Calvinism and Arminianism
The Sovereignty of God, Election and Predestination, Human Responsibility and Free Will
What does the Holy Bible teach about the sovereignty of God, election, predestination, human responsibility and free will? How can we reconcile the apparent tension between these doctrines so that they make sense? How can God hold us responsible and accountable for our decisions and actions unless we have free will?
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Pertinent Scripture Text
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Passages cited for God’s sovereign election
“For He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless in His presence. In love He predestined us for adoption as His sons through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of His will.” Ephesians 1:4-5
“For those God foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would 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.” Romans 8:29-30
“For He says to Moses: ‘I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.’ So then, it does not depend on man’s desire or effort, but on God’s mercy.” Romans 9:15-16
“Everyone the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will never drive away.” John 6:37
“No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day.” John 6:44
“When the Gentiles heard this, they rejoiced and glorified the word of the Lord, and all who were appointed for eternal life believed.” Acts 13:48
“My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them out of My hand. My Father who has given them to Me is greater than all. No one can snatch them out of My Father’s hand.” John 10:27-29
Passages cited for the universal call and human responsibility
“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16
“This is good and pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” 1 Timothy 2:3-4
“The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise as some understand slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish but everyone to come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9
“The Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come!’ Let the one who hears say, ‘Come!’ And let the one who is thirsty come, and the one who desires the water of life drink freely.” Revelation 22:17
“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those sent to her, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were unwilling!” Matthew 23:37
“Although God overlooked the ignorance of earlier times, He now commands all people everywhere to repent.” Acts 17:30
“Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence, but now even more in my absence, continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God who works in you to will and to act on behalf of His good purpose.” Philippians 2:12-13
Read these passages in other languages: Ephesians 1:4-5 • Romans 8:29-30 • Romans 9:15-16 • John 6:37 • John 6:44 • Acts 13:48 • John 10:27-29 • John 3:16 • 1 Timothy 2:3-4 • 2 Peter 3:9 • Revelation 22:17 • Matthew 23:37 • Acts 17:30 • Philippians 2:12-13
From the Westminster Confession of Faith: Chapter 9, Of Free Will
God hath endued the will of man with that natural liberty, that it is neither forced, nor, by any absolute necessity of nature, determined to good, or evil.
Man, in his state of innocency, had freedom, and power to will and to do that which was good and well pleasing to God; but yet, mutably, so that he might fall from it.
Man, by his fall into a state of sin, hath wholly lost all ability of will to any spiritual good accompanying salvation: so as, a natural man, being altogether averse from that good, and dead in sin, is not able, by his own strength, to convert himself, or to prepare himself thereunto.
When God converts a sinner, and translates him into the state of grace, he freeth him from his natural bondage under sin; and, by his grace alone, enables him freely to will and to do that which is spiritually good; yet so, as that by reason of his remaining corruption, he doth not perfectly, nor only, will that which is good, but doth also will that which is evil.
The will of man is made perfectly and immutably free to good alone, in the state of glory only.