The content of this post was authored by Ben Henshaw and is posted on his behalf. Probably the favorite Calvinist proof text for their doctrine of irresistible regeneration is John 3:3, 6. Here Jesus directly…
Henshaw. Ben
Does Regeneration Precede Faith?
Which comes first, faith or regeneration? That is indeed the question. I cannot think of a more important theological issue with respect to the controversy between Calvinism and Arminianism. It is the defining feature concerning…
Examining A Rather Strange “Proof Text” For Irresistible Regeneration
I believe that I have sufficiently demonstrated that the Biblical ordo salutis (order of salvation) is not that regeneration precedes faith. I gave both a positive argument, and negative arguments (ed.s note referring to the author’s blog). Before moving on to examine the other petals of our favorite little flower, I wanted to give some brief attention to what I believe to be a rather odd proof text often urged by the proponents of irresistible grace.
This argument focuses on the grammar of two related passages in 1 John. James White makes use of these passages in The Potter’s Freedom. He sets up his argument by first quoting 1 John 5:1,
“Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and whoever loves the Father loves the child born of Him.”
Fletcher on Being “Dead in Sin” Part 2
The content of this post was authored by Ben Henshaw and is posted on his behalf. Fletcher demonstrated that the Scriptures use the word “dead” in more than one way, and to understand the term…
John Fletcher on Being “Dead in Sin”
The content of this post was authored by Ben Henshaw and is posted on his behalf. In my interactions with Calvinists the conversation always seems to go back to their conception of being dead in…
Calvinism And Free Will: An Exegetical Vindication of Matthew 23:37
The following post was first published at http://www.indeathorlife.org/. I decided to re-post it as it relates to the previous post regarding God’s Sovereignty and Man’s Free Will. A few minor revisions have been made.
Arminians have long pointed to Matthew 23:37 to respond to the Calvinist doctrines of determinism, limited atonement, and irresistible grace.
Calvinism teaches that Christ died only for the elect (particular atonement), that he has decreed whatsoever shall come to pass in human history (determinism- no human free will as pertains to true contingencies), and that man has nothing to do with his own salvation (monergism), which necessitates their doctrine of irresistible grace.
Sacrifice And The Nature of Human Freedom
The word of God commands people to submit and surrender their wills to the will of God. This is inherent in the nature of sacrifice. Paul tells us to offer ourselves to God as a…
Struggling With Regrets
Do you sometimes struggle with regrets? I certainly do. Part of the glory of Christianity is the forgiveness we have in Christ Jesus. We should never cease to rejoice in the fact that the blood…
Perseverance of the Saints Part 10: Examining Wilderness Typology in Hebrews
Some Calvinists have argued that the frequent references to the wandering Israelites in the desert suggest that the writer of Hebrews is not addressing apostasy from true faith. It is assumed that the wandering generation…
Examining Inconsistencies in Calvinistic Monergism Part 1: Intercessory Prayer
The content of this post was authored by Ben Henshaw and is posted on his behalf.
Perseverance of the Saints Part 9: Hebrews 10:32-39
We finish our exegetical examination of the warning passage in Hebrews 10 with verses 32-39: [32] “But remember the former days, when, after being enlightened, you endured a great conflict of sufferings, [33] partly by…
Perseverance of the Saints Part 8: What Kind of Sanctification is Being Described in Hebrews 10:29?
We now examine another interpretation that looks to make this sanctification merely outward with no internal reality. It looks to compare the sanctification described in 10:29 with the outward ceremonial cleansing referred to under the…
Perseverance of the Saints Part 7: Who is Sanctified in Hebrews 10:29?
The content of this post was authored by Ben Henshaw and is posted on his behalf. We will now examine one of the alternative interpretations offered by the proponents of unconditional security concerning the apostate…
Perseverance of the Saints Part 6: Hebrews 10:26-30
The content of this post was authored by Ben Henshaw and is posted on his behalf. We now examine what I consider to be the most significant warning against apostasy in the entire Bible: Hebrews…
Perseverance Of The Saints Part 5: Hebrews 6:4-9
The content of this post was authored by Ben Henshaw and is posted on his behalf. Audience: There is general agreement that this letter was written to Hebrew believers who were in the midst of…
Perseverance Of The Saints Part 4: Again Entangled In Corruption
The content of this post was authored by Ben Henshaw and is posted on his behalf. We will now examine 2 Pet. 2:20-22: [20] “For if after they have escaped the defilements of the world…
Perseverance Of The Saints Part 3: The Ancient Olive Tree
The content of this post was authored by Ben Henshaw and is posted on his behalf. This passage is very similar in meaning and application as the passage previously discussed from Christ’s discourse in John…
Perseverance Of The Saints Part 2: The Vine And The Branches
The content of this post was authored by Ben Henshaw and is posted on his behalf. Before we examine John 15, I want to give a general outline of how I envision this series unfolding.…
Perseverance Of The Saints Part 1: Definitions
The content of this post was authored by Ben Henshaw and is posted on his behalf. My next several posts will be dealing with the topic of perseverance. Perseverance of the saints is represented in…
Is Arminian Theology Synergistic?
For some, the debate between Arminianism and Calvinism boils down to whether salvation is monergistic or synergistic. I believe the term “synergism” is not always accurately applied to the Arminian position. The word comes from…
