Election and Predestination: Keys to a Clearer Understanding

Fisk states in his preface that "in gathering material for this treatise we avoided, on the whole, works of an Arminian nature, or those which might naturally be regarded as anti-Calvinistic." It is, however, clear from the book's intent as well as the quotations that Calvinistic doctrines such as unconditional divine election unto salvation of some and limited atonement only for the elect are rejected as unbiblical. These doctrines are also rejected by Arminians of all varieties as well, although it seems that Fisk rejects the term "Arminian" and whatever doctrines are associated with it in his mind and prefers the label of "moderate Calvinism" in contrast to what he and others quoted by him call "extreme" or "hyper" Calvinism. In fact, in Appendix G it is stated and shown that "Calvin, albeit inconsistently, actually taught on occasions, that Christ did indeed die for all men." The book also teaches that God voluntarily limits himself to make room for human freedom and includes in Appendix B a quote in support of it. This doctrine is rejected by some who consider themselves moderate Calvinists such as Norman Geisler, author of "Chosen But Free".The book is divided into two parts entitled "Complementary Truths in Focus" and "Scriptures Calling For Special Attention". The first part addresses the general relation of God's sovereignty, including his foreknowledge, to human freedom with Chapter 3 focusing on what the biblical terms of "predestination" and "election" refer. Regarding predestination, it is stated that its use is only in the New Testament and refers only to believers being conformed to the image of Christ (Romans 8:29-30) and being adopted as God's children (Ephesians 1:5, 11). It is argued that nowhere does scripture teach that God unconditionally predestines some to salvation and others to damnation. Regarding election, Fisk states: "It can be seen in the view of many well-known writers that election largely involves: (a) the community or body as a whole (individuals as comprising the body); (b) it has to do with service or witness to the world as part of the plan of God; and (c) it looks less back than forward to what lies out ahead for those called of God. In addition, the word elect is taken by some to be more of a title and it may refer to individuals as related to position, privileges, or office." The second part addresses New Testament scriptures that deserve special attention. Also included are seven lettered appendices as follows: A - Spurgeon on the Extent of the Atonement; B - Dr. Biederwolf's Excerpt from Kinsley on God's Foreknowledge; C - Pink on Human Responsibility; D - An Answer to John Owen; E - God's Willingness and Man's Unwillingness; F - A. W. Tozer on Sovereignty and Free Will; and G - Some Little Known Statements of John Calvin.Although there are some insightful thoughts here, I consider the book incomplete for the following reasons. The entire book, with all of its quotes, is founded on the following questionable premise: Every person's salvation or damnation is conditioned upon a decision from that person's free will so that each person is responsible for his or her salvation or damnation. A couple issues make the premise questionable, especially in terms of salvation. First, it doesn't allow for exceptions such as all who die in infancy. Many Christians believe that all who die in infancy are covered by God's grace through Christ's atonement without a volitional faith in Christ. This means that their salvation (including any election and predestination in relation to it) is unconditional, not conditioned upon their free will. Granted, some believe that all who die in infancy will be given a post-mortem opportunity to have faith in Christ, but this is neither affirmed nor denied in the book although it's a significant issue with ramifications. Second, the book doesn't expound on the biblical fact that ALL of Adam's descendants, except Christ, are unconditionally made sinners because of Adam (cf. Romans 5:12 - 19) and what this means in terms of both personal, willful sin (i.e., is it avoidable or caused by the sinful nature inherited from Adam?) and each individual's salvation or damnation. Is everybody on the road to hell the moment they come into existence because of Adam? Why or why not? Also, if it is necessary to know the Christian Gospel in order to be "saved", then what is the nature of this salvation and what happens to those who die without knowing the Gospel? Are they automatically damned? If so, on what basis: their inherited sinful nature, their own free will, or both? If their damnation is partially or solely because of their sinful nature, then how is this different from unconditional divine reprobation since nobody chooses to be a sinner in Adam? Can salvation (including election and predestination in Christ) in any sense be forfeited and, if so, how? None of this is addressed in any significant detail in this book although answers to these questions are significant to a proper understanding of biblical salvation (including election and predestination) and damnation. Regarding forfeiting salvation, I do recall a quote from Ellicott related to 2 Thessalonians 2:13, on page 140, which spoke of some who "would have forfeited their salvation, in spite of God's choice of them". However, this quote is not supported by many of the quotes from other authors and is not seriously expounded on or defended. Most "moderate Calvinists" deny that salvation can be forfeited.Appendix E made a good observation regarding the truth that "a sovereign God often desires things that never actually come to pass" and rightly pointed out that "Extreme Calvinists seem to have difficulty in understanding how a sovereign God can `desire' something that will never come to pass." However, Appendix D (An Answer to John Owen) left much to be desired in my mind. Although I think John Owen is incorrect, I also think that the answer from Robert P. Lightner in the appendix is flawed, especially in light of other doctrines. Owen assumes that all sin whatsoever is unconditionally covered by Christ's atonement but only for those unconditionally elect in Christ whereas Lightner assumes that Christ's atonement is sufficient for everybody's sin but application (or the efficiency) of it is contingent upon exercising faith in Christ. Both Owen and Lightner fail to consider the possibility that all sins, including the sinful nature that everybody inherits because of Adam, are efficiently and unconditionally covered by Christ's atonement except one: the unpardonable sin that damns. We are not sinners in Adam potentially or contingently but actually and unconditionally according to God's sovereign, Christ-centered plan. However, the scriptures make a distinction between the inherited sinful nature and avoidable willful sin, and according to Hebrews 10:26, "If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left..." (NIV). Without expounding on this verse in context, notice the last phrase: no sacrifice for sins is left. This strongly implies that there is a type of deliberate sin that is ongoing or unrepentant which is NOT covered by Christ's atonement although all other sins are covered. This takes us back to some of those questions mentioned earlier that were not addressed in the book, including the question of infant salvation. If it is true that the sinful nature of all who die in infancy is actually and unconditionally covered by Christ's atonement, then it seems to follow that the salvation (including election and predestination) of those who die in infancy is solely by God's grace. It also strongly implies that everybody is on the road to heaven, not hell, the moment they come into existence which raises the questions of exactly how a person is damned and what "faith in Christ" really and fully means. It also implies that divine predestination to be conformed to the image of Christ is for everybody, not just believers, since Christ's atonement covers everybody at their conception (not only in the womb but before that in the mind and foreknowledge of God). Those who go to hell must have, therefore, in some sense forfeited God's plan for their lives. There is much more that could be said that is relevant to the issues raised in this book that are not covered. Again, the book has some insightful ideas but is incomplete in addressing related but crucial issues.

Excelent

If you are looking for some new material on predestination and election, Samuel Fisk may have the book you are looking for! The author not only gives his own views, but also quotes upwards of 100 scholars' views on election and predestination as well. Although some of these men are not so well known, that does not make their input less valuable. On the contrary, it is often quite helpful to look at a wider range of views on such thorny issues as election and predestination. Some are Baptists, but many more are well known and come from a wide range of backgrounds. With such a diversity of authors referenced, there is a wealth of excellent sources to glean biblical truth from.In the Foreword, Samuel F. Johnston sums up the issues this book deals with aptly, "The Sovereignty of God is in no way undermined. How could God be God if he were not Sovereign? It should be remembered, however, that God has other attributes: Holiness; Righteousness; Love; Mercy; Grace; Longsuffering, etc. These must all blend without one overshadowing another." After mentioning Augustine, Calvin, and those who might describe themselves as 4-point Calvinists, Johnston continues, "There is, however, the more ancient view that election is corporate rather than individual, and that on conversion persons, foreknown by God, enter individually into the blessings which God has prepared, corporately, for those `in Christ'. As a person entered the chosen nation Israel by birth, so today a person enters the chosen body, the church, by new birth. It is not that individuals are in the church because they are elect but that they are elect because they are in the church."As Samuel Fisk and the plethora of others he quotes admit, the few times election and predestination are actually used in the Bible, they mainly pertain to those who believe, and in looking towards their "Sonship", and future glorification. That is why the BIBLE plainly says that we as believers; are "chosen" "according" to the "foreknowledge" of God..."to obey" Jesus Christ (1 Peter 1:2). And, those believers whom He "foreknew", He also "predestined" "to become conformed" "to the image" of His Son (Rom. 8:29). And finally, He "chose" those who believe in Him..."that"...those who believe would "be holy and blameless"...He "predestined" those who believe "to adoption"...and an "inheritance" (Eph. 1:4, 5, 11). It becomes obvious that the Bible is only too clear once we strip away all the theological presuppositions and let the Word speak plainly for itself.Before I get too far ahead of myself, in the first 2 chapters, Fisk starts off by looking at issues surrounding, God's absolute sovereignty and mans' free and responsible will, the role of Faith, and Total Depravity & Inability. I appreciate Dr. A.C. Gaebelein's remarks concerning A.W. Pink's "The Sovereignty of God"; "...It is just this kind of teaching which makes atheists." In Appendix C Samuel Fisk also points out how Banner of Truth Trust left out 3 chapters from Pink's original work, plus his teaching that God has no love for any other than the elect. The author also notes how Pink later recanted his hard-line views on sovereignty and human freedom. Please see this section for Pink's revised view on the "dead" state of the sinner. Unfortunately, his original version is still used by Calvinists even today.C.H. Spurgeon fans may, or may not, depending on their theology, appreciate Fisk's chapter, "C.H. Spurgeon's Other Side". Spurgeon was the most inconsistent Calvinist I have ever had the pleasure to read! However, that very inconsistency is what allowed him to break from Calvinism at times and make open invitations to ALL sinners to "accept" the gospel in spite of Calvinism. I for one am glad he did, and I wish there were some like him today. Spurgeon was indeed the last of his breed from his creed. The only reason he couldn't more fully harmonize his theology with Scripture, and didn't even try, was because he refused to disassociate himself with the System of Calvinism--he couldn't let go. In spite of what Spurgeon said about all believers "having their brains washed" and becoming Calvinists before entering heaven--I have no doubt that he, and all the other saints, are not walking around heaven with John Calvin tatoos.In Part 2 of the book the author gives special attention to a number of New Testament Scripture references that some have "read" or forced their presuppositions into--especially Romans 9. In addition, the appendices on Spurgeon, Pink, Robert Lightner's response to John Owen, etc., are an added bonus as well.Samuel Fisk closes his book with a most appropriate quote from Elisabeth Elliot, the wife of missionary Jim Elliot, who was killed by Acua Indians in Ecuador:"The fact that Christ died for all men, makes me interested in the salvation of all men."The bottom line is this: how you view election and predestination WILL most definitely influence your outlook on missions and evangelism. If you want to look further into the issues surrounding Calvinism from this author see also his first-rate  Calvinistic Paths Retraced , "Divine Sovereignty and Human Freedom", and "Five-Point Calvinism--and the Inconsistency of a Four-Point Position".

I have read several books relating to predestination, election, free will..etc. In my opinion, this book is the best on this subject. It offers references from many different commentators and scholars not just the author's own bias. The first half of the book deals with an overview of the topic. It is very helpful in getting up to speed on the history, views, terms and issues involved. The second half of the book deals specifically with verses in the Bible relating to these issues. As for someone who has been on both sides of these issues (Calvinism vs. Arminianism), this book is very convicting because it spends a great deal of time in looking at the key Bible verses involved. And that is the most important aspect - what the Bible actually says not what our Theology thinks that it should say. I am amazed how many Christians put into Scripture their own personal view or bias instead of taking out of Scripture what God is actually saying. This book is a must read for anyone who is seriously interested in learning what the Bible teaches concerning predestination and election. It is a serious study on the subject. It is concise with the focus being on Scripture and it is without all of the fluff, emotion, and bias from other sometimes larger books. It seems every Christian has a passionate view on this issue. This book will challenge your view from a Biblical basis. I have also found this book as an unlock selection on WordSearch 4 Bible software