election

From the Latin word for “choice,” is a doctrine based on the concept that God chooses (predestines) some individuals to salvation while other to damnation. “Unconditional election” is a Calvinist label for the proposition taught by Augustine, Aquinas, Luther, and Calvin, that God elects those whom he will save independent of any good works or faith that God foresees, while “conditional election” is a doctrine central to Arminianism, that God only save those whom he foresees will accept Christ according to their free will. Faith under unconditional election is the result of God’s choice while it is the free will condition or reason for God’s election according to conditional election theory.