More thoughts about Calvinism.
I've often heard that in Calvinism, Jesus' death actually "secured" our salvation, whereas in Arminianism it only made it possible. Actually, I think in Calvinism Jesus' death didn't secure our salvation.
What does it mean to "secure" one's salvation? Let's start with what it can't mean. It can't mean that it was the final event necessary to make you saved, and most Calvinists agree. Regeneration and faith are also necessary preludes to salvation.
But perhaps we can understand "secure" to mean "guarantee". And here's the test that something has secured our salvation. It's secured our salvation in the sense that because of it, it is now impossible for us not to be saved.
Given this understanding of security, then given Calvinism, Jesus' death secured our salvation in the sense that by his dying for us, he made it impossible for us not to be saved. His death thus guaranteed our salvation.
But for Jesus' death to make our salvation secure, our salvation must have been insecure prior to his death. But this is impossible, given Calvinism. Long before Jesus died, God decreed and predestined our salvation. And that decree made it certain that we would be saved. If it was already made certain by God's decree, it could not have been "made" certain or "secured" by any other event in or out of history. Thus, Given Calvinism, Jesus' death could not have secured one's salvation.
I've often heard that in Calvinism, Jesus' death actually "secured" our salvation, whereas in Arminianism it only made it possible. Actually, I think in Calvinism Jesus' death didn't secure our salvation.
What does it mean to "secure" one's salvation? Let's start with what it can't mean. It can't mean that it was the final event necessary to make you saved, and most Calvinists agree. Regeneration and faith are also necessary preludes to salvation.
But perhaps we can understand "secure" to mean "guarantee". And here's the test that something has secured our salvation. It's secured our salvation in the sense that because of it, it is now impossible for us not to be saved.
Given this understanding of security, then given Calvinism, Jesus' death secured our salvation in the sense that by his dying for us, he made it impossible for us not to be saved. His death thus guaranteed our salvation.
But for Jesus' death to make our salvation secure, our salvation must have been insecure prior to his death. But this is impossible, given Calvinism. Long before Jesus died, God decreed and predestined our salvation. And that decree made it certain that we would be saved. If it was already made certain by God's decree, it could not have been "made" certain or "secured" by any other event in or out of history. Thus, Given Calvinism, Jesus' death could not have secured one's salvation.
