Tag: Calvinism

It is my hope to provide commentary on some of the commonly used synergistic proof texts and provide answers as to how a Calvinist would address each of these texts. These texts have often been appealed to by synergists to attack the notion of God’s sovereignty in salvation or to attack the Calvinistic doctrine of Soteriology (TULIP). I pray this document provides an opportunity for engagement and sharpening!

The texts that are evaluated in the document are:

Matthew 23:37
John 1:12
John 3:16
John 12:32
Acts 7:51
Romans 11:32
Colossians 2:12
1 Timothy 2:1-6
1 Timothy 4:10
Titus 2:11
Hebrews 2:9
2 Peter 2:1
2 Peter 3:9
1 John 2:2

It is my attempt here to shed some light on one of the most debated passages in scripture. As a Calvinist I have seen many of my brothers and sisters try to avoid the consequences of this passage to uphold the biblical doctrine of perseverance. With that said, they often minimize the seriousness of apostasy. It is my belief that the author of Hebrews narrows in on this serious topic to talk about those who have failed to grow in their walk and could potentially fall back into old practices. This isn’t a text that ought to be used to argue that believers can lose their salvation, nor does it undermine perseverance of the saints. Rather, it upholds the seriousness of actively remaining obedient to the Law of Christ.

2 Peter 3:9 has become a common proof text used by Arminians to attempt to demonstrate God’s desire to save everyone. They regard the argument to follow along these lines:

“God is not slow about his promise to save you, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you (unbelievers), not wishing that any of you (unbelievers) perish, but that all (unbelievers) come to repentance.”