Saving faith and assurance of salvation in the teaching of John Calvin and Scottish theology
This study begins with a discussion and evaluation of Calvin's teaching on saving faith and assurance of salvation, and then proceeds to relate the results of the evaluation to the development of Scottish teaching from the Reformation to the 19th century. Galvin presents saving faith as the certain persuasion of knowledge, the knowledge of God's love for me in Jesus Christ. He maintains that Christ died for all of mankind without exception. To have faith in Jesus Christ, therefore, is to have assurance of salvation. Thus, Jesus Christ is, for Galvin, the mirror of our election. By the 17th century, Scottish Calvinism had developed a Federal theology with alterations and even distortions of Calvin's thought. Unlike Calvin, the Federalists began their theological system with a discussion of the decrees of God, and moved logically from a double decree of predestination to that of a limited atonement. To this they added a twofold, and sometimes threefold covenant scheme wherein all mankind are by nature under the covenant of works, but only the elect are entered into the covenant of grace. The Federalists rejected, and their system excludes the possibility, that assurance is of the essence of faith. Assurance
Bell, Merton Charles
Philosophy
Saving faith and assurance of salvation in the teaching of John Calvin and Scottish theology. This study begins with a discussion and evaluation of Calvin's teaching on saving faith and assurance of salvation, and then proceeds to relate the results of the evaluation to the development of Scottish teaching from the Reformation to the 19th century. Galvin presents saving faith as the certain persuasion of knowledge, the knowledge of God's love for me in Jesus Christ. He maintains that Christ died for all of mankind without exception. To have faith in Jesus Christ, therefore, is to have assurance of salvation. Thus, Jesus Christ is, for Galvin, the mirror of our election. By the 17th century, Scottish Calvinism had developed a Federal theology with alterations and even distortions of Calvin's thought. Unlike Calvin, the Federalists began their theological system with a discussion of the decrees of God, and moved logically from a double decree of predestination to that of a limited atonement. To this they added a twofold, and sometimes threefold covenant scheme wherein all mankind are by nature under the covenant of works, but only the elect are entered into the covenant of grace. The Federalists rejected, and their system excludes the possibility, that assurance is of the essence of faith. Assurance
saving faith assurance salvation teach john calvin scottish theology study begin_discussion evaluation calvin teach save faith assurance salvation proceeds relate evaluation development scottish teaching reformation present save faith certain persuasion knowledge knowledge_god love jesus_christ maintains christ die mankind without exception faith jesus_christ therefore assurance salvation thus jesus_christ mirror election scottish develop federal theology alteration even distortion calvin thought unlike calvin begin theological system discussion decree god move logically double decree predestination limit atonement add twofold sometimes threefold covenant scheme wherein mankind nature covenant work elect enter covenant grace reject system possibility assurance essence faith assurance