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Why Divine Foreknowledge Does Not Determine the Future

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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.

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Eric Landstrom, Is God’s Knowledge the Cause of All Things?

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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.

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Eric Landstrom, On Regeneration

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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).

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Arminius on Justification

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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:…

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Non-Calvinist Audio Links

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If you have tried to search for Arminian audio resources and sermons, you know that they can be quite difficult to find. Here are some helpful links. Not all of the speakers listed would accept the label “Arminian.” Some prefer to be called “non-Calvinistic” or even “moderately Calvinistic.” Regardless of the label, they all have in common a rejection of 5 point Calvinism, particularly the ULI in TULIP.

Independent Methodist Arminian Resource Center: IMARC has some great Arminian mp3 links, including: John Wesley (sermons read by Rev. D. Crossman), Dr. Vic Reasoner (editor of The Arminian Magazine), and others. “Calvinism and the Wesleyan Message” by Jerry Walls (co-author of “Why I’m not a Calvinist”) is a must listen.

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Arminius on the Atonement

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Once again, Arminius’ accusers charged him as teaching something which they considered heresy, that Christ has died for all men and for every individual. To which he replied: “This assertion was never made by me,…

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Arminius on Faith

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Arminius’ accusers charged him of believing and teaching: FAITH is not the pure gift of God, but depends partly on the grace of God, and partly on the powers of Free Will; that, if a…

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