Calvinism and Arminianism

SOVEREIGNTY, FREEWILL AND SALVATION
PROF. M. M. NINAN
and justified by works. In other words, the entered the covenant by birth, and maintained it
by works. Paul’s original thesis makes this clear. These examples are not examples of God
choosing Isaac and Jacob, but examples of God not choosing Ishmael and Esau (as well as
their descendants), even though they were both sons of Abraham.
Ephesians 1:3-12: Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord, Jesus Christ, for we are
blessed in all spiritual blessings, in the heavenly things, in Christ, seeing that He chose us in
Him before the inception of the world to be holy and unblemished within His presence in
love, thus predestining us into adoption to Him through Jesus Christ, according to the good
judgment of His will in praise of His glory and His grace by which He favoured us in the
Loved One.
Paul is using the concepts of predestination and election to praise God for the inclusion
(or predestining) of the Gentiles in election. Why are these gentiles - as community
outside of Israel - elected? Is there an Abraham behind? There is and more so, because
the whole mankind are sons of Adam, son of God. Hence Paul goes on to say:
3:5-6: In former generation this mystery was not made known to humankind, as it has
now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit: that is the Gentiles
have become fellow heirs, members of the same body, and sharers in the promise in
Christ Jesus through the gospel.
Ephesians 2:8
Ephesians 2:8 For you see it is from grace that you have been saved through faith;
not from yourself. This is a gift of God, not from works so that none may boast.
Faith is not something induced. It is something a person chooes. It has nothing to
do with predestination. It in fact supports human freedom
John 6:36-40 But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe. All
that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never
drive away. For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will
of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none
of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. For my Father’s will is
that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I
will raise him up at the last day.
John 6:44-45 “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him,
and I will raise him up at the last day. 45 It is written in the Prophets: ‘They will all
be taught by God.’ Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from him comes
to me.
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