Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article

To: P-Marlowe; ksen; jude24; xzins; Gamecock
The Arminian makes much of human "free will," insisting that our free decisions, especially those of religious significance, are not foreordained or otherwise determined by God. He seeks thereby to reinforce the doctrine of human responsibility (a doctrine with which, in itself, the Calvinist has no quarrel). But the Arminian also recognizes (1) that God foreknows the future exhaustively, and (2) that He has created the world knowing what the future will bring. For example, before the foundation of the world, God knew that Joe would make a free decision to become a Christian. Somehow, then, before Joe was born, God knew of his free decision. So even at that time, Joe's free decision must have been inevitable. Why was it inevitable? Not because of Joe's free will, for Joe was not yet born. Not because of God's predestination, because the Arminian denies that possibility from the outset. It would seem that the inevitability in question had some source other than either Joe or God.

[Frame's Note]: That is a scary possibility! In rejecting "divine determinism," the Arminian in effect embraces a determinism coming from some mysterious other source -- another god? the Devil? world history? impersonal laws? In any case, this idea certainly does not leave much room for free will.]

But ultimately God's predestination remains the key element. For God is the one who (1) foreknows Joe's decision and (2) creates the world in such a way that Joe's decision will be made. The decisive factor is God's foreknowing creation. Creation is what sets the whole universe in motion. Is it too much to say that God's foreknowing creation causes Joe to make the decision he makes?

Thus, even Arminianism implicitly concedes the Calvinist point without admitting it. Therefore, some Arminians today have abandoned the premise that God foreknows everything and have moved to a view more akin to that of process theology. But this move is exceedingly dubious scripturally.

Excert From Apologetics to the Glory of God by John Frame pp. 44-45

29 posted on 01/16/2006 7:47:33 AM PST by HarleyD (Joh 6:44 "No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies ]


To: HarleyD; P-Marlowe

Answer #26.


30 posted on 01/16/2006 7:55:37 AM PST by xzins (Retired Army Chaplain and Proud of It!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 29 | View Replies ]

To: HarleyD
The Arminian makes much of human "free will," insisting that our free decisions....

As does the Calvinist. The Calvinist insists that God changes man's will so that he must choose God and the Arminian conceeds that God changes a man's will at least sufficiently so that he CAN choose God.

IMO, where the Calvinist goes wrong is when he denies that foreknowledge plays any part in election. IMO, where the Arminian goes wrong is when he insists that foreknowledge is the only thing that plays a part in it.

The point is that God is sovereign and man is responsible.

32 posted on 01/16/2006 8:22:46 AM PST by P-Marlowe
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 29 | View Replies ]

To: HarleyD

Excellent post Harley.


33 posted on 01/16/2006 8:28:34 AM PST by ksen ("For an omniscient and omnipotent God, there are no Plan B's" - Frumanchu)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 29 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson