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Calvinism by Fives
2008-10-10 23:23:00 Calvinism seems to spread by fives: five points, five solas, and I bet we could think of other groups of five. Five Reformation countries (Germany, France, Switzerland, The Netherlands, England). Five key Reformers (Luther, Calvin, Zwingli, Huss, Wycliffe). Okay, I know Huss and Wycliffe came earlier…. As most good Calvinists, I know my ...
Understanding the Land Promise: Conclusion
2008-07-17 17:47:00 Continuing from part 7…. At last, this series is coming to a close. We’ve explored an understanding of the land promise informed by NT Scripture itself. All believers are Abraham’s heirs, and they inherit the promise that he would be heir of the world (Rom. 4:13-16). Gentile believers can expect to “live long ...
Understanding the Land Promise: Part 7
2008-07-10 02:53:00 Continuing from part 6…. I hope this post concludes my arguments, responses, and all other considerations of the matter – warning: this is a lengthy post! :) I plan to follow up with a concluding post which explains the ramifications for holding my position. Conditionality of the Land (follow up) Before I begin, let me share a passage which ...
Understanding the Land Promise: Part 3
2008-06-10 13:00:00 –continuing from part 2. Justification for “Spiritualizing” the Land Promise Whenever one starts talking of “spiritualizing” a text, various wrong-headed assumptions abound. Dispensationalists often use this charge to show our disregard for the Biblical text. And sometimes, any honest effort to show metaphorical language in Scripture is met with suspicion — oh so you are ...
Understanding the Land Promise: Part 2
2008-06-04 15:42:00 –continuing from yesterday’s post. The Land Promise Fulfilled? But was the actual promise fulfilled? Were the boundaries of the land promised in Gen. 15:18-21 ever completely owned by Israel? The dispensationalists say no, and they point to history and the Biblical record of what land Israel possessed. The Philistines and other groups remained in the land such ...
Understanding the Land Promise: Part 1
2008-06-03 20:00:00 Some of you probably know that I am a former dispensationlist. I have since embraced Covenant Theology, at least in a broad sense. One of the key factors in my change concerning this position centered on the promise of the land. In my experience, the promise concerning a land for Abraham’s descendants plays a ...
Regeneration
2008-04-23 19:38:00 I recently added a few blogs to my reciprocal links section, and in doing so I came across this great picture (click the image to enlarge it). For more on regeneration, and specifically the Calvinist teaching about it, click here.
How Calvinism Informs Evangelism
2008-04-15 02:07:00 Despite what many have said or heard, Calvinism does not negate or downplay evangelism. Charles Spurgeon, George Whitefield, William Carey, and Adoniram Judson were not exceptions to the rule. Rather, they are simply some noteworthy examples of evangelists and preachers who were both Calvinistic in theology and evangelistic in practice. Of course, Spurgeon said ...
Great Read on George Whitfield
2008-02-08 16:12:00 I recently read an excellent overview of George Whitfield’s life and influence. Apparently, he surpasses Charles Spurgeon when it comes to his preaching and lasting influence. 80% of the population of the American colonies heard him preach at least once, and he also ministered extensively in the British Isles. His prominence stems solely from his ...
The Big ?If?: John Piper?s Father on Perseverance and Eternal Security
2008-01-26 14:43:00 Regular readers of this blog know I am not big on the “once saved, always saved” idea. I think it belittles the Bible’s emphasis on the necessity of persevering faith, and I don’t think it represents an orthodox view of eternal security. Salvation is no “tattoo”, Pastor Charles Stanley, not withstanding (see post ...
The Underappreciated Calvin
2008-01-25 11:10:00 Loved by many, yet hated by more. John Calvin, the great Reformer, has bequeathed us a schizophrenic legacy. He is remembered largely for the movement which carries his name: Calvinism. Predestination, cold hard logic, spiritual deadness, fatalists. This is how many view Calvinists today. Sure there are some who earn such descriptors, yet the historical ...
Reformed Theology : The New Fad?
2007-11-30 23:47:00 A conference was held this week in a quiet little retreat center nestled among the Blue Ridge mountains. The topic of discussion was Reformed Theology. Specifically, what role Calvinism has played in the history of the Southern Baptist Convention and what role should it play in years to come. The conference was called, "Building Bridges" and was led by many well known pastors and convention leaders including, Dr Danny Akin, Dr. Al Mohler, Dr. Tom Ascol, Dr. Tom Nettles, Dr. David Nelson, Thom Ranier, David Dockery, Ed Stetzer, J.D. Greear, and others. Now that the dust has settled there are some specific things, according to reports, that we can definitely take away from this "meeting of the minds".1. The Doctrines of Grace (Calvinism) have played a prominent role in the development of Southern Baptist Convention.2. That the convention contains members who vary greatly on their views of the Doctrines of Grace. And that is okay!3. That the trend for younger theologians and pastors in...
By: Two Institutions
Considering the ?Multiple Intentions View? of the Atonement
2007-11-15 14:20:00 In my last post I introduced the debate on the atonement that Seth McBee is hosting over at Contend Earnestly. Seth calls himself a 6 Point Calvinist, and dubs his view the “Unlimited/Limited Atonement” position. Yet Bruce Ware also calls that same view “4 Point Calvinism”, and I read an article which claims ...
6 Point Calvinism & The Atonement Question
2007-11-14 19:42:00 Lately, I’ve been struggling to get back to blogging. With the birth of our fourth daughter, 24 days of having company at our house in October, & with pressing issues at work, coupled with studying Biblical Theology at my church Bible institute, & gearing up for teaching through 1 Peter in our new Church ...
Calvinism: A Man-Made Philosophy??
2007-11-02 18:29:00 Recently in the comments of an earlier post of mine “Regeneration, Reception, and Faith“, the charge has again been made that Calvinism is a man-made philosophy. Many of the Calvinist faithful are rolling their eyes and muttering “not again!” Yes, again. I’m sure we’ll continue to hear this charge, and so I think it is worth ...
If God Merely Allows Suffering and Pain, How Is He Not Responsible?
2007-09-17 08:38:00 People sometimes instinctively blame God for pain and suffering. Evangelical Christians for the most part grimace at this. Open Theists counter that God didn’t cause it, and couldn’t prevent it–but He loves you anyway. Arminians respond that God merely allows evil, he is not responsible directly for your pain. Calvinists, however, claim that God ordains ...
Interpreting Augustine: Was He ?Reformed??
2007-09-15 15:45:00 A recent post of mine on Augustine spawned a debate concerning Augustine’s views on predestination. Someone asked if I knew what Augustine really believed on grace and free will. He had read a former Reformed Protestant turned Catholic who claimed Augustine actually taught what Catholics affirm. Of course, Calvin and Luther must ...
Legacy of Sovereign Joy: Luther
2007-09-11 13:25:00 This is the second part of a review of John Piper’s The Legacy of Sovereign Joy: God’s Triumphant Grace in the Lives of Augustine, Luther, and Calvin. Piper’s book is less a detailed biography and more a pastoral treatment of the lives of great saints. Augustine, Luther and Calvin—great men indeed in the ...
Daily Devotions with Octavius Winslow
2007-09-07 16:59:00 Most of you have heard of Morning & Evening by Charles Spurgeon. It is a compilation of devotional readings for morning and evening reading by the prince of preachers. While Spurgeon’s readings are excellent [I recommend the revised edition edited by Alistair Begg recently published by Crossway], he wasn’t the first to come ...
Legacy of Sovereign Joy: Augustine
2007-09-04 19:32:00 I recently finished John Piper’s The Legacy of Sovereign Joy: God’s Triumphant Grace in the Lives of Augustine, Luther, and Calvin. John Piper’s biographies are written with a pastor’s eye and so are more than just the story of a famous individual. Rather, they focus on how the person ticked, and how they lived for ...
Eternal Security: Perseverance or Preservation?
2007-08-30 17:00:00 previously in this series–part 1, part 2, “The Sinner’s Prayer Problem” (part 3), part 4 This is my fifth post in a series on Man-Centered Christianity. Like post #3, this is an excersus or an aside. In the last post, I explained that the Once Saved, Always Saved (OSAS) view of eternal security ...
Man-Centered Christianity (part 4)
2007-08-27 20:36:00 previously in this series–part 1, part 2, “The Sinner’s Prayer Problem” (part 3) In the posts above, I have introduced the problem of Man- centered Christianity, and begun exploring how the problem became so widespread in the American evangelical Church today. Part 3 was an aside, focusing on the problem of the “sinner’s prayer”–a ...
Almost Back
2007-07-26 14:35:00 I’m back, but not quite back to blogging full steam. I hope to catch up on comments and etc. later today. For now, the Calvinist debate continues at Contend Earnestly. I’m sure that they’re going to forever solve the age old dilemma . Seriously, though, it ...
Amazing Grace and a Contest
2007-06-25 23:59:00 I haven’t yet featured this excellent resource on the study of Reformation Theology. Amazing Grace: The History and Theology of Calvinism is a first-class video production and a resource second to none. I have not yet actually purchased and viewed it, but I have enjoyed the several video clips of it that are available online. ...
NATURAL LAW AND REFORMED THEOLOGY
2006-12-02 16:10:08 NATURAL LAW AND REFORMED THEOLOGYBy Forrest Wayne SchultzA Review of Stephen J. Grabill, Rediscovering The Natural Law in Reformed Theological Ethics ( Grand Rapids , Michigan : Eerdmans, 2006) ISBN 978-0-8028-6313-3 310 pagesThe Relevance of The Synod Of Dort I hold in my hand a book whose front cover is adorned with a beautiful print of an excellent painting of a very important historical event ? the convocation of the Synod of Dort during 1618 ? 1619 in the city of Dordrecht in Holland . I do not know if the author of this book ? the one under review here ? requested this particular cover art or not, but it is quite appropriate for the book?s content. The deliberations of the Synod of Dort were characterized by careful and courageous thinking, which enabled the participants to learn and be faithful to the particular truth of God needed to meet a serious deficiency in the church of that time. Dort, therefore, provides ...
By: Van Til Tool
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