Page 38 - Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible Christianity. Based on the King James Bible

ARMONI - ARMOUR

BIBLICAL! Calvin and Arminius were fallible men who may rightly understand, think, will, and effect what is
attempted to describe biblical truth in a systematic truly good, according to the word of Christ, John 15:5:
theology. We do not have to choose between them. The “Without me ye can do nothing.”
only infallible source for faith and practice is the ARTICLE IV — That this grace of God is the
infallible Bible itself, not some fallible man’s systematic beginning, continuance, and accomplishment of all
interpretation of it. I AM NEITHER A CALVINIST NOR good, even to this extent, that the regenerate man
AN ARMINIAN; AND I REFUSE TO ALLOW PEOPLE TO himself, without that prevenient or assisting,
FORCE ME INTO EITHER MOLD. I believe in secure awakening, following, and co-operative grace, can
eternal life for the born again believer because it is what neither think, will, nor do good, nor withstand any
many clear passages of Scripture teach, not because it is temptations to evil; so that all good deeds or
what Calvin believed. I reject all five points of Calvinism movements that can be conceived must be ascribed to
as they are commonly interpreted today. As for the grace of God in Christ. But, as respects the mode of
Arminius, he was not sure if a believer could lose his the operation of this grace, it is not irresistible,
salvation. He did not take a clear position either way. He inasmuch as it is written concerning many that they
did not believe a sinner could receive Christ apart from have resisted the Holy Ghost, — Acts 7 and elsewhere
the grace and miracle-working power of God. in many places.
The following views of Arminius on the doctrine of ARTICLE V — That those who are incorporated into
predestination and grace are drawn up almost entirely Christ by a true faith, and have thereby become
in words that may be found in his writings — partakers of his life-giving spirit, have thereby full
ARTICLE I — That God, by an eternal, unchangeable power to strive against Satan, sin, the world, and their
purpose in Jesus Christ, his Son, before the foundation own flesh, and to win the victory, it being well
of the world, hath determined, out of the fallen, sinful understood that it is ever through the assisting grace of
race of men, to save in Christ, for Christ’s sake, and the Holy Ghost; and that Jesus Christ assists them
through Christ, those who, through the grace of the through his Spirit in all temptations, extends to them his
Holy Ghost, shall believe on this his Son Jesus, and shall hand; and if only they are ready for the conflict, and
persevere in this faith and obedience of faith, through desire his help, and are not inactive, keeps them from
this grace, even to the end; and, on the other hand, to falling, so that they, by no craft or power of Satan, can
leave the incorrigible and unbelieving in sin and under be misled, nor plucked out of Christ’s hands, according
wrath, and to condemn them as alienate from Christ, to the word of Christ, John 10:28: “Neither shall any
according to the word of the Gospel in John 3:36: “He man pluck them out of my hand.” But whether these
that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life; and he very persons cannot, by their own negligence, desert the
that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the commencement of their being in Christ, and embrace
wrath of God abideth on him,” and according to other again the present world, fall back from the holy doctrine
passages of Scripture also. once committed to them, make shipwreck of their
ARTICLE II — That, agreeably thereto, Jesus Christ, conscience, and fall from grace; this must be more fully
the Saviour of the world, died for all men and for every examined and weighed by the Holy Scripture before
man, so that he has obtained for them all, by his death men can teach it with full tranquility of mind and
on the cross, redemption, and the forgiveness of sins; confidence. (M’Clintock and Strong, Cyclopedia of
yet that no one actually enjoys this forgiveness of sins, Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, 1895,
except the believer, according to the word of the Gospel Vol. I).
of John 3:16: “God so loved the world that he gave his Thus we see that Arminius was not certain about
only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him whether a child of God could turn away from Christ and
should not perish, but have everlasting life”; and in the be lost again. He left that matter for further study, but
First Epistle of John 2:2: “And he is the propitiation for he died at age 49 before he formed a conviction one
our sins; and not for ours only, but also for the sins of way or the other about eternal security. Some of his
the whole world.” followers modified Arminius’s position and plainly
ARTICLE III — That man has not saving grace of taught that salvation can be lost. [See Eternal Security,
himself, nor of the energy of his free-will, inasmuch as Gospel.]
he, in the state of apostasy and sin, can of and by ARMONI (belonging to the palace). 2 Sa. 21:8-11.
himself neither think, will, nor do anything that is truly ARMOUR. Battle gear, both offensive and defensive
good (such as having faith eminently is); but that it is (1 Sa. 14:1; 17:38, 39; Eze. 38:4; Ro. 13:12; 2 Co. 6:7;
needful that he be born again of God in Christ, through Ep. 6:11, 13 ). [See Military.]
his Holy Spirit, and renewed in understanding,
inclination, or will, and all his powers, in order that he

38 Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible & Christianity