Balancing Sovereignty and Human Responsibility in Faith

As a Bible scholar who respects both Calvinist and Wesleyan insights while holding a distinct perspective, I am proposing a more biblically balanced alternative. Our passion for God’s sovereignty and grace is commendable, but key aspects of Calvinism may unintentionally diminish crucial biblical truths about human responsibility and God’s universal love. Here’s a simpler, relational perspective:

Where We Agree Wholeheartedly:

1.  God’s Sovereign Grace is Central: Salvation is entirely initiated and accomplished by God (Ephesians 2:8-9). No one "earns" it. 

2.  Assurance is Found in Christ: This rests securely on Christ's finished work and God's faithfulness, not our fluctuating feelings or merits (John 10:28-29).

3.  Sound Doctrine Matters: The Reformers' commitment to Scripture and theological clarity is vital. Theology should fuel worship, holiness, and mission, as you experienced.

4.  God is Utterly Sovereign: He reigns over all creation and history. His purposes will prevail (Isaiah 46:10).

A More Balanced Biblical Perspective: Predestination Based on Foreknown Faith

My primary divergence from classic Calvinism lies in how God's predestination and human response interact. Scripture consistently presents belief in Christ as the condition for being counted among the "elect" or "chosen." God predestined the plan of salvation and foreknew who would freely respond to His grace in faith. This preserves both God's sovereignty and genuine human responsibility.

1.  Predestination is for "Those Who Believe": God "chose us in [Christ] before the foundation of the world... having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will" (Ephesians 1:4-5, 11). Crucially, this election is in Christ. We become part of this chosen group when we are united to Christ by faith. Romans 8:29-30 clarifies the order: "For those whom he foreknew he also predestined... And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified..." God's foreknowledge includes His perfect knowledge of who would freely respond to the gospel (1 Peter 1:1-2).

2.  Christ's Atonement Truly Offered to All: Scripture declares Christ died for the whole world (John 1:29, 3:16; 1 John 2:2; 1 Timothy 2:4-6). To call people to believe in a salvation potentially not available to them creates a tension Scripture avoids. The offer of salvation is genuine and universal ("whosoever will" - Revelation 22:17), made possible by Christ's sufficient sacrifice for all, though effective only for those who believe. This magnifies God's love and justice.

3.  Grace is Resistible, Enabling Genuine Response: God's grace is powerful and necessary to awaken us (John 6:44), but Scripture also shows people consistently resisting the Holy Spirit (Acts 7:51) and rejecting Christ (Matthew 23:37; Luke 7:30). This grace enables faith without forcing it, preserving the authenticity of our love and obedience. We are morally responsible to believe (John 3:16-18, 36; Acts 16:31). The call to "choose this day whom you will serve" (Joshua 24:15) implies real capacity granted by grace.

4.  Election is Corporate and Conditional in Christ: The primary focus of election in the New Testament is the corporate body of Christ, the Church (Ephesians 1:22-23; 1 Peter 2:9). Individuals enter this elect body through faith in Jesus Christ (Galatians 3:26-29). We are "chosen in Christ" when we believe.

Practical Implications of this View

Evangelism's Urgency: The message isn't just "find out if you're elect," but a genuine, urgent plea to all: "Be reconciled to God!" (2 Corinthians 5:20). We preach knowing Christ died for the hearer, and the Spirit empowers them to respond.

Assurance Rooted in Faith: Assurance comes not from speculating about a hidden decree, but from looking to Christ and the evidence of faith working through love (Galatians 5:6; 1 John 5:13). "I know whom I have believed" (2 Timothy 1:12).

Guarding God's Character: This view fully upholds God's desire for all to be saved (Ezekiel 18:23, 32; 2 Peter 3:9) and the justice of condemnation for those who reject the light given them (Romans 1:18-20, 2:12-16), without implying any failure in God's sovereignty. He ordains the means (faith in Christ) as well as the end.

Responsibility with Dependence: We are utterly dependent on grace for salvation and for the faith to receive it (Philippians 1:29; Acts 18:27). Yet, we are commanded and held responsible to believe – a responsibility made possible by that enabling grace. This fosters humility and active faith.

Conclusion: A Call to Biblical Harmony

Someone may beautifully highlights God's grace and sovereignty. However, the classical Calvinist framework, particularly Unconditional Election (interpreted as God choosing specific individuals irrespective of faith) and Limited Atonement (Christ dying only for the elect), creates unnecessary tensions with the Bible's clear teaching on God's universal love, the genuine offer of salvation to all, and human responsibility.

The view that God predestined those who would believe in Jesus Christ harmonizes these strands:

1. God's Sovereignty: He foreknew, predestined, and calls according to His perfect plan.
2. Human Responsibility: We are commanded and enabled to believe, and held accountable for our response.
3. Universal Love & Atonement: Christ's sacrifice is sufficient for all and genuinely offered to all.
4. Election: Those "in Christ" by faith are the chosen people.

This perspective maintains the comfort of God's sovereign plan while fully embracing the Bible's urgent calls to faith and its declarations of God's love for the world. It allows us to say with equal conviction, "Salvation belongs to our God!" (Revelation 7:10) and "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved!" (Acts 16:31).