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“By Adam’s fall we sinned all,” was a motto New England Puritan students learned in their elementary primers in the 17th and 18th Centuries. This motto is reflective of the historic Christian belief in original sin, a term not addressing Adam and Eve’s act of disobedience, but the effect that sin had upon mankind. The Scriptures speak repeatedly of sin and death entering the world through one man’s transgression. As a result of Adam’s sin, all men became sinners. The concept of original sin may be seen as inherited corruption. David stated in Psalm 51:5 that he was brought forth...

Examining CalvinismBy Jerry L. Walls and Joseph R. Dongell The enormously popular sitcom Seinfeld, despite its aim to be a show about nothing, occasionally raised some very important questions. In one episode George Costanza, the character who could never quite get his life in order, finally appears to have everything going his way. But then, true to form, the plane he is on goes into a nosedive. As he sees his life passing before his eyes, he blurts out, “I knew God wouldn’t let me be successful!” (In the end, the plane straightens out and George’s life is spared....

Dave Hunt vs. Charles Haddon Spurgeon;; Using Obfuscation to Avoid Admission of Simple and Documented Error It is obvious that a number of truth-loving “Bereans” have been contacting Dave Hunt’s ministry, The Berean Call, and calling him to accountability regarding the documentation of his error concerning the beliefs of Charles Haddon Spurgeon which I presented in my Open Letter responding to the publication of his book, What Love is This? In the August, 2002 issue of The Berean Call Mr. Hunt attempts some damage-control, but in the process only digs a deeper hole for himself. He is surely making it...

EFFECTS OF SOUND DOCTRINE NO. 324 DELIVERED ON SABBATH EVEN ING, APRIL 22, 1860, BY THE REV. C. H. SPURGEON, AT NEW PAR K STREET CHAPEL, SOUTHWARK.“For there shall arise false Christ’s and false prophets and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.” Matthew 24:24. I AM not about to enter upon any argument in proof of the doctrine of election tonight. That I have done at other times and am prepared to do so yet again. I purpose rather to speak of some of the practical effects which...

"You don't believe in predestination, do you?!" Everyone who openly holds to the doctrines of grace has at one time or another heard this question asked in near hysterical tones. The very question itself implies that predestination is a doctrine dreamed up by some evil disciple of John Calvin, sitting alone in his ivory tower, devising ways of making God appear to be mean and unloving. The reality is that anyone who bows to the authority of the NT believes in predestination, whether they be Arminian or Calvinistic in their theology. The word is, after all, one which is used...

Hello, fellow GRPL members. Please forgive me for pinging you to this lengthy vanity post. I have a dilemma, and I need the advice of my Christian brothers. My problem is quite simple. My wife and I have attended a small but energetic Bible church for several years. We have many friends there, and the fellowship we feel with everyone there is genuine and Spirit-filled. So what’s the problem? Over time, our beliefs have diverged from that of our church. Some background: When we started attending, I was a “milk-fed” Christian, and my wife was a pretend Christian, believing intellectually,...

Is Arminianism a Different Gospel by Rev. Eric Kampen The seriousness and extent of Arminian thinking can be a point of contention at times. It is not unheard of that in Reformed circles critical comments about Arminianism are met with blank stares, a degree of indifference, or even a degree of hostility. The hostility may arise as it is felt that the criticism is unjust, extreme, inaccurate, or, even if it is correct, unnecessary as despite the differences those holding to Arminian theology are still Christians. In recent reading I came across some remarks concerning Arminianism which showed both the...

My Christian singles group concluded and eight-week study of Titus and based on what I learned, especially in the last week, I will no longer participate in any discussion related to Calvinism. Everything that can be said has been stated enough times that anyone who has an interest in the subject can simply reread threads posted up to this point in time. Titus 3:9-11 - "But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless. Warn a divisive person once, and then warn him a second time. After that, have nothing...

Are You a Calvinist, Arminian, or in-between? Important Note Chapter: 14.05 (Section 14: Selective Salvation) Copyright © Michael Bronson 1998 - 2003 BibleHelp.org In the previous chapter we looked at some of the differences between Calvinism and Arminianism. We saw that both of these positions have some extreme doctrines in which most Christians are uncomfortable. This chapter will cover this problem even further. Although there are some Christians who adhere fully to Calvinism or Arminianism, most don’t. Most Christians have a hard time accepting all of the doctrines associated with either of these two views. If you were to ask...

The Illogical Arminian By now, you have probably read several of my essays (although you could be one of the lucky ones who stumble upon this essay first) :-) Most readers are well aware of my Calvinistic thinking--in other words, my correct thinking. ;-) But it is not enough to simply show the Biblical and logical proof that Calvinism is correct. No, our culture is too caught up in the "me-me-me" mainstream that simply showing Calvinism is correct is not enough; I must also show how Arminianism doesn't make any sense. It is not by accident that the first time...

THE WORKS OF JAMES ARMINIUS VOL. 1 by James Arminius 2 A SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF JAMES ARMINIUS James Arminius was born in Oudewater, a small town near Utrecht in Holland, in the year 1560. His parents were respectable persons of the middle rank in life, his father being an ingenious mechanic, by trade a cutler. His family name was Herman, or, according to some, Harmen. As was usual with learned men of that period, who either latinized their own names, or substituted for them such Latin names as agreed most nearly in sound or in signification with them,...

The Question, "What Is an Arminian?" Answered by a Lover of Free Grace by John Wesley 1. To say, "This man is an Arminian," has the same effect on many hearers, as to say, "This is a mad dog." It puts them into a fright at once: They run away from him with all speed and diligence; and will hardly stop, unless it be to throw a stone at the dreadful and mischievous animal. 2. The more unintelligible the word is, the better it answers the purpose. Those on whom it is fixed know not what to do: Not understanding...

[snip] Here is why the argument is weak. First, if God is omnipotent, then the assumption that freewill is necessary for happiness is false. If God could make it a rule that only beings with freewill may experience happiness, then he could just as easily have made it a rule that only robots may experience happiness. The latter option is clearly superior, since perfect robots will never make decisions which could render them or their creator unhappy, whereas beings with freewill could. A perfect and omnipotent God who creates beings capable of ruining their own happiness is impossible. Second, even...

GOLDEN CHAIN or IRON PADLOCK? Vic Reasoner Romans 8:28-30 traces God’s realized purpose through the order in which it was accomplished. Each verb in this order of salvation is in the aorist tense, which refers to completed action. Yet God’s plan may be aborted at any point, just as the six steps of human responsibility in Romans 10:14-17 or the sequence of Romans 5:3-5. We have a choice and we must continually submit to his purpose. Paul "speaks as one looking back from the goal, upon the race of faith," wrote Wesley. Final salvation is reviewed from finish to start,...

Bad Arguments Against CalvinismGregory Koukl Greg points out the fallacies in many of the common approaches. We've been talking about the biblical question of predestination lately--not strict determinism, which mechanistically fixes every detail of our lives, but rather the view that God has personally chosen (predestined) those who would believe in Christ for salvation. Often when I talk about this issue I'm not always making a positive case for the Reformed point of view (Calvinism). Instead, I'm frequently only trying to show that some of the objections raised against the Reformed view simply don't work. By carefully removing the bad...

Chapter 13 The Providence of GodWe believe that the same God, after He had created all things, did not forsake them or give them up to fortune or chance, but that He rules and governs them according to His holy will, so that nothing happens in this world without His appointment; nevertheless, God neither is the Author of nor can be charged with the sins which are committed. For His power and goodness are so great and incomprehensible that he orders and executes His work in the most excellent and just manner, even then when devils and wicked men act...

God and man must both do something before a man can be saved. Hyper-Calvinism denies the necessity of human action, and Arminianism denies the true nature of the Divine action. The Bible clearly sets forth both the divine and human as essential in God's plan of salvation. This is not to say, as Arminianism does, God's part is to freely provide salvation for all men, and man's part is to become willing to accept it. This is not what we said above, nor is it what the Bible teaches. In order to understand what God's Word really says and to...

CHOOSING A THEOLOGY Whether we like it or not, as Christians we all adhere to some form of theological thinking. Our theology should not rule the Bible; the Bible should rule our theology. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Importance of Theology Have you ever wondered how there can be so many denominations when we all read the same Bible? Have you ever been frustrated by your inability to be able to explain to others what you believe and why you disagree with them? Well, the reason in most cases is that you are working from a different theology. If we can be so...

Introduction The central issue we want to study tonight is the interplay between God's sovereignty and human choice with regard to salvation. Do humans have free will to believe or reject the gospel? How should we understand the New Testament's statements about election and predestination? Reminder: Some weeks have more immediate and obvious application than others. This is not one of those weeks . . . However, there is some practical application—like the implications for evangelism. Doctrinal Overview Calvinism: This term is actually a misnomer. Calvin did not emphasize predestination in his Institutes (only 4 chapters). Calvin warned against delving...

Introduction The central issue we want to study tonight is the interplay between God's sovereignty and human choice with regard to salvation. Do humans have free will to believe or reject the gospel? How should we understand the New Testament's statements about election and predestination? Reminder: Some weeks have more immediate and obvious application than others. This is not one of those weeks . . . However, there is some practical application—like the implications for evangelism. Doctrinal OverviewCalvinism: This term is actually a misnomer. Calvin did not emphasize predestination in his Institutes (only 4 chapters). Calvin warned against delving too...