The Doctrine of Election
In this paper, I will be discussing the different views of the Doctrine of Election (or predestination). There are many different views on this subject, but I will only talk about the Wesleyan and the Calvinism views. The Calvinism view says, “The doctrine of election is an act of God before creation in which He chooses some people to be saved, not on account of any foreseen merit (nor faith) in them, but only because of His sovereign good pleasure”. The Wesleyan view states that God has a foreknowledge of our future decisions and gives us free will for our actions.
I attend North Cleveland Church of God, which is one of the oldest Pentecostal churches in the United States. My church, and the Church of God, does not believe that God has chosen who he was to save before creation. The Church of God believes fully in Free Will. We are a church that leans more towards the Wesleyan perspective, rather than a Calvinistic perspective. We believe the act of salvation is more of an act faith and heart belief, rather than being predestined. God blessed us with free will.
The Wesleyan perspective says there is more evidence showing that there is free will than that of it only being God’s choice. According to scripture, God clearly wants ALL Men to be saved, “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). God wants everyone to be saved, “(God) who wants all men to be saved and to come to have knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men, the testimony given in its proper time” (1 timothy 2:4-6). God’s will is that all men be saved because Christ died for all. “But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.”
I attend North Cleveland Church of God, which is one of the oldest Pentecostal churches in the United States. My church, and the Church of God, does not believe that God has chosen who he was to save before creation. The Church of God believes fully in Free Will. We are a church that leans more towards the Wesleyan perspective, rather than a Calvinistic perspective. We believe the act of salvation is more of an act faith and heart belief, rather than being predestined. God blessed us with free will.
The Wesleyan perspective says there is more evidence showing that there is free will than that of it only being God’s choice. According to scripture, God clearly wants ALL Men to be saved, “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). God wants everyone to be saved, “(God) who wants all men to be saved and to come to have knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men, the testimony given in its proper time” (1 timothy 2:4-6). God’s will is that all men be saved because Christ died for all. “But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.”
Bibliography: http://wesleyanarminian.blogspot.com/ http://bhpca.mypublicsquare.com/view/the-doctrine-of http://www.churchofgod.net/church-of-god-articles/calvinism%E2%80%94arminianism-which Clark Campbell (interview) Bob Detweiler (interview) “Knowing the Doctrines of the Bible” by Myer Pearman http://www.bible.ca/ef/expository-romans-9.htm http://www.crivoice.org/tulip.html http://www.biblelife.org/calvinism_perseverance.htm