Arminianism

A set of Christian beliefs suggested by Arminius, a theologian from the Netherlands, in reaction to Calvin's five points. He maintained that

• Jesus died for all.
• Everyone has free will and can choose to be saved.
• People can resist the call of God.
• God selected some individuals to be saved on the basis of his foreknowledge of who would respond.
• One cannot lose one's salvation unless they abandon it.

Calvinists regard these as a heresy. The controversy continues to the present time, because both Calvinists and Arminians can justify their positions through reference to biblical passages.