What's the big deal about Calvinism?

Where the Arminian says, "I owe my election to my faith," the Calvinist says, "I owe my faith to my election." Clearly, these two concepts of elections are very far apart.

Where the Arminian says, "I could not have gained my salvation without Calvary," the Calvinist says, "Christ gained my salvation for me at Calvary."

Where the Arminian is content to say, "I decided for Christ," the Calvinist says

Long my imprisoned spirit lay,
fast bound in sin and nature's night.
Thine eye difused a quickening ray;
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light.
My chains fell off, my heart was free;
I rose, went forth and followed Thee.

("And Can It Be?" by Charles Wesley)

To say, in the Arminian sense, that God elects believers, Christ died for all men and the Spirit quickens those who receive the Word is really to say that, in the biblical sense, God elects nobody, Christ died for nobody and the Spirit quickens nobody.


- JI Packer