In a Reformed Arminian view, the "assurance" of being among the elect isn't found by trying to peek into a secret book in heaven written before time began. Instead, it’s found in the present reality of your relationship with Christ.
Unlike strict Calvinism, which often views election as an unconditional choice of specific individuals for salvation or "reprobation" (damnation), Reformed Arminianism emphasizes that Election is in Christ. Christ is the Elect One: God has chosen to save all those who are united to His Son by faith.
The Invitation is Real: God’s "Prevenient Grace" (grace that goes before) is active in everyone, enabling you to respond to the Gospel. He doesn't pre-determine people for damnation; rather, people are lost when they persistently resist this grace.
Assurance is Relational: You can know you are "elect" because you are currently trusting in Jesus. If you have the Son, you have life.
When someone asks how they can know "for sure," you can point them to these three anchors:
- Look to the Cross, Not the Decree: Don't look at an abstract "plan" from eternity past. Look at Jesus. If you believe in Him, the promise of salvation is yours. God’s "choice" is to save believers.
- The Witness of the Spirit: Assurance comes from the Holy Spirit working in your heart, convicting you of sin and confirming that you are a child of God (Romans 8:16).
- The Evidence of Life: While we aren't saved by works, a changed life, a desire to love God and others, is a "fruit" that gives us confidence that our faith is genuine and living.
Calvinism vs. Reformed Arminianism
To understand why the Reformed Arminian view provides a different kind of "assurance" than Calvinism, it helps to look at the core differences in how each system views God's choice (Election).
While Calvinism follows the TULIP acronym, Reformed Arminianism (often associated with theologians like Thomas Helwys or Jacobus Arminius) views these points through the lens of Conditional Election and Prevenient Grace.
| Feature | Calvinism (Reformed) | Reformed Arminianism |
| Election | Unconditional: God chose individuals for salvation based solely on His will before time began. | Conditional: God chooses to save those who, through His grace, believe in Christ. Election is "in Christ." |
| Atonement | Limited: Christ died only for the "elect." | Universal: Christ died for everyone, though only those who believe receive the benefit. |
| Grace | Irresistible: The elect cannot resist God's call to salvation. | Prevenient/Resistible: God’s grace enables everyone to respond, but it can be resisted. |
| Damnation | Reprobation: God chose not to save the non-elect (or actively chose them for damnation). | Self-Incurred: Damnation is the result of a person’s persistent rejection of God’s grace. |
Why this matters for "Knowing For Sure"
In the Calvinist system, if you are struggling with your faith, you might worry, "Am I truly one of the elect, or is my faith just 'temporary'?" This can lead to a "dark night of the soul" because the decree is hidden in the past.
In Reformed Arminianism, your assurance is anchored in the present and the objective:
- Objective Foundation: You know God wants you saved because Christ died for the world (John 3:16). There is no "secret" list that excludes you.
- Present Faith: Your assurance is as certain as your trust in Jesus today. As long as you are "in Christ," you are "in the Elect."
- The New Covenant Promise: Under the New Covenant, the law is written on our hearts. Our desire to follow God even if we stumble is proof of the Holy Spirit’s presence.
Real Talk: If you have the "want" to be saved and a "hunger" for God, that itself is proof that His Prevenient Grace is working in you. A "reprobate" (someone truly destined for damnation by their own choice) wouldn't care about their standing with God.
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