Study Questions:

1. Why can predestination be called "the heart of the gospel"?
   
   
   
2. What is predestination? What is election?
   
   
   
3. What are the outstanding characteristics of election?
   
   
   
4. What is meant by "double" predestination? What is reprobation?
   
   
   
5. Does the teaching of predestination contradict the truth that God is a God of love? Explain.
   
   
   
6. Does the teaching of predestination contradict the righteousness of God? Explain.
   
   
   
7. Does the teaching of predestination deny man's responsibility and lead to determinism? Explain.
   
   
   
8. How is the teaching of free will a denial of predestination?
   
   
   
9. How is the teaching of common grace a denial of predestination?
   
   
   
10. How is the teaching of the free offer of the gospel a denial of predestination?
    
    
    
11. What connection is there between predestination and the antithesis?
    
    
    
12. How does the truth of predestination provide a motivation to the church in the preaching of the gospel?
    
    
    
13. How does the truth of predestination inspire humility in the believer?
    
    
    
14. How does the truth of predestination relate to the glory of God?
    
    
    
15. How is the truth of unconditional election related to the other of the Five Points of Calvinism?
    
    
    

Scripture References:

1. Prove the doctrine of election.
   
   
   
2. Prove that election is definite and personal.
   
   
   
3. Prove that election is an eternal decree.
   
   
   
4. Prove that election is unto salvation.
   
   
   
5. Prove that election is gracious and unconditional.
   
   
   
6. Prove that the basis for election is in Jesus Christ.
   
   
   
7. Prove the doctrine of reprobation.
   
   
   

Questions for Reflection:

1. Hypothetically, God could have chosen to save all men, or He could have chosen to save none. He did neither; He chose to save some. Why would this be His will, rather than one of the other alternatives?
   
   
   
2. How can a person be sure that he is an elect child of God?
   
   
   
3. Is it possible for an elect child of God to lose the assurance of his election? If so, how?
   
   
   
4. Is it possible for a reprobate person to be convinced mistakenly that he is an elect child of God?
   
   
   
5. Ought we to be concerned that the preaching of election and reprobation might frighten genuine believers and plant seeds of doubt in their minds?
   
   
   

Memory Work:

1. John 15:16: Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain; that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
   
   
2. Romans 9:11-13: (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;) It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger. As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.
   
   
3. Ephesians 1:3-5: Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will.
   
   
4. Jude 4: For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.
   
   

1. The Sovereignty of God
2. Total Depravity
3. Unconditional Election
4. Limited Atonement
5. Irresistable Grace
6. Perseverence of the Saints
   
   

• Foreword
• Preface
  

1. The Sovereignty of God
   A.The Doctrine
   B. Scripture Passages
   C. Objections
   D. Denials of God's Sovereignty
   E. Practical Importance
   F. Relation to the Five Points
   
   
2. Total Depravity
   A. The Doctrine
   B. Scripture Passages
   C. Difficult Passages
   D. Objections
   E. Denials of Total Depravity
   F. Practical Importance
   G. Relation to the Other Four Points
   
   
3. Unconditional Election
   A. The Doctrine
   B. Scripture Passages
   C. Difficult Passages
   D. Objections
   E. Denials of Unconditional Election
   F. Practical Implications
   G. Relation to the Other Four Points
   
   
4. Limited Atonement
   A. The Doctrine
   B. Scripture Passages
   C. Difficult Passages
   D. Objections
   E. Denials of Limited Atonement
   F. Practical Importance
   G. Relation to the Other Four Points
   
   
5. Irresistible Grace
   A. The Doctrine
   B. Scripture Passages
   C. Difficult Passages
   D. Objections
   E. Denials of Irresistible Grace
   F. Practical Importance
   G. Relation to the Other Four Points
   
   
6. Perseverance of the Saints
   A. The Name
   B. The Doctrine
   C. Scripture Passages
   D. Difficult Passages
   E. Objections
   F. Denials of Perseverance of Saints
   G. Practical Importance
   H. Relation to the Other Four Points
   
   Recommended Readings (Omitted here, but found in the back of the book, for further discussion on this site go to:
   The Five Points of Calvinism
   
   Appendix I (Citations from the Creeds)
   
   Appendix II (Index of Scriptural Passages-these are unlisted here but are found in the back of the book.)
   
   Study Guide for "Saved by Grace"