Re: Arminian Jesus

Jason,

 

I am posting this to the blog.  But it seems to me that your position is that "history" trumps the 39 Articles of Religion.  Either the 39 Articles are a binding confession of faith and you subscribe to them as a summary of what Scripture teaches or you buy into the postmodern revisionist view of the articles of the equivocators, dissimulators and various other nefarious pretenders.

 

May God grant you the grace to see that Anglicans are bound by the Articles, not by the historical fact that numerous dishonest churchmen have tried to subvert their plain Calvinistic and Protestant teaching.  It is no surprise that Anglicanism is in the shape it is in today, especially when justification by faith alone becomes just a fine print item rather than the doctrine by which the church stands or falls.  I would suggest that those who believe history trumps the plain teaching of the Articles are neither Anglican nor Christian. 

 

Furthermore, I do not believe all Arminians are lost.  The e-mail below is a bit stronger than my own position.  It is, however, my contention that Arminians have more in common with Rome than with the English and Continental Reformers.  Semi-pelagianism is just another compromise of the Gospel and it seems to me that Arminians are "practical" semi-pelagians because they agree with Rome that good works are the basis of whether or not you are "kept" or "saved."

 

May God grant you the grace to see that the Gospel is not up for negotiation.  (Galatians 1:6-8).

 

 

Sincerely yours,

 

Charlie

 

 

----- Original Message -----

From: Jason Loh

To: Charlie J. Ray

Sent: Thursday, September 10, 2009 1:55 AM

Subject: Re: Arminian Jesus

Idiot, remove me from your mailing list. The 39 Articles of Religion are Calvinistic on all points. The Article on the Atonement is case in point. The Church of England is Reformed, but not necessarily Calvinistic. At the end of the day, it is not your preference that counts, but history.

2009/9/9 Charlie J. Ray <cranmer1959@gmail.com>

Yes, you are right, Hugh.

 

I have a prayer request for you.  I have an aunt in southeast Georgia who is dying from cancer.  She's a very devout and religious woman in her 70's.  Unfortunately....  this is the hard part...  my uncle, Frank Ray, is a oneness pentecostal.   They are so sectarian they don't even worship with other oneness pentecostals.  They haven't been to church in years and listen to some quack named "Bishop Johnson" out of Philadelphia.  I'm hoping to drive up and visit them again before she passes away. 

 

According to oneness theology of salvation, you must  be converted, baptized in Jesus name only, and then baptized in the Holy Ghost with the evidence of tongues.  My aunt has not "received" the Holy Ghost with the initial evidence of tongues and neither has my uncle.  He was at one time a oneness preacher.  Anyway, Aunt Lee Ada does not have any assurance of salvation even by their own screwed up theology!

 

So when I drive up to visit I'm hoping my uncle will listen to my presentation of the gospel of grace.  I've already talked to him indirectly about a few times.  He's KJV only also.  Anyway, I'm hoping he might let me read the prayer for the sick from the 1662 BCP with them.  He's also in his 70s.  I don't wear vestments so that shouldn't be a problem.

 

They also have a daughter, Janisse Ray, who is an author and an atheist.  None of their children are Christians today because of their false religion.  

 

God is sovereign even in these matters.

 

Yours in Christ,

 

Charlie

----- Original Message -----

From: Hugh McCann

To: Charlie Ray

Sent: Wednesday, September 09, 2009 9:47 AM

Subject: RE: Arminian Jesus

Hi Charlie,
 
Having had a protracted argument with a fundamentalist Baptist Arminian pastor years ago, I came to see that while many "individuals in Arminian churches" may not agree with their church's teaching (and truly believe the true gospel), knowing purveyors of free-willism are preaching another Christ and another gospel.
 
I don't Houck and others in the PRC would damn all in Arminian churches, but only those believing the lies and wittingly selling them.  "Out and out Pelagians," as you call them.
 
Hugh


For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world, looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.  St Paul to Bishop Titus of Crete


 

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Date: Wed, 9 Sep 2009 07:46:54 -0400
Subject: Re: Arminian Jesus
From: cranmer1959@gmail.com
To: hughmc5@hotmail.com

This doesn't seem to line up with Herman Hoeksema's view on the subject.  I have a hard time saying that individuals in Arminian churches are not saved simply because they don't understand the theological differences between Arminianism and Calvinism.

Those who are out and out pelagians are a different matter.

Charlie

On Tue, Sep 8, 2009 at 11:38 PM, Hugh McCann <hughmc5@hotmail.com> wrote:

The Christ of Arminianism

(Freewillism)

www.prca.org/pamphlets/pamphlet_68.html

Rev. Steven Houck

  The Bible warns us that in the last days in which we live there will be many false Christs-those who claim to be Christ but who are imposters. Jesus said, "Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying I am Christ; and shall deceive many." (Matt. 24:4-5). We who profess to be Christians must take heed. We must be very careful that we are not deceived. Our calling is to trust, love, and follow the true Christ and Him only. We may have nothing to do with the false Christs who are so numerous in our day.
 
We know about the Christ of the cults and other religions. He is a good man, a prophet, the first creation of God, a great spirit, a divine idea, or even a god himself. But he is not true and eternal God. He receives his existence from another who is greater than he. He is not the Christ of the Bible. We are not deceived by this Christ. He is a false Christ.
 
We know about the Christ of Roman Catholicism. They profess that He is true God. He suffered and died for the forgiveness of sin. He arose again, ascended into heaven, and is coming again. But he is not a complete Savior. The Christ of the Roman Catholics can not save sinners without their own good works and the intercession of priests. He is not the Christ of the Bible. We are not deceived by this Christ. He is a false Christ.
 
There is, however, another false Christ who is much more dangerous than the Christ of the cults and the Christ of Roman Catholicism. He has deceived people for many years and he continues to deceive millions. This Christ is so dangerous that, if it were not impossible, he would deceive the very elect (Matt. 24:24). He is the Christ of Arminianism.
 
This false Christ is extremely dangerous because in many ways he appears to be the True Christ. They say that he is true God, equal with the Father and the Holy Spirit. They say that he died on the cross to save sinners. They even say that he saves by his grace alone, without the work of man. This Christ will have nothing to do with the Christ of the cults and the Christ of Roman Catholicism.
 
But watch out! Be warned! The Christ of Arminianism is not the Christ of the Bible. Do not be fooled!
 
 
1. The Christ of Arminianism - loves every individual person in the world and sincerely desires their salvation.
 
The Christ of the Bible - earnestly loves and desires the salvation of only those whom God has unconditionally chosen to salvation. (Ps. 5:5, Ps. 7:11, Ps. 11:5, Matt. 11:27, John 17:9-10, Acts 2:47, Acts 13:48, Rom. 9:10-13, Rom. 9:21-24, Eph. 1:3-4, II Pet. 3:9)
 
 
2. The Christ of Arminianism - offers salvation to every sinner and does all in his power to bring them to salvation. His offer and work are often frustrated, for many refuse to come.
 
The Christ of the Bible - effectually calls to Himself only the elect and sovereignly brings them to salvation. Not one of them will be lost. (Isa. 55:11, John 5:21, John 6:37-40, John 10:25-30, John 17:2, Phil. 2:13)
 
 
3. The Christ of Arminianism - can not regenerate and save a sinner who does not first choose Christ with his own "free will." All men have a "free will" by which they can either accept or reject Christ. That "free will" may not be violated by Christ.
 
The Christ of the Bible - sovereignly regenerates the elect sinner apart from his choice, for without regeneration the spiritually dead sinner can not choose Christ. Faith is not man's contribution to salvation but the gift of Christ which He sovereignly imparts in regeneration. (John 3:3, John 6:44 & 65, John 15:16, Acts 11:18, Rom. 9:16, Eph. 2:1,Eph. 2:8-10, Phil. 1:29, Hebr. 12:2)
 
 
4. The Christ of Arminianism - died on the cross for every individual person and thereby made it possible for every person to be saved. His death, apart from the choice of man, was not able to actually save anyone for many for whom he died are lost.
 
The Christ of the Bible - died for only God's elect people and thereby actually obtained salvation for all those for whom He died. His death was a substitutionary satisfaction which actually took away the guilt of His chosen people. (Luke 19:10, John 10:14-15 & 26, Acts 20:28, Rom. 5:10, Eph. 5:25, Hebr. 9:12, I Peter 3:18)
 
 
5. The Christ of Arminianism - loses many whom he has "saved" because they do not continue in faith. Even if he does give them "eternal security," as some say, that security is not based upon his will or work but the choice which the sinner made when he accepted Christ.
 
The Christ of the Bible - preserves His chosen people so that they can not lose their salvation but persevere in the faith to the very end. He preserves them by the sovereign electing will of God, the power of His death, and the mighty working of His Spirit. (John 5:24, John 10:26-29, Rom. 8:29-30, Rom. 8:35-39, I Peter 1:2-5, Jude 24-25)
 
 
As you can see, although the Christ of Arminianism and the Christ of the Bible may at first seem to be the same, they are very different. One is a false Christ. The other is the true Christ. One is weak and helpless. He bows before the sovereign "free will" of man. The other is the reigning Lord Who wills what He pleases and sovereignly accomplishes all that He wills.
 
If you believe and serve the Christ of Arminianism, you must recognize the fact that you do not serve the Christ of the Bible. You have been deceived! Study the Scriptures and learn of the True Christ. Pray for grace to repent and trust Christ as your sovereign Savior.
 
 
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