Thomas Schreiner and Bruce Ware: The Calvinists’ False Dichotomy

Calvinists Thomas Schreiner and Bruce Ware edited a book in which prominent Calvinists contributed chapters on the various difficulties that plague their Calvinism. The book is titled Still Sovereign: Contemporary Perspectives on Election, Foreknowledge, and Grace.1 Schreiner and Ware wrote the preface and introduction. In the introduction, they write, “…we are convinced that the … Continue reading Thomas Schreiner and Bruce Ware: The Calvinists’ False Dichotomy →

Eric Hankins and Leighton Flowers: Logic Demands We Reject Calvinism

Reprobation: 'A Horrible Decree' According to Calvinism, unconditional election is God’s predetermination of who will be saved. The logical corollary to this is called the doctrine of reprobation or preterition. The reprobate are all those who are not unconditionally elected to salvation and therefore will not be saved. Calvinist R. C. Sproul describes reprobation as … Continue reading Eric Hankins and Leighton Flowers: Logic Demands We Reject Calvinism →

Helm, Calvin, and Castellio: The Battle for Reason and Common Sense in Interpretation

Here is a clickable outline of the sections in this post. IntroductionCalvin on 'Two Wills in God' and Castellio's ResponseWhat Do You Think of Calvin's 'Two Wills in God' Explanation?Calvin Bans Reason, Moral Intuition, and Common Sense From His HermeneuticCalvinism is Exegetically and Philosophically FlawedCalvin: 'Particular Providence' and More On The 'Two Wills in God'Helm … Continue reading Helm, Calvin, and Castellio: The Battle for Reason and Common Sense in Interpretation →

The Friends of Israel, the Sovereignty of God and Election

Introduction Although the controversy over God’s sovereignty and election in relation with human freedom and responsibility goes back to Augustine (354 – 430 A.D.), it is typically set in terms of the Reformation era debate between Calvinism and Arminianism. Generally speaking, the doctrine of divine sovereignty is understood as God ruling or reigning over … Continue reading The Friends of Israel, the Sovereignty of God and Election →

Ryken v. Ryken: Calvinist Inconsistency in Light of Billy Graham’s Gospel

Dr. Philip Ryken, former senior pastor of Tenth Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia, is now president of Wheaton College. He believes that Calvinism is the biblical gospel and longs for it to be the pervasive soteriology in the evangelical church. He writes, “We long for the evangelical church to rediscover a theology of grace. Reformed … Continue reading Ryken v. Ryken: Calvinist Inconsistency in Light of Billy Graham’s Gospel →