Arguments for Calvinism: Is God Mighty to Save?

Introduction

To me, Calvinist beliefs are more biblically sound that Arminiest beliefs. However, I believe that while on an intellectual level we can sometimes question and argue about the pillars of Calvinism and God's sovereignty, we all actually believe (or want to believe) in an almighty, sovereign God. Careful inspection of our actions and reactions in our Christian lives reveals our underlying belief in God's sovereignty and his true power to save.

Take some time to examine your own life. What do you believe?

Is God is Mighty to Save?

My Saviour, He can move the mountains,
My God is Mighty to save,
He is Mighty to save.
Forever, Author of salvation,
He rose and conquered the grave,
Jesus conquered the grave.

What does it mean for God to be mighty to save? We sing it all the time, but what does it really mean? Arminiests believe that God is mighty to offer salvation, but he doesn't actually do the saving himself. You do the saving, because you are the one who is righteous enough to choose to accept the gift of salvation. This idea of self-determinism, branded by people as "free will" so you'll be sympathetic to it, is the belief that you are the cause of all of your actions and that God doesn't force you to make any decisions so he doesn't interfere with your self-determinism (which some people call free will). So your work of accepting the Gospel is solely of yourself and not of God, or else the barrier of your self-determinism is breached.

Imagine for a second, if this was true. What would prayer for the salvation of others be like? "Dear God, please help my friend Babu believe in you. Please send him secret messages in the clouds like in Bruce Almighty. I know that you aren't allowed to change his heart because that would be a breach of free will. But send people his way to share the gospel with him in a nice and friendly way. But I know that you can't control what people do, so I pray that you will send a secret message to the evangelists too. God, thank you for dying on the cross for me, that because I decided it best, I am saved. I pray that you will help Babu realize this too. Maybe you can draw a pros and cons list of salvation and secretly leave it on his table or something. Amen"

I realize that was sarcastic, but imagine for a second if God couldn't save anybody, but that he left that responsibility to humans. Oh my, what a disaster that would be. However, when we pray for the salvation of others, we pray with a faith that God can save his soul. This isn't the "free gift if you want it" saving, it's a salvation where God reaches down and grabs a hold of the person's life, causing him to change the way that he lives and put his faith in God. If we don't believe God can do this, there really is no point in praying. So whatever we profess to believe, when we pray, we put our faith and hope into a God that can change hearts, that can effectually call, that truly is mighty to save.

Let's further examine some of Hillsong's song lyrics:

So take me as You find me,
All my fears and failures,
Fill my life again.

What does Hillsong mean with these lyrics? What do you mean when you sing them? I see two possible options (which I will illustrate vividly with my skillful writing) : 1) God waiting with open arms as you decide to walk to him, dirty and all. 2) God finds a filthy, smelly, half-naked child crying quietly and despite all of the child's dirt, picks him up and takes him with Him (think Footprints). Keep in mind this is all with respect to salvation (not to the already saved, because i think these lyrics would mean something different in that case). What is your salvation story like? Which should you think of it as? Did you go to God or did God rescue you?

Ephesians 2:8-9: For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.

Romans 3:10-11

There is no one righteous, not even one;
there is no one who understands,
no one who seeks God.

Faith and grace both come from God. God loves you and He saved you. He knew your name before time began and said, "I'm going to save ______ from the evils of the world and from the sinfulness of his/her own heart". He saved us because while we couldn't save ourselves, while we didn't seek God, and "while we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8)". We are saved not because of a decision we made, but a decision that God made!

Dear God,

We are in awe of your sovereignty. We are in awe of your power and might. We recognize our own helplessness and sinfulness. God, when we were dead, you breathed life into us; when we were filthy and dirty, you washed us clean. We thank you for invading time and space to rescue us from the horrors of our own soul. We come humbly, as none of this was due to our own righteousness or faith (because we have none). We thank you that you are the provider of all things, including grace, faith and life. Apart from you, we can do nothing. Thank you for your salvation by which we are saved. Continue to hold us in your hands and use us for your work.

Caleb

I should have another post coming on the implications his doctrine has on evangelism.

Stories to come:

Billy Graham's Alter Calls

Evangelism: Doing it right