LAUNCHING OF THE DOCTRINE ON PREDESTINATION Theology Brought into Mainstram by John Calvin
Though the issue raised by Luther was much challenging already, now Calvin appears to be supporting the view that Luther had been introducing before the Church. The both leaders and initiators of the movement of reformation taught the same original revelation of the Word of God that it is God who keeps the ultimate right of deciding everything as Sovereign God. But the problem was that the covenant of life was not being preached equally to everybody, in other words to everyone in the earth, and yet among those to whom it is preached not always finding the same understanding which would reveal on the day of the Divine judgment.
Fear is this, all people may not have chance to hear the gospel, and it seems to okay to Calvin that more emphasizes on matter of God’s election for all human being to be saved. It is His will, He takes control of the entire course of the universe, and He alone takes control of it. If one can ultimately see evidently the Almighty God being moved in the lives the people who are saved by His grace, but not by works it is given freely who would accept Him. Indeed this became a dominant question that who would then be saved and not the some one else? This ought to be received that the issue of Divine election in relation with the salvation and predestination in relation with this earthly life and the life yet to come as eternal gift of God.
Calvin relates his indoctrination with Paul stating that what is so necessary to be known, never can be known, unless God would not reveal it. We might not know this without any effort. The chosen ones are those whom He has given His decreed. “At this present time also, there is a remnant according to the election of grace. And if by grace, then it is no more of works; otherwise, grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then it is no more grace; otherwise, work is no more work.”
Studying Calvin and his works on the theology, I come out with a simple diagram to summarize and illustrate how he would say about God’s sovereign will and eternal-ever changing plan for man. According to his teaching, it is God who elects whom to save, even before he or she is born. Salvation is totally God’s heavenly provision for us. It is “by grace” and “through faith” which is the gift of God (Eph 2:8-9). His emphasis here is God and His sole work in salvation, there is no human effort to attain it. And, thus comes the doctrine of predestination. Because of the salvation is gift from God, He preserves His gift – the salvation will not be lost. There is “now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Rom 8:1). This means that we as the redeemed ones have been entered in the process of glorification, which is, again, God’s work within us. And our humble response is to be grateful to Him for what He has done. This is said that God produces a great sense of obligation to Him within us, and yet a solid confidence of salvation, according to the authority of Christ, who, indeed came, lived and died for us, all whom the Father has committed to His care – to deliver us from all fear, dangers, snares, and all condemnation to preserve us safe eternally. John Calvin’s simple understanding, as I analyze, is based on Abrahamic call by God though there were hundreds of thousand people, and on Paul’s argument that “no one will separate us from the love of Christ” (Rom 8:31-39).
Republished in new layout 6/11/2013
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