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Soterilogy

Pelagianism

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Soterilogy

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    1. Soterilogy Part V: Predestination in the Orthodox Concept 3/4/06

    2. Pelagianism & Predestination God gave human kind laws & commandments If follow laws/commands perfectly ? saved! Recognizes human freedom Net Net: Redemptive theory ? one’s salvation based/contingent on one’s own good works. God’s grace assists, but not necessary for salvation. (Condemned at Council of Ephesus)

    3. St. Augustine & Predestination Fundamental insight: Grace is a gift, not a reward. Biggest combatant of Palagianism, but his insight had a darker side: If grace is a gift, God must be free to offer it/not offer it on the basis of any external consideration…reflecting liberty of giver. Thus, no longer a gift, but a reward for a specific action/attitude. Thus, gift not given to all, but only to some…thus the particularity of grace. Summation: All humanity contaminated by sin Humanity unable to break free from sin’s grasp Only grace can set humanity free Yet, grace not bestowed universally… only to some individuals Result 1: Only those chosen few given grace will be saved (predestined for salvation) Result 2: Remainder were not actively condemned to damnation, but merely NOT ELECTED to salvation NET NET: God gives grace to those saved & God withholds grace to those unsaved! (We do not believe this theory either!)

    4. Calvinism's Double Predestination (based on Benedictine monk Godescalc of Orbais) God has predestined some to eternal damnation. Logic: God couldn’t have died in vain for those who were predestined to damnation. God died only for the elect. NET NET: God actively saves & actively condemns. (We do not believe this!)

    5. Universalism & Predestination God loves everybody & everybody is saved! (We do not believe this theory either.)

    6. PREDESTINATION IN THE ORTHODOX CONCEPT

    7. The Universal Saving Will of God (Ez 33:11) “I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live.” (1 Tim 2:4) “God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved.” (Jn 3:16) “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” (1 Jn 2:2) “He Himself is the propitiation for our sins and not ours only, but also for the whole world.” (Mk 16:15) “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.”

    8. Human Free Will (Deut 30:19) “I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life.” (Is 1:19-20) “If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be devoured by the sword.” (Mt 16:27) “If anyone desires to come afte Me, let him deny himself.” (Mt 19:17) “If you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.” (Rev 3:20) “If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him…” (Mt 23:37) “How often I wanted to gather your children together…but you were not willing!” (Jn 5:40) “You are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.” (Mt 22:2-3) “The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son and sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding; and they were not willing to come.” (Jn 1:11) “He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.”

    9. God’s Foreknowledge God, through His divine foreknowledge of future knows: Who’d use the gift of free will to please Him in righteousness & goodness Who’d misuse the gift of free will to choose evil & disobey Him CRITICAL: God’s foreknowledge does not interfere with our given free will! Bottom line: His desire & our free will/actions & His foreknowledge are all independent factors!

    10. The Orthodox Perspective of Predestination (Rom 8:28-30) “All things work together for good to those who love God, (not ‘ those whom God loves’) to those who are called according to his purpose.. for whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son.” (1 Cor 2:9) “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have come into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him” (not ‘whom He loves’) NET NET: We believe that God’s predestination for salvation is due to is divine foreknowledge, not His will (for God wants all to be saved)! Whom He foreknew, He also predestined. (1 Pet 1:2) “elect according to the foreknowledge of God” CRITICAL: Differentiate between God’s will and His foreknowledge

    11. Jacob/Esau Example (Rom 9:13) “Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated.’ Both Jacob & Esau called to salvation. God loves all equally & doesn’t show partiality. (Deut 10:17) "The LORD your God is the God of gods and Lord of lords. He is the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and takes no bribes. “ God foreknew how they’d freely respond to His call. Esau hated (rejected) only b/c God foreknew he would choose wrongly & be wicked Jacob was loved (accepted) b/c God foreknew he would participate in the faith of Abraham & serve God’s purpose God’s foreknowledge did not interfere with their free will.

    12. St. Paul Example (Gal 1:15) “God who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace” St. Paul persecuted the Church, but God foreknew he would repent and had elected him before he was born. St. Paul’s free will (persecution of church) did not interfere with God’s predestination (from the womb)

    13. Potter/Clay Example (Rom 9:21) “Does not the potter (God) have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor?” The potter (God) is wise & just & His will is to make all clay vessels of honor Absurd that potter (God) make a vessel of dishonor BUT, if clay rough & not fit to be a vessel for honor, the potter is obliged to make it a vessel for dishonor THUS, it all depends upon the condition of the clay

    14. Verse to contemplate (Jer 18:6-10) “Look, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel! The instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, to pull down. And to destroy it, if that nation against whom I have spoken turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I thought to bring upon it. And the instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it, if it does evil in My sight so that it does not obey My voice, then I will relent concerning the good which I said I would benefit it” Good example of this change of God’s judgement if a person turns from evil to seek salvation: Nineveh.

    15. Protestant (Calvinism) Confusion Protestant (Calvinists) teachings of predestination & election: Implies injustice & partiality Leads sinners to despair (repentance is in vain) since predestined for dishonor/damnation Leads righteous to slackness/negligence Leaves many question unanswered: Why give commandments, if predestined for salvation/damnation? Why would devil tempt the elect, if certain to be saved? Why reward elect, if they have no choice in their destiny? Why punish a person predestined to perdition? Left with confusion & contradictions to God’s love, justice & human free will

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