Calvinist doctrine teaches that the doctrine of Salvation by Faith Alone (sola gratia ) and the doctrine of Universal Grace (universalis gratia) contradict each other. They say this because, since humans are saved by the grace of God alone, then it must follow that if God’s grace is for all, then all must be saved. Though clearly all are not saved.Their conclusion, then, is that grace must not be universal, it must only be for the elect. First we must say that Scripture advocates both doctrines and so they must both be believed, even if our reason is not satisfied on all points.

Secondly one may observe that scripture approaches doctrines from two perspectives; one is that of humans and the manner in which human nature interacts with God, and the second is the immutable nature of God and his eternal will for the fullness of time, revealed in Christ. These two perspectives are presented in various places in scripture for their respective pastoral purposes. The immutable will of God that all should be saved is revealed to us to impress upon our hearts the character of God which is love and to bring us to glorify Jesus’ death and resurrection as supremely sufficient for the salvation of all people, hence the term ‘second Adam’. Whereas the perspective of sola gratia is a teaching that is spoken to us in a position of those who have been saved and so it moves our hearts to glorify God and his son Jesus for his unilateral and unconditional gift of salvation to us apart from our merit. So sola gratia and gratia universalis find their proper exposition not in the grid of a systematic but when spoken appropriately to the heart.