Sproul: Everybody believes this doctrine (Chosen by God)

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The word predestination is a biblical word

Ef. 1: 1-5

Ef. 1: 11

Historical background:

How important was the grace of God for human salvation?

Pelagianism: The grace of God assists human beings to be saved, but is in no way necessary. Man has the capacity to keep the commndments to such a degree as to be redeemed without any help from God.

Semi-Pelagianism: Man cannot be saved apart from the grace of God but there is something he may and must do even in his still fallen state to cooperate with and assent to that grace of God before God will save him.

Augustinianism: Man is so seriously fallen that man is totally dependent on God's grace even for his initial response to the gospel.

The question is: man's ability to answer the gospel in his fallen state.

Augustinian writers:

Augustinus

Thomas Aquinas

Martin Luther

John Calvin

Jonathan Edwards

Semi-Pelagian writers:

Pelagius

Erasmus

Finney

Wesley

Armenius

After Luther's death with the leadership of Melanchton the lutheran church took a different track on this matter.

Predestination is not a uniquely calvinistic aberration!

The majority of evangelical christianity today is semi-pelagian.

Augustinian today: Frances Schaeffer, Gordon Clark, Cornelius van Til, J. I. Packer, Roger Nicole.

Semi-pelagian today: Clark Pinnock, John Warwick Montgomery, Norman Geisler, Billy Graham.

pre / prefix meaning before

destination / root meaning the place you are going

it is about the question of our ultimate destination (heaven or hell)