B. B. Warfield places Lutheranism under the Universalistic category in his Order of Decrees chart because of the Lutheran doctrine of universal atonement and the way it understands grace and election in contrast to the Reformed tradition.
Warfield categorizes theological systems based on their understanding of election, atonement, grace, and human cooperation in salvation. While Lutherans reject outright universalism, they do not hold to the Reformed doctrine of particular redemption (limited atonement), which places them under a form of universalistic grace.
Key Lutheran Doctrines That Support This Classification:
Universal Atonement (Christ Died for All)
- Unlike Reformed theology, which teaches particular redemption (that Christ died only for the elect), Lutheranism teaches that Christ died for all people, even those who ultimately reject Him.
- This is seen in passages like 1 John 2:2 ("He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world").
- Since Warfield organizes the chart based on atonement’s intended scope, Lutheranism is placed under Universalistic because it teaches that Christ's atonement was not limited to the elect.
Resistible Grace
- Lutheran theology affirms monergism in regeneration (God alone grants new life), but it teaches that grace can be resisted.
- In contrast, Reformed theology teaches irresistible grace, meaning that all those whom God elects will certainly be saved.
- Because Lutheranism allows for the possibility that some for whom Christ died will ultimately reject grace, Warfield sees it as differing from the particularistic systems of Calvinism.
Election in Lutheranism
- Lutheran theology affirms unconditional election, meaning God chooses whom He will save.
- However, it rejects reprobation (the idea that God actively passes over the non-elect) and denies double predestination.
- Lutherans maintain single predestination, meaning that God elects some to salvation but does not decree others to be damned.
- Since this lacks the particularity of Reformed election (which includes both election and reprobation), Warfield places it in the Universalistic category.
Means of Grace
- Lutheranism emphasizes the external means of grace (Word and Sacraments) as the way God works faith in individuals.
- Unlike Reformed theology, which teaches that God effectually calls the elect, Lutheranism holds that grace is universally offered through the Word and Sacraments.
- However, some resist this grace, meaning that while God's offer is universal, not all will be saved.
Is Lutheranism Actually Universalistic?
No, Lutheranism is not universalist in the sense of believing all will be saved. However, Warfield classifies it under Universalistic in contrast to Particularistic systems (like Calvinism) because:
- It rejects limited atonement.
- It teaches that grace is given to all through Word and Sacrament.
- It allows that people for whom Christ died can ultimately reject salvation.
Conclusion: Warfield’s Reasoning
Warfield’s categorization is based on how different systems understand God's decrees in salvation. Lutheranism is "Universalistic" only in the sense that it affirms universal atonement and the general availability of grace. However, it still affirms monergism in regeneration and the necessity of faith, distinguishing it from more synergistic or truly universalist views.