I. Grace Is Essential Because Sinners Are In A “Dead” State Of Mind. (2:1-3) The Greek text of Ephesians 2:1 begins with, Kai hymas ontas nekros, literally, “and you were dead.” The New King James…
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Essay on Ephesians 2.1-10
Eric Landstrom, The False Antithesis Between Monergism and Synergism: A Lesson from Historical Theology
A false division exists within theological discussions that centers on monergism and synergism. Within Reformed circles, on a lay level, monergism is considered to be Reformed orthodoxy and synergism heterodox to Reformed theology. However, this…
A Very Brief Excursion on Election
Arminius, at times, equated election with predestination, as many Calvinists do as well. For these people, the matter of one’s eternal destination is wrapped up in the word, “predestination.” Today, however, theologians have properly distinguished…
Point by Point with John Piper on Arminianism
This point/counterpoint is inspired from John Piper’s “How I Distinguish Between the Gospel and False Gospels,” a message he delivered at the 2008 Resurgence Conference. I’d like to comment on some of the statements…
John Piper Implicitly Denies Aseity
I figured the title would grab your attention for a few different reasons. First, what the heck is aseity and second, assuming you know what aseity is, what do you mean by saying Piper rejects…
1 John 2:12-14; A Devotional
I am writing to you, little children, that your sins would be forgiven you through his name. 13 I am writing to you, fathers, because you have known it from the beginning. I am writing…
A Premised Question Easily Addressed
While readying myself this morning I was browsing through a couple of blogs and a discussion board and came across an inquiry of sorts that seems to beg an entire issue rather than just a…
Regeneration Precedes Faith, and Faith is the Gift of God?
In his book How to Be Born Again, Billy Graham states, “Jesus said that God can change men and women from the inside out. It was a challenge -a command. He didn’t say, ‘It would…
Why Divine Foreknowledge Does Not Determine the Future
by
James M. Leonard
arminianbaptist.blogspot.com
Robert E. Picirilli, in his excellent work Grace, Faith, and Free Will, broaches the subject of Divine Foreknowledge of future events. (See his JETS article here: http://evangelicalarminians.org/files/Picirilli.%20Foreknowledge,%20Freedom,%20and%20the%20Future_0.pdf )
He’s very clear on the subject, and convincing. He draws from Arminius himself and from Richard Watson, although he admits that the 19th century theologian’s style is belabored. I’m not sure what is original either to Dr. Picirilli or to his sources.
Eric Landstrom, Is God’s Knowledge the Cause of All Things?
There is a common argument that says God’s knowledge causes all things. It goes like this: If God foreknows that something (x) is going to occur, then something else (non-x) cannot occur. If something (x) does not occur, then God’s knowledge was false. Curiously since they make strange bedfellows, this argument is used by theological determinists like Calvinists as well as those holding to process theology and Openness against orthodox Roman Catholics, Eastern Orthodox and orthodox non-Calvinist Protestants. The argument is used by theological determinists to show that God must determine all things before they come to pass and alternatively, by those who hold that God cannot know the future for free will to be actual and not mere rhetorical sophistry.
Eric Landstrom, What Are Those Arminians Thinking?
How does your perception of what is and is not Arminian theology dovetail into the following true story that relates to mans’ sin nature? The great Wesley scholar, Albert Outler was once giving a lecture…
Eric Landstrom, On Regeneration
Is regeneration a work of God and are the results of regeneration (e.g. repentence, confession) the works of God?
By way of survey regeneration is the inward quickening of the repentant and believing sinner. It is also referred to as the point of transition from being dead to God to being a child of God.
The Greek New Testament uses the Greek equivalent of regeneration (palingensia), meaning “new birth,” or “born again”) only once in regards to conversion (Titus 3:5) but the same idea is expressed using different terms elsewhere (cf., Eph. 2:1; James 1:18; 1 Pet. 1:23). The term is also used by Jesus when he spoke to Nicodemus and the listening crowd when he said, “Marvel not that I said unto thee [Nicodemus], ye [all those listening in the crowd] must be born again.” This idea of being reborn was not a new teaching to the Jews as the prophets of old had foretold of it (Ezek. 36:26, for example).
Examining Inconsistencies in Calvinistic Monergism Part 2: Sanctification
The content of this post was authored by Ben Henshaw and is posted on his behalf.
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.
1 John 2:8-11: A Devotional
Beloved, I do not write a new command to you but an old command, which you have from the beginning. The old command is the word which you heard. 8 Yet I write a new…
Robert Picirilli, “The Extent of the Atonement”
Please click on the link to view Robert Picirilli, “The Extent of the Atonement.”
Robert Picirilli, “Salvation by Faith, Applied”
Please click on the link to view Robert Picirilli, “Salvation by Faith, Applied.”
Robert E. Picirilli, “Calvinism Versus Arminianism”
Please click on the link to view Robert E. Picirilli, “Calvinism Versus Arminianism.”
Arminius on Justification
James Arminius underwent a barrage of accusations during his public ministry by strict Calvinists who were not adverse to taking their doctrines farther than even Calvin himself. Article XXV against Arminius charged him as teaching:…
Recovering a Sense of Incredulity over Calvinism
James M. Leonard arminianbaptist.blogspot.com http://arminianbaptist.blogspot.com/2008/04/recovering-sense-of-incredulity-over.html I have a couple friends of mine who are preparing for ministry and working on advanced theological degrees. However, in their prior studies they had been quite insulated from the…
Recent Posts
Andrew V. Sullivan, “A Methodist Before Methodism: The Wesleyan Reception of James Arminius”
Matt O’Reilly, “Why Crazy Love is Almost Wesleyan (but not quite) #FrancisChan”
Richard Coords, “Omnipotence”
Mark K. Olson, “John Wesley’s Doctrine of the Baptism with the Holy Spirit: An Exegetical Study – Part Two”
