What Does the Bible Teach?

The following was excerpted from Erwin Lutzer’s book, Doctrines that Divide: A Fresh Look at the Historic Doctrines That Separate Christians.

“The final arbiter in the dispute is the Bible. Does it teach free will? Is it true that God coaxes and pleads but never makes the decision as to what man will do? Remember that both classical Arminianism and Calvinism teach that God influences the human will. The dispute is over the extent of that influence. Calvinists say that in some instances God works directly or indirectly in such a way as to insure that a particular decision will be made. Arminians disagree.”

“Read the following verses asking yourself which of the views appears correct.”

And the LORD said to Moses, “When you go back to Egypt, see that you do before Pharaoh all the miracles that I have put in your power. But I will harden his heart, so that he will not let the people go. (Exo 4:21)

And the LORD had given the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they let them have what they asked. Thus they plundered the Egyptians. (Exo 12:36 )

He turned their hearts to hate his people, to deal craftily with his servants.  (Psa 105:25 )

The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD; he turns it wherever he will. (Pro 21:1)

The Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will. (Dan. 4:25)

Is a trumpet blown in a city, and the people are not afraid? Does disaster come to a city, unless the LORD has done it? (Amo 3:6)

“For truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place. . (Act 4:27-28)

“Now let us face the more difficult question as to whether God makes the choice as to who will be saved. Once again, I quote the verses without comment.”

But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. . (John 1:12-13)

For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will.. (Joh 5:21)

Therefore they could not believe. For again Isaiah said, “He has blinded their eyes and hardened their heart, lest they see with their eyes, and understand with their heart, and turn, and I would heal them.” (John 12:39-40)

And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed. ( Act 13:48)

What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory—even us whom he has called, not from the Jews only but also from the Gentiles? (Rom 9:22-24)

Just as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. (Eph 1:4)

But we should always give thanks to God for you, brothers and sisters beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth. . (2Th 2:13)

“What is important to understand is that Calvinism and Arminianism are two systems of theology that cannot be harmonized. Either God made the choice as to who will be saved and then grants man the ability to believe, or the choice is made by man. Either the elect are being saved, or God is saving as many as he can but failing in his purposes. Either God has ordained whatever comes to pass, or, because of man’s free will, the best he can do now is adjust himself to evil as it occurs.”

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Lutzer, E. (1998). Doctrines that Divide: A Fresh Look at the Historic Doctrines That Separate Christians (pp. 218-220). Kregel Publications, Grand Rapids, MI.

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Christian doctrine is a vital part of the gospel message, but certain doctrinal beliefs have divided the church for centuries. Erwin Lutzer examines various controversies that exist within the broad spectrum of Christianity, presenting the historical background of the issue and the biblical understanding of the doctrine. Chapters in The Doctrines That Divide include “Predestination or Free Will?” and “Justification by Faith.”