Since he quotes the Scots Confession, I would say his
understanding could be found
therein.
Judy:What is 'The Reformed Doctrine of Election'
as T. F. Torrance understands it (not as you understand it)?
In his writing below about "existential decision" Torrance
confirms Calvin's doctrine of "Total Depravity" which teaches that fallen
mankind is akin to a literal corpse and unable to make a decision that is
anything but evil .. Unconditional Election follows along with Limited
Atonement. I figure his Limited Atonement would conflict violently with the
way you see the "incarnation" so possibly Torrance veers off here a
little but so far it sounds like Calvin's other points are in
place.
"But the Scots Confession laid the axe to the root of any such movement
when it insisted that we have to spoil ourselves even of our own
regeneration and sanctification as well as justification. What is "axed" so
radically was the notion of "co-redemption" which in our day has again
become so rampant, not only in the Roman Church, but in Liberal and
Evangelical Protestantism, e.g., the emphasis upon existential decision as the means whereby we "make real" for ourselves the
kerygma [proclamation] of the New Testament, which means that in the last
resort our salvation depends upon our own personal or existential decision.
That is the exact antithesis of the Reformed doctrine of election, which
rests salvation upon the prior and objective decision of God in Christ.
It is Justification by Grace alone that
guards the Gospel from corruption by "Evangelicals," "Liberals," and Romans
alike."
|