Predestination (Calvinism)
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The Calvinist doctrine of predestination, is the religious doctrine of "double predestination", particular to Calvinism. The term double predestination is typically used in a disparaging way to refer to the belief that God has appointed the eternal destiny, not only of the "Elect" (those destined for salvation and Heaven), but also of those who are elected to damnation and Hell . In other words, the doctrine of "double predestination" says that (1) God has appointed his elect to eternal life, and (2) God has appointed the rest unto everlasting punishment.
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John Calvin
According to John Calvin, predestination is:
- Predestination we call the eternal decree of God, by which He hath determined in Himself what He would have to become of every individual of mankind. For they are not all created with a similar destiny; but eternal life is foreordained for some, and eternal damnation for others.
- — John Calvin, from Institutes of the Christian Religion
Calvinist development
The Westminster Confession of Faith expresses it in this form:
- 3. By the decree of God, for the manifestation of His glory, some men and angels are predestinated unto everlasting life; and others foreordained to everlasting death.
Criticisms
Recent developments
See also
External links
- Reformed Doctrine of Predestination (http://www.bloomingtonrpchurch.org/refdocpre/index.html) by Loraine Boettner
- Rejecting Calvinist Predestination (http://www.biblical-theology.com/calvinism2/fletcher.htm) by John Fletcher
- Predestination as Temporal Only (http://wesley.nnu.edu/wesleyan_theology/theojrnl/21-25/22-13.htm) by J. Kenneth Grider
- Sermon #58: "On Predestination" (http://gbgm-umc.org/umhistory/wesley/sermons/serm-058.stm) by John Wesley
- Sermon #128: "Free Grace" (http://gbgm-umc.org/umhistory/wesley/sermons/serm-128.stm) by John Wesley