Does Romans 5 Teach Arminianism?

The Arminian:

Romans 5:1-2 - It is through faith that we are made a part of Christ.

Romans 5:1Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

Response: Let’s look at the rest of the context and see what we can see.

3And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. 6For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. 8But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. 10For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. 11And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement. 12Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: 13(For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. 14Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come. 15But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. 16And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification. 17For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) 18Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. 19For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. 20Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: 21That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.

For all of the above limitations on scope, we, us, our and many, there are a few places the Arminian will cite, v. 6 “the ungodly” and v. 18 “free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.”

First, v. 6 does not say “all the ungodly.” It is further clarified in v. 8, “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” It says to us, while we and for us. Not for everyone. The reference to “the ungodly” is to us “while we were yet sinners.” As v. 6 says, while WE were without strength.

Second, v. 18, cannot have the Arminian meaning. It is either universal, or must be taken a different way. Why? Because of the words “unto justification.” If all men are not justified, then this verse cannot mean what the Arminian says.

For instance, are these contradictory?

12Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned

19For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners,

One verse says all have sinned and the other says many were made sinners. There is no contradiction, the verses are not intended to convey the same exact message. Nor is the many to be taken as merely a subset of the all. No, they are intended to convey different things.

What does this passage teach?

1. The love of God is shed abroad in our (Christian) hearts.
2. When we (Christians) were without strength, Christ died for the ungodly.
3. God commended his love toward us (Christians.)
4. While we (Christians) were sinners, Christ dies for us (Christians.)
5. We (Christians), having been justified, will be saved.
6. While we (Christians) were enemies, we (Christians) were reconciled.
7. Since we (Christians) are reconciled, we (Christians) will be saved.
8. We (Christians) have received atonement.
9. They which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness (Christians) shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.

There is no room for a universal redemption and no room for a discourse on conditional election. God did it all.

1. God shed his love in our (Christians) hearts by the Holy Ghost.
2. Holy Ghost is given to us (Christians.)
3. Christ died for “the ungodly,” clearly referring to us (Christians.)
4. God commendeth his love toward us (Christians.)
5. Christ died for us (Christians.)
6. Christ justified us (Christians) by his blood.
7. Christ will save us (Christians) from wrath.
8. By Christ’s death, we (Christians) were reconciled to God.
9. By Christ’s life, we (Christians) will be saved.
10. Christ gave the atonement to us (Christians.)

If you do not see that the pronouns limit this to Christians, then all of those refer to men in general. Then you see all men are given Holy Ghost, God commends his love toward everyone in that Christ died for everyone. Everyone is justified by his blood. Christ will save everyone. Christ reconciled everyone. Christ atoned for everyone.

The only consistent conclusion is either universalism, which is not remotely true, or the Calvinist view. The context demands the Calvinist view.

Yes, we (Christians) are justified by faith and by faith we have access, but this is not inconsistent with Calvinism.

Where does faith come from? Romans 12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. Every man does not refer to every man who ever lived, it refers directly to the “every man that is among you.” (Christians) No universalism here either.

Monergism. It is all of God.