Charge: Arminians teach a works-based salvation
Calvinist Complaint: Arminians teach salvation by works.
Calvinist, Charles Spurgeon, writes: “And what is the heresy of Arminianism but the addition of something to the work of the Redeemer?” (A Defense of Calvinism, emphasis mine)
Speaking of Arminians, Spurgeon, says: “The say, ‘No, Christ has died that any man may be saved if’ --and then follow certain conditions of salvation.” (Particular Redemption, emphasis mine)
Do you mean like John 3:16?
Faith is not a work. However, allow me to make one clarification: faith is not a meritorious work of self-righteousness. I make that clarification only because Jesus referred to faith as a work at John 6:28-29, though not as a meritorious work of self-righteousness. In that passage, the Jews were asking Jesus for a “work” that they could do, and Jesus offered them faith instead. So it’s equally true that Jesus did not give an elaborate discourse on how faith was a work. Faith is actually an anti-work, or the antithesis of works, and that seems to be Jesus’ message to the Jews, who were seeking to do a work in which to establish their own righteousness, instead of depending upon God’s righteousness.
John Calvin writes: “Now it may be asked how men receive the salvation offered to them by the hand of God? I reply, by faith. Hence he concludes that here is nothing of our own. If, on the part of God, it is grace alone, and if we bring nothing but faith, which strips us of all praise, it follows that salvation is not of us. … When, on man’s side, he places the only way of receiving salvation in faith alone, he rejects all other means on which men are accustomed to rely. Faith, then, brings a man empty to God, that he may be filled with the blessings of Christ.” (Calvin’s New Testament Commentaries: Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians and Colossians, p.144, emphasis mine)
Do you see where an Arminian would jump for joy at such a quote? To the Arminian, this brilliantly illustrates how a faith-alone salvation is a grace-alone salvation. I once had a Calvinist Pastor once tell me that by believing in Christ, I think that I had a “hand in my salvation.” But again, although that sounds like fine rhetoric, didn’t John Calvin just thoroughly demolish such an argument? Faith strips us of all praise and brings a man empty to God, and hence it follows that salvation is not of us.
The basis of Justification by Faith is that when we place our hope in Christ, we receive from Him, the merit of His righteousness, and are therefore credited with His righteousness.
Question: Does the Bible ever contrast grace with faith, so as to say that we are saved by grace, and not by faith, lest any man should boast?
Answer: Ephesians 2:8 states: “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not as a result of works, that no one should boast.” Instead of saying not by faith, it says “through” faith. Therefore, this seems to rule out combining faith with works (i.e. the works of the Law). Romans 11:6 states: “But if [salvation] is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace.” (Romans 11:6) Notice that the Bible never says: Salvation is by grace, and not by faith, otherwise grace is no longer grace.
Question: Does trusting in Christ give a person grounds to boast before God? If I trust in Christ, then can’t I boast about how I was wise enough, clever enough and smart enough to trust in the right person?
Answer: Romans 3:27 states: “Where then is boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith.” Although it makes for a great sounding argument to say that I was wise enough, clever enough and smart enough to believe in the right person, namely Jesus, doesn’t Romans 3:27 wash away that argument when it explicitly excludes faith from providing any grounds for boasting? Besides, how can you claim credit for trusting in someone else to save you? The whole basis for Imputed Righteousness (in contrast to self-righteousness), is the fact that when you trust in Christ, you receive from Him, His righteousness, rather than generating your own.
Question: What is the difference between faith and works?
Answer: In the context of how Paul discussed it, consider Romans 4:5 which states: “But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness.”
Works: establishes self-righteousness.
Faith: receives righteousness from someone else, namely, God.
Hence, faith is the anti-work or the antithesis of works.
