Election: Not Calvinist in Origin

Many in the religious world today would have us believe that the belief of election or predestination is a concept thought up by John Calvin. If you search the web, it’s not too hard to find a thousand web pages with this same opinion. I can remember back to a high school history class, in which the very text book credited Calvin with the origination of predestination. No matter how much the Arminian world claims this, it isn’t the case.

From what I read of John Calvin’s philosophy, he believed a very, very limited amount of the Adamic race is elect. I find this to be contrary to what we as Primitive Baptists believe. I have read many explanations of different aspects of Calvinism, some going as far to say that only poor, extremely persecuted people are chosen of God. Calvin also twisted a great deal of works in with his theories of predestination, which is also not found anywhere in the doctrines we teach. The one word that links us in any remote way with Calvinism, is the word predestination. Though the Primitive Baptists views and Calvinist views of election and predestination are different, since Calvin also believed a variation of it, the religious world links us together. I find that silly. Different variations of denominations baptize by immersion, does that link them all alike? No it does not! I suppose all who practice infant baptisms and dedications are Catholics as well? You see through those examples that ONE practice in two different churches that is remotely similar does not link the two. There are many, many aspects that differ us from Calvinism (almost every aspect). The church that eventually became the Primitive Baptist (through different name changes) existed since the time of Christ, when he built it.

An occurrence in history:
I recently heard the story of Perpetua in a sermon on predestination by Elder Tim McCool. Perpetua was a young Christian mother, who was sentenced to death for her faith in the Lord. She was used (along with other Christians) as entertainment to the Romans in their “circus.” In other words, they trapped her in an arena with wild animals until they were nearly or entirely dead. After surviving her brutal maiming by the animals, the guards came to kill her. These are her last words (research them, you won’t be disappointed), as recording in history:
“O most valiant and blessed martyrs! O truly called and elected unto the glory of Our Lord Jesus Christ! Which glory he that magnifies, honors and adores, ought to read these witnesses likewise, as being no less than the old, unto the Church's edification; that these new wonders also may testify that one and the same Holy Spirit works ever until now, and with Him God the Father Almighty, and His Son Jesus Christ Our Lord, to Whom is glory and power unending for ever and ever. Amen.”

Did I mention this quote was taken in 203 A.D.? Please note: John Calvin was born in 1509 A.D., 1306 years after Perpetua’s death. How could Calvin originate election, when it was quoted of in 203A.D.? Simple, he didn’t. It was a truth understood long ago.

Here are some verses (not nearly all) on election and predestination from scripture:
“And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.” Matthew 24:31
“All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” John 6:36
“No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.” John 6:44
“26 But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.
27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” John 10:26-28
“29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he also called, them he justified: and whom he justified, he also glorified.” Romans 8:29-30
“For the children being not yet born, having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;” Romans 9:11
“4 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:
5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself according to the good pleasure of his will,” Ephesians 1:4-5
“Knowing brethren beloved, your election of God.” 1st Thessalonians 1:4
“In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;” Titus 1:2
“Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.” 1st Peter 1:2

You see that is impossible for Calvin to have originated election and predestination, because it is so richly taught in the scripture. That old claim that Primitive Baptists are Calvinist is not correct, has never been, and will never be in the mainstream orderly church. Primitive Baptists teach nothing more or less than God’s Word. That makes us nothing but the true Christian church, which is everything. We have no man made attractions, nor do we bow down to the creeds of men. What we are: is blessed by the Lord in understanding of His word; for that we must be thankful.

May the Lord Bless,
Ben Winslett