Predestination - Where Calvin got it wrong
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The document critiques John Calvin's views on predestination and total depravity, arguing that these concepts create a misanthropic theology that undermines the dignity of humanity. It contrasts Calvin's narrow interpretation with a more compassionate understanding of God's grace and the purpose of creation, emphasizing the interconnectedness of knowledge of God and humanity. The author suggests that Calvin's framing of predestination as inequitable undermines the essence of the Gospel and calls for a reframing to address modern audiences.
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Ephesians 1 – why does he say it?
For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the
Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, 16 I have not
stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my
prayers. 17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus
Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit[f] of
wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 18 I
pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order
that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the
riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, 19 and
his incomparably great power for us who believe. That
power is the same as the mighty strength 20 he exerted
when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his
right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and
authority, power and dominion, and every name that is
invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to
come. 22 And God placed all things under his feet and
appointed him to be head over everything for the church,
23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything
in every way.
Pastoral goals?
Piety?? Denial??
Control??](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/calvinandpredestination-200929001011/85/Predestination-Where-Calvin-got-it-wrong-12-320.jpg)
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Ephesians 1 – what does it really say?
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in
the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4 For he chose us in
him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love
5 he[b] predestined us for adoption to sonship[c] through Jesus Christ, in
accordance with his pleasure and will— 6 to the praise of his glorious grace,
which he has freely given us in the One he loves. 7 In him we have redemption
through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s
grace 8 that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, 9 he[d] made
known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he
purposed in Christ, 10 to be put into effect when the times reach their
fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.
In him we were also chosen,[e] having been predestined according to the plan of
him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, 12 in
order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the
praise of his glory. 13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the
message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were
marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit
guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s
possession—to the praise of his glory.](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/calvinandpredestination-200929001011/85/Predestination-Where-Calvin-got-it-wrong-13-320.jpg)
Predestination - Where Calvin got it wrong
- 1. Radical Humanism & Evangelism Part 2: Predestination & Total Depravity?? How Calvin got it wrong Radical Humanism & Evangelism
- 2. Calvin on Predestination – huge stumbling block for the gospel 2 “We call predestination, God’s eternal decree, by which he compacted with himself what he willed to become of each man. For all are not created in equal condition: rather eternal life is foreordained for some, eternal condemnation for others” Institutes, Book III Chapter 21
- 3. Reframing the gospel for the post modern world… 3 Features of the post modern Audience Applications and consequences Secular – ‘sin’ no longer accepted as premise… Relativist – rejecting fundamental truth claims A story to illustrate … Evangelism and apologetics The ‘ongoing conversion’ of our minds Sanctification and obedience
- 4. 4 Recalling the structure of a compelling argument I become a Jew to the Jew, and Greek to the Greek if by any means I might wing some - Paul Matt 13 Jesus announced that modality of kingdom would be the word not the sword Rhetoric is the available means of persuasion Aristotle ArgumentAuthors Audiences In Rhetoric, the audiences make the decision not the speaker – the speaker transfers their agency via the argument…
- 5. 5 How a (tacit) ‘frame’ works Affects behaviour … “Performance” Frame “Promotion” Frame Frames attention to what I see in ‘reality’ Task is framed in terms of obligation & vigilance against loss…. Then risk aversion and less willing to persist Task is framed in terms of gain and learning…. Then innovative, persistence in the face of difficulties,
- 6. 6 Framework of Calvin’s theology Narrow anthropology Total Depravity Predestination Redemption = justification by grace not works Calvin’s arguments go back to depravity & flow from depravity as the origin of God’s actions and redemption Grace needs total depravity Depravity rules out works Depravity necessitates election Pietism Self Denial Confession Incomplete salvation is the result Depravity still wins… God as winner Totalitarian Sovereign
- 7. 7 Calvin’s view of humanity Promising at face value… But always turns misanthropic… We only know ourselves when we know God because…. Knowledge of God reveals how sinful we are, and emphasises the vast gap between us and Him. The more you know God, the lower your view of humanity will be. And frames predestination entirely within the boundaries of sin & redemption. So depravity demands that the predestination model answers the question, “Why God chose this person not that person to be saved?” Book One - The Knowledge of God the Creator 1 The Knowledge of God and ourselves is interconnected. How they are interrelated. 2 What it is to know God and to what purpose the knowledge of him tends. 3 The Knowledge of God has been naturally implanted in the Minds of men 4 This knowledge is smothered or corrupted Nearly all the wisdom we possess …consists of two parts – the knowledge of God and ourselves. Indeed our very poverty better discloses the infinitude of benefits residing in God. The miserable ruin …compels us to look upward. For as a world of miseries is to be found in mankind, …our shameful nakedness exposes a teeming horde of infamies. Each of us must be so stung by our own unhappiness as to attain at least some knowledge of God . Thus, from the feeling of our own ignorance, vanity, poverty, infirmity and – what is more – depravity and corruption, we recognise that the true light .. Rests in the Lord alone.
- 8. 8 Depravity frames his view of predestination & sanctification
- 9. 9 Depravity frames his view of church order & sociology Cosmology of depravity necessitates a sociology of control – humans can’t be trusted but must be contained… Depravity frames his view of incarnation Incarnation of Christ is arbitrary and expedient – not intrinsic to the faculties of Imago Dei which humans share uniquely with God I admit that Adam bore God’ image … But I add: the Son himself was the common Head over angels and men. Thus the dignity that was conferred on men was also conferred on angels. When we hear the angels called ‘the children of God’ (Ps 82;6) it would be inappropriate to deny that they were endowed with some quality resembling their Father. But if he willed that his glory be represented both in angels and in men and manifested in both natures, Osiander is ignorantly babbling when he says that angels were set beneath men because they did not bear the figure of Christ Institutes Book II chapter 12
- 10. Predestination becomes a lottery 10 Note – it was very controversial in his own day … 1551 Letter by leaders of Bern to cease the discussion for the sake of “the tranquility and peace of the church” Since we are so depraved and low, we can only be saved by God’s election of us. Thus he must also choose to reject and damn others… “The very inequality of his grace proves it is free” “We call predestination, God’s eternal decree, by which he compacted with himself what he willed to become of each man. For all are not created in equal condition: rather eternal life is foreordained for some, eternal condemnation for others” Institutes, Book III Chapter 21 He interprets Eph 1 ‘according to his good pleasure’ as ‘over against any merit of ours’ – NOT as ‘his good pleasure out of love and desire for us’
- 11. Calvin does not go back far enough in his framing of the situation – but Paul does 11 Ephesians Romans
- 12. 12 Ephesians 1 – why does he say it? For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, 16 I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. 17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit[f] of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength 20 he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. 22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way. Pastoral goals? Piety?? Denial?? Control??
- 13. 13 Ephesians 1 – what does it really say? Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he[b] predestined us for adoption to sonship[c] through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace 8 that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, 9 he[d] made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10 to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ. In him we were also chosen,[e] having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, 12 in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. 13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.
- 14. 14 Framework of Paul’s theology
- 15. Some analogies to make ‘predestination’ clear 15
- 16. What about Romans 9 – 11? 16 For God has bound all men over to disobedience, so that he may have mercy on them all. 11:32
- 17. 17 Oh the depths of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments and his paths beyond tracing out! Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counsellor? Who has ever given to God that God should repay him? For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever! Amen.
- 18. How we might frame the ‘problem space’ of the creation gospel? 18 Justin Martyr (AD 103 – 65) (Philo influenced) Irenaeus of Lyon (115-202) Athanasius (296 -373) Clement of Alexandria (150 -215) The Universe is framed by purpose and meaning – in fact by love Humanity is unique and special – distinct from animals and all else in creation – not just an animal and we differ from animals in kind not just degree Creation’s purpose is challenged by the death and corruption Jesus recapitulates or defines all reality and meaning and purpose in himself – he is king of creation and the answer to all of our questions. Death and the system of death is our problem – and God’s s- as it threatens this mission. It is the real measure of the distance between God and us – ie the metric of our gap and problem is ‘Life v Death’.