Soterilogy

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 ? ones salvation
  based/contingent on ones own good works. Gods
  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
  considerationreflecting 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
  somethus the particularity of grace.
• Summation
• All humanity contaminated by sin
• Humanity unable to break free from sins 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 couldnt 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 3311) I have no pleasure in the death of
  the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way
  and live.
• (1 Tim 24) God our Savior, who desires all men
  to be saved.
• (Jn 316) 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 22) He Himself is the propitiation for
  our sins and not ours only, but also for the
  whole world.
• (Mk 1615) Go into all the world and preach the
  gospel to every creature.

8
Human Free Will

• (Deut 3019) I have set before you life and
  death, blessing and cursing therefore choose
  life.
• (Is 119-20) 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 1627) If anyone desires to come afte Me,
  let him deny himself.
• (Mt 1917) If you want to enter into life, keep
  the commandments.
• (Rev 320) If anyone hears my voice and opens
  the door, I will come in to him and dine with
  him
• (Mt 2337) How often I wanted to gather your
  children togetherbut you were not willing!
• (Jn 540) You are not willing to come to Me that
  you may have life.
• (Mt 222-3) 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 111) He came to His own, and His own did
  not receive Him.

9
Gods Foreknowledge

• God, through His divine foreknowledge of future
  knows
• Whod use the gift of free will to please Him in
  righteousness goodness
• Whod misuse the gift of free will to choose
  evil disobey Him
• CRITICAL Gods 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 828-30) 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 29) 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 Gods 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 12) elect according to the foreknowledge
  of God
• CRITICAL Differentiate between Gods will and
  His foreknowledge

11
Jacob/Esau Example

• (Rom 913) Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have
  hated.
• Both Jacob Esau called to salvation. God loves
  all equally doesnt show partiality.
• (Deut 1017) "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 theyd 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
  Gods purpose
• Gods foreknowledge did not interfere with their
  free will.

12
St. Paul Example

• (Gal 115) God who separated me from my mothers
  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. Pauls free will (persecution of church) did
  not interfere with Gods predestination (from the
  womb)

13
Potter/Clay Example

• (Rom 921) 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 186-10) Look, as the clay is in the
  potters 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 Gods 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 Gods
  love, justice human free will