Friday Files, 3 Nov 17

Once again it’s time for The Friday Files, our weekly stack of links.

We highlight older SEA posts of interest, and posts some of the latest from Arminian and non-Calvinist blogs. Names in green indicate SEA members. Inclusion isn’t necessarily endorsement. Blame K.W. Leslie for the brief summaries.

From the SEA archives:

Phil Fernandes: “Dr. Phil Fernandes on Calvinism and Arminianism.” [8 Jan 10, VIDEO] How salvation works.

Focus on the Family: “John 3:16.” [13 Jan 12, VIDEO] Their Super Bowl ad in which kids recite John 3.16—with a little extra emphasis that “world” means EVERYONE.

Scot McKnight, Jesus Creed:

• “Calvinism: My history 1” [5 Dec 11] How McKnight came to reject Calvinism in seminary.

• “Calvinism: My history 2” [7 Dec 11] An introduction to the five “warning passages”—against falling away from salvation—in Hebrews.

• “Calvinism: My history 3” [9 Dec 11] The consequences of abandoning salvation, according to Hebrews.

• “Calvinism: My history 4” [12 Dec 11] Hebrews’ exhortations to persevere—and why would we need such exhortations if “once saved always saved”?

• “Calvinism: My history 5” [14 Dec 11] Hebrews’ warnings against apostasy. Not mere backsliding, but deliberately abandoning the Christian faith.

• “Calvinism: My history 6” [16 Dec 11] About the shaky argument that Hebrews was written for uncommitted hangers-on, and not believing Christians.

• “Calvinism: My history 7” [16 Dec 11] Either salvation is a summons to live under Jesus’s reign, or a done deal we can thereafter ignore.

• “Warning passages ahead: Brief response” [16 Jan 12] On Peter O’Brien’s interpretation of the warning passages—that there are Christians with genuine faith (thus eternally secure), and those without (thus reprobate).

Biblical exposition:

Ken Brown, Empowering Word: “Kingdom builders: Setting first things first.” [26 Oct 17, VIDEO] The returned exiles neglected building the temple and put God a distant second. Do we do likewise? [Hg 1.1-15]

Ed Jarrett, A Clay Jar:

• “The marriage of the Lamb.” [28 Oct 17] Look ahead to the redemption and purification of the church. [Rv 19.7]

• “A millennium kingdom?” [29 Oct 17] This passage has provoked a lot of End Times views, but let’s focus on what is most important. [Rv 20.4]

• “Unveiling of the bride.” [31 Oct 17] New Jerusalem, the bride of Christ. [Rv 21.9-10]

• “The tree of life.” [1 Nov 17] On the opposite end of the scriptures from Genesis, we again find the tree of life. [Rv 22.2]

• “Five women.” [2 Nov 17] The women of Jesus’s genealogy in Matthew. [Mt 1.3, 5, 6, 16]

• “A star in the east.” [3 Nov 17] While the locals ignored Jesus, foreign pagans sought him. [Mt 2.1-2]

Roger E. Olson, My Evangelical Arminian Theological Musings: “Words and imagery of Isaiah’s ‘suffering servant’ in the New Testament attributed to Jesus.” [31 Oct 17] A list of the allusions to, and direct quotes of, Isaiah’s prophecies.

Stacy J. Ross, Ramblings from Real Man’s Land: “Jesus is not welcome when we are offended at his work.” [27 Oct 17] Jesus saves all kinds of people. Will we be offended when he saves the “wrong” people? [Mk 6.2-3]

Calvinism:

Tim Challies (Calvinist), Challies: “A quiz on the doctrine of salvation.” [10 Feb 17] Recently republished at Church Leaders, this quiz is designed to weed out those who don’t believe as Challies does.

Lifestyle and sanctification:

Landon DeCrastos, Ministry Sauce: “What makes me cry (in a good way).” [1 Nov 17] It’s okay to cry, you know. Especially over powerful things.

Theology and history:

K.W. Leslie, Christ Almighty!: “Not faith, but a faith.” [3 Nov 17] Popular culture uses “faith” as a synonym for “religion”—and when Christians unwittingly use that definition, we’ll seriously mix up what faith is… and whether we’re saved by it.

Tim Stratton (Molinist), Free Thinking Ministries:

• “Happy Reformation Day!” [30 Oct 17] And let’s not forget the reformer Luis de Molina.

• “Reformed but not Calvinist.” [31 Oct 17] By Tim Challies’s definition, Stratton is Reformed—but certainly not a TULIP Calvinist.