Axiomatic Sot3riology

With this S-3 Axioms, you’ll learn how to defend Calvinism/Reformed Soteriology without any formal theological training. It’s also easy to see why Calvinism can’t be refuted. This will be converted into a PDF in the future.

Over the years, I have dealt with a lot of anti-Calvinists. As a layman, I needed something that could help me withstand the attacks on Reformed Soteriology. Something that is grounded in Scripture alone. That’s when God opened my eyes to the three Soteriological Axioms. It all started one day when I noticed this peculiar phrase from Jeremiah, “follow the dictates of their evil heart.” It didn’t take long before all three dots (axioms) came together.

At first, I called it The 3 Irrefutable Biblical Facts and made a post about it (2023, September 13). I now prefer to call it “The 3 Soteriological Axioms” or “Soteriological Axioms” (S-3 Axioms). I’ll be referring to these Axioms more frequently in my future posts so that I don’t have to keep on repeating myself. For example, when someone quotes Acts 7:51 to say that Irresistible Grace can be resisted, I can point out that Acts 7:51 proves Axiom 1 (SA1). God opening Lydia’s heart proves Axiom 2 (SA2), and the fact that she got baptized and did good works afterward proves Axiom 3 (SA3), and so on.

Once you distilled the essence of Reformed Soteriology or Calvinism into the 3 Axioms as the starting point, there will be no room for human ingenuity against it. The freedom of contrary choice is still in God’s control. No one is truly free from Axiom 2 (SA2) because of Axiom 1 (SA1). Choices and opportunities then become irrelevant in this soteriological discussion because your choice is dictated by your heart,

“Why does your heart carry you away…?” (Job 15:12)
“But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.” (James 1:14)
“Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.” (Proverbs 4:23)

When you’re asked: “Show me where Calvinism exist in the Bible.” You can start with the 3 Axioms. When they want to talk about freewill or choices, start with the 3 Axioms. The 3 Soteriological Axioms will allow you to cut through the smokescreens and sleight of hand. People like to complicate things, but these Axioms bring the discussion back to Scripture where it belongs. For example: How does God draw people to Himself? Is the heart involved? If so, then the 3 Axioms come into view. If not, then it’s not difficult to prove that the heart is involved, and the 3 Axioms will inevitably come into view again. The 3 Soteriological Axioms are:

We always follow the dictates of our hearts
God can turn the heart as He pleases
God’s turning of the heart is always effectual

I called them Axioms because they are Scriptural truths that can’t be refuted by human wisdom (cf. 1 Corinthians 1:20-21, 3:20). Let’s go through them one by one.

AXIOM 1

WE ALWAYS FOLLOW THE DICTATES OF OUR HEARTS

This first axiom is the key (cf. Mark 4:13), which focuses on man’s depravity. It’s also a major stumbling-block to philosophical arguments that undermine the biblical understanding of freewill. By affirming this first axiom, the other two will naturally follow logically. For that reason, you’ll encounter resistance here (Acts 7:51,54), but resistance is futile (1 Corinthians 1:20-21, 3:20; Proverbs 28:26). Stay focused on this first axiom and labor to prove its truthfulness.

KEY PASSAGES
- Job 15:12
- Proverbs 4:23 [16:9 cf. Jeremiah 18:12]
- Proverbs 18:2
- Isaiah 57:17, 65:2 [cf. Matthew 9:4; Acts 8:22]
- Jeremiah 16:12, 18:12
- Ezekiel 11:21, 33:31
- Matthew 12:34-35
- John 13:2,27,30
- Acts 2:37, 7:39,51,54
- James 1:14
- Ephesians 2:3
- 2 Timothy 4:3-4

AXIOM 2

GOD CAN TURN THE HEART AS HE PLEASES

This second axiom shows God’s sovereignty (“can” and “as He pleases”). To be more specific: He has power over the heart, and thus, is able to direct (Proverbs 16:9, 20:24; Jeremiah 10:23; 2 Thessalonians 3:5) the choice and decision a person makes because of the first axiom.

KEY PASSAGES
- John 3:8
- Proverbs 21:1
- Psalms 105:14,25, 115:3, 135:6
- Daniel 4:35
- Matthew 11:26, 20:15
- Romans 9:18
- 2 Timothy 2:25

Here are the various ways God go about turning the heart:

Turning the Heart
- - 1 Kings 18:37 (KJV, NKJV, ESV, LSB)
  - Ezra 6:22 (KJV, NKJV, ESV, LSB)
  - Psalms 105:25 (KJV, NKJV, ESV, LSB)
  - Proverbs 21:1 (KJV, NKJV, ESV, LSB)
Inclining the Heart
- - 1 Kings 8:58 (KJV, NKJV, ESV, LSB)
  - Psalms 119:36 (KJV, NKJV, ESV, LSB)
  - Psalms 141:4 (KJV, NKJV, ESV, LSB)
Hardening the Heart
- - Exodus 4:21 (KJV, NKJV, ESV, LSB)
  - Deuteronomy 2:30 (KJV, NKJV, ESV)
  - Joshua 11:20 (KJV, NKJV, ESV)
  - Isaiah 63:17 (KJV, NKJV, ESV)
  - Romans 9:18 (KJV, NKJV, ESV, LSB)
Directing the Heart
- - Proverbs 16:9 ⇔ Jeremiah 18:12
  - 1 Chronicles 29:18 (ESV, BSB, MEV)
  - Jeremiah 10:23 (KJV, NKJV, ESV, LSB)
  - 2 Thessalonians 3:5 (KJV, NKJV, ESV, LSB)
Stirring the Heart
- - 1 Samuel 26:19 (KJV, NKJV, ESV)
  - Ezra 1:1 (KJV, NKJV, ESV, LSB)
  - Haggai 1:14 (KJV, NKJV, ESV, LSB)
Putting into the Heart
- - Exodus 31:6 (KJV, NKJV, LSB)
  - Exodus 35:34 (KJV, NKJV, LSB)
  - Deuteronomy 2:25 (KJV, NKJV, ESV, LSB)
  - Deuteronomy 11:25 (NKJV, LSB)
  - 2 Chronicles 9:23 (KJV, NKJV, LSB)
  - Ezra 7:27 (KJV, NKJV, ESV, LSB)
  - Nehemiah 2:12 (KJV, NKJV, ESV, LSB)
  - Nehemiah 7:5 (KJV, NKJV, ESV, LSB)
  - Psalms 4:7 (KJV, NKJV, ESV, LSB)
  - Jeremiah 31:33 (KJV, NKJV, ESV, LSB)
  - Jeremiah 32:40 (KJV, NKJV, ESV, LSB)
  - 2 Corinthians 8:16 (KJV, NKJV, ESV, LSB)
  - Revelation 17:17 (KJV, NKJV, ESV)
  - Ecclesiastes 3:11 (NKJV, ESV)
Circumcising the Heart
- - Deuteronomy 30:6
Giving a New Heart
- - Deuteronomy 29:2-4
  - Jeremiah 24:7
  - Ezekiel 36:26
Working in the Heart
- - Ephesians 1:11
  - Philippians 1:3-6, 2:12-13
  - Hebrews 13:20-21

AXIOM 3

GOD’S TURNING OF THE HEART IS ALWAYS EFFECTUAL

This third axiom shows God’s omnipotence. When He turns the heart to accomplish His will, God can not fail (Proverbs 19:21; Isaiah 43:13). A perfect example of this is Apostle Paul who was dead-set against Christ and His church (cf. Acts 7:51), but in the end became obedient (Acts 26:19-20).

KEY PASSAGES
- 1 Samuel 10:6,9
- 1 Kings 22:21-22
- Proverbs 19:21 ⇔ 16:9
- Isaiah 43:13
- Jeremiah 20:7, 32:39-40 [cf. John 10:25-30]
- Zechariah 4:6
- John 6:37, 8:36
- Acts 4:27-28
- Romans 9:19
- 2 Corinthians 8:16-17
- Ephesians 1:11
- Revelation 3:7

Biblical Examples

It’s no exaggeration when I say that there are a lot more verses, and my list continues to grow as I search the Scripture and meditate on it daily. I have included what I believe to be the essential ones for key passages in the 3 Axioms above, since they are obvious and don’t need much explanation. Once you have these 3 Axioms in mind, you’ll begin to see them through the pages of Scripture.

Exodus 3:19 isn’t included in the Key Passages but it’s actually a powerful verse proving Axiom 3.
- - Note what God says, “I am sure that the king of Egypt will not let you go”
  - God was sure and certain. How? Exodus 4:21 tells us, “I will harden his heart, so that he will not let the people go.”
  - And that’s exactly what happened. Exodus 5:1-2, “…‘Let My people go, that they may hold a feast to Me in the wilderness.’ And Pharaoh said, ‘Who is the LORD, that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I do not know the LORD, nor will I let Israel go.’”
  - Pharaoh didn’t know the LORD because a heart to know Him is a gift (Jeremiah 24:7). On top of not granting Pharaoh that gift (cf. 2 Timothy 2:25), God hardened his heart to ensure that Pharaoh wouldn’t let Israel go.
  - What God did to Pharaoh (SA2) came to pass. He turned Pharaoh’s heart to hate (Psalms 105:25) and not let Israel go, proving Axiom 3 (SA3).
Exodus 14:3-9,15-18 ⇒ God hardened Pharaoh’s heart and also the Egyptians (SA2). Pharaoh and the Egyptians followed the dictates of their hearts (SA1), and pursued the Israelites, as God intended, “I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, so that he will pursue them…” and “they did so” proving Axiom 3 (SA3).
Isaiah 44:28, “Who says of Cyrus, ‘He is My shepherd, and he shall perform all My pleasure…”
- - This is another excellent verse for Axiom 3 (SA3). Cyrus will fulfill all of God’s purpose. How? Isaiah 45:13 gives us the answer, “I will direct all his ways;” (SA2)
  - And that’s exactly what happened. God “stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and also put it in writing, saying,” (Ezra 1:1). In so doing (SA1), Cyrus fulfilled God’s purpose and proving Axiom 3 (SA3).
Psalms 105:14,25 is included in the Key Passages, but I want to touch on it in case it’s not obvious.
- - Here we see God is able to turn the heart one way or another. In verse 14, we see that God can turn the heart to treat others favourably. We see this with the Pharaoh that was with Joseph. See also Proverbs 16:7 and Genesis 35:5.
  - In verse 25, God is able to do the reverse. Psalms 105:14,25 proves Axiom 2 (SA2).
Zechariah 4:6 proves Axiom 3 (SA3).
- - Might and power can’t accomplish what the Spirit can. For example, 1 Samuel 10:6 says this about Saul, “the Spirit of the LORD will come upon you, and you will prophesy with them and be turned into another man.”
    - - Then in verse 9, “So it was, when he had turned his back to go from Samuel, that God gave him another heart; and all those signs came to pass that day.”
      - God gave him “another heart” (SA2) and ALL THOSE SIGNS CAME TO PASS THAT DAY, proving Axiom 3 (SA3).
John 7:37-39 proves Axiom 3 (SA3).
- - Once the Spirit is received, “out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.”
  - Will flow rivers of living water out of the heart. The foundation for Perseverance of the Saints.
Proverbs 21:1 proves Axiom 2 & 3 (SA2-3).
- - It states that God turns it wherever He wishes (SA2). The significant of this must not be overlooked. Think about it: If God’s turning of the heart is not effectual, then Proverbs 21:1 is meaningless. So what if God can turn it wherever He wishes? It’s not effectual anyway! The reality is that it is always effectual. That’s why Proverbs 21 ends with the last two verses in this manner: “There is no wisdom or understanding or counsel against the LORD. The horse is prepared for the day of battle, but deliverance is of the LORD.”
  - The reason why there is no wisdom or understanding or counsel against the LORD is because His turning of the heart will always accomplish His purposes. And the reason why the turning of the heart always accomplishes His purposes is because of Axiom 1 (SA1): People always follow the dictates of their heart. And since that is the case, by turning their heart (SA2), God accomplishes His will/purpose (SA3).
Judges 7:21-22 ⇒ Gideon’s army was less compared to the enemy camp. They won the battle because the LORD made all the Midianites fought each other with their swords. He struck confusions and fear into their hearts (SA2), or you can say He hardened their hearts. The Midianites followed the dictates of their heart (SA1) proving that His turning of the heart is effectual (SA3).

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John 3:19-21 ⇒ “And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed (SA1). But he who does the truth comes to the light (SA3), that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God (SA2).”
Nehemiah 9:7-8 ⇒ “Thou art the LORD the God, who didst choose Abram, and broughtest him forth out of Ur of the Chaldees, and gavest him the name of Abraham (SA2); And foundest his heart faithful before thee… (SA3)”
Acts 16:14-15 ⇒ “Now a certain woman named Lydia heard us. She was a seller of purple from the city of Thyatira, who worshiped God. The Lord opened her heart (SA2) to heed the things spoken by Paul. And when she and her household were baptized, she begged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord (SA3), come to my house and stay.” So she persuaded us.

There are a lot more examples. I’ll update this post to include them whenever I have a chance.

Originally posted on: 2024, December 23

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