It is important for a Christian to understand that these two different views exist because these basic concepts will influence how a teacher stands on different positions. Without this basic understanding of these two perspectives this can seem confusing given that they contradict each other. Both agree that a person is saved by grace. They simply disagree on WHY a person becomes a Christian.
Here is a basic overview: FATE
1.
Free will: Man is depraved. He is so tainted by sin and his
evil nature that he cannot choose good
over evil. In his natural state
he is too evil to even see good therefore he is not FREE to choose good. “The Will”
is under bondage to his corrupt evil nature. As a result it is going to take
much more assistance from God for a person to become a believer. FAITH is a
gift that God gives to us
miraculously.
2.
Election: God in his sovereign will (supreme
authority) chooses that some people will become Christians, and that
others will not. God is not looking into the future to see what a person will
do (we all choose sin…) but just simply makes a choice to give the gift
of salvation to his elect. God is all powerful. He is the one who makes the choice.
3.
Redemption: Jesus died on the cross to save ONLY
those that God “predestined” to be
Christians. It is considered a “complete work” so this not only includes
forgiveness of sins but also the faith to believe in the first place. The
salvation of the elect is guaranteed.
4.
Holy Spirit: There is both a general call of the
Holy Spirit to salvation and a personal call of the Holy Spirit. The general
call being God hand picking certain people. The personal call is when the Holy
Spirit woos someone. However they believe that this woeing is irresistable. If a person hears the voice of God in their heart the
person will become a Christian. It is only a matter of time.
5.
Eternal security: (Can you lose your
salvation?) NO! Once
a person has made a commitment to Christ God will continue the sanctification process until the person gets to Heaven. “Once
saved always saved” John10:28. A person does not need to worry that he will screw up his salvation by sinning to much because his salvation is based on God’s choice. There is nothing we can do to undo his
choice to save us. What if a person turns
away from God? Then this belief says they were NEVER a sincere believer in
the first place. It is impossible to believe and turn away so the problem was
in that person not having a sincere or accurate understanding of Christianity
to start with.
Followers: ReformedTheology,
some Baptists (Particular, reformed, Southern) Presbyterians,
Congregationalists,
Teachers: John
MacArthur, Charles Spurgeon, RC Sproul,
Dwight L Moody, John Knox, Hank Hanegraaff, Max Lucado.
