There are many issues related to the predestination and free will debate. The British heretic Morgan, known as Pelagius, refuted the notion that predestination exists or that God has preordained or controls our actions and lives in any manner. This means that salvation is within human control. This undermines the concept of original sin. St. Augustine denied this argument and forcefully upheld the doctrine of predestination and original sin. Augustine viewed predestination and free will as coexisting without conflict. He believed that God created us and knows and controls the whole course of each of our lives. The free will aspect of human nature is whether we choose to accept or reject GodÆs salvation. The decision of salvation is ours, but God still writes the whole story of each individualÆs existence. The Great Awakenings with an emphasis on enlightenment and humanism would emphasize free will while rejecting predestination.
The concept of predestination was originated in thought prior to John Calvin, but Calvin became the ômain proponent of the doctrine that those saved by God are chosen by Him.ö Calvinism views God as having sovereign over all creatures and actions in creation. Without his permission and without his choosing, nothing is permitted. God has the foreknowledge to foreordain those who will accept his grace and knows who will not. He chooses to grant eternal life to those who accept Him and receive His grace. The problem is that if there is predestination then how can free will exist? Or, if there is free will then how can the doctrine of predestination be valid? I believe free will is valid, but predestination has ample support in the Bible. In Acts 15:18, it is written that ôKnown unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.ö In Ecclesiastes 11:5 we are told ôGod makes all things.ö There is also ample support for God being all-knowing and all powerful.
With respect...