Dead Like Lazarus

Calvinists compare salvation to Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. People in their natural (unregenerate) state are dead like Lazarus, and dead people cannot turn to God. Therefore, God must first regenerate them (give them spiritual life). Unless God does this, they will remain enemies of God.

The glaring problem with this comparison is that Jesus did not raise an enemy of God; he raised his good friend. It’s true that Lazarus was a sinner—everyone is a sinner, including the righteous—but Lazarus was not an enemy of God. He was Jesus’ friend. That’s who Jesus raises from the dead—his friends. Jesus does not raise enemies of God; He raises the faithful. He raises believers. He raises the humble. As James says:

“Humble yourself before the Lord, and he will lift you up” (James 4:10).

This is the biblical view of salvation!

The Parable of the Prodigal Son

The Parable of the Prodigal Son gives another glimpse into why some people turn to God. The prodigal son—who was “dead” (see below)—came to his senses and decided to turn to his father and beg for mercy. In other words, he wizened up! This is how Jesus described it:

“But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.” (Luke 15:17-19).

After returning home, the father said:

“Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet…For my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found” (Luke 15:24).

Although the prodigal son was “dead,” he was fully able to turn to the father and beg for mercy. This is a biblical view of salvation. 

Calvinism and Humanism: Strange Bedfellows

Oddly enough, Calvinists are a lot like secular humanists, at least in this regard: Both blame outside forces for man’s bad behavior. Both essentially teach that man is not responsible for his sin. Secular humanists blame bad behavior on such things as one’s environment, upbringing, genes, or poverty; while Calvinists lay the blame squarely at God’s feet by claiming that he decreed it from the foundation of the world.

The biblical view, on the other hand, is that man is responsible for his actions. Man is response-able. Outside influences (such as bad parenting, environment, or genes) may make it more difficult for someone to act responsibly, but he is still fully able to choose his behavior. Like the prodigal son, he must decide to turn to the Father in humility and repentance, and the Father will welcome him home with open arms. In fact, the Father promises to help him escape his every sin (1 Cor. 10:13).

This is the biblical view of salvation!

By Alex Polyak, Answering Calvinism, 10/5/25