Arminianism vs. Calvinism… Resolved!
As you are about to hear in this PODCAST, to our Western sensibilities, Acts 2:23 plunges us into a theological quagmire of staggering proportions.
The age-old debate between God’s Sovereignty and Human Responsibility.
But trust me. When Peter introduced this indictment of that Day of Pentecost crowd, he didn’t even flinch.
And therein lies the story.
Consider this: It’s verses like Acts 2:23 that have given rise to literally centuries of endless (and may I humbly suggest, pointless) theological debate. All the while, Peter’s words in this landmark verse are so wonderfully elegant in their economy—a rather modest 15 words in the Greek; though something of a more elaborate 31 words in our English (NIV) translations.
So here it comes. Acts 2:23. With its attendant theological quagmire. Hear it as it does…
“Fellow Israelites, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. 23 This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. 24 But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him. (Acts 2:22-24)
Today, Armenianism teaches that you are a Christ follower today because YOU chose to follow Jesus (with an emphasis on YOU)… which is true.
However, according to Calvinism, the responsibility of each person’s salvation lies squarely on the shoulders of God’s sovereignty… because GOD chose you. (with an emphasis on GOD)… which is true.
So, according to Acts 2:23, who is ultimately responsible for killing Jesus? Was it God? Was it the wicked men who nailed Him to the cross? Does it matter?
It matters a ton!
Because, if God was ultimately responsible for Jesus’ death, then no one in that crowd should ever be held accountable for what is arguably the greatest crime in the history of mankind. If nothing else, these people should be rewarded for obediently taking God’s plan to its fullest extent – beating, whipping, piercing, and crucifying God’s only Son!
OR… was God only able to stand by and watch as the wicked, lawless people on earth destroyed the body of His only begotten Son?
Who chose?
You see, to OUR WESTERN SENSIBILITIES, Acts 2:23 plunges us into a theological quagmire of staggering proportions. (emphasis on OUR WESTERN SENSIBILITIES)
You see, this is a conflict between two apparently true but contradictory statements.
…that does not exist!
There is no conflict.
It’s merely an apparent conflict to western-minded people.