Calvin’s Doctrine of Predestination

 

Question: concerning this doctrine Calvin was accused of imputing to God “a cruelty quite alien to his nature.”

Is this accusation correct?

 

 

I: — “The Three Great Benefits”

1)      A magnification of God’s mercy

2)      A magnification of God’s glory

3)      A magnification of believers’ humility

 

 

 

II: — Practical Consequences of the Fact that our Salvation Rests Entirely with God

 

1)      Perseverance

2)      Assurance

3)      Security

4)      Effectiveness of witness

5)      Encouragement in the face of apostasy

6)      Avoidance of spiritual presumptuousness

 

 

 

III: — The Doctrine Itself

 

1)      The place of human responsibility (and the counter-theme)

2)      Election as the one decree of Father and Son

3)      The contradiction

4)      The attempted acquittal

 

 

 

IV: — Major Theological Difficulties

 

1)      with respect to the doctrine of the Holy Spirit

2)      with respect to the doctrine of the Trinity

3)      with respect to the doctrine of the Incarnation

4)      with respect to Calvin’s understanding of preaching

5)      with respect to Calvin’s understanding of faith

6)      with respect to the “mirror” role of Jesus Christ