Out of all the arguments for Calvinism, this is the one that I probably hear the most. It comes in a variety of forms but usually imagines two people under the influence of prevenient grace, suggesting that the one who responds positively should have some reason to boast over the one who did not. It … Continue reading Does Arminianism Imply That we Can Boast in Our Salvation Over Those Who do Not Believe?
monergism
An Arminian Response to John Hendryx on the Meaning and Implications of Spiritual Death Part 3: John Hendryx Concedes That it is a Plain “Fact” that Faith Precedes Regeneration
[You can find part one of this series here, and part two here] John Hendryx continues his response to the "synergist" visitor: Finally, your attempt to overturn the doctrine of total depravity relies entirely too much on the one biblical concept of "dead in sin" for the unbeliever. From my standpoint, if those texts which … Continue reading An Arminian Response to John Hendryx on the Meaning and Implications of Spiritual Death Part 3: John Hendryx Concedes That it is a Plain “Fact” that Faith Precedes Regeneration
An Arminian Response to John Hendryx on the Meaning and Implications of Spiritual Death Part 2: Dead Reckoning
Continuing from Part 1... Hendryx begins his response to the visitor: (John) Dear Brother ...You say, "monergists take the 'dead in sin' phrase too far" but, I would turn that around to say that you have relied entirely too much on what you believe to be the force of this ONE argument.... Here's why: ... … Continue reading An Arminian Response to John Hendryx on the Meaning and Implications of Spiritual Death Part 2: Dead Reckoning
An Arminian Response to John Hendryx on the Meaning and Implications of Spiritual Death Part 1: What Does it Mean to be “Dead in Sin?”
Calvinist John Hendryx takes a “synergist” to task in an article entitled Can We Make an Exact Analogy Between Unbelievers' who are "Dead in Sin" and Believers who are "Dead to Sin"?(Excerpts From Debate in Which Synergist Attempts to Overthrow Doctrine of Total Depravity). We will use this exchange as a basis for interacting with … Continue reading An Arminian Response to John Hendryx on the Meaning and Implications of Spiritual Death Part 1: What Does it Mean to be “Dead in Sin?”
Does Arminian Theology Suggest That We Depend on Ourselves Instead of Christ for Salvation?
From the late R.C. Sproul's Ligonier Ministries we find a short article "praising" limited atonement by Richard Phillips. For the purpose of this post we will be focusing in on a section that promotes a critique of Arminianism that has been common among Calvinists for a long time and has been expressed in many different … Continue reading Does Arminian Theology Suggest That We Depend on Ourselves Instead of Christ for Salvation?
Great Quotes: J.C. Thibodaux on Faith and Boasting
Whether you freely believe in Christ or not makes a difference only in what you obtain, not what you deserve. But since what you obtain is only what you’ve freely received from God, the One who makes you differ from those with no hope is God, for without His grace and mercy, you’d be no … Continue reading Great Quotes: J.C. Thibodaux on Faith and Boasting
Dr. Brian Abasciano’s Second Response to James White on 1 John 5:1
Brian Abasciano, "A Reply to James White on 1 John 5:1 And The Order of Faith and Regeneration" You can find the beginning of his interaction with James White here Excerpt: Ironically, it is White who argues regarding 1 John 5:1 as the JW’s do regarding 2 Peter 1:1. For they point to minor syntactical … Continue reading Dr. Brian Abasciano’s Second Response to James White on 1 John 5:1
Addressing the Calvinist Claim That God Can Irresisitibly Cause (Make) People to “Freely” Love Him
Below is a recent response to a Calvinist in a discussion forum which addresses the oft repeated Calvinist claim that while God works in the elect irresistibly, the elect still freely come to Christ in such a way that their free will is not violated. In other words, Calvinists often say that it is a … Continue reading Addressing the Calvinist Claim That God Can Irresisitibly Cause (Make) People to “Freely” Love Him
Interesting Comments From John MacArthur on the Nature of Preveninet Grace and the Ordo Salutis
A Concise Description of Prevenient Grace From a Surprising Source (spoiler: It's John MacArthur) Excerpt: I don't think...particularly I don't think that regeneration precedes anything except the fruit of regeneration which is a righteous life. I do not think that regeneration precedes saving faith. Now I know that that's becoming a...that's a strongly Calvinistic...I shouldn't … Continue reading Interesting Comments From John MacArthur on the Nature of Preveninet Grace and the Ordo Salutis
Reproof: Recent Book Looking to Re-Package Calvinism With a Fresh New Acronym (PROOF) is Reviewed by a Former Calvinist
Former Calvinist, Doug Sayers, gives a concise and irenic review of the recently released Calvinist book, PROOF. Excerpt: It is a fair criticism to say that PROOF is a one-sided cherry picking of the biblical texts that would seem to support their teaching with very little time devoted to the texts that present Calvinism with … Continue reading Reproof: Recent Book Looking to Re-Package Calvinism With a Fresh New Acronym (PROOF) is Reviewed by a Former Calvinist
Five Part Series Responding to C. Michael Patton’s “The Irrationality of Calvinism”
A while back I did a five part series responding to a post by C. Michael Patton entitled, "The Irrationality of Calvinism." I recently noticed that some of the posts in the series did not have links at the bottom directing the reader to the next post in the series, leaving the impression that there … Continue reading Five Part Series Responding to C. Michael Patton’s “The Irrationality of Calvinism”
Muppet Calvinism
A puppet representing Calvinist thought seems about right to me... Better than TULIP?
Richard Watson on “Who maketh thee to differ from another?” as an Argument for Calvinism
1 Corinthians 4:7, “For who maketh thee to differ from another?” The context shows that the apostle was here endeavouring to repress that ostentation which had arisen among many persons in the Church of Corinth, on account of their spiritual gifts and endowments. This he does by referring those gifts to God, as the … Continue reading Richard Watson on “Who maketh thee to differ from another?” as an Argument for Calvinism
Dr. Brian Abasciano on the Conditionality Implied in Romans 9:16 and its Connection to John 1:12-13
“So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy.” Romans 9:16 (ESV) “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of … Continue reading Dr. Brian Abasciano on the Conditionality Implied in Romans 9:16 and its Connection to John 1:12-13
Does Paul Support Calvinism’s View of Irresistible Grace in 1 Corinthians 4:7?
The following is a comment I made in response to a Calvinist appealing to 1 Cor. 4:7 to show that unless faith is an irresistible gift from God, it would give us reason to boast. Links to the original debate are provided below. Real quick. This post is in response to what I would call some irresponsible … Continue reading Does Paul Support Calvinism’s View of Irresistible Grace in 1 Corinthians 4:7?
The Fallacies of Calvinist Apologetics – Fallacies #14: Conditional Election Makes God a Respecter of Persons?
Related Fallacies: Equivocation John Hendryx, who we've noted has employed numerous fallacies in defense of Calvinism and distortions against Arminianism, is at it yet again. This time he's trying to prove that it's conditional election, not unconditional election, that makes God into a "respecter of persons." Before I address his points, I believe that the … Continue reading The Fallacies of Calvinist Apologetics – Fallacies #14: Conditional Election Makes God a Respecter of Persons?
Arminian Perspectives 