TCH504‒ God’s Sovereignty and Man’s Free Will: Description

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

The debate regarding divine election vs. free will is of utmost importance to the church today. Many Christians are in constant debate over the extent to which Calvinism or Arminianism is valid, wondering what is true and this issue can personally affect them.

Calvinism emphasizes the absolute sovereignty of God in all aspects of salvation and life, teaching that God predestines individuals for salvation or condemnation according to His divine will, with salvation being entirely the result of God’s grace rather than human effort or decision.

Arminianism emphasizes the compatibility of God’s sovereignty with human free will, teaching that salvation is available to all through Christ’s atoning sacrifice, and individuals must freely choose to accept or reject God’s grace, which can be resisted and is not imposed unconditionally.

This course is useful no matter where a student stands on the debate or whether they have an initial opinion at all. It visits both views and challenges students to consider how the two sides of this coin can harmonize, examining the question of how our beliefs about free will affect our perceptions regarding love, personal responsibility, and purpose.

In examining both views, students are equipped to form their own perspectives based on Bible study and critical thinking skills.

Requirement Designation: MDiv Elective, DMin Elective
Prerequisite: No Prerequisite
Credit Hours: 3 Credits
Course Difficulty: Comfortable
Instructional Components: Textbook
Retention & Assessment: Quizzes
Educational Material Author: Norman L. Geisler