Free Will or Sovereignty: Conflicting Views on Eternal Security

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to tease out the issues associated with the debate on eternal security, linking the viewpoints to corresponding understandings of human free moral agency and the sovereignty of God. This paper dives most deeply into the divide between classical Arminianism and classical Calvinism. Because the author is more familiar with Arminian theology, this presentation includes a wider critique of Calvinism but does not fail to turn the mirror of criticism on Arminianism as well. This paper advocates for a theological middle ground, one that grants man legitimate freedoms but does not fail to support the sovereign nature of our God. Advocates from a number of positions around the circle of debate are given entrance into the proverbial ring in order to bring diversity yet clarity to the discussion.