The historical perspective on grace in salvation according to Calvin and Arminius : revisiting the doctrine of grace in the African Baptist Church

Abstract

The Reformational doctrine of grace in salvation, which is founded on scripture teaching, is a continuation of a long-running argument between Calvinists and Arminians (Barrett, 2017:241). The language of grace pervades the Bible and all Christian theological traditions to the point that were one to say that salvation is solely through grace is to claim very little. It makes no distinction between John Calvin and Jacob Arminius. They were both fervent believers in God’s grace in salvation. Their methodological approach to the doctrine of grace in salvation is what sets them apart in terms of how grace is interpreted. As a result, it is necessary to properly comprehend this doctrine as stated by the original proponents (Trueman, 2017:17). Calvin and Arminius’ questions were not unusual in that period of scholarly intellectual development. These questions, it will be claimed, are addressed to the modern church, even though the contemporary church’s setting differs from Calvin’s and Arminius’ time. The focus is on Calvin’s and Arminius differing views on grace in salvation, with biblical teaching on grace within both the Old and New Testament being utilised to assess both sides’ argument. The conclusion is applied to the African Baptist Church’s position and focuses on the era from 1975 to the present, as well as how African theologians should be formed in their perspective on grace.