The Doctrine of Salvation or Solatology is one of the most discussed doctrines of Christian theology. This post will be focusing on the antecedent to salvation – predestination. Predestination is God’s choice of persons for eternal life or eternal death. This sub doctrine has been heavily discussed over long periods of time by many scholars. This paper is not to make justification or answer the long-debated questions done by scholars that came before us, but a deep dive into the discussions that they have had in the past and to learn from what we can. It is by no means, to be served as a be all answer. This will aim to discuss the, differing views of predestination, controversial types of predestination and arguments for and against it, and lastly a suggested solution.

There are two major views of predestinations that we are widely known today - Calvinism and Arminiansim. It is important to note that both systems can generally be comprised of five points 1) Total Depravity vs Partial Depravity, 2) Unconditional Election vs Conditional Election, 3) Limited Atonement vs Unlimited Atonement 4) Irresistible Grace vs Resistible Grace, and 5) Perseverance of the Saints vs. Conditional Salvation.

Calvinism, which begin from a theologian named John Calvin, who was a reformed protestant in the 16th century. Most common Calvinist view contain the five points. First is Total Depravity. Total Depravity means that every aspect of humanity is corrupted by sin; therefore, human beings are unable to come to God on their own accord. This corruption creates an inability of response by people and is completely and solely reliance on an external force initiated by God himself before beginning of time. Scriptures that support this is shown in Ephesians 2:1-3. Second is that Election is unconditional. Unconditional Election means that God elects individuals to salvation based on entirely His will not of anything that an individual does. This is in direct relation to Total Depravity, in a sense that nothing that we do will have an impact on who is going to be saved. One of the famous references of this is shown in the parable of the laborers in the vineyard when the master hired workers at different hours with same pay and few of them started complaining about the hour in which they were hired for. The worker does not have the authority to question which hour the master hires. It is solely and completely depended on the will of the master to desire to hire. This concept of divine sovereignty, along with the human inability is the basic doctrine of Calvinistic view Third is Limited Atonement. This is one of the most controversial points of Calvinism. Limited Atonement suggests that Jesus only died for the elected in which He predestined since beginning of time. This doctrine holds truth to Ephesians 1:4 “Even as He chose us in Him before the foundations of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him.” These verses that signify “us” and “many” are in question to rather if they have been predestined. Calvinistic Limited Atonement believes that it is an exclusive group of people that had been chosen. Although the numbers are unclear, the bible is clear in Christ died for the chosen people. Fourth is Irresistible Grace. This is the view that argue when God calls a person to salvation, that person will inevitably come to God. This signifies that God’s authority is evidently higher than anything, especially our choice. This highlights God’s will and that no choice made by human will have an impact on the will of God since it has been predestined. Fifth is the Perseverance of the saints. It refers to the fact that a person elected by God will persevere in faith and will not permanently deny Christ or turn away from Him. This is also the controversial once saved, always saved view to salvation.
Because Calvinism focuses heavily on God’s predestined will, Election is something that needs to be discussed in further details. There are also several characteristics of election that Calvinists hold. One is that the election is an expression of God’s sovereign will, two is that election is efficacious, which means that those who God called will come to faith no matter what. Third is that election is from eternity, not a decision made a certain point in time, but a decision made by God from the beginning of time. Fourth is that election is unconditioned. This means that it does not depend on humans’ action or choices regarding God’s choice and will. Fifth and last, is the election is immutable, which means that God does not change his mind. A famous theologian Loraine Boettner compares this freedom to come to God but the inability to so to a bird has a broken wing. It is free to fly but is unable to. Some Calvinists also hold the view of double predestination. Double predestination is the idea that God not only choose some to be saved but also choose some to be damned in hell. We will discuss this matter in the controversial section of the paper.

Arminianism also has 5 points but just quite different from Calvinism. This section will discuss the general five points that Arminianism holds.
Started by Jacobus Arminius in the 17th century, it claimed that Gods sovereignty and human free will are compatible. This view ranges from conservative evangelical view all the way to left-wing liberalism. It is important to note that Arminius maintained the belief that humans are sinful and unable to do good in their own strength. First point to Arminianism is Partial Depravity. Unlike Total Depravity, it is a view that believes that every aspect of humanity is tainted by sin but to the extent that human beings are unable to place faith in God of their own accord. However, classical Arminianism rejects partial depravity and holds very close to the Calvinistic total depravity, the extent and the meaning of depravity is debated in the Armenian scholars. Generally, Armenians believe that humans can choose and is not completely condemned morally and ethically. Second point is Conditional Election, which states that there is a human being has a part to take in salvation. In this view, God allows people who he predestined to be able to choose with their free will to accept and to believe in God. Third is Unlimited Atonement. Arminianism believes that Christ work on the cross, death and resurrection is not limited to few but available for all those who seek Him. This widely gained a lot of attention because of its inclusive message of the gospel. Arminianism holds to believe that God desires all person to be saved. It references Ezek. 33:11 where God says, “I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked but rather that they turn from their ways and live.” They also hold to the 2 Peter 3:9, “He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” More verses found in 1 Timothy 2:3-4, Isaiah 55:1, Matthew 11:28 where it highlights the characteristics of God who is merciful and forgiving. In this view, although there is still inability of human to do good, God graciously restores to all men sufficient ability to make a choice in the matter to submission to him. In result, all humanity can be saved out of their choice. However, Armenians still retain to the term election. God, who is infinite in knowledge, and can foresee those who are predestined by God. Fourth is Resistible Grace. In this view, a believer can resist God’s grace out of their choice. They can either choose to believe or reject this grace and choose to follow their own desires. Fifth is Conditional Salvation. This view argues that a believer can, out of their own free will, lose their salvation. This is another view that majority Armenians disagree and hold closer to the perseverance of the saints that Calvinists hold. Overall, Armenians believes the ideal that prevenient grace, which is grace given to all humans indiscriminately, leads all people to the gospel and their choice and freedom plays a role. Although many Armenians believe in the corruption of humanity, God graciously restores to all men sufficient ability to make a choice in the matter of submission to Him. Since God has done so, everyone is capable of accepting this offer of salvation.

There are many controversial to each point discussed in both Calvinism and Arminianism. One of the most controversial topics among Calvinistic theologians is the limited atonement. Limited atonement is that Jesus Christ only died for the elect of which God has chosen since beginning of time. This is problematic for many reasons but one of the main problems is that it makes Christ atonement insufficient because it cannot and does not extend to all humanity. This view of atonement creates a sense of exclusivity, however, is support by scripture evidence that God has chosen certain people to be saved. To counter argue this view, we know from passages like Romans 3:9-11 where Paul makes clear that spiritual inability is a universal condition true of Jews and Gentile alike. Arminianism also counter argue this view of limited atonement by providing scripture evidence such as 2 Peter 3:9 “He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance,” and Matthew 11:28 that state “Come to me all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest.” The Election view of Calvinism also creates a sense of exclusivity. This ideology hinders and limits the preaching and sharing of the gospel to the lost. Although we do not know who is elected accordance to God’s sovereignty, the ideal that Christ died for all of us cannot be implied. This raises a moral question of “what’s the point?” If it were all set in stone, why bother go out and spread the gospel? Why would God’s calling to make disciples of all nations be relevant? Why bother raise funds and make churches, and pray for the lost? This creates a sense of limitation on our freedom. After all, if everyone has been elected, is it really our choice? Another big debate over Calvinism is double predestination. We talked briefly about this in the previous section of the paper. Double predestination simply means that God not only chooses his elect to go to heaven which we call predestination, but also choose those who will go to hell. This view is one of the most heavily discussed because it questions the characteristic of God. To the moral that humans have, this allows room to believe that God is not all loving. One of the toughest question is, if God is so loving and merciful, why send people to hell?
In Arminianism, extreme liberalism have made its way to controversial topics. Arminianism view of Partial Depravity, Election, Atonement, and Perseverance all point to that ultimate belief that the decisive or partial cause of my faith in Christ was myself. Regard to depravity, it is believed among extreme Arminianists it can be argued that God’s will changes depending on human choice. Because God’s will and humans’ choice are capable, some left theologians believe that one can reject Gods effecious calling. This in suggest that God’s will of salvation and his election of those who are chosen, is in some way reliance to human will and choice. Walking away from a calling, denying of the holy spirit, and choose not to worship God. Some debate that, in whole, this is the will of God and that the result of someone denying salvation is in fact part of Gods plan, which is referred as Conditional Salvation. That a believer can, by their own will, walk away from God, in result losing their salvation. Many Arminianist do not hold to this, but still to today, many do.

A suggested solution is similar to the one that Erikson gave in the book Christian Theology. It is true that both extreme sides do not provide a sufficient answer to solve the mystery of predestination. And it is with a humble thought that there are areas in theology that is a longing mystery. However, we can still draw a conclusion based on these two views to understand God’s ways and His heart for people. It is true that scripture speaks a lot of election in different ways. One of those ways is that Election is often referred as Chod’s choice of Israel and His favored people. This gives evidence that certain people are favored position in Gods eyes. I want to argue the extent of that certain people. In my readings of the scriptures, it is unclear that the extent of unconditional salvation is a small group of people (Romans 8:29; 1 Thess. 1:4; Eph. 1:4). In addition, the scripture is also unclear that we should worry about if we are chosen as elect or not. Many of Paul’s letters do instruct us to be careful to not deceive ourselves of salvation by staying in the teachings of Jesus and in dwelling with the spirit. But I believe that’s a different topic in matter. In both sides, however, we can draw commonality that point to goodness of God and the desires He has for his people. Both Calvinists and conservative Arminian agree that humans are unable to do anything to extricate themselves from the condition that they are in. And because they are blinded to their situation, they have no desires to do so. This blindness shown in Romans 1:18-24 and 2 Corinthians 4:3-4 creates a need for Christ’s work on the cross. It highlights His life and ministry as crucial need for our salvation. Paul makes clear of this spiritual inability and that it is a universal condition true of both Jews and gentiles. To make conclusion that spiritual blindness allows external force to be available to all is unclear. However, it is no debate that we find impressive collection of texts suggesting that God has selected some to be saved, and that our response to the offer of salvation depends on this prior decision and initiative given by God. We also know that there are impressive number of texts that support God’s desire to save all people by the sending of the Son to die on the cross for not some but for all people. This conflicting view is something that we cannot understand with our brain. It’s a simple act and due diligence that we do as Christ followers to best understand God’s heart. But at the same time, we ought to keep in mind that God is outside of time, space and matter in which we are confined to it.

This post was edited by Ogilvy on Nov 16 2021 05:02pm