Myth #9 from Roger Olson\u2019s Arminian Theology is appropriate for me today: I\u2019m at Westminster Theological Seminary, one of America\u2019s foremost bastions of reformed theology. The myth is this: that Arminians deny justification by faith alone through faith alone. At issue: Is Arminianism genuinely reformational or is it a retreat toward the Catholicism out of which the reformers broke? Myth #9 from Roger Olson\u2019s Arminian Theology is appropriate for me today: I\u2019m at Westminster Theological Seminary, one of America\u2019s foremost bastions of reformed theology. The myth is this: that Arminians deny justification by faith alone through faith alone. At issue: Is Arminianism genuinely reformational or is it a retreat toward the Catholicism out of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":197,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[476,1643],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1846","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-books","category-calvinism"],"yoast_head":"\n
\nOlson\u2019s response is a robust denial: Arminians don\u2019t deny justification by grace alone and through faith alone. And a robust affirmation: Arminianism is a Reformation movement.
\nOlson quotes some who contend that Arminians teach that what is imputed for righteousness is not Christ\u2019s righteousness but the merit of faith. Imputation, rather than being solely a forensic declaration, it is argued by some Calvinists, is understood by Arminians to involve a moral change.
\nOlson argues that Arminians have always been uncomfortable with a declaration-only righteousness; Luther, Olson, argues sees two kinds of righteousness: alien and transforming. Arminians stand with Luther.
\nIt is true that Arminians \u2014 I add along with Genesis 15:6 \u2014 have spoken of a faith imputed for righteousness, but they have also always taught that grace can\u2019t be merited or earned and that it is received solely by faith. Olson suggests that what is at stake is a monergistic theory of justification.
\nArminius himself: several have concluded that Arminius was thoroughly Reformation on justification (APF Sell, A Skevington Wood, H Slaatte, C Bangs). Arminius said he could sign off on what Calvin says in Book 3 of Institutes <\/em>on justification. And faith, Arminius stated, is the work of the Holy Spirit, not the effort of a human being. It is instrumental, not material\/efficient cause. Arminius distinguished justification from sanctification.
\nOden says that Wesley was Calvinistic in his understanding of justification.
\nThe secret is that consistent Arminians have always believed in justificaiton as imputed righteousness (not imparted).<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"