The proposed reconciliation meshes together both calvinist and arminian systems as independently applicable to the Elect and Non-elect groups respectively. But what are the grounds for such a proposal – and is it even logically consistent?

Noting earlier, the whole protestant divide arose because of the strict parallelism in applying the same principles equally to both the elect and the non-elect. When the calvinists hold God alone predestining salvation in the elect, they parallel this clause in God alone predestining condemnation in the non-elect. Similarly, when the arminians hold man’s freewill determining his condemnation, they parallel this clause in man’s freewill similarly determining his salvation. But is such parallelism even necessarily true?

Rules of Logic – the Inverse

When debating if God’s will is for only the elect to be saved, the calvinists generally point to God predestining only the elect to salvation -> which they say logically implies that God predestined the non-elect to condemnation, even if by passing over them for salvation -> therein proving God does not will the non-elect to be saved from before the foundation of the world.

Now, as per basic rules of Logic, the Logical Inverse of a True premise cannot be concluded as also True. For example, the truth premise – ‘If it is raining, then I take an umbrella’ does not imply the inverse – that ‘If it is not raining, then I do not take an umbrella’. I could very well still carry an umbrella when it’s too sunny. Similarly, the truth premise – ‘If God predestines an individual for salvation before the ages, then God has willed him to be saved from that point in time’ – does not in any way imply the inverse that ‘If God does not predestine an individual for salvation before the ages, then God has willed him not to be saved from that point in time’.

Rules of Logic – Correlation is not Causation

But the calvinist may object – aren’t all the non-elect ultimately condemned? Do any who are not predestined to salvation somehow enter into the final resurrection? The answer is No, none apart from the elect end up saved. And yes, it is God’s decree to condemn the non-elect in His wrath that holds them to that fate. But when was such a decree of condemnation made? Was it from before the foundation of the world or after their willful rejection of God’s offer of salvation?

There is indeed a correlation between all elect being saved and all non-elect being condemned when all things have come to pass – and there are precious lessons to glean from this truth. But this in itself does not logically prove that God had passed such a decree of condemnation from before the foundation of the world, before the non-elect had done any good or evil.

There are several other issues that need to be resolved for acceptance of this reconciliation, which we shall move on to..