Calvinism: The Doctrine of Predestination
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1) Calvinism teaches the doctrine of predestination, that God predestines some to be saved and others not. 2) The core doctrines of Calvinism include: total depravity of man, unconditional election by God, limited atonement of Christ's death, irresistible grace, and perseverance of the saints. 3) The doctrines are logically connected - if man is totally depraved and unable to be saved without God's intervention, then God must predestine some to salvation and Christ must have died only for the elect. Once saved, one is always saved.
Calvinism: The Doctrine of Predestination
- 2. Calvinism: The Doctrine of predestination
- 3. – God predestines His “chosen ones” to be saved – God grants ALL man a free will to choose what he wants: to be with God (saved) or not be with God
- 4. Predestination: Origins • Rom 8:29-30: For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified • The “Predestination” concept is part of a larger doctrine called “Calvinism” • The “Predestination” concept has very profound theological consequences
- 5. Calvinism: It’s core doctrines • T - Total depravity • U - Unconditional election (or: Predestination) • L - Limited atonement • I - Irresistible grace • P - Perseverance of the saints The last 4 doctrines follows logically if you accept the (first) doctrine of Total Depravity…
- 6. 1. Total depravity • Man is totally corrupt. Man's thoughts, actions, and ambitions are all bad. • Man does not have the ability to do what God commands him to do (repent). • “All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23) • “The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Rom. 6:23). Man is DEAD. Dead things can’t do anything !!
- 7. 2. Unconditional election (Predestination) – If man is unable to repent and believe the Gospel, then it follows that God must choose some for Heaven (and send the rest to Hell). Calvinism teaches that everything that happens was planned by God and nothing can be done to change it.
- 8. • Means that God chooses (elects) certain people to be saved and go to Heaven. • Rom 8:29-30: For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified • (The rest are chosen by Him to go to Hell ???)
- 11. 3. Limited atonement • Meaning: Christ only died for certain people. – Those He died for will go to Heaven. – The rest will go to Hell. • Doctrine of Limited Atonement is a logical consequence of the Total Depravity: – Man cannot repent and believe to be saved, so: – God has predestined who will be saved and who will be lost, – therefore it is only logical that Christ died only for those God has planned to save.
- 12. 3. Limited atonement • Verses “in support” of Limited Atonement: – John 10:11 I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. – John 15:13 No one has greater love than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. – Act 20:28 … the church of God which He has purchased with His own blood. – Eph 5:25 …even as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for it
- 13. 4. • The elected is saved and taken them Heaven regardless of they like it or not. • Ephesians 2:8: “it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God” • The sinner is neither capable nor willing to receive salvation... The saving grace of God, changing the heart of the sinners, precedes the sinner’s will to come to Christ.
- 14. 5. • Once a person is saved, he will persevere to the end. • A child of God once saved, cannot be lost. • “When you are saved, you are born again. You cannot become unborn” • Conclusion of Calvinism:
- 15. Once Saved, Always Saved - Basis Once we are saved, nothing can separate us from the love of God: always saved
- 16. Once we are saved, nothing can separate us from the love of God: always saved
- 17. The Logic behind Calvinism • It all starts with : “Man is depraved” – Man is dead in sin. What can dead people do ? Nothing ! • If man can’t do anything, everything must be done by God. – God chooses (predestines) some of us to be saved • Since God does the choosing, you cannot do anything to become “chosen” (you are dead, remember ?) – Then: you also cannot do anything to become “unchosen” • Conclusion: once a child of God, always a child of God !
- 18. Concluding Remarks • Believing in Predestination will not get you to heaven nor get you to hell; only the blood of Jesus can do that