I compiled this chart from: CALVINISM VS ARMINIANISM COMPARISON, Calvinism vs Arminianism – Comparison Chart and The Comparison of Calvinism and Wesleyan Arminianism. Emphasis mine.
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CALVINISM VS ARMINIANISM COMPARISON CHART
The Five Points of Calvinism, also known as the acronym T.U.L.I.P. and the Five Points of Arminianism
| CALVINISM | ARMINIANISM |
| T – Total Inability or Total Depravity | Free-Will or Human Ability |
| Because of the fall, man is unable of himself to savingly believe the gospel. The sinner is dead, blind, and deaf to the things of God; his heart is deceitful and desperately corrupt. His will is not free, it is in bondage to his evil nature, therefore, he will not – indeed he cannot – choose good over evil in the spiritual realm. Consequently, it takes much more than the Spirit’s assistance to bring a sinner to Christ – it takes [complete – ed.] regeneration by which the Spirit makes the sinner alive and gives him a new nature. Faith is not something man contributes to salvation but is itself a part of God’s gift of salvation – it is God’s gift to the sinner, not the sinner’s gift to God. | Although human nature was seriously affected by the fall, man has not been left in a state of total spiritual helplessness. God graciously enables every sinner to repent and believe, but He does not interfere with man’s freedom. Each sinner possesses a free will, and his eternal destiny depends on how he uses it. Man’s freedom consists of his ability to choose good over evil in spiritual matters; his will is not enslaved to his sinful nature. The sinner has the power to either cooperate with God’s Spirit and be regenerated or resist God’s grace and perish. The lost sinner needs the Spirit’s assistance, but he does not have to be regenerated by the Spirit before he can believe…. |
| CALVINISM | ARMINIANISM |
| U – Unconditional Election | Conditional Election |
| God’s choice of certain individuals unto salvation before the foundation of the world rested solely in His own sovereign will. His choice of particular sinners was not based on any foreseen response of obedience on their part, such as faith, repentance, etc. On the contrary, God gives faith and repentance to each individual whom He selected. These acts are the result, not the cause of God’s choice. Election therefore was not determined by or conditioned upon any virtuous quality or act foreseen in man. Those whom God sovereignly elected He brings through the power of the Spirit to a willing acceptance of Christ. Thus God’s choice of the sinner, not the sinner’s choice of Christ, is the ultimate cause of salvation. | God wants to save all men. Those who respond to the call of His Spirit are the elect or the predestinated. (Marston, n.d., n.p.) “God, by an eternal purpose, has determined to save in Christ, and for His sake, all who through the grace of the Holy Spirit believe on Jesus and persevere in faith and obedience to the end.” (Failing, 1978, pp.2-3) |
| CALVINISM | ARMINIANISM |
| L- Limited Atonement/ Particular Redemption | Universal Redemption or General Atonement |
| The atonement of Christ, which was to be the basis for salvation, needed only to include those whom God had already chosen to save. All others, therefore, would be excluded. | Christ’s redeeming work made it possible for everyone to be saved but did not actually secure the salvation of anyone. Although Christ died for all men and for every man, only those who believe on Him are saved. His death enabled God to pardon sinners on the condition that they believe, but it did not actually put away anyone’s sins. Christ’s redemption becomes effective only if man chooses to accept it. |
| CALVINISM | ARMINIANISM |
| I – Irresistible Grace or the Efficacious Call of the Spirit | The Holy Spirit Can Be Effectually Resisted |
| In addition to the outward general call to salvation which is made to everyone who hears the gospel [but is only available to those whom God chooses – editor], the Holy Spirit extends to the elect a special inward call that inevitably brings them to salvation. The internal call (which is made only to the elect) cannot be rejected; it always results in conversion. By means of this special call the Spirit irresistibly draws sinners to Christ. He is not limited in His work of applying salvation by man’s will, nor is He dependent upon man’s cooperation for success. The Spirit graciously causes the elect sinner to cooperate, to believe, to repent, to come freely and willingly to Christ [how is it ‘gracious’ and ‘freely’ if it can’t be resisted – editor?]. God’s grace, therefore, is invincible; it never fails to result in the salvation of those to whom it is extended. | The entire process (election, redemption, regeneration) is the work of God and is by grace alone. Thus God, not man, determines who will be the recipients of the gift of salvation. | The Spirit calls inwardly all those who are called outwardly by the gospel invitation; He does all that He can to bring every sinner to salvation. But inasmuch as man is free, he can successfully resist the Spirit’s call. The Spirit cannot regenerate the sinner until he believes; faith (which is man’s contribution) proceeds and makes possible the new birth. Thus, man’s free will limits the Spirit in the application of Christ’s saving work. The Holy Spirit can only draw to Christ those who allow Him to have His way with them. Until the sinner responds, the Spirit cannot give life. God’s grace, therefore, is not invincible; it can be, and often is, resisted and thwarted by man. |
| CALVINISM | ARMINIANISM |
| P – Perseverance of the Saints | Falling from Grace |
| All who are chosen by God, redeemed by Christ, and given faith by the Spirit are eternally saved. They are kept in faith by the power of Almighty God and thus persevere to the end. | Those who believe and are truly saved can lose their salvation by failing to keep up their faith, etc. | Arminius was of the firm conviction that all men are free moral agents both before and after they are converted. |
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