Tag: predestination

Luther and Calvin v. Augustine and Justin Martyr on Free Will

One of the core tenets of Calvinism is the belief that there’s no such thing as free will, particularly in regards to matters of salvation.  What strikes me about this doctrine is that I’m not sure anyone really believes it.  I realize that sounds odd, but consider: even those, like Luther and Calvin, who claim… Continue reading Luther and Calvin v. Augustine and Justin Martyr on Free Will

“Did God Die For You?” (St. Paul and Unconditional Election)

That’s the title of a tract I was handed on the street earlier this month. It’s in the form of a series of questions and answers. One of the questions is, “How do I know if God has chosen me to be saved?” The answer begins (my emphasis added): A. You may be one of… Continue reading “Did God Die For You?” (St. Paul and Unconditional Election)

Tough Questions About Predestination, Free Will, Evil and Hell

A recent convert to Catholicism, in response to last Friday’s post on the problems of free will, evil, and Hell, asks some really hard questions.  There are actually a lot of good comments on that post, so if it’s a subject that interests you, you should check it out.  Let me start out with two hypotheticals, before moving… Continue reading Tough Questions About Predestination, Free Will, Evil and Hell

Family Radio: The Newest Layer of Crazy

As most of you likely remember, the Rapture-obsessed group Family Radio, headed by Harold Camping, claimed that the Bible “guaranteed” that the Rapture and Judgment Day would occur on May 21, 2011.  I live-blogged the coming and going of May 21 at the time.  Needless to say, their predictions (even promises) of what the Bible… Continue reading Family Radio: The Newest Layer of Crazy

St. Augustine v. St. Justin Martyr on Double Predestination?

A few days ago, I suggested ChurchFathers.org, and noted that they had a great quote from St. Justin Martyr disproving double-predestination, since Justin, writing in 151 A.D., rejects the possibility of anything like double-predestination as (1) unthinkable – treating it as if it were something a Christian audience would obviously reject, (2) contrary to the justice of God,… Continue reading St. Augustine v. St. Justin Martyr on Double Predestination?

Great New Resource for the Early Church Fathers

Ever had the experience of vaguely remembering the perfect quote from the Church Fathers on a certain topic, only to find that you can’t remember who said it, or where?  Or perhaps you’re just curious as to what the Fathers said on a certain issue, but don’t have time to comb through hundreds of pages… Continue reading Great New Resource for the Early Church Fathers

Assurance of Salvation and “Evanescent Grace”

Nick, responding to my earlier post on assurance of salvation, brought up a very good point: John Calvin clearly taught something called *evanescent grace* in which God gives a ‘fake grace’ to the Reprobate to make them *think* and act as if they were Saved, and this only so that He could damn them with… Continue reading Assurance of Salvation and “Evanescent Grace”

Matthew 23:37 and Calvinism, Revisited

Fr. William Most has some great commentaries from Grace, Predestination, and the Salvific Will of God on the issues I was discussing last week: namely, that Matthew 23:37 only makes sense if there’s some sort of real ability to accept or reject Christ at some point in the salvation process. Well, Fr. Most addresses this… Continue reading Matthew 23:37 and Calvinism, Revisited

Matthew 23:37, Free Will, and Irresistable Grace

I. Where Catholics and Calvinists Agree on the Free Gift of Salvation.Both Catholics and Calvinists believe that man is justified before God through the free gift of God’s Grace, and that this grace not only precedes anything good we might do, but is a requirement for it. In other words, we can do no good… Continue reading Matthew 23:37, Free Will, and Irresistable Grace