|
John Calvin*
Foundation laid by Augustine
(Presbyterian)
|
John Wesley
Foundation laid by Arminius
(Methodist)
|
|
T
|
Total Depravity – Human beings are so affected by the negative consequences of original sin that they are incapable of being righteous, and are always and unchangeably sinful; human freedom is totally enslaved by sin so we can only choose evil.
|
Deprivation – Human beings are sinful and without God, incapable (deprived) on their own of being righteous; however, they are not irredeemably sinful and can be transformed by God’s grace; God’s prevenient grace restores to humanity the freedom of will.
|
|
U
|
Unconditional Election – Since human beings cannot choose for themselves, God by His eternal decree has chosen or elected some to be counted as righteous, without any conditions being placed on that election.
|
Conditional Election – God has chosen that all humanity be righteous by His grace, yet has called us to respond to that grace by exercising our God-restored human freedom as a condition of fulfilling election.
|
|
L
|
Limited Atonement – The effects of the Atonement, by which God forgave sinful humanity, are limited only to those whom He has chosen.
|
Unlimited Atonement – The effects of the Atonement are freely available to all those whom He has chosen, which includes all humanity, “whosoever will.”
|
|
I
|
Irresistible Grace – The grace that God extends to human beings to effect their election cannot be refused, since it has been decreed by God.
|
Resistible Grace – God’s grace is free and offered without merit; however, human beings have been granted freedom by God and can refuse His grace.
|
|
P
|
Perseverance of the Saints – Since God has decreed the elect, and they cannot resist grace, they are unconditionally and eternally secure in that election.
|
Assurance and Security – There is security in God’s grace that allows assurance of salvation, but that security is in relation to continued faithfulness; we can still defiantly reject God.
|
