Election

Test your knowledge with free interactive questions on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.

Limited Election

Election forms the basis of the Christian doctrine of predestination. Limited election is the idea that God chooses the eternal destiny of each human person.

Limited election

The doctrine of limitation arises from the belief God is omniscient.
- This is the belief that God is all-knowing, so nothing is unknown to God.
He knows where we will end up after death.
St. Augustine and John Calvin were both proponents of the idea of limited election.
St. Augustine originally taught the idea.

St. Augustine & limited election

Augustine first concluded that people were predestined for heaven or hell because of God's 'foreknowledge'.
- God knows everything with certainty.
God's knowledge would be of what people would freely choose to do.
So, God's knowledge doesn’t take away from the idea of free will given in the Bible.
Augustine then went on to explain that God did not only know who would be saved, but chose those people.
- God decides who is going to receive his saving grace and who was not going to be saved from Original Sin.

John Calvin

Later in the 16th Century, John Calvin elaborated on this same idea.
Calvin argued God had predestined some to eternal punishment and other to eternal life with God.
- Calvin's ideas were taken from Augustine.
- Calvin's ideas were based on his belief in the unshakeable sovereignty of God.
- God is in absolute control over everything that happens.

Fundamentalist Christians

Many Fundamental Christians hold the view of limited election.
They believe that heaven is only accessible to Christians who have accepted that Jesus is, ‘the way, the truth and the life’.
They believe that based on Jesus teaching:
- ‘No one comes to the Father except through me’ (John 14:6).
Heaven is limited to Christians only.

Unlimited Election & Universalism

Unlimited election states that all people are called to salvation but not all are saved. Universalists believe that all people will be saved.

Unlimited election

Unlimited election says that it is possible for all to be saved.
But, it also recognises the possibility that many will go their own way.
- Such individuals will be seen as refusing Christ’s gift of salvation.
Unlimited election does not say that all people will be saved.
- Universalism says that all people will be saved, unlimited election says it's only possible all will be saved.

Unlimited election theories

Within Roman Catholic and Orthodox Christian traditions, no one is predestined to go to hell.
God loves everyone. God is seen to be omnibenevolent (the belief that God is all-loving).
- So, everyone has the opportunity to be redeemed and saved through Jesus Christ.

Universalism

Universalism is the idea that all people, past and present, will eventually go to heaven due to the love and mercy of God.
Pluralists Christians believe that all religions will lead to God, they are all equal and no one is wrong.
Jesus never tried to convert the Jews.
- Jesus is quoted as saying, ‘in my father’s house there are many rooms, and I am going to prepare a place for you’ (John 14:2).
This is thought to mean that there is room for all religions and all people in heaven.