Reclaiming the Doctrine of Predestination
The Protestant Reformation was a pivotal moment in church history, marked by a renewed emphasis on the doctrine of justification by faith alone. However, a common misconception is that the Reformed tradition, particularly John Calvin, was overly focused on the doctrine of predestination and election. This view posits that the Reformed branch of the Reformation was distinct from the Lutheran expression due to its emphasis on predestination.
A Renewed Study of Scripture
In reality, the Reformation was born out of a renewed attention to the teaching of Scripture. The Reformers insisted that Christian theology must be normed by the teaching of Scripture, properly interpreted. This led to a reconsideration of the scriptural teaching on predestination and election. The apostle Paul’s epistle to the Romans, a key text for the Reformation’s articulation of justification, also contains important teachings on predestination.
The Central Theme of the Reformation
The doctrine of free justification was the central theme of the Reformation. This doctrine emphasized that salvation begins and ends with God’s gracious initiatives in Christ. The Reformers rejected the medieval Roman Catholic Church’s teaching that fallen human beings retain a free will that can cooperate with God’s grace and merit further grace. Instead, they insisted that salvation is authored by God alone, who takes the initiative to provide for and effect the salvation of believers through the work of Christ.
Augustinian Legacy
The Reformation was deeply rooted in a long-standing Augustinian legacy, particularly in Western Christian theology. The doctrine of predestination and election found its most thorough patristic expression in the writings of Augustine against Pelagianism and semi-Pelagianism. The Reformers drew on Augustine’s doctrine of predestination and election as a key component in their polemic against medieval semi-Pelagianism.
Rediscovering the Gospel
The Reformation wanted to underscore the truth that God alone authors and accomplishes the redemption of his people through the work of Christ. In defending the truth of grace alone and Christ alone, they insisted that the work of Christ had deep roots in God’s own loving determination from before the foundation of the world to save his elect people in Christ. The doctrine of predestination and election naturally finds its home within the context of acknowledging human inability and affirming the gospel of God’s undeserved grace in Jesus Christ.
Reclaiming the Doctrine
The Reformation’s emphasis on predestination and election was not a peculiar focus, but rather a natural consequence of their renewed study of Scripture and their commitment to the Augustinian legacy. By reclaiming this doctrine, we can gain a deeper understanding of the Reformation’s enduring importance for the church today.
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