In Bible College, I took a philosophy course where a heated discussion erupted about the conflict between a Calvinistic view of predestination and the philosophical position of free will. I believe my professor, a Calvinist,…
Depravity
Matt O’Reilly, “Common Grace vs. Prevenient Grace: What’s the Difference?”
The question was put to me over lunch earlier this week and not for the first time. So I thought it worthwhile to post here a few reflections on the difference between the Reformed doctrine…
Video: William Lane Craig, “Evaluating Views of Appropriating God’s Grace and Salvation”
Defenders is Dr. William Lane Craig’s weekly Sunday school class on Christian doctrine and apologetics. This video is part 17 of his material on the doctrine of man. His is a link to the video…
Martin Glynn, “A Critique of ‘Do We Have Free Will?’ by Geoff Ashley, Part II: Considering the Considerations of the Objections”
In part 1, I looked at a short essay written by a Geoff Ashley that has apparently been making the rounds through Calvinist circles as an explanation of the Calvinist perspective of the will. I agree that…
Martin Glynn, “A Critique of ‘Do We Have Free Will?’ by Geoff Ashley, Part I”
Recently, I was pointed to a presentation of the Calvinist view of the will that has been circling the internet (here). When I read it, I found it to be well written, and an excellent…
The Doctrine of Original Sin: Arminius vs. Episcopius
The doctrine of original sin, to define the issue very simply, maintains that the effects of Adam and Eve’s sin, which is known as the first human sin, were passed ontologically (related to being or…
A Classical Arminian Doctrine of Sin: Select Bibliography
In recent times, Arminianism has been typically caricatured by the Reformed as a form of Semi-Pelagianism. Semi-Pelagians have an optimistic view of fallen human nature: Humans beings retain some moral or spiritual good in them, and they…
Nathan Finn, “Is Synergism Necessarily Semi-Pelagian?”
Please click on the link to view Nathan Finn, “Is Synergism Necessarily Semi-Pelagian?” Finn is a Calvinist who serves as Associate Professor of Historical Theology and Spiritual Formation at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, North…
Roger Olson, “Review of *Recanting Calvinism for A Dynamic Gospel* by Steven L. Hitchcock”
Over the years, since I “came out” publicly among evangelicals as an Arminian (beginning with my 1999 Christianity Today article “Don’t hate me because I’m an Arminian”) Ihave received many books and manuscripts about Calvinism…
Marc Cortez, “Synergism Is Not Semi-Pelagianism”
Please click on the link to view Marc Cortez, “Synergism Is Not Semi-Pelagianism.” Marc Cortez is a Theology professor at Wheaton College.
Brian Reynolds, Review of W. Brian Shelton, *Prevenient Grace: God’s Provision for Fallen Humanity*
Prevenient Grace: God’s Provision for Fallen Humanity Author: W. Brian Shelton Released August 1, 2014 Reviewer: Brian Reynolds Dr. Shelton’s treatise on prevenient grace is the best written work on the subject that I have…
Death and Resurrection of the Human Will
Properly speaking, or perhaps we should rather say, in this case, psychologically speaking, man’s will can never die. A will is essential to man’s nature, as it is to the nature of every moral being.…
David Martinez, “Old Debate, New Day: Calvinism” (Review of the Fischer/Zahnd vs. Montgomery/Jones Debate)
By David Martinez On the night of Wednesday, August 27, 2014, Arminians squared off against Calvinists at Missio Dei Church in Chicago for a theological debate. The participants were: Brian Zahnd and Austin Fischer (Arminians)…
Craig L. Adams, “Calvinism and John 6:44”
An email and my response: Hello Mr. Adams, I read with interest your comments on Calvin’s comments on John 3:16 on your web site. I was wondering what your thoughts are on Jesus’ words as…
Austin Fischer’s Response to Kevin DeYoung’s Review of Fischer’s Book Young, Restless and No Longer Reformed
My Review of Kevin’s Review Here’s my review of what I thought, generally speaking, was a fair review of my book by Kevin DeYoung. I’ll focus in on a few key critiques and offer some…
Illegitimate Insistence on Arminius’ Thought Being Semi-Pelagian in W. Robert Godfrey’s Review of *Jacob Arminius, Theologian of Grace*
W. Robert Godfrey, President and Professor of Church History at Westminster Seminary California, has reviewed Keith D. Stanglin and Thomas H. McCall, Jacob Arminius: Theologian of Grace (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2012). In his review,…
Journal for Baptist Theology and Ministry Fall 2012, Vol. 9.2: Essays on the “Traditional Statement” Part 1
This issue of the Journal for Baptist Theology and Ministry is the first of two dedicated to exploring the soteriological issues addressed by “A Statement of the Traditional Southern Baptist Understanding of God’s Plan of Salvation” as a result…
Quotation of Kenneth Keathley on Whether the Person Who Believes Is More Virtuous than the One Who Doesn’t If God Enables Both to Believe
From Kenneth Keathley, Salvation and Sovereignty: A Molinist Approach (SSM, B&H, 2010), p. 60: If all hearers are equally enabled by grace to receive the Gospel, and one person accepts the Message while another person…
Why I Am An Arminian
Part IV: Theology
I do not know whether or not you have noticed, but as I’ve been going, I am moving from my least relevant reasons to my most relevant reasons as to why I am an Arminian…
The FACTS of Salvation
T: Total Depravity
This week we are devoting each day to presenting one of the 5 points of Arminainism as represented by the acronym FACTS. These points are loosely derived from the Articles of Remonstrance, but also have…