This is a response I wrote to a high school senior who asked my position on the subject of Predestination vs. Free will. I am not writing this as an authority on the subject, I am writing it solely as a product of my own personal study. Feel free to message me for clarification on any of this.
Well, you have asked one of the hardest questions in
Christendom. Predestination vs. Free will is an issue I have wrestled with over
the years as well. I do not know where you stand on the issue so I will just
present where God has lead me in my study of the two positions.
I do
not know that one could necessarily categorize my beliefs as aligning to either
the Calvinist or Arminian belief system. I believe that God both elects every
believer to salvation AND that each person has a completely free will to choose
whether to place his or her faith in Christ alone. Sound logically
incompatible? Yeah, I think so to, to an extent.
When talking about this issue I
like to draw the parallel to the issue of Christ’s deity- the fact that Jesus
was both 100% God and 100% man. No true believer can legitimately question this
foundational truth of Christianity. It is impossible to be 100% of two opposite
things, right? To our finite minds, it is, but in Gods sovereignty, it is
somehow possible. This is an excellent example of Isaiah 55:8-9, “‘For My
thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,’ declares the LORD.
‘For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your
ways and My thoughts higher than your thoughts.” This concept is also laid out
in 1 Cor. 2:6-11. Note in particular verse seven and the “mystery” it mentions.
Just to clarify I do not know that the “mystery” referenced is talking
specifically about predestination/free-will, but it is an example that God has
not revealed to us all knowledge. Also, look at verse eleven, which again
points to the fact that there are some things which are not for us to
understand, at least at this point in time.
So, getting back to the issue at
hand. I do want to be clear that I hesitate to label myself as either Calvinist
or Arminian. I think the labels stereotype and somewhat limit what the Bible
says. I will, however address the Calvinist points that I agree with. When you
refer to Calvinism, I am assuming you are referring in particular to the “Five Points
of Calvinism” (TULIP) as they have come to be known:
Total Depravity (also known as Total
Inability and Original Sin)
Unconditional Election
Limited Atonement (also known as Particular Atonement)
Irresistible Grace
Perseverance of the Saints (also known as Once Saved Always Saved) [1]
Unconditional Election
Limited Atonement (also known as Particular Atonement)
Irresistible Grace
Perseverance of the Saints (also known as Once Saved Always Saved) [1]
I will work my way
through each point. As a side, I will let you know that I am working off the
list of the Five Points of Calvinism that I found on http://calvinistcorner.com/tulip.
I agree with the point that we are completely and utterly sinful, “The
heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick” (Jer.17:9). The
Bible is crystal clear that all humans are wicked. Really, the only issue on
this point I could say I disagree with is the belief that because we are
desperately wicked, we are incapable of choosing or desiring God.
As to the second point, Unconditional Election, I have no difference of
belief. Romans 9:11 states plainly that we are elected, chosen, predestined, as
does Eph. 1:4-8. And, if you do believe that some are elected to salvation, you
must of necessity believe the logical opposite that others are elected to
condemnation. As hard as it is to accept, I believe this as well. I would
challenge you to think about the whole purpose of the existence of anything
outside of the Trinity. Before you get overwhelmed with that, just realize that
everything exists to bring glory to God. Everything He does is for the sole
purpose of garnering glory for Himself, Deut. 4:24 “For the LORD your God is a
consuming fire, a jealous God.” In
light of this, think about God’s character, His attributes. God’s salvation of
us sinful humans is a demonstration of His grace, mercy, and forgiveness among
many other attributes. However, if He elected everyone to salvation there would
be no chance to Him to display His justice, wrath, or judgment. This would limit the full amount of glory He
could get. Therefore, I am forced to accept that some are elected to damnation,
as much I as do not want to accept it.
I have to admit that the next point, Limited Atonement, is difficult for
me to grasp on the conceptual basis. As a result, I cannot give you my position
on this point at this time. Feel free to message me if you would like to talk
about this point in particular.
As with the previous point, Irresistible Grace is difficult to
understand. I am inclined to agree with this point with the disclaimer that I
in no way think that we are “robots”. God created us IN HIS IMAGE (Gen. 1:26),
and I believe that image includes a mind that is capable of rational, logical,
and if you will, “independent” thought, and “choice making” clunky as both of
the last two terms are. Now what I am not saying is that we have any ability to
do ANYTHING outside of God’s sovereign will. I want to be clear on that.
Nothing whatsoever occurs outside of God’s sovereignty. That also bears the
clarification that God does not cause
everything (sin) to happen, but He allows
everything to happen, but that is another issue.
The fifth and last point, Perseverance of the Saints, I agree with
without any reservations. A true follower of Christ can in no way lose his or
her salvation. John 10:27-28,
6:47; Romans 8:1; 1 Corinthians 10:13; and Phil. 1:6 are all
supporting verses to this. I will gladly elaborate on this if desired.
Arminianism I think limits God’s
sovereignty, but I agree that we definitely do have the choice whether to
accept Christ’s gift of salvation or not. My strongest disagreements with
Aminianism is the belief that believers can lose their salvation, which is, by
the way, a debated point even among themselves with some landing on both sides
of the issue; and the belief that the Holy Spirit can be “resisted and thwarted
by man. [2]
Do not ask me to explain exactly
how it works, because I cannot, the same way I cannot explain the Virgin birth,
Christ’s complete deity and complete humanity, or the Trinity. I am however,
firmly convinced that in some incredible, perfect, and magnificent way, this is
what the Bible clearly teaches.
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