Calvinism: Existentialism And Predestination

Introduction In this week’s paper a qualitative analysis will be given from a Biblical/Christian worldview. Fisher (2013) notes, that Biblical Christianity is absolute and that God is the source of all truth, power, authority and in the long run bares a social responsibility to man What is a worldview? A Worldview is a presuppositions of assumptions which may be true, partially true, or entirely false, which we hold consciously or subconsciously consistently or inconsistent about the basic make-up of our world (Sire, 2009). A worldview is our underlying philosophy of life (Hemphill, 2013). What The Term Worldview Means The term worldview gives meaning to an individual believe factor.

In his text Predestination: Institutes of the Christian Religion, Calvin holds that predestination is "One's salvation had already been determined by God, and those elect who had been "chosen" gave evidence of their calling by living exemplary lives" (18). This idea of predestination is one of the key teachings of the Calvinists. They believe that from the beginning, God "predestines" some of the people in the world to go to heaven and the rest to go to hell. No matter how virtuous or vicious you are in life, one will still go to heaven or hell and cannot do/choose anything in life to change finality. The article continues with Calvin's stressing that "we mean the eternal decrees of God, by which he determined with himself whatever he wished to happen with regard to every man, All are not created on equal terms, but some preordained to eternal life, others to eternal damnation: and, accordingly, as each has been created for one or other of these ends, we say that he has been predestined to life or to death…" (18).

First and foremost, the modern human is an individual. He is not an organic part of the society, but a basic independent unit of knowledge. Human’s most important feature is reason. Rationality is what distincts us and makes us a human being. In his theory of moral Kant puts aside emotions and disregards human body.

This forces us to continually seek him with our own accord to strengthen our relationship with God, because our purpose for creation is to worship him, and sin is a reminder for which Graham articulated, “that we cannot live without a god, even if it is a god of our own making” (Graham, 2009, 29). After the fall comes redemption, redemption is the doctrine that shows how merciful God is towards his sinful creations. God, through his mercy, provides his son Jesus Christ as the ultimate sacrifice to redeem and cleanse the sin of his worshipers. The crucifixion of Jesus Christ allows anyone that accepts Christ as the one true Lord and Savior may enter into the kingdom of God and live eternally without any pain or sorrow. Through these doctrines, Christian’s can stand firm in their beliefs and

The statements of faith that we will look at closely will be: the trinity, God the father, Jesus Christ, Holy Spirit and the Bible but also giving a overview of the other statements of faith. The Trinity: Godfirst church, believe that there is one infinite and eternal God who happens to exist in three different and distinct persons. The father, the son and the Holy Spirit, each one being God, the church hold onto the doctrine of One God. The One God that exists as the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit, this statement of truth is foundation and important for all Christians to believe. (Matt.3:

There is an argument which he calls “Basic Argument” which proves that humans can not be morally responsible for their actions. No matter if determinism is true or false Strawson still holds the view on validity of the Basic Argument. The Basic Argument is as follows. Nothing can be causa sui ( meaning nothing can be the cause of itself.) In order to be truly morally responsible for one 's actions one would have to be the cuase of itself,at least in certain crucial mental respects.

And where do you find your identity? Everyone's asking the same question and looking for the same answer. How you answer this question, as can be seen through The Separate Peace, is how you will approach life. The only way to find the true answer is through the Truth that God has given us. As believers, we know that our true identity is found in Jesus Christ and God's Word.

Calvin suggested the idea of pre-destination. It is a concept which means that everything that an individual does is pre-determined by God. This exemplifies the holy teachings which reveal that God has good plans for everybody. Plans for their welfare and prosperity. Therefore, everything that one implements is largely a work of God and his very plans.

Christ and his work help define the Spirit and his work in the Christian life (Fee, 32). In Paul’s view, Christ is the main character in the act of salvation, but salvation is initiated by the Father and goes together with the activity of the

John 5:39 – “You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me.” Elsewhere, Jesus said to His disciples that, "These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled." (Luke 24:45). The Bible is a story about the creation, fall and salvation of man. Jesus is in the background of every moral biblical story and character. The story of salvation narrates the sovereign work of God in history.