’S GRACE, AND BY MAN’S FALL FROM GRACE.
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 