The Theory Of Free Will

Robert Charles Sproul, American Calvinist theologian, is co-pastor of Saint Andrew’s Chapel in Sanford Florida, founder and chairman of Ligonier Ministries and author of more than one hundred books. Hence, discovering his written opinion on the subject of predestination should not be a surprise. This author claims to “love the doctrine of predestination because it comforts and underlines the extent to which God has gone in our behalf. It is a theology that begins and ends with grace”. Hence, Sproul demonstrates a discernment of predestination which readers to experience John Calvin’s opinions through a modern lens. Along the way, the evaluation may reveal unknown or overlooked characteristics. Resultantly, this review will conduct a short summary of Chosen by God’s content and survey its major strengths and weaknesses, providing researchers information by which the work can be evaluated.

The above research has greatly informed this student. The involved questions and resulting theories have highlighted valuable Christian understandings. Both Calvin and Arminius join a host of other theologians and thinkers, many included in this essay, accepting elements of Divine Election. The also join together implying educated assumption on other elements of the doctrine. Therefore, this student has learned that there is not absolute theory of Divine Election which aligns with scripture and explains away all of the questions.

We were taught to understand that no one was perfect. Our status in Jesus was secure but our state changes and so mistakes are made. Forgiveness was to be exercised and the unity of the Spirit was to be guarded and maintained.

It will hence require a change in our attitude toward those who don’t deserve to be forgiven according to us. It begins with prayer and the work of the Holy Spirit upon our hardened hearts.

Has God decided whether or not you will be saved and go to Heaven? Is there anything you can do in determining your place in either Heaven or Hell? Calvinism and Arminianism are two differing theological standpoints that have been and are being debated frequently. These stances give an answer to the question of whether or not people are subject to predestination. Both sides hold that they are correct and backed by biblical proofs. Upon having a first look towards both views it is immediately clear and evident that it is rather difficult to discern which of the two have strong biblical support. Calvinism and Arminianism are held by all sorts of Christians from all denominations. To achieve a better understanding of each view it is important

Boethius explains “ There seems to be a hopeless conflict between divine foreknowledge of all things and freedom of human will. For if God sees everything in advance and cannot be deceived in any way, whatever his providence foresees will happen, must happen. Therefor, if God foreknows eternally not only all the acts of men, but also their plans and wishes, there cannot be freedom of will, nothing whatever can be done or even desired without its being known beforehand by the infallible Providence of God.” (Baird, Philosophic Classics, Consolations of Philosophy 126.)

II. Main Point 2. God tells us in 1 John 1: 9“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” And again in 2 Corinthians 5:17“Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold the new has come.”

The purpose of this paper is to compare two theological positions, namely Calvinism and Arminianism. These are two positions on either side of the extreme concerning free will and predestination. There are those who believe that we have the free will to love and obey God or deny God, and there are those who believe that God, in his sovereignty, has predetermined who will be saved or who will not be saved and neither group is willing to budge. Both sides claim to have the support of Scripture, and both have specific verses that are twisted and manipulated to show support and reasoning. The problem is that both sides appear, on some levels at least, to be right. The question that can be answered from a comparison of these two views is this: What are the basic differences between Calvinism and Arminianism, as well as, their relation to theology, biblical evidence and worldviews? This research paper covers the five key points or articles of Calvinism and Arminianism, as well as, the history, view of God and biblical evidence or support for each position.

The Father offered atonement because of his Crucifixion (Jenson, 2016, p. 87). He was the only one who could save humanity and offer eternal life. Salvation was the antithesis of all darkness found within iniquity. In him, eternal healing and guidance can be found. God’s power and hope is abundant and hopeful as evidenced by his choice to restore the nation of Israel. This nation had become corrupt in every way, but God wanted a relationship with the nation. He kept his promise to offer hope for Israel. He used the apostles to spread the Gospel throughout the nation. So, the nation was brought together in unity toward righteousness even though they were disobedient to The Father (Vail, 2016, p. 58). The Resurrection offered purpose to life. Because of the Resurrection, God has allowed for humanity to be transformed (Richard B. Hayes, First Corinthians, Interpretation: A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching, p. 253). Humanity needed a Savior, or there would be everlasting

That God decreed to leave some in the common misery and not to bestow on them living faith and the grace of conversion. Calvin also believes that God predestined everything for everything that it does, such that God predestined me to be writing this report right now for my religion class, so that this isn't my own free will but it was God's set plan for me. Zanchius, a Reform Theologian, writes that there is most certainly a double predestination and gives passages to prove through God's Word that there is no other way. II Cor. 4:3 "If our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing." I Peter 2:8 "They stumble because they disobey the message-which is also what they were destined for." II Peter 2:12b "…They are like brute beasts, creatures of instinct, born only to be caught and destroyed, and like beasts they too will perish." Jude 1:4a "For certain men who were marked out for condemnation long ago have secretly slipped among you." He concludes his arguments by saying that God could not erase a name that has been placed in the book of life or add a name because it was from eternity. He quotes Luther with, "This is the very thing that razes the doctrine of free-will from its foundation, to wit, that God's eternal love of some men and hatred of others is immutable and cannot be reversed."

“Then Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 2:38)

“Then Jesus told them this parable: Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbours together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.”

That may be true... a. But the application has as much to do with individual repentance as national repentance b. This should make the parable of particular interest to us today, as we attempt to learn from our Lord what He was teaching about the need to repent [Let's begin our study by noticing...] I.

Furthermore, the Holy Scripture clearly affirms God’s prevenient grace, which is when God enables the sinner to make a favorable response towards God rather than demanding a favorable response. In this, the Scriptures show that God’s will be that all man would come unto

Election is the sovereign predestinating work of God, the supreme expression of His mercy and grace. It is the act whereby, from all eternity, God determined to make some people, in Christ, to be His workmanship, crafted to be conformed to the image of Christ, to His glory, according to His sovereign will, and according to His plan to make us accepted before Him.