Pelagianism is the basis for Arminianism.   Pelagianism is also the basis for humanism.  Austin Cline, an atheist states of Pelagianism, "Pelagius may have been condemned and persecuted for his views, but they never entirely died. The idea that we can choose to do what is right is an essential part of humanism and could have been an essential part of Christianity. Their loss is our gain."[1]  In other words, Pelagius teaching against the doctrine of original sin is a gain to the atheism.  Romans 3:10, 11, 23 and many other Scriptures prove Pelagianism to be pure heresy.  We are sinners by nature and sinners by choice.  Psalms 51:5, Ephesians 2:5

Pelagius “denied original sin, the doctrine that we have inherited a sinful nature from Adam.”[2]  The Bible teaches that when Adam died we all died. Romans 5:12. Pelagius “taught that people can choose God by the exercise of their free will and rational thought.”[3]  This denies the total depravity of man.  Before we are saved, we are dead in our trespasses and sins.  A dead person is not able to anything and therefore not capable of “rational thought.”  Our thought life prior to salvation is carnal and centered upon this sinful world.  Our wills are in bondage to sin.  “Whatsoever is not of faith is sin.” Romans 4:23b.  Prior to salvation we do not have the gift of faith, so everything we do prior to salvation including think is enslaved to sin.  Romans 6:16, we are totally unable to please God or choose Him without Divine help.  Hebrews 11:6, Romans 7:14.  Our ability to choose comes only after salvation not before.  Prior to salvation our wills are in total bondage to sin.  Romans 7, John 15:5.  Without God we are unable to choose Him.  He gives us the faith needed to believe.

 

Arminianism teaches that man has a free will just as did Pelagianism; both of course are complete heresies.  As was shown earlier, we do not have a free will prior to salvation.  Our wills are in bondage to our sinful natures.  Arminianism denies the doctrine of Total Depravity or Original Sin just as did Pelagianism, proving Arminianism is a heresy.   Pelagius opposed Augustine’s teachings on the Sovereignty of God.  Arminius opposed Calvin’s teachings on the Sovereignty of God.  Both Pelagius and Arminius tried to elevate man and bring down God.  They remade God into the image of man.  Both Pelagius and Arminius made salvation hinge on man, whereas the truth is salvation hinges on God, our Lord Jesus Christ, who draws us to salvation by the Holy Spirit according to the will of God the Father.

 

Since, Arminius held some of the same views as the heretic Pelagius, Arminius is also a heretic.  Those who are pure Arminians deny the truth of God’s Word and make salvation hinge on man.  Wide is the path to destruction, but narrow is the gate to life everlasting.  Pelagians and their current followers the Arminians are following the wide path, by not entering in at the narrow gate.  Humanism goes against the truth of God’s Word and must not be tolerated.  We are totally depraved, dead in our sins prior to salvation.  Only God can save us, we can not save ourselves.  We should reprove those in error and pray that God through His Holy Spirit will enlighten their hearts to the truth of His glorious Gospel.  We, also, must teach the truth and oppose these false heretical doctrines.



[1] http://atheism.about.com/library/glossary/western/bldef_pelagianism.htm

[2] http://www.carm.org/heresy/pelagianism.htm

[3] Ibid.

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