One of the things one will notice if they encounter an anti-calvinist, is that they use the same verses as a simple non-calvinist.
The difference between the two groups, however, is that the anti-calvinist will happily hold to a completely unbiblical position if it means the perceived defeat of calvinism in some way.
One example is that the anti-calvinist is more than happy to class calvinists as false prophets/teachers who teach the doctrines of demons.
While at the same time, they will claim to be protestant.
They don't realise that the vast majority of the protestant reformers were actually calvinists.
They also don't realise that arminianism came out of calvinism, as a break away group - instead of the other way around.
Let's look at a scriptural example.
1 Timothy 4:10 (ESV) For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Saviour of all people, especially of those who believe.
The anti-calvinist uses this verse to say, 'See. He is the saviour of ALL people.'
So, in this verse, the 'all people', once again means every single person on the planet.
What's wrong with this?
Firstly, if one was to understand this verse in that way, one would have to believe in universalism.
A saviour, is by definition, one who saves.
If Jesus is your saviour, it means He's saved you.
So if He's everybody's saviour, that means that He has saved everybody.
Many people simply gloss over that glaring issue.
The anti-calvinist wants to make this verse into a declarative statement by God regarding who He wants to save. Which by their logic, would be everyone.
But, because it says, He is the saviour of all, instead of He wants to be, desires to be, or something along those lines, this shows to be not a statement about intent, but rather a statement of fact.
So, we press them on their schizophrenic universalism.
And when they deny universalism, we say that this now becomes false then. Paul also becomes a false prophet, as He is telling lies about God.
Obviously, your claim will be brushed aside. There will most likely not be any attempt made to counter the claim as well.
With that being said, how should this verse be viewed?
If this verse is not saying that God wants everybody to be saved, what is it saying?
Before we answer what it says, we should first understand why it can't be what the anti-calvinist says.
The reason is found, as should be our habit to see, in the words of Jesus.
Remember, Christ tells us that all those who will come to Him, and be given eternal life, are those whom the Father has given to Him.
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John 6:37-40 (ESV) All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.
For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me.
And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day.
For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”-------
These are the ones the Christ has laid His life down for. These are the ones who were chosen to be saved out of humanity before the world began.
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Ephesians 1:3-6 (ESV) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places,
even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him.
In love He predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.-------
Since Jesus tells us that this is the case, then we know that God is not attempting to save everybody in the world.
He is only seeking those whom He chose. In the passing of time, He will cause them to be born again by the work of the Holy Spirit.
And the Holy Spirit will convict them of their sin and draw them unto Christ. With their eyes now open, they will repent and turn to Christ for forgiveness. He will forgive them, and they will forever be His.
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Now that we know why it can't be the other understanding, using biblical hermeneutics, and taking Christ at His word, we can look at what it actually means.
In what way can God can be considered the saviour of all people if the 'all' doesn't mean every person on earth?
Could it mean, all kinds of people, like the verse we looked at last time?
Although that is a possibility, because of the ending of the verse, 'especially of those who believe', i don't think that this is correct.
Rather, i believe that the verse is saying that God is the saviour of all - that is to say, there is no other saviour other than God.
This would make sense of the ending of that verse.
After all, if that's not what is being said, then we'd have to say that there are two camps that God saves. Those who believe and those who don't believe.
The arminian who insists that the 'all' means everybody on earth, has to also insist that God saves people who don't believe - because of the ending of the verse.
However, paul is making the same claim that has been made on the past.
Isaiah 43:11 (ESV) I, I am the Lord, and besides me there is no saviour.
Hosea 13:4 (ESV) But I am the Lord your God from the land of Egypt; you know no God but me, and besides me there is no saviour.
So, we serve the God who is the saviour of all... because there is no other saviour... because there is no other God.
But, He's especially the saviour of those that believe.
This, makes the clear distinction between the unbelievers and the believers.
Isaiah 49:26 (ESV) I will make your oppressors eat their own flesh, and they shall be drunk with their own blood as with wine. Then all flesh shall know that I am the Lord your Savior, and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.”
Once again, we've shown how the anti-calvinist's view, using their own understanding, is in error.
And in their zeal to oppose calvinism, they end up contradicting the clear teaching of scripture.
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