Conclusion

       "Arminianism, because it obscures the glory which belongs solely to the grace of God, comes under the apostolic condemnation and is therefore an error sufficiently serious for there to be no room for compromising."⁽¹⁾ By now the reader should be convinced that the popular soteriological system known as "Arminianism" is not biblical and is not Christian. Though using much of the same terminology as orthodox Christianity, Arminianism actually distorts and twists the message of the Scriptures to such an extent that "another gospel" (Galatians 1:6) emerges which bears only an outward resemblance to the genuine Gospel. So serious are the aberrations of this false gospel that no one can be saved who really understands it and believes it.
       In 2 Corinthians 11:4, the Apostle Paul wrote, "For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye received another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him." Surely Paul, who surrendered his own life to "preach Christ crucified" (1 Corinthians 1:23), would be greatly distressed to see the condition of the professing Church today. Amidst the syrupy cesspool of self-exalting preaching, and the meaningless prattle of "Jesus loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life," what is really needed is a voice in the wilderness of modern Evangelicalism asking the question, "Which Jesus?" It is not enough to merely hang a painting of Jesus in one's home, or to speak of Him to others with quivering emotion in one's voice. It is not enough to merely display a cross on the wall of the church building upon which the congregation may gaze with warm feelings or "goose bumps." If the Jesus we proclaim, and the cross which we adore are not biblical, then our "gospel" is nothing but the cultish pulpiteering of a lie which will damn both ourselves and our hearers.
       Indeed, no more fitting label may be applied to the entire Arminian system than that of a damning lie. As "a corrupt tree cannot bring forth good fruit" (Matthew 7:18), many of the ethical problems which plague modern Evangelicalism can be traced right back to the man-centered theology of Arminianism, which reduces God to a sappy, enfeebled geriatric who is ever fearful of "coming on too strong." It is no wonder that such a god fails to stir up a deep reverence and worship within the hearts of his devotees:

       The new gospel [of Arminianism] conspicuously fails to produce deep reverence, deep repentance, deep humility, a spirit of worship, a concern for the church. Why? We would suggest that the reason lies in its own character and content. It fails to make men God-centered in their hearts.... One way of stating the difference between it and the old gospel is to say that it is too exclusively concerned to be "helpful" to man — to bring peace, comfort, happiness, satisfaction — and too little concerned to glorify God. The old gospel['s]... first concern was always to give glory to God.⁽²⁾

       Whether we are dealing with the subject of predestination, the Atonement, God's effectual drawing of His elect to Himself, or His preservation of the same, the sovereign freedom of the Almighty to do with His creatures as He pleases must be affirmed in every area of our theology lest, as John Owen warned, we "arm the clay against the potter."⁽³⁾ The following passages of Scripture will suffice to conclude our examination of Arminianism:

       O LORD God of our fathers, art not thou God in heaven? and rulest not thou over all kingdoms of the heathen? and in thine hand is there not power and might, so that none is able to withstand thee? (2 Chronicles 20:6)

         And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou? (Daniel 4:35)

Endnotes

1. Murray, Forgotten Spurgeon, page 81.

2. Packer, "Introductory Essay," pages 1-2.

3. Owen, Display of Arminianism, page 20.