[taken from an online discussion on what Biblical sovereignty entails] Now the Arminian absolutely affirms God's sovereignty, but recognizes that sovereignty does not mean exhaustive determinism. It doesn't mean that in any other context and it doesn't mean that in the Bible either. In fact, you won't find the word "Sovereignty" in the Bible with … Continue reading Does the Biblical Concept of God’s Sovereignty Support Calvinism?
Q&A: If Putting Faith in Christ is a Morally Good Deed, Doesn’t That Mean We Merit Salvation to Some Degree?
Full Question: If I am saved and my cousin is not. God loves us all, He gave His Son for all, He gave His grace that is to lead us to salvation to all of us. I accepted Christ, but my cousin has not. Prevenient grace gave me the power to accept Christ, but I … Continue reading Q&A: If Putting Faith in Christ is a Morally Good Deed, Doesn’t That Mean We Merit Salvation to Some Degree?
How Calvinism Undermines Biblical Salvation Assurance
Here are links to a few posts that illustrate this serious problem of assurance for Calvinist Theology: Perseverance of the Saints Part 13: Salvation Assurance An Important Admission on Salvation Assurance From Prominent Calvinist C. Michael Patton A Telling and Ironic Tweet by John Piper on “Waking up in The Morning” as a Believer Does … Continue reading How Calvinism Undermines Biblical Salvation Assurance
Q&A: Exploring the Horrific Implications of Calvinist Determinism With Regards to God’s Desire to Save (or not)
Question: What I think you, and many Arminians fail to realize is the depth of human depravity and their unloveliness. Answer: Actually, Arminians fully affirm our depravity. Question: Men by nature HATE their GOD (as He is the only God). This is an active hatred, a daily moment by moment hatred. Man receives and thanks … Continue reading Q&A: Exploring the Horrific Implications of Calvinist Determinism With Regards to God’s Desire to Save (or not)
Q & A: Is Calvinistic Compatibilism Necessary to Explain Biblical Inspiration?
Question: "Robert Hamilton, in “Philosophical Reflections on Free Will” responds to an objection to indeterminism quoting Feinberg who argues “the only way to hold to verbal plenary inspiration as set forth in 2 Peter 1:21 seems to be to hold to compatibilism.” In Hamilton’s response, he concedes there are “special cases” where “God overrides the … Continue reading Q & A: Is Calvinistic Compatibilism Necessary to Explain Biblical Inspiration?
Q&A: Is Paul Talking About Being Disqualified From Salvation in 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, or Something Else?
Question: Hi, I’m not sure if you’ve already done a post on this passage but I was wondering if I could get your opinion on whether or not you reckon 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 , Paul is speaking about the possibility that he could forfeit his salvation but not exercising self control but rather giving into … Continue reading Q&A: Is Paul Talking About Being Disqualified From Salvation in 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, or Something Else?
Q&A On Certain Passages Being Wrongly Interpreted by “Free Grace” Proponents
Question: Hello there! Before I ask my question, I wanted to first state that I have read your work on Perseverance of the Saints/Eternal Security and have enjoyed it while also learning a lot. I would like your opinion on James 5:19-20. How would you explain to those who argue that “save his soul from … Continue reading Q&A On Certain Passages Being Wrongly Interpreted by “Free Grace” Proponents
Q & A on The Calvinist Claim That Salvation Conditioned on Faith Necessarily Implies Some Sort of Merited Contribution to Salvation
Here is the question as originally posed along with a break down interaction below:Full Question: "So, let me reason this way, If prevenient grace is given to everyone, and my neighbors resist it, so they are not brought to salvation (regeneration), and I don’t resist it, so I AM brought to salvation, then they merit … Continue reading Q & A on The Calvinist Claim That Salvation Conditioned on Faith Necessarily Implies Some Sort of Merited Contribution to Salvation
Perseverance of the Saints: Thirteen Part Series
I thought it would be good to catalogue my series on perseverance into a single post for easy reference. After nearly sixteen years I think it still holds up pretty well. The only part I would probably change is my treatment of Romans 8:28-29 as I would now interpret that in accordance with the corporate … Continue reading Perseverance of the Saints: Thirteen Part Series
An Arminian Response to the Calvinist Claim That Acts 4:27-28 Proves Compatibilism
Another passage Piper makes use of to demonstrate that God decrees sin is Acts 4:27, 28. He quotes Edwards to make his point. The death of Jesus offers another example of how God’s sovereign will ordains that a sinful act come to pass. Edwards says, ‘The crucifying of Christ was a great sin; and as … Continue reading An Arminian Response to the Calvinist Claim That Acts 4:27-28 Proves Compatibilism
An Arminian Response to the Calvinist use of Genesis 50:20 as a Prooftext for Compatibilism
[Excerpt from John Piper on God Ordaining All Sin And Evil Part 1: An Arminian Response to Piper’s First “Question”] "Piper quotes numerous passages of Scripture that he believes support his contention that God controls all evil (natural, animal and moral). It seems to me that all of these passages could just as well fit … Continue reading An Arminian Response to the Calvinist use of Genesis 50:20 as a Prooftext for Compatibilism
Addressing the Calvinist Claim That Being Dead in Sin Necessarily Implies That Regeneration Precedes Faith
We have a lot of material addressing and refuting this oft repeated Calvinist claim on the site, so I thought it would be good to archive them into a single post for easy reference:An Arminian Response to John Hendryx on the Meaning and Implications of Spiritual Death Part 1: What Does it Mean to be … Continue reading Addressing the Calvinist Claim That Being Dead in Sin Necessarily Implies That Regeneration Precedes Faith
An Arminian Response to C. Michael Patton’s “The Ultimate Balanced Guide to Arminianism (From a Calvinist)”:The Good, The Bad, And The [Very] Ugly
You can find Patton's original post here I was referred to this recent post by C. Michel Patton and thought I would respond to it. My comments can be found in-between sections of his post below: Definition of Arminianism Arminianism is a theological system developed by the Dutch theologian Jacobus Arminius (1560-1609). It is a … Continue reading An Arminian Response to C. Michael Patton’s “The Ultimate Balanced Guide to Arminianism (From a Calvinist)”:The Good, The Bad, And The [Very] Ugly
An Arminian Response to the Calvinist use of Isaiah 10:5-16 as a Proof Text for Compatibilism
[updated on 1/5/23] From an interaction with a Calvinist: Calvinist: Most Calvinists believe in a soft determinism called compatiblism [sic.]. This is clearly taught in Gen 50:20: “But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save … Continue reading An Arminian Response to the Calvinist use of Isaiah 10:5-16 as a Proof Text for Compatibilism
Does Revelation 17:17 Teach That God Irresistibly Controls The Wills of Men to Evil?
Revelation 17:17: “For God has put it in their hearts to execute His purpose by having a common purpose, and by giving their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God will be fulfilled.” This is a passage that many Calvinists hold up as a proof text for determinism. It is especially brought up … Continue reading Does Revelation 17:17 Teach That God Irresistibly Controls The Wills of Men to Evil?
Does Arminianism Imply That we Can Boast in Our Salvation Over Those Who do Not Believe?
Out of all the arguments for Calvinism, this is the one that I probably hear the most. It comes in a variety of forms but usually imagines two people under the influence of prevenient grace, suggesting that the one who responds positively should have some reason to boast over the one who did not. It … Continue reading Does Arminianism Imply That we Can Boast in Our Salvation Over Those Who do Not Believe?
Arminian Perspectives 