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The Finished Work of Christ
What appears to be another one of the strongest points that Calvinists would make has to do with the finished work of Christ on the cross. When Jesus died on the cross for our sins He provided a way for all men to be saved, and for all sin to be forgiven. It is because of His death and resurrection that we can be saved. Therefore Calvinists say that our complete trust must be in Him, and not in our works. Arminians would agree with this fact completely! Even though they are accused of teaching “works salvation”, Arminians do not teach or believe that works can save any man. Our faith must be in Him for salvation, and definitely not in our works! But this fact does not indicate that man does not have a part in receiving salvation! Nor does it prove that “faith alone” saves, without the presence of works as the fruit of our faith. The popular Calvinist teaching is that it is all Christ; therefore man can do absolutely nothing at all to be saved. This would cause the Calvinists to appear as the humble ones, giving all glory to God; while it would be pointed out that Arminians trust in their own works, taking glory from God. This is so far from the truth on this issue! The previous given evidence should prove that Arminians trust in the scriptures and the work of Christ to take away the sins of man; while Calvinists trust in their own doctrine, and many only have dead faith in Christ. Salvation is a gift provided for all men. But even the newest convert can understand that a gift must be received in order to benefit from it. God chose to give man this part in salvation, of receiving the gift by choice. And not just one time only, but throughout his life, as he would continue in Christ. Although we receive the gift “once”, we must continue to receive the benefits of the gift, lest we lose it. It is true that God loves us with an everlasting love. But it is also true that God wants a people who will choose to love and obey Him. It is true to say that this work that Christ did on the cross for our sins is a “finished” work. But Calvinists take it to the extreme by saying that He paid for the penalty of all sin: past, present and future. Because the work is finished, sin is no longer an issue for the Christian. All sin is forgiven when we come to Christ one time. And because He was the One-time sacrifice for sin, it only takes one prayer to be eternally secured. Calvinists have done a really good job at making this all sound really inviting. But the fact that so many people have a problem understanding this teaching of Eternal Security is not because they lack understanding of truth. It is because their conscience tells them that it is not right. And many scriptures they have read show that it is not right. And the Holy Spirit does not bare witness with our spirit that such is true. So Calvinists have spent more time on this doctrine than anything else, to convince them that all is okay, while the Holy Spirit is trying to deal with things in their lives so they can overcome sin. This doctrine works against the Holy Spirit, grieving the Spirit. Christ was definitely the one-time sacrifice for all sin. But this does not indicate automatic forgiveness without repentance. The fact that Christ died once for sin does not mean that the “one time” brought forgiveness for all sin; but only that the provision has been made for all sin: past, present, and future. We are no more forgiven for future sins than the unsaved are for their sins. Just as they must repent, and not reject Christ, we also must repent and not reject Christ by refusing to turn away from sin. He has given every Christian the ability to turn away from sin and overcome it through the power of His Spirit. If we are going to believe in the power of Christ’s death and resurrection to save, then we must also believe in the power of His Holy Spirit within us to overcome sin. In this, it is not faith in ourselves, but in the finished work of Christ, by the provision of His Holy Spirit, who empowers us. This same faith will produce works that save. Not works that give any merit to us, but works that come through the power of the Spirit. All this power has been given to us by the finished work of Christ. If man does not receive the “finished work of Christ”, then he cannot be empowered with the God given ability to overcome sin. We are certainly incapable of righteousness on our own, and totally depraved without Him. But through Christ we are more than conquerors, and capable of all things!
Romans 8:37 “Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.” Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”
It is because of Christ’s finished work on the cross that we are able to overcome sin, be holy and righteous by His Spirit, and completely free from sin. The finished work of Christ was not a provision for unconditional Eternal Security, but for conditional Eternal Security with the power to overcome sin. The condition is that we continually place our trust in Him, to empower us with abilities that we do not have in ourselves to overcome sin. In this, our dependency is completely upon Him! In this we also understand that we are nothing without Him, and that our works are nothing. It is all Jesus! Our works will be present as evidence of the finished work of Christ being accomplished in our lives. This is the humility that Christians are called to; not the false humility portrayed through Calvinism. And this is true Arminianism, not teachers of works salvation as accused by Calvinists. Many scriptures have already been given to show that man has his God given part in salvation. Calvinists do not accept this: because if it were true, Eternally Security could not be true. They understand that if man has a part in salvation, then he also has a responsibility to be holy, forsake sin, and build up his faith in order to maintain salvation. Their argument is that man would be able to boast that his salvation came through his own works. But I have shown that man can merit nothing from his own works, but in salvation he must put complete trust in Christ in order to obtain these works. We simply make the choice to obey Him, but He gives the ability. Gods grace with our faith together make it possible to have works that can keep us faithful and abiding in His love. But we must choose to be faithful. As Jesus has said in John 14:15 “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” Then also in John 15:10 “If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.” Although Christ’s work on the cross is “finished”, it cannot be complete in us against our own free will. Just as eternal life is eternal whether or not we possess it, so also Christ’s work on the cross is finished, whether or not we walk in that completeness. And many in the world obviously do not do so! Ephesians 2:10 “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” The evidence of our salvation is that we will have good works through Christ, walking in them daily. Through this kind of life it would be proper for us to say that we are walking in the finished work of Christ, as it is evident through our lives. Although God’s love for us is never in question, our love for Him could be. If we really love Him then we will keep His commandments. This means we will be holy, righteous, and forsake sin! We will receive His Spirit, being empowered through prayer, His written Word, Godly council, or whatever means is available from Him in order to overcome and be fruitful. But ultimately it will be by the building up of our faith in Him through these things, as He has commanded, and as He has supplied the grace in order for it to be accomplished. Calvinists will claim that this is “works salvation”. But it is far from it! New Testament works have absolutely nothing to do with Old Testament law that Paul spoke about being done away with, but everything to do with the law of righteousness and obedience. If we were covered in His righteousness, then the natural result would be for us to become righteous and obedient to His ways. Not appear righteous only, but have the God given ability to overcome sin and actually live a righteous, holy life. If we say that this is not possible, then we say that Christ’s finished work on the cross was not enough to save us from sin. If we do not live under the influence of the Holy Spirit, then His work cannot be complete in us. And if we choose to live the way the world lives, then we forsake Him and His love, forfeiting salvation. 1 John 2:17 “And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.” John did not say “He who becomes a Christian” will abide forever, but “he who does the will of God” will abide forever. The more a person will look into the scriptures, the more they will see that God has given every man his part in receiving and maintaining salvation. But He did not leave us without help! Through His finished work on the cross He sent the Holy Spirit to empower us with an ability to achieve what we could not do on our own. With this in mind, no Christian has any excuse for backsliding, giving in to sin, or living a faithless life. If we will seek Him, we will find Him! (Matthew 7:7) God knew that on our own we would certainly fail miserably! That is why He sent the Holy Spirit. He said in John 14:16-18 “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.” With this kind of comfort and power, man has no excuse for continuing in sin, returning to sin, or refusing to give up certain sins. If we do we are in rebellion to His commands, whereby the world will be judged. Being “born in sin” simply is no excuse, as Christ has destroyed the power of sin in all who will receive His grace. The Christian who gives him or herself to do so not only rejects Christ, but also will fall into the same judgment with the world. Calvinists use phrases such as “Christ alone”, Grace alone”, and “Faith alone”, each to indicate that salvation is not by works. Arminians will not argue this point, but agree that salvation is completely through Christ, His grace, and faith in Him, and not of works. But the fact that these statements are true does not prove that we do not have to meet Christ in order for Him to save us and keep us. He is the giver of the gift, but we must receive it. And after we receive it we must use it, and not neglect it or throw it aside. Works are the direct result of saving faith, which is a direct result of Gods grace. These three, like the Trinity, are one. One cannot work effectively for salvation without the presence and cooperation of the other two. Works alone cannot and never could save! Works can only be useful when attached to faith, which is only possible through grace. Neither grace nor faith can save us alone, since God requires faith of men in order to obtain grace, and without grace there would be no hope at all for man, even if he did have faith. It is true that there is nothing that man can do to earn salvation or gain salvation on his own. But it is not true to say that there is nothing at all that man can do to be saved. If man has no part in receiving salvation, then no man would be saved. For every person that has received the gift of salvation through Christ had to make the decision to turn from their old ways, as they turn to Christ. The offer of salvation has been given to every man in form of a request to “come unto Him”, “call upon His name”, or “follow Him”. God gives every man the opportunity to receive salvation by his own choice. His work has been completed for all men, but it cannot be completed in us unless we first follow Him, then continue or abide in Him. Colossians 2:10 “And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:” The key to being complete is to be in Him. Any faithful Christian can and should claim such completeness. But to claim such completeness while living in sin, is only self-deception and against the teachings of the scriptures. 
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 FEATURED CHAPTERS -Table
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Calvinism