Martin Luther affirmed the central place of predestination and the importance of teaching it. He called it the core ecclesia, meaning “the heart of the church.” While Luther was at times given to overstatements and hyperbole, this is not such an instance. No other doctrine more clearly demonstrates our utter dependence on divine grace and mercy than the doctrine of predestination. No other doctrine is more comforting to the personal struggle of faith than the doctrine of election.
