Arminianism
A view held among orthodox Christians
The view that God, by grace, enables every person to respond to the gospel, and elects to salvation those He foresees will freely believe.
Also called: Arminian, Remonstrant, prevenient grace, Wesleyan-Arminian
What it means
Arminianism takes its name from Jacobus Arminius, a Dutch theologian of the early 1600s, and was carried forward by John Wesley and the Methodist movement. Classical Arminians affirm that fallen people are unable to turn to God by themselves. But they hold that God gives "prevenient grace," a grace that goes before, to all people, freeing their wills enough to respond to the gospel. Those who respond in faith are saved; those who resist are lost.
In this view, God elects those He foreknows will believe, Christ died for every person, and grace can be resisted. Many Arminians also believe a true believer can fall away, though some hold to eternal security. Holders appeal to texts in which God desires all people to be saved, Christ draws all people, and election is according to foreknowledge. They believe this best upholds God's love for all and the reality of human responsibility.
The Canons of Dort were written in answer to Arminius's followers, and the Westminster and 1689 confessions teach unconditional election and effectual calling instead. Classical Arminianism is distinct from Pelagianism and semi-Pelagianism, which it also rejects.
In Scripture
God desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
The Lord is patient, not wanting anyone to perish but all to come to repentance.
Jesus says that when He is lifted up, He will draw all people to Himself.
The grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all people.
Believers are chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father.
History
Articulated by the followers of Jacobus Arminius (1560-1609) in the Remonstrance of 1610; answered by the Synod of Dort.
Where it comes up
On this site: Sovereignty & human responsibility
Related terms
CalvinismA view held among orthodox Christians
The teaching that salvation is wholly God's work, from His choosing of sinners before creation to His keeping them to the end.
MolinismA view held among orthodox Christians
The view that God knows not only what will happen but what every free creature would do in any circumstance, and uses this "middle knowledge" to accomplish His purposes.
ProvisionismA view held among orthodox Christians
A view, common among some Baptists, that God has provided salvation for all through Christ and that every person is able to respond to the gospel without a prior regenerating work.
Unconditional electionA view held among orthodox Christians
Before creation God chose particular people to save, out of His free grace and not because of any faith or goodness He foresaw in them.
Effectual callingA view held among orthodox Christians
God's Spirit inwardly calls the elect in a way that certainly brings them to faith, by renewing their hearts so that they come to Christ willingly.
Semi-PelagianismSerious error
The teaching that sinners can take the first step toward God by their own power, after which God's grace helps them the rest of the way.