In the Calvinism vs. Arminianism debate, which side is correct?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

Calvinism and Arminianism are two attempts to explain how the sovereignty of God works with mankind's free will/responsibility in the area of salvation. The Bible teaches that God is sovereign and that human beings are responsible for obeying Him. For instance, the Old Testament shows that God choosing Israel wasn’t based on anything they did (Deuteronomy 7:6-8; Malachi 1:2-3), but they were responsible for obeying Him (Joshua 24:15; Ezekiel 18:30-32).The quest to reconcile the tension between those two truths is noble but ultimately doomed, as God is so much more complex than we could imagine, so we can’t understand exactly how He works (Deuteronomy 29:29; Isaiah 55:9). The difference between Calvinism and Arminianism hinges on how much responsibility we have for our own salvation as opposed to God's ultimate sovereignty. While understanding the differences between Calvinism and Arminianism helps, ultimately, both are human attempts to explain divine concepts. God is absolutely sovereign over salvation, yet humanity is fully responsible for receiving the gift of salvation God offers. How these two truths work together is the essence of the Calvinism vs. Arminianism debate. But whether Calvinism or Arminianism or some compromise between them is correct, our responsibility remains the same: To proclaim the gospel of salvation through Jesus Christ to the entire world (Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 1:8).

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• God chose Israel not because of their merit but because of His love and promise (Deuteronomy 7:6-8; Malachi 1:2-3).
• Israel was still commanded to obey, repent, and turn to God (Joshua 24:15; Ezekiel 18:30-32).
• God hardened Pharaoh’s heart (Exodus 9:12), yet Pharaoh also hardened his own heart (Exodus 8:15).
• God sovereignly preserves His people but calls them to covenant faithfulness (Deuteronomy 30:19-20).

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• The Bible teaches that humanity is born in total depravity (Romans 3:10-18), a teaching that corresponds to Calvinism.
• Because of our state of sin, unconditional election is essential for our salvation (Romans 8:29-30, 9-11; Ephesians 1:4-6, 11-12). We cannot respond to God's gift in our sinful state; He has to take us unconditionally.
• Salvation is by God’s choice and grace, not human effort (John 6:44; Romans 9:10-16; Ephesians 1:4-5), but people are also called to repent and believe the gospel (Mark 1:15; Acts 17:30; John 3:16). That latter implies human free will, a teaching that connects to Arminianism.
• Human free will is affirmed when Scripture shows that some reject God’s call (Matthew 23:37; Acts 7:51). But human free will is minimized with the biblical teaching that others are drawn irresistibly (John 6:37, 44).
• God promises to keep His people (John 10:28-29; Philippians 1:6), yet believers are also exhorted to remain steadfast (Hebrews 3:14; 2 Peter 1:10).
• Sovereignty and responsibility are not mutually exclusive; Philippians 2:12-13 combines both: “Work out your salvation… for it is God who works in you.”
• While some Arminians affirm eternal security, others claim that believers can lose salvation if they persist in sin or abandon the faith. Yet the Bible teaches that those truly saved are kept by God’s power and will persevere to the end (John 10:28-29; Philippians 1:6; Romans 8:38-39; 1 Peter 1:5). If salvation can be lost, Christ’s work would be incomplete, and assurance would be impossible. Arminians reply that continual rejection of God is a real danger, but Calvinists maintain that such cases reveal false faith from the beginning rather than a loss of true salvation (1 John 2:19).
• Limited atonement presents problems for Calvinist doctrine. The Bible suggests Christ's sacrifice covered the sins of all the world, not merely the sins of the elect (1 John 2:2; John 1:29, 3:16; 1 Timothy 2:6; 2 Peter 2:1). Calvinists reply that while Christ's sacrifice has the power to save all, in reality it applies only to the elect. If applied to everyone, those in hell are paying for the same sins Christ paid for on the cross.

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

Calvinists conveniently separated their theology into a five-point acrostic: TULIP. They differ with the Arminians completely in the "ULI" of the acronym: Unconditional election, Limited atonement, and Irresistible grace. Calvinists believe that God alone chooses who will be saved by His sovereign choice. We are born dead in our sins, unable to respond to the grace of God. Therefore, God's predestination of who will be saved is in no way dependent on our reaction to God's grace. Arminians believe that God chooses who will be saved based on His foreknowledge of who will choose Him. The "L" stands for Limited atonement. Calvinists believe Jesus' sacrifice was to cover only the sins of those who were predestined to be saved; Arminians believe Christ died for every sin of everyone in the world. This is the only way anyone could freely choose God. The "I" is related. Calvinists believe in "Irresistible grace." God chooses those who will be saved, and the individual has no choice—they cannot "resist" God's grace. Arminians believe that God's offer can be resisted/rejected.

Arminians are less consolidated with the "T" and the "P." Calvinists believe in Total depravity, that is, we are born completely dead in our sins and are unable to save ourselves. Some Arminians agree, while others believe we cannot be completely depraved if we are able to choose salvation. The "P" stands for Preservation of the saints. Calvinists and many Arminians believe "once saved, always saved." Because the saving work is done by God alone, believers cannot lose their salvation. Some Arminians, however, believe that mankind has so much influence in their own salvation that their actions can cause God to revoke it. They believe we must continually reject sin and live a godly life in order to maintain our position with God.

So, who is right? Neither fully captures the fullness of God’s mystery. The Bible presents both God’s sovereignty in choosing and humanity’s responsibility to respond, truths that can feel paradoxical but coexist in God’s plan. The debate between Calvinism and Arminianism highlight this tension, yet salvation is ultimately found in Christ, not a theological system. Rather than reducing salvation to a formula, we are invited into a living relationship with God where His grace empowers our obedience. The tension between divine sovereignty and human responsibility should drive us not to pride in our system but to humility before the God who saves. In the end, our confidence rests not in Calvinism or Arminianism but in Christ who is both the author and finisher of our faith.

UNDERSTAND

• God is sovereign — He chooses, calls, and secures salvation by His grace alone.
• Humanity is responsible — we are commanded to repent, believe, and obey in response to God’s call.
• Both truths coexist — while Calvinism and Arminianism emphasize different sides, Scripture presents salvation as God’s work and our response, ultimately centered in Christ, not a system.

REFLECT

• How do you understand the way God’s sovereignty and your responsibility work together?
• How does knowing that salvation is ultimately God’s work change the way you view your relationship with Him?
• In what areas of your life are you tempted to reduce faith to a system instead of resting in Christ Himself?

ENGAGE

• How can God’s sovereignty and human responsibility coexist without contradiction?
• Why are Christians drawn to systems like Calvinism or Arminianism—what do they give us, and what do they risk taking away?
• How does the tension between God’s sovereignty and our responsibility motivate us in the way we proclaim the gospel?