Utter nonsense
There is a content to what God foreknows
Clearly the elect here are those who had not bowed a knee to Baal
Those God knows or knows before
1 Corinthians 8:3 (LEB) — 3 But if anyone loves God, this one is known by him.
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Galatians 4:9 (LEB) — 9 But now, because you have come to know God, or rather have come to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and miserable elemental spirits? Do you want to be enslaved to them all over again?
Election according to foreknowledge is an Arminian not a Calvinist position
Arminian Election: Historical Background and Theological Insights
Explore the historical and theological nuances of Arminian election, its scriptural basis, and its impact on modern theology.
DivineNarratives Team
Published Jul 24, 2024
The debate over divine election has long been a cornerstone of Christian theological discourse. Arminianism, named after the Dutch theologian Jacobus Arminius, offers an alternative perspective to Calvinist predestination that emphasizes human free will and conditional election.
This topic is important because it shapes how millions of Christians understand salvation, grace, and God’s sovereignty.
To grasp these concepts fully, we need to delve into their origins and implications.
Historical Background of Arminianism
The roots of Arminianism trace back to the late 16th and early 17th centuries, a period marked by intense theological debate within the Reformed tradition. Jacobus Arminius, a Dutch Reformed theologian, emerged as a significant figure during this time. Initially, Arminius was a student of Theodore Beza, John Calvin’s successor, and was expected to uphold Calvinist doctrines. However, his theological journey took a different path, leading him to question and eventually challenge some of the prevailing Calvinist views.
Arminius’s divergence from Calvinism was not abrupt but rather a gradual process influenced by his pastoral and academic experiences. As a pastor in Amsterdam and later a professor at the University of Leiden, Arminius engaged deeply with the Scriptures and the writings of early church fathers. His reflections led him to emphasize the role of human free will in salvation, a stance that contrasted sharply with the Calvinist doctrine of unconditional election.
The theological tensions between Arminius and his Calvinist contemporaries culminated in a series of public debates and writings. Arminius’s followers, known as the Remonstrants, formalized his views in a document called the “Remonstrance of 1610.” This document outlined five articles of faith that opposed the Calvinist teachings on predestination, grace, and atonement. The Remonstrance sparked significant controversy and led to the Synod of Dort (1618-1619), where Arminianism was condemned, and Calvinist orthodoxy was reaffirmed.
Despite the Synod’s condemnation, Arminianism continued to grow and evolve. It found a receptive audience in various Protestant circles, particularly among those who were uncomfortable with the deterministic implications of Calvinism. Over time, Arminianism influenced the development of Methodism through John Wesley, who adopted and adapted Arminian principles to form the theological foundation of his movement.
Key Theological Concepts
Arminian theology is distinctive for its emphasis on the synergistic relationship between divine grace and human free will. At its core, this perspective maintains that while God’s grace initiates the process of salvation, human beings possess the capacity to either accept or reject this grace. This collaboration between divine influence and human response stands in contrast to the monergistic view of salvation, which asserts that God alone determines an individual’s salvation without any human cooperation.
Central to Arminian thought is the concept of prevenient grace. This grace, which precedes any human action, is believed to be universally extended to all people, enabling them to respond to God’s call. Unlike irresistible grace in Calvinist theology, prevenient grace does not compel a response but rather empowers individuals to make a genuine choice regarding their faith. This notion upholds the integrity of human free will while also affirming God’s initiative in the salvation process.
Arminianism also introduces the idea of resistible grace, which asserts that humans can resist God’s grace even after it has been extended to them. This resistance can manifest in various forms, such as willful disobedience or neglect of spiritual disciplines. The possibility of resisting grace underscores the Arminian belief in the ongoing responsibility of believers to remain steadfast in their faith journey.
Another significant aspect of Arminian theology is its view on perseverance. Unlike the Calvinist doctrine of the perseverance of the saints, which guarantees that the elect will inevitably persevere in faith until the end, Arminianism posits that true believers have the potential to fall away from grace. This belief is rooted in the conviction that human free will remains operative throughout one’s life, making it possible for individuals to choose to abandon their faith.
Conditional Election Explained
At the heart of Arminian theology lies the doctrine of conditional election, a concept that fundamentally redefines the nature of divine selection. Unlike the deterministic framework often associated with Calvinist thought, conditional election posits that God’s choice to save individuals is contingent upon their response to His grace. This means that while God desires all to be saved, He elects those who freely choose to accept His offer of salvation.
This theological stance underscores the dynamic interaction between divine sovereignty and human agency. God’s foreknowledge plays a pivotal role here; He foresees who will respond positively to His grace and elects them accordingly.
Explore the historical and theological nuances of Arminian election, its scriptural basis, and its impact on modern theology.
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