We begin our discussion on the issue of Predestination with debate between the Calvinists (led by Theodore Beza) and the Arminians (led by Jakob Arminus). The Calvinists based their position on the belief of double predestination, where some people are elected to be saved, and others to damnation (McGrath 1997: 453). It is also termed the doctrine of “limited atonement’ and “particular redemption”. This is summarized as the "Five Points of Calvinism." The Arminians objected to the Calvinist position. The Arminians systematized their theological views into five points of doctrine and issued a document known as the "Remonstrance of 1610." 1. THE FIVE POINTS OF CALVINISTIC THEOLOGY (McGrath 1997: 452-454)
Point I: TOTAL DEPRAVITY:
The Calvinist
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THE FIVE POINTS OF ARMINIAN THEOLOGY (Letham 1988)
Point 1: FREE WILL
By this it is meant that in Eden, man's fall only partially affected his ability to choose. The will of man is neutral and not determined by his nature, therefore it is autonomous and free of any binding persuasion towards unrighteousness and sin.
Point 2: CONDITIONAL ELECTION
The Arminian believes that God's election unto salvation is based upon His fore-knowing the free will choices of men with regard to their own salvation. They believe that election is based upon the foreknowledge of God as to who would believe. In other words man's act of faith is the "condition" for his being elected to eternal life. Since God foresaw him exercising his "free will" in accepting Christ as Lord and Savior God then elected him to salvation on that basis.
Point 3: UNIVERSAL ATONEMENT
The Arminian believes that in order to accommodate man's free will, Christ took to the Cross the sins of every human being without exception. The death of Christ does not save any individual, rather it makes salvation possible for every individual. The cross is thereby limited as to its nature, becoming an incomplete work, ineffectual until completed by the free will work of man. It is the free will choice of man to accept Christ's work that completes