Election, Predestination, Calvinism & Arminianism
I. Introduction
A. This course will examine the age old tension that exists
between the so-called “free will of man” and the
“sovereignty of God”. We will not resolve the problem.
We will come to an understanding of the tension and the
basic views that have been developed to help us
understand this most difficult area of theology.
Hopefully, we will reach a deeper and greater love and
appreciation for God the Father, our Lord and Savior
Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.
B. Definitions and groundwork
1. Election - the act of choosing or selecting
2. Elect - the one chosen
3. Predestination - to mark out beforehand or to
determine beforehand
4. Sovereignty - the right to rule
5. Free Will - the ability to make choices based on
no prior inclination, influence, bent or bias
6. Free Choice - the ability to make choices based on
no external compulsion
7. The subject of election and predestination is a
difficult and controversial one, full of pitfalls and as
volatile as dynamite. It has been so since the
founding of the Church. As is true of some other
doctrines, different views on this subject have
waxed and waned throughout church history. We
shall look at this history in due course.
Election, Predestination, Calvinism & Arminianism
C. Nature of Predestination
1. Predestination is based on and rooted in the
theological concept known as the Sovereignty of
God and is its natural extension. SOG holds that:
a. God is the only sovereign (supreme) being
b. Because He is sovereign He has the right to
rule and to manage His universe
c. Because He is omnipotent (all powerful) He
has the ability to rule and manage
d. Therefore, God has decreed (planned,
appointed or allowed) everything that was, is
or ever shall be. He alone may do this
because He has the power
2. Predestination and election are concerned with the
eternal decrees of God (acting as sovereign). The
levels of the eternal decrees are:
a. Foreordination - God’s decree concerning
everything
b. Predestination - God’s decree concerning
human beings
c. Election - God’s decree concerning those
human beings whom He chooses to save
(chooses as objects of His grace)
1
Election, Predestination, Calvinism & Arminianism
D. Nature of Election
1. Most theologians agree that God is the elector and
that human beings are the elect. Some believe that
God is the elector and that Jesus Christ is the elect
(making all those in Christ to be vicariously elect).
2. Differences arise on how and whom God elects
a. What is the basis for God electing?
b. How does (did) God elect?
c. When does (did) God elect?
d. Is (was) God’s election of individuals or
groups?
e. Does (did) God elect one person, many
persons or all persons?
f. What role, if any, do human beings play in
His electing?
3. This may be the most difficult and controversial
of all doctrines to understand (or accept),
especially when it is linked to contemporary
denominational politics. We shall look at this
subject only from a historical and biblical
perspective. Denomination politics will neither be
considered nor discussed.
2
Election, Predestination, Calvinism & Arminianism
E. Calvinism and Arminianism
1. These are the two extreme positions regarding
election and predestination
2. Calvinism emphasizes the sovereignty of God.
It states that spiritual salvation is a work of God’s
grace from beginning to end. It takes a very high
view of God.
3. Arminianism emphasizes the free will of man. It
states that spiritual salvation depends ultimately on
man himself as he, of his own volition, must choose
to accept or reject God’s offer of grace. It takes a
very high view of man.
4. Calvinism and Arminianism are very systematic
and logical within their thought process. They are
both quite rational if one accepts their “givens”.
Nevertheless, many sound Bible believers fall
somewhere in between these two views and do not
accept either in its totality.
5. Perhaps the key difference is centered in one’s
understanding of the theological concept know as
total depravity. How seriously was man infected by
sin when he fell in the garden of Eden?
6. Thought to ponder - If the New Testament gives
significant coverage to election (and we shall see
that it does), why do we hear so little about it in
sermons, teaching lessons, seminars, etc.?
3
Election, Predestination, Calvinism & Arminianism
II. Historical Background
A. Pelagius and Augustine - Fifth Century
1. Augustine was a North African libertine who was
dramatically saved and eventually became the
Bishop of Hippo. He wrote substantially and his
famous City of God is still considered one of the
great writings of Christianity. Pelagius was a
contemporary of Augustine and an intelligent and
skillful theologian. These two men had sharp
disagreement over the doctrines of election and
predestination.
2. Pelagius’ view was similar to what would
eventually become know as Arminianism. He
denied that human nature had been corrupted by sin
(total depravity), and believed that everyone has the
power, within himself, to believe the gospel and to
perfectly keep the law of God.
3. Augustine maintained that because of the fall of
man in the garden of Eden and his corruption by
sin, that no one, in and of himself, has the ability to
obey either the law or the gospel. This view would
later become known as Calvinism.
B. Semi-Pelagianism - Sixth Century
1. Near the end of the fifth century the views of
Pelagius collapsed and were replaced by a modified
version called semi-pelagianism. This was a
compromise of sorts between the theology of
Pelagius and Augustine.
4
Election, Predestination, Calvinism & Arminianism
2. Emphasis was still placed on the “free will” of
man. This “free will’ was viewed as the triggering
device that initiated the grace of God.
3. The Synod of Orange met in 529 A.D. and
repudiated semi-pelagianism as unorthodox
C. The Protestant Reformation - Sixteenth Century
1. Martin Luther, a German monk, began the
Protestant Reformation on October 31, 1517 when
he nailed his 95 theses (protests) to the door of the
Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany.
2. The theology that came out of the Reformation
was primarily that of Calvinism because of the
tremendous influence of the French reformer John
Calvin. Luther, Calvin, Zwingli, Bucer, Bullinger,
Knox and Melancthon all agreed on the Calvinistic
view of Election even though they disagreed on
other doctrinal points. Melancthon, after Luther’s
death, did move toward a more semi-pelagian
viewpoint later in his life.
3. The great Protestant creeds and confessions of
faith which were developed during the Reformation
generally support Calvinism.
a. Anglican (Episcopal) Articles of Religion
b. Presbyterian Westminister Confession
c. Lutheran Book of Concord (Eight
Confessions)
5
Election, Predestination, Calvinism & Arminianism
D. The Synod of Dort
1. Background - In 1610, one year after the death of
Jacobus Arminius (a Dutch seminary professor at
the University of Leiden), five articles of faith
based on his teachings were drawn up by his
followers and presented to the State of Holland in
the form of a remonstrance (a protest). The
Arminians, as they became known, insisted that the
Church of Holland’s doctrinal statements, the
Belgic Confession of Faith and the Heidelberg
Catechism, be changed to conform to their doctrinal
views regarding salvation, and specifically election.
2. Response - After several years of controversy, a
great national Synod (church council) was called in
1618 in the city of Dort. The charge of the Synod
was to consider the views of the Arminians.
a. The Great Synod convened on November
13, 1618
b. Present were 84 members, 18 secular
commissioners
c. Delegates were present from England,
Germany, Switzerland and Holland
d. The Synod concluded on May 9, 1619 after
154 sessions
6
Election, Predestination, Calvinism & Arminianism
3. Method - The Synod gave very close examination
of the remonstrance put forward by the followers of
Arminius. They operated under the premise that the
sole rule of faith was to be the Word of God as
found in Holy Scripture. This, of course, reflected
the theme of the Reformation - sola scriptura.
4. Results - The Synod unanimously rejected the
Arminian position. They felt, however, that a mere
rejection was not enough and set about to develop a
direct refutation to the five articles (points) of
Arminianism that would state the orthodox position
regarding salvation. Their refutation became
known as the Five Points of Calvinism. They
derived their name from the famous French
reformer John Calvin (1509-1564) who had
established the reformed church in Geneva and had
contributed so much to the great doctrines of the
Reformation.
E. American History
1. The pilgrims who settled in New England in the
early sixteen hundreds were strict Calvinists
2. America’s greatest philosopher and theologian
Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758) was a Calvinist as
was Edward’s famous evangelist contemporary
George Whitefield (1714-1770). These two are
considered to be the human forces behind the Great
Awakening that shook the colonies in the mid
1700’s.
7
Election, Predestination, Calvinism & Arminianism
3. With the enlightenment, the resulting American
and French revolutions, the advent of classical
humanism, and the influence of European social
and political philosophy, America moved more
toward an Arminian view after Edward’s death.
4. Nineteenth century revivalism and the subsequent
emergence of Methodism and its children -
pentecostalism and the holiness movement - led
America further away from its Calvinistic roots
5. Baptists find historical roots of our denomination
in Calvinism as well. The appendix contains a copy
of the Abstract of Principles that was developed in
the 1850’s by the founders of Southern Baptist
Theological Seminary and has been affirmed by its
professors ever since. The famous nineteenth
century Baptist preacher Charles H. Spurgeon was a
“flaming Calvinist”. The appendix also contains a
more recent statement (1963) of the SBC drawn
from the Baptist Faith And Message statement.
The revivalism which began in the nineteenth
century has also had great influence over Baptists.
Historical fears of theological scholarship and the
emphasis on a type of evangelism centered in
“making a decision for Christ” gradually but
steadily moved Southern Baptists toward the
Arminian position.
6. Today, we see a reversal of popularity from the
pilgrim days as Arminianism is the overwhelming
majority view and Calvinism is in the minority.
However, in recent years Calvinism has begun a
comeback and is being re-examined by many.
8
Election, Predestination, Calvinism & Arminianism
III. The Five Points of Calvinism and Arminianism
A. Defined - Following are the famous five points. Note
that the acronym of the five points of Calvinism is the
word tulip. One may remember the five points using this
acronym because Dort is in Holland where tulips are
grown. Unfortunately, the five points of Arminianism do
not lend themselves to such an acronym.
CALVINISM ARMINIANISM
1. Total Depravity Free Will
2. Unconditional Election Conditional Election
3. Limited Atonement General Atonement
4. Irresistible Grace Resistible Grace
5. Perseverance of the Saints Falling From Grace
Both Calvinism and Arminianism have the word grace in
their respective vocabularies, but their understanding of
the meaning of the term are quite different.
1. Arminians believe in general grace that is available
to all, is offered to all, is provided to all, but applied
to none until one decides personally to accept the
work of Christ. Calvinists might refer to this as
frustrated or ineffective grace.
2. Calvinists believe in sovereign grace. That is a
grace that is not only provided by God but one that
is also applied by God to the individual. Arminians
might refer to this as elitist or shadow grace.
9
Election, Predestination, Calvinism & Arminianism
B. Compared
1. Arminianism - Man, of his own ability, is free to
choose faith. He is also capable of choosing faith.
Faith is the sinner’s gift to God, it is man’s
contribution to salvation.
Calvinism - Man is thoroughly corrupted by sin. He
can not and will not choose to express faith. Faith
is God’s gift to the sinner, not the sinner’s gift to
God.
2. Arminianism - God foresaw, before the
foundation of the world, those who would believe
and therefore elected these to salvation.
Calvinism - God, of His own sovereign will and
according to the counsel of His own will, elected
individuals to salvation.
3. Arminianism - Christ died for each and every
human being who has or will ever live, but His
death becomes effective only to those who choose
to accept it by expressing their faith. His death did
not actually secure the salvation of anyone.
Calvinism - Christ died only for the elect and His
death actually secured everything necessary for
their salvation.
10
Election, Predestination, Calvinism & Arminianism
4. Arminianism - Man can successfully resist the call
of the Holy Spirit to salvation. The grace of God
can be thwarted by man.
Calvinism - The call of the elect to salvation, by the
Holy Spirit, always results in the elect individual’s
salvation. The grace of God can not be thwarted by
man.
5. Arminianism - Since faith is man’s contribution to
salvation, if man’s faith fails he loses his salvation.
Calvinism - Believers are kept in faith by the power
of God, not by themselves, therefore a believer can
not lose his salvation.
11
Election, Predestination, Calvinism & Arminianism
C. Scriptural Basis of the Five Points
As in all matters of faith and practice, the truth or error of
a doctrine must be tested against God’s Word, the Bible,
and not against human reasoning, human logic, personal
preference or denominational tradition.
CALVINISM ARMINIANISM
1. Total Depravity Free Will
Jeremiah 17:9 Joshua 24:15
John 6:44, 63 Acts 26:28-29
Romans 3:9-12 Acts 28:24
I Corinthians 2:14 Romans 10:13
2. Unconditional Election Conditional Election
John 15:16 Romans 8:29-30
Romans 9:10-24
Ephesians 1:3-6
II Thessalonians 2:13-14
3. Limited Atonement General Atonement
John 10:11, 14-18 John 3:16-17
Acts 20:28 I Timothy 4:10
Ephesians 5:25-27 II Peter 2:1
Revelation 5:9 I John 2:1-2
4. Irresistible Grace Resistible Grace
John 1:12-13 Matthew 23:37-38
John 6:37, 44, 64-65 Acts 7:51-53
Acts 13:48 I Timothy 2:3-4
Romans 9:16 II Peter 3:8-9
5. Perseverance of the Saints Falling From Grace
John 10:27-30 Galatians 5:4
Romans 8:29-30 Hebrews 6:4-8
I Thessalonians 5:23-24
I Peter 1:3-5
12
Election, Predestination, Calvinism & Arminianism
IV. Conclusions
A. The Christian teachings regarding Election and
Predestination are properly categorized, in my opinion, as
secondary doctrines rather than fundamental doctrines.
By this I mean that they are not foundational to our faith.
Fundamental doctrines concern the deity of Christ,
salvation by grace through faith, substitutionary
atonement, inspiration of scripture, etc.
B. Christianity is a rational religion. This means, for the
most part, it can be explained logically and understood
through human reason. But there are some areas that
perhaps can not be understood (See Isaiah 55:8-9).
Should we be surprised? I think not.
1. We suppose that we live in an either/or world.
Some refer to this as the law of mutual exclusivity.
For example one may be either male or female, but
never both at once. Water may either be a solid, a
liquid or a gas, but never all three at the same time.
2. Perhaps God transcends our either/or constraint.
3. Is it possible that God is so awesome that He can be
completely sovereign and yet at the same time
allow us free choice, always working within those
choices to perfectly carry out His divine decrees?
C. Christianity is also a faith based religion. God saves us
through faith and keeps us in faith. Hebrews 11:1 tells us
that “faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the
conviction of things not seen”. We can be assured and
convicted of things we do not see. The things we do not
see may also mean things we do not fully understand.
13
Election, Predestination, Calvinism & Arminianism
D. Arminianism appeals to our ego. We want to feel that we
are in control and that we play a major part in all that we
do. We may tend to put our trust in ourselves, our
institutions, our church staff, etc. (John 15:5). If you lean
this way watch out for that.
E. Calvinism may give us a false sense of security or make
us lazy or fatalistic. We do have choices to make and we
are responsible for our choices. We do have works to do
so we must be about them (Ephesians 2:10). If you lean
toward Calvinism watch out for these traps.
V. Application
A. Praise God that He has elected you to salvation.
B. Be assured that we do not have to understand all of God’s
workings to have a relationship with Him (aren’t you
glad). That relationship is based on what His son Jesus
Christ did and not on our personal knowledge or
understanding of God’s inscrutable ways.
C. Be encouraged that God has continued to deal with
mankind throughout history. He has dealt through His
Word, through great church councils, through courageous
individuals and through common people. He will
continue to work His will through the end of this age.
D. Be tolerant of differing positions on secondary doctrines
such as election and predestination. We must be careful
to stand firm where God’s Word is clear and allow for
diversity where it may not be quite so clear. God will un-
muddy the waters in His time. All praise be to Him.
14
Election, Predestination, Calvinism & Arminianism
Glossary
1. Arminianism - the view of election that emphasizes the free will of man. It states
that spiritual salvation depends ultimately on man himself as he, of his own
volition, must choose to accept or reject God’s offer of grace. It takes a very high
view of man.
2. Atonement - the Christian doctrine that states that a payment must be made for sin
in order to turn aside the righteous wrath of a holy and just God.
3. Calvinism - the view of election that emphasizes the sovereignty of God. It states
that spiritual salvation is a work of God’s grace from beginning to end. It takes a
very high view of God.
4. Conditional Election - the second point of Arminianism that holds that the
election by God of individuals to salvation is conditional upon His foreknowledge
that they would believe.
5. Elect - those individuals chosen by God before the foundation of the world to be
objects of His grace (predestined to salvation).
6. Election - God’s act of choosing individuals to be objects of His grace.
7. Falling From Grace - the fifth point of Arminianism that holds that one can lose
his salvation if his faith fails.
8. Foreordination - God’s divine decree concerning all things.
9. Free Choice - the ability to make choices based on no external compulsion.
10. Free Will - the ability to make choices based on no prior inclination, influence,
bent or bias.
11. Fundamental Doctrine - a foundational and necessary teaching of the Christian
faith.
12. General Atonement - the third point of Arminianism that holds that Christ died
for and paid the sin penalty of each and every human being.
13. General Grace - the Arminian view that saving grace is provided for each and
every human being but is sovereignly applied to none.
15
Election, Predestination, Calvinism & Arminianism
Glossary
14. Grace - the unmerited favor of God regarding salvation.
15. Irresistible Grace - the fourth point of Calvinism that holds that the effectual call
by the Holy Spirit of an elect individual to salvation will always result in that
individual’s salvation.
16. Law of Mutual Exclusivity - the philosophical view that there exist states that can
not coexist contemporaneously.
17. Limited Atonement - the third point of Calvinism that holds that Christ death paid
the sin penalty only for the elect.
18. Original Sin - the Christian doctrine that states that all human beings inherit the
spiritual death penalty received by Adam for his sin in the garden of Eden.
19. Perseverance of the Saints - the fifth point of Calvinism that holds that the saved
are kept in a state of grace (salvation) by the power of God. Some prefer to call
this the perseverance of the Savior.
20. Predestination - the Christian doctrine that states that God has ordained, decreed
and appointed everything regarding human beings.
21. Resistible Grace - the fourth point of Arminianism that holds that the saving grace
offered by God to mankind can be individually thwarted by man.
22. Salvation - the Christian doctrine regarding the deliverance by God of man from
the power, penalty and presence of sin based upon the atoning sacrifice of Jesus
Christ.
23. Secondary Doctrine - a teaching of the Christian faith that is significant to its
belief system but is not fundamental or integral to it.
24. Sovereign Grace - the view of Calvinism that holds that grace is not only
provided by God for man but is also applied by God to man.
25. Sovereignty - the right to rule.
26. Sovereignty of God - the Christian doctrine that holds that since God is the
supreme being in the universe, He alone has the right to rule, manage, appoint or
allow everything that is.
16
Election, Predestination, Calvinism & Arminianism
Glossary
27. Total Depravity - the first point of Calvinism that holds that as a result of the Fall
man is totally and completely infected with sin. This does not mean that man is as
bad as he possibly can be, but that every area of his existence (personality,
emotion, mind, body, etc.) is corrupted.
28. Unconditional Election - the second point of Calvinism that holds that the
election by God of individuals to salvation is not based on any condition other that
the counsel of His own will.
17