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Purpose of God's Predestinating Grace in Calvinism

The purpose of God's predestinating grace is a contested topic among Christian traditions, with different interpretations emerging from various theological perspectives. At its core, the debate revolves around the nature and scope of God's sovereignty in salvation.

Calvinist Perspective on Predestination

In Calvinism, predestination is understood as God's sovereign decision to save certain individuals, chosen before the foundation of the world. According to John Calvin, predestination is "God's eternal decree, by which he determined with himself what he willed to become of each man" [6]. This view is grounded in scriptures such as Ephesians 1:4-5 and Romans 8:29-30, which suggest that believers were chosen and predestined by God [1]. Calvinists argue that predestination is a manifestation of God's grace, emphasizing that salvation is entirely a work of God, from initiation to completion [5].

Alternative Perspectives

In contrast, other Christian traditions interpret predestination differently. The Lutheran tradition, as expressed in the Augsburg Confession, affirms predestination but emphasizes the role of faith in receiving God's promise of salvation [10]. The Anglican tradition, as represented by the Thirty-Nine Articles, also affirms predestination to life, understanding it as God's everlasting purpose to deliver chosen individuals from curse and damnation [9].

Scriptural Foundations

All positions on predestination reference Scripture. Key texts include Romans 8:29-30 and Ephesians 1:4-5, which speak of predestination and election. The concept of God's sovereignty in salvation is also linked to passages like Romans 9:11-13, where God's choice of Jacob over Esau is seen as an example of predestination [7].

Shared Ground and Divergence

Despite differences, Christian traditions agree that God's grace is central to salvation. The concept of grace is described as "great" and "sovereign" in various scriptures and theological works [3]. However, the understanding of how God's sovereignty interacts with human freedom and responsibility diverges significantly. Calvinism emphasizes the unconditional nature of God's election, while other traditions may see predestination as part of a larger divine plan that includes human response.

The divergence in understanding predestination stems from different hermeneutical commitments and prior doctrinal premises. For instance, Calvinists tend to emphasize the sovereignty of God in salvation, while other traditions may balance this with a greater emphasis on human agency or the role of the church in salvation [6, 7].

Historical and Theological Context

The debate over predestination has historical roots in the early Christian church, with figures like Augustine playing a significant role in shaping the discussion [4, 8]. The Reformation period saw a resurgence in debates over predestination, particularly between Calvinists and Lutherans, though both affirmed predestination in some form [6, 10].

The concept of predestination remains complex, with its interpretation influenced by broader theological commitments. Understanding the various positions on predestination requires examining the scriptural foundations, historical context, and theological traditions that shape Christian thought on this topic.

The complexity of predestination is further underscored by its connection to other theological themes, such as the nature of God's providence and the extent of human free will [2]. As Christian traditions continue to grapple with these issues, the discussion around predestination remains a vital part of theological discourse.

Sources

  1. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Predestination — This word is properly used only with reference to God's plan or purpose of salvation. The Greek word rendered "predestinate" is found only in these six passages, Acts 4:28; Rom. 8:29, 30; 1 Cor. 2:7; Eph. 1:5, 11; and in all of them it has the same meaning. They teach that the eternal, sovereign, immutable, and unconditional decree or "determinate purpose" of God governs all events. This doctrine of predestination or election is beset with many difficulties. It belongs to the "secret things" of God. But if we take the revealed word of God as our guid”
  2. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Providence — Literally means foresight, but is generally used to denote God's preserving and governing all things by means of second causes (Ps. 18:35; 63:8; Acts 17:28; Col. 1:17; Heb. 1:3). God's providence extends to the natural world (Ps. 104:14; 135:5-7; Acts 14:17), the brute creation (Ps. 104:21-29; Matt. 6:26; 10:29), and the affairs of men (1 Chr. 16:31; Ps. 47:7; Prov. 21:1; Job 12:23; Dan. 2:21; 4:25), and of individuals (1 Sam. 2:6; Ps. 18:30; Luke 1:53; James 4:13-15). It extends also to the free actions of men (Ex. 12:36; 1 Sam. 24:9-15; Ps. 33:14, 15; ”
  3. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Grace — God is the God of all -- 1Pe 5:10. God is the Giver of -- Ps 84:11; Jas 1:17. God's throne, the throne of -- Heb 4:16. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of -- Zec 12:10; Heb 10:29. Was upon Christ -- Lu 2:40; Joh 3:24. Christ spoke with -- Ps 45:2; Lu 4:22. Christ was full of -- Joh 1:14. Came by Christ -- Joh 1:17; Ro 5:15. Given by Christ -- 1Co 1:4. Foretold by the prophets -- 1Pe 1:10. Riches of, exhibited in God's kindness through Christ -- Eph 2:7. Glory of, exhibited in our acceptance in Christ -- Eph 1:6. Is described as Great. -- Ac 4:33. Sovereign. -- R”
  4. Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 8: Augustine — Exposition on Psalms — PSALM XXXVII. [5] (part 29): should be condemned, the other receive a crown. ...”
  5. CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 3, section 98: 5:9 5:9 5:10 5:10 5:12 5:12-21 5:12-21 5:16 5:16 5:17 5:18 5:18 5:18 5:18 5:18 5:18 5:19 5:19 5:19 5:19 5:19 5:19 5:19 5:21 6:1-8 6:1-23 6:1-23 6:3 6:3 6:3 6:4-10 6:5 6:8 6:14 6:14 6:14 6:14 7:1 7:1 7:1-6 7:1-25 7:2 7:2 7:3 7:3 7:4 7:4 7:4 7:4-6 7:4-6 7:6 7:7 7:7 7:7 7:7 7:7-25 7:7-25 7:12 7:14 7:24 7:33 7:34 8:1-39 8:3 8:9-11 8:9-11 8:10 8:11 8:12 8:16 8:16 8:17 8:17 8:19-21 8:19-23 8:21 8:25 8:30 8:33 8:34 8:34 9:1-33 9:4 9:4 9:4 9:8 9:8 10:3 10:3 10:4 10:8 10:9 10:9 10:10 10:10 10:10 10:11-15 10:14 10:14 10:15 11:1-36 11:6 11:11 11:11 ”
  6. CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 109: 4:5-6 4:6 4:11 4:12 4:18 Colossians 1:2-3 1:4 1:5 1:5 1:9-10 1:12 1:13 1:14 1:14 1:14 1:14 1:15 1:15 1:15 1:15 1:15 1:16 1:16 1:16-18 1:17 1:18 1:19-20 1:20 1:20 1:21 1:21-22 1:24 1:24 1:26 1:26 1:26 2:2 2:3 2:3 2:3 2:3 2:3 2:10 2:11 2:12 2:12 2:13-14 2:14 2:14 2:14-15 2:16 2:16-17 2:17 2:17 2:17 2:19 2:20 2:20-21 2:23 2:23 3:1 3:1 3:1-2 3:2 3:3 3:3 3:4 3:5 3:6 3:10 3:10 3:11 3:14 3:14 3:14 3:16 3:19 3:24 3:25 4:3 4:17 1 Thessalonians 1:5 2:13 2:18 2:20 3:5 3:12 3:13 4:3 4:4 4:5 4:7 4:7 4:15 4:16 4:16 4:16-17 5:2 5:9 5:17-18 5:19 ”
  7. CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 2, section 144: 2:7 2:28 2:28 3:19 3:21 3:22-23 3:25 3:25 3:25 3:25 3:25 3:25-26 3:28 4:20-21 5:1-1 5:8 5:9 5:10 5:10 5:10 5:10 5:11 5:12 5:12 5:12 5:12 5:12-20 5:12-20 5:12-20 5:12-21 5:12-21 5:12-21 5:12-21 5:12-21 5:12-21 5:12-21 5:12-21 5:12-21 5:12-21 5:15 5:16-17 5:18 5:18-19 5:18-19 5:19 6:1-23 6:4 6:4 6:9 6:14 6:23 7:1-25 7:4 7:4-6 7:32 7:32 8:1-13 8:1-39 8:3 8:7 8:9-1 8:11 8:11 8:11 8:23 8:28 8:29-30 8:29-30 8:29-30 8:30 8:30 8:30 8:32 8:34 8:34 8:35-39 9:1-33 9:1-33 9:5 9:5 9:6 9:9-21 9:11 9:11 9:15-16 9:19 9:22 9:24 10:13 10:14 10:17 11:2 11:”
  8. Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 5: Augustine — Anti-Pelagian — CHAP. 41.--PREDESTINATION DEFINED AS ONLY GOD'S DISPOSING OF EVENTS IN HIS FOREKNOWLEDGE. (part 1): For either predestination must be preached, in the way and degree in which the Holy Scripture plainly declares it, so that in the predestinated the gifts and calling of God may be without repentance; or it must be avowed that God's grace is given according to our merits,--which is the opinion of the Pelagians; although that opinion of theirs, as I have often said already, may be read in the Proceedings of the Eastern bishops to have been condemned by the ”
  9. Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion (Anglican) “Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion (Anglican, 1571), Section 241: Predestination to Life is the everlasting purpose of God, whereby (before the foundations of the world were laid) he hath constantly decreed by his counsel secret to us, to deliver from curse and damnation those whom he hath chosen in Christ out of mankind, and to bring them by Christ to everlasting salvation, as vessels made to honour. Wherefore, they which be endued with so excellent a benefit of God be called according to God's purpose by his Spirit working in due season: they through Grace obey the calling: they be justified f”
  10. Augsburg Confession (Lutheran) “Augsburg Confession (Lutheran, 1530), Lacking Thy divine favor,: Lacking Thy divine favor,”
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