Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

John Chapter 17 shows the unity of purpose and work of the Trinity.

 

Verse 6 shows that God the Son successfully manifested the name of God the Father (let them know Him) to the Elect, the people that God the Father gave to God the Son, so they would keep the Word of God the Father.   “I have manifested Your name to the men whom You gave Me out of the world; they were Yours and You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word.”  John 17:6. 

 

Verse 8 similarly shows that God the Son successfully forwarded the words of God the Father to them (the Elect chosen by God the Father), so that they received and believed those words and believed that God the Father sent God the Son.  “for the words which You gave Me I have given to them; and they received them and truly understood that I came forth from You, and they believed that You sent Me.”  John 17:8. 

 

Verse 9 shows that God the Son only prayed for and asked for the Elect chosen by God the Father.  “I ask on their behalf;  I do not ask on behalf of the world, but of those whom You have given Me;  for they are Yours;”  John 17:9. 

                                                                                  

Verse 12 shows that God the Son successfully guarded the Elect chosen by God the Father, so that not one perished but the son of perdition, so that the Scripture would be fulfilled.   “While I was with them, I was keeping them in Your name which You have given Me; and I guarded them and not one of them perished but the son of perdition, so that the Scripture would be fulfilled.”  John 17:12. 

                                                                          

In summary, these verses show that God the Son accomplished the purpose and work of God the Father.

                                                                             

So now, what is more consistent with this unity of purpose and work of the Trinity:  Calvinism or Arminianism?

Consider that Calvinism teaches Unconditional Election and Limited Atonement (the “U” and “L” of “TULIP”).  Whereas, Arminianism teaches Conditional Election and Universal Atonement.  In other words, Calvinism teaches that Christ, God the Son, died only for the Elect chosen by God the Father.  Whereas, Arminianism teaches that Christ, God the Son, died for everyone.

Consider that Calvinism teaches that Christ’s death successfully procured all the necessary benefits to save the Elect, including but not limited to faith, in order to truly save all but only the Elect of God the Father.  Whereas, Arminianism teaches that Christ died for everyone, but by itself, Christ’s death did not even save one person by itself.  But rather, Christ’s death only procured the possibility that everyone (even beyond the Elect) could be saved, ultimately depending on each individual as to whether or not they would successfully exercise their free will to chose Christ and whether or not they would successfully persevere to the end.

In simple language, consider that Calvinism teaches that Christ redeemed or paid the price through His blood for salvation of all but only the Elect chosen of God the Father.  Whereas, Arminianism teaches that Christ died for everyone and thereby attempted to redeem or pay the price for salvation of everyone, but Arminianism will be the first to admit that not everyone is saved and thus that Christ’s death and redemption was at least partially unsuccessful.  

So now, what is more consistent with this unity of purpose and work of the Trinity:  Calvinism or Arminianism?