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Date:         Mon, 12 Oct 1992 15:53:10 CDT
Reply-To:     bradk%isdgsm@rtsg.mot.com
From:         "(Brad Kaiser)" <bradk%isdgsm@RTSG.MOT.COM>
Subject:      Catholic doctrine of predetination.
              10 Oct 1992 22:08:42 -0500 <9210110308.AA22638@motgate.mot.com>

Brian Cobb asks about the Catholic doctrine of predestination:

>> In the back of the bible there is "A Practical dictionary of Biblical and
>> General Catholic Information".  Under the heading Predestination the
>> following definition is given.

>> "The decree of the divine will by which God from all eternity forsees and
>> prepares grace for all men and eternal happiness for certain men.  Pre-
>> destination is an article of faith and is based on Scripture, tradition,
>> and the decisions of the Church.  The essence of the Catholic doctrine on
>> this mystery of the faith is that God, in view of man's free will,
>> predestines certain men for salvation; that he wills all men be saved and
>> bestows on all the grace requisite for salvation; that no one is
>> excluded from salvation except through his own fault.  Apart from the
>> essential doctrine, there are divergent explanations of predestination
>> among Catholic theologians.  The Church's teaching on predestination is
>> opposed to that of Pelagianism, Semi-Pelagianism, Calvinism, and
>> Janenism."

>> Would the Catholics on the list say that this is an accurate definition
>> of what the Catholic church teaches about Predestination?  Let me assure

That sounds quite accurate, but maybe a little unsatisfying and/or
terse.  The kernel of the teaching is this:

>> ... God, in view of man's free will, predestines certain men for
>> salvation; that he wills all men be saved and bestows on all the grace
>> requisite for salvation; that no one is excluded from salvation except
>> through his own fault.

This says a few things:

   1) God accomplishes the salvation of the elect by grace; nobody
      "saves themselves", whether by works or by anything else.*

   2) Those who are to be condemned accomplish their own
      condemnation.  (Rom 6:23)  They do this by rejecting the grace
      offered to them.

   3) God, Who is outside time and is the Lord of time, foresees
      both the salvation of the elect and the condemnation of the
      reprobates.  This is why the names of the elect are written
      in the Book of Life from the beginning of time.

   4) Because God is gracious, merciful, and loving, He wills that
      all be saved and come to knowledge of the truth (1 Tm 2:4), and
      He gives them all grace in sufficient measure, according to His
      wisdom.  But He never deprives them of their ability to reject
      that grace; to do so would turn sons and daughters into mere
      marionettes.

*However, grace must be received in faith, and authentic faith will be
an adherence of heart and will to God; a life rooted and grounded in
love. (Eph 3:17) Such an authentic faith will produce fruit. (Jas
2:14-26).

In Christ's Love,

Brad Kaiser
(bradk%isdgsm@rtsg.mot.com)

	  Those who trust in Him shall understand truth,
	  and the faithful shall abide with Him in love;
	  Because grace and mercy are with His holy ones,
	  and His care is with His elect.
		    -- Wis 3:9 [NAB]