Church of Christ evangelist Gene Taylor of Centerville Road Church of Christ of Tallahassee Florida writes the following in his introduction to the doctrine of Calvinism:

"Whenever someone contends that a) faith is a gift from God b) affirms that he has been saved by faith only c) embraces false teachings about the direct operation of the Holy Spirit in the conviction and conversion of sinners d) and believes it is impossible for a child of God to sin and be eternally lost, he has fallen victim to the Calvinist system of doctrine."

This is amazing because when one compares these points with the actual teachings of Calvinism and the “free-will” (i.e. Arminianism) view, one would think the only difference between the two from what Mr. Taylor writes is the "P" of TULIP and the perseverance of the saints.

In other words, the Churches of Christ may be surprised to learn that BOTH Calvinists and Arminians believe in the doctrine of the fall AND the doctrine of justification by faith alone.

However, what is actually debated between Calvinists and "free-will" types is not the dynamics of the fall or the doctrine of salvation by faith alone, but rather how resistible God's grace is to man- the doctrine of election.

Here, the point of contention is that if God calls you- must you respond positively to His gospel, or in the finial analysis does man reserve the ability within himself to reject the God and salvation and thus be lost and eternally condemned?

At this point the Arminian will say yes to “free-will” while the Calvinist answers no.

However, it is the “Pelagian” or Church of Christ view that is being argued against here.

Pelagianism rejects the doctrine of the fall and rejects the teaching that man has a "sin nature" or predisposition to sin and to do evil. In contrast it believes that man has the moral and religious ability within himself to respond positively to all the necessary commands and laws of God in order to be saved.

Thus, making the same assumption about human ability, the Church of Christ therefore rejects the doctrine of salvation by faith alone in Jesus Christ, believing anyone can be saved through "New Testament Patternism" or in other words, New Testament law-keeping.

Again, Calvinists and Arminians reject this view.

They both maintain that because man is fallen and therefore lacks the moral and religious ability to perfectly obey God and always do the right thing, the right way, for the right reason, man can only place faith in Jesus Christ, who not only took the punishment for sin we that we deserved, but who also perfectly kept the demands of the Law for us that we are unable to do in ourselves.