Two men dominated the spiritual landscape of 18^th century England and Colonial America. Both John Wesley and George Whitefield lived and died as members of the Church of England. Both men were called “Methodists” and freely participated in what they considered to be the renewal of the church via that Methodist movement. They were dynamic speakers, drawing crowds of many thousands both in the greatest churches available and in the streets and fields.

But there came a time when both men eyed the other with serious suspicion, especially when it came to the doctrine that we call today “Calvinism”. Both considered the other as perpetrators of serious heresy, and their relationship became strained, to say the least. Both were willing eventually to divide true believers rather than keep silent about their convictions.

My conviction in the following study is that no division over this doctrine has ever been necessary. Stepping back and looking at the Scriptures as a whole, I believe there is perfect unity in the “two sides” of the argument that has separated us.

Ever heard of “thesis, antithesis, synthesis”? The concept, known as the dialectical method, is from the sciences, and is defined in this way by the Encyclopedia of Sciences and Religions:

⁽¹⁾ a beginning proposition called a thesis, (2) a negation of that thesis called the antithesis, and (3) a synthesis whereby the two conflicting ideas are reconciled to form a new proposition.^[3]

Let me bring this notion over to the study of some Biblical ideas, some of which seem to be in contradiction:

1. Jesus is God, thesis proved by a great number of Biblical texts.

2. Jesus is man. This also is unquestionable.

At this point the world stumbles, speaks of contradictions in the Bible, and writes it all off. We who know the Truth simply respond that both ideas are true. We synthesize the two opposites into one, and say

3. Jesus is/was the God-Man. The only such Person in history. Emmanuel. God with us.

And for us, the case is closed. No contradiction.

My example is an over-simplification of Hegel and his theory. To make it work, we must come up, in the Scripture, with two seemingly opposite concepts, step back, take a long look, pray, and see where the two ideas can become one new one without damaging the originals.

Let’s try another one.

1. The soul that sins shall die. All have sinned therefore all deserve eternal death. In other words, the justice of God.

2. A select group of people from all people groups and all ages will indeed live with God in perfect fellowship forever.

How can this just God allow into His Fellowship unholy humans?

3. God has decided to accept the perfect sacrifice of His Son to atone for sin, make it as though it never happened, wipe the slate clean, allowing some to enter Heaven.

This should set the stage for you mentally. This document examines the thorny issue only hinted at in the previous example, namely, God’s election process, somehow incorporated into the free will of man. Or better, man’s alleged free will incorporated into the election process of Jehovah.

“The Bible Contradicts Itself.”

Liberal scholarship has grown fat on placing one Bible statement against another to prove there are contradictions in Scripture. The ones quoted above are two examples. James vs Paul on salvation. Is it by faith or by works? Looks like the apostle and the half-brother of Jesus are at odds with one another. The genealogies of Matthew and Luke. They’re not the same in every detail. Contradiction!

Not so. Those who love Scripture have shown us how these accounts harmonize. No, the dividing up of the church over these things doesn’t even work when one Biblical author is set up against another.

Much more then, when one author seems to come against himself? Oh, yes, it happens a lot! In this study I wish to place authors seemingly at odds with themselves in harmony with themselves, so that the full truth of a teaching is in view. And as I have already indicated, not just any teaching. I wish to examine the doctrine of election and predestination. Some call it “Calvinism”. Spurgeon called it “Bible”. They are calling it “doctrines of grace” today. Whatever it is called, it has unnecessarily divided true believer from true believer to the point where the separate factions have been willing to consign the other to God’s wrath.

My conviction is that there never needed to be even one church split over this issue. Calvin-style predestination and Arminian-style free will are both taught in the Scriptures! May you come out of this treatise a Calminian or an Arvinist. Or better yet, simply a believer, a disciple, with no human name attached.

Yes, it’s true. No more Calvin vs Arminius. No more Wesley vs Whitefield. No more Spurgeon vs Graham. No more Methodists against Presbyterians. Let me take away that need for ongoing strife…

We will look at the words of Paul, opposed to himself. Then John vs John. Luke against Luke. Peter against Peter. The writer of Hebrews at odds with his own writing. Finally we will carefully show the very words of our Savior Jesus, that show Him to be on both sides of the issue, from which we conclude that there are not two sides after all, but one huge marvelous mind of the Father, who does what He wills, whether we like it or understand it or not.

Those steeped in free will theology could right away say that the entire New Testament is against the idea of election and irresistible grace, based on the constant calls to holiness, obedience, to do this and that. Commands assume responsibility. Responsibility assumes choice. And that’s all true.

But the free grace folks respond that it is only grace that makes all this possible, that a person cannot in his own flesh, dead to sin, suddenly become alive to God and serve God as He desires. The will and the power to do good, they would say, comes directly from Heaven.

So there is the argument in a nutshell. And in so summarizing, I have shown you how the entire New Testament is opposed to itself! A thesis is formed: It takes free will to please God. Then there is the antithesis: Dead, flesh-controlled people cannot choose good things. Synthesis: God’s grace must enable man to do what he cannot do by his nature.