The CLARE Theology System

C — Christocentric Election

Everything begins with Christ.

Election is not first an abstract decree concerning individuals.

Election is first rooted in the Father’s eternal purpose in His Son.

Christ is the Elect One.

The Eternal Elect are chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world.

The Preceding Elect become elect through union with Christ.

Thus both modes of election find their origin and fulfillment in Christ.

Without Christ there is no election.

Scripture

Old Testament

• Isaiah 42:1 — “Behold My Servant, whom I uphold; My Chosen One in whom My soul delights; I have put My Spirit upon Him…”

New Testament

• Ephesians 1:3–4 — “…He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world…”
• 1 Peter 2:4–6 — Christ is the living Stone, chosen by God, and believers become God’s spiritual house through union with Him.

L — Limitless Atonement

Because Christ is the Savior of the world, His atoning work possesses universal sufficiency.

His atonement is not merely enough to save.

It also becomes the historical basis upon which God’s universal gracious activity toward humanity is established.

Limitless Atonement therefore becomes the objective foundation of Preceding Grace.

Without Christ’s atonement there is no universal drawing.

Without Christ’s atonement there is no universal illumination.

Without Christ’s atonement there is no universal conviction.

Scripture

Old Testament

• Isaiah 53:6 — “All we like sheep have gone astray… and the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.”

New Testament

• John 12:32 — “And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to Myself.“
• 1 John 2:2 — “He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.”

A — Anthropology of Enabled Depravity

This doctrine contains two inseparable components.

Hypothetical Total Depravity

Humanity considered apart from Christ’s gracious intervention.

This is humanity if:

• Christ had not entered history.
• Grace had not appeared.
• The Spirit did not convict.
• The Gospel was never proclaimed.

That condition is truly Total Depravity.

CLARE calls it Hypothetical because Scripture never encounters humanity in redemptive history apart from God’s gracious initiative after Christ’s coming.

Enabled Depravity

Because Christ has entered history…

Because His atonement has been accomplished…

Because Preceding Grace is universally extended…

Humanity’s actual condition is no longer one of untouched Total Depravity.

Humanity remains:

• Fallen
• Spiritually ruined
• Unable to save itself
• Entirely dependent upon grace

Yet humanity is simultaneously:

• Illuminated
• Convicted
• Drawn
• Called
• Enabled

This becomes the actual anthropology of humanity in redemptive history.

Scripture

Old Testament

• Ezekiel 36:26–27 — God promises to give a new heart and put His Spirit within His people, demonstrating divine initiative in overcoming human inability.

New Testament

• John 1:9 — “The true Light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.”
• Titus 2:11 — “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all people.”

R — Resistible and Irresistible Grace

Now the system naturally branches into two operations of grace.

Irresistible Grace

Toward the Eternal Elect.

Those whom the Father has given to the Son are effectually called.

God’s eternal decree cannot fail.

Resistible Preceding Grace and Irresistible Saving Grace

Toward all humanity.

Grace genuinely precedes every movement toward God.

Grace enables.

Grace convicts.

Grace draws.

Grace never grants autonomous free will.

Grace enables the fallen will.

Those who are not Eternally Elect may resist that gracious work or surrender to Christ through repentance and faith.

This is why CLARE intentionally rejects both:

• traditional prevenient grace (because it is often tied to libertarian freedom), and
• Calvinistic common grace (because it does not adequately explain the universal saving-oriented texts foundational to CLARE.

Scripture

Old Testament

• Isaiah 65:2 — “I spread out My hands all the day to a rebellious people…”

New Testament

• John 6:37 — “All that the Father gives Me will come to Me…” (Irresistible Saving Grace toward the Eternal Elect.)
• Acts 7:51 — “You always resist the Holy Spirit…” (Resistible Preceding Grace.)

E — Enduring Security

Finally, both modes of election converge.

Whether one belongs to the Eternal Elect or becomes one of the Preceding Elect through union with Christ,

both are now united to the same Savior.

Both stand in the same grace.

Both are justified by the same blood.

Both are preserved by the same Lord.

Both inherit the same promises.

Both endure because Christ keeps them.

Security is therefore grounded not in the mode of election but in union with Christ.

Scripture

Old Testament

• Isaiah 54:10 — “Though the mountains depart… My steadfast love shall not depart from you, and My covenant of peace shall not be removed.”

New Testament

• John 10:27–29 — “My sheep hear My voice… no one will snatch them out of My hand.”
• 1 Peter 1:3–5 — Believers “are being guarded by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”

Why these verses fit the CLARE framework

These passages also reveal a progressive theological movement through Scripture:

1. C — Christocentric Election: Christ is the Father’s Chosen One, and all election is grounded in union with Him (Isa. 42:1; Eph. 1:4; 1 Pet. 2:4–6).
2. L — Limitless Atonement: Christ’s cross provides the universal redemptive foundation from which God’s drawing, illumination, and conviction extend to humanity (Isa. 53:6; John 12:32; 1 John 2:2).
3. A — Anthropology of Enabled Depravity: Humanity remains radically fallen, yet because Christ has entered history, the light of Christ shines on all and God’s grace has appeared, enabling genuine response while preserving dependence on grace (Ezek. 36:26–27; John 1:9; Titus 2:11).
4. R — Resistible and Irresistible Grace: Scripture presents both God’s effectual calling of those given to Christ and humanity’s real resistance to God’s gracious overtures (Isa. 65:2; John 6:37; Acts 7:51).
5. E — Enduring Security: Once united to Christ, every believer—whether viewed through Eternal Election or Preceding Election—shares the same covenant promises, divine preservation, and everlasting security in Him (Isa. 54:10; John 10:27–29; 1 Pet. 1:3–5).