“For God so loved the world that He gave His uniquely begotten Son, that whoever has faith in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.“
John 3:16
Imagine this: You’re standing at a fork in the road, and on one side is Calvinism, waving a big “Predestination Only!” banner, and on the other is Arminianism, proudly holding up a “Free Will Rules!” sign. If you’ve ever thought, “Isn’t there a way to talk about faith that’s a little simpler and more, well… balanced?” — then come along for a little journey to explore a middle-ground approach to faith.
In this friendly spot between Calvinism and Arminianism, we find a third path that doesn’t demand all-or-nothing on either side. Here’s the big idea: God’s love and grace invite everyone to faith, but even the choice to respond is empowered by Him, not something we can boast about. Let’s break it down.
Act 1: God’s Open Invitation to All
First things first: If you’ve ever thought “Does God really want everyone to be saved?” — you’re not alone. The Bible says He does! Passages like 1 Timothy 2:4 and 2 Peter 3:9 tell us that God “wants all people to be saved” and doesn’t want “anyone to perish.”
So, rather than a narrow, exclusive invitation, God’s love and grace are like an open door that anyone can walk through. It’s an invitation that doesn’t come with a restricted guest list but is wide open for everyone.
Act 2: Grace — Not Just a Nice Idea, But an Essential Power
Here’s where we take a sharp turn from both theological camps. In our middle-ground approach, we say, “Yes, everyone is invited, but we also believe that no one could respond to God’s invitation on their own.”
Think of it like this: Imagine you’re hearing the most beautiful music from a concert inside a grand hall. You want to get in, but the doors are locked from the inside. Then, someone opens the doors, inviting you in. This “someone” is God’s grace. It’s what enables us to respond — we didn’t unlock the door ourselves, but we still choose to walk in.
That’s what John 6:44 means when it says, “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them.” This grace is God’s way of opening the door. He gives us the power to say “yes” without forcing us through it.
Act 3: Faith as a Gift — Not a Merit Badge
So, here’s where people get tripped up: If responding to God is something we “choose,” wouldn’t that make our faith kind of like a badge we earned? Well, Ephesians 2:8-9 swoops in to clear that up, saying that even our faith is “not from yourselves; it is the gift of God — not by works, so that no one can boast.”
Imagine faith as if you’re being given a free plane ticket. All you have to do is accept it and get on board — you didn’t pay for it, and you can’t boast about earning it. Accepting the ticket doesn’t make you “better” than anyone else; it just means you recognized a good gift and received it. So in this middle-ground view, even our choice to respond is because God has given us the grace to recognize and accept His offer.
Act 4: God Knows, But He Doesn’t Control Our Every Move
This middle-ground view also says, “Yes, God knows everything — even who will respond to His call — but He doesn’t control us like puppets.” Romans 8:29 talks about how God “foreknew” those who would come to Him, meaning He knows ahead of time. But knowing isn’t the same as causing.
Think of it like reading the last chapter of a book before you start (no judgment if you’re one of those people!). You know how it ends, but you didn’t change anything along the way. God’s knowledge doesn’t make us say “yes” or “no” — it just means He’s aware of the whole story, while still allowing us the dignity of real, meaningful choice.
Act 5: A Relationship, Not a Forced Arrangement
Finally, here’s why this view is a little cozier: It’s relational, not robotic. God’s approach to us is more like a friend gently knocking on the door (as in Revelation 3:20), saying, “I’d love to come in and spend time with you if you’ll have me.” He doesn’t barge in or ignore us; He’s offering a real relationship, which makes our response genuinely meaningful.
Wrapping It All Up
So, if you’re feeling a bit in between Calvinism and Arminianism, this middle-ground approach offers a refreshing perspective: God wants everyone to be saved, His grace empowers us to respond without overpowering our will, and faith is a gift, not a reward. We’re invited into a relationship, not a rigid system.
In the end, we don’t need to “pick a side” on Calvinism or Arminianism. We can rest in the mystery that God’s grace is big enough to invite everyone and powerful enough to help us respond — all without making us boast or removing our freedom. God is sovereign, we’re invited, and the journey is always grace-filled.
Jesus said, “Leave the little children alone, and don’t try to keep them from coming to me, because the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” We don’t need a Ph.D. in Theological Studies to grasp God’s truth. The kingdom of heaven belongs to ones “such as these.” Don’t feel pressured into a theological camp. King Jesus didn’t pray for us to follow Calvin or Arminiud or to join any ideological camps. He prayed for us to be unified as loving and devoted members of His Body & Bride advancing the GOSPEL to the ends of the earth.
Blessings & love,
Kevin M. Kelley
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