Election conditional on foreseen faith; Arminian; prevenient grace enables choice
The International Church of the Foursquare Gospel affirms Arminian theology regarding predestination and election. God's election is conditional, based on God's foreknowledge of who will believe. God is sovereign and foreknows all things, including human choices, yet human free will is genuine and not determined. Prevenient grace — enabling grace preceding salvation — is given to all, enabling genuine choice and response to the gospel.
The Church rejects predestination to damnation and affirms that salvation is genuinely possible for all. God's election, ultimately, is election in Christ — believers are chosen as members of the body of Christ through faith. This maintains both divine sovereignty and human responsibility, characteristic of Arminian-influenced Pentecostal theology.
Key Distinctions
- Election model:
- conditional election — chosen in Christ; based on foreseen faith
- Double predestination:
- explicitly rejected — God does not predestine people to damnation
- Free will teaching:
- free will genuine and enabled by prevenient grace; human response real
Scripture References
Sources
- International Church of the Foursquare Gospel Declaration of Faith
- Foursquare Church teaching on God's sovereignty and human freedom