Faith Contenders

Romans 9:10-13 seems blunt, explicit, and authoritative, often putting the non-Calvinist on the defensive. Arguably, many consider this passage to be the crown jewel of Unconditional Election:

And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac; (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;) It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger. As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated. –KJV

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A casual reading of Ephesians 2:8 appears for the vast majority of English translations to support Calvinism:

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: –KJV

Calvinists understand the phrase “and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God,” to refer to faith. And they interpret the verse to say faith is given selectively, as a gift, by grace, to those God has elected for salvation.

For this view to be true, the Continue reading

There is another place in Acts, beside Ac 2:23 that mentions God’s determinate counsel, albeit, here, the verb determined is used, rather than the adjective, determinate. This place is in Ac 4:27,28, which the KJV renders thus:

For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together, for to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.

How is this passage to be interpreted? In Calvinism, God, as the First Cause of all acts in time, predestined that Christ should be slain, and ensured that all the events would infallibly lead to this end. From that viewpoint, Acts 4:28 serves to “prove” the unconditional predetermination of all human acts.

Acts 2:23 contains those cherished terms of Calvinism, “determinate counsel” and “foreknowledge” that are relied on to support Reformed Theology. But, what does Ac 2:23 really say? Here is the text:

“Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain” –KJV

These, were Peter’s words on the morning of Pentecost, addressing his Jewish audience. The Calvinist understands it to mean God accomplished His predetermined plan to crucify His Son through the hands of the people. There are four words which exist in his original statement I particularly want to focus on. The first three should be obvious, the fourth might not be. Continue reading

Although Jesus originally taught in Mat 5:32 there was no clause for divorce other than “except for fornication,” it is commonly believed today that 1 Corinthians 7 adds one more: Abandonment by a Nonbeliever. And yet, this very new clause removes from the Christian the right to divorce an adulterous spouse which Jesus did permit, when the spouse is a believer. Paul says:

But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away. [...] But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace. For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife?

–1Co 7:12-16, KJV

The Paulian Clause for Divorce

Some believe this revision in Christian divorce ethics came to Paul by special revelation, or insight regarding the Lords’ teachings, or even through the special authority which Paul had as an Apostle to “bind and loosen” things on earth. But, as common as this doctrine is there is another way to understand Continue reading

The main difference of opinion between Reformed and Arminian theology, regarding what is said in Ephesians 1:4, concerns the identity of “Him,” (αυτω) in whom we are chosen. Let’s look at the actual verse:

just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, –NKJV

καθως εξελεξατο ημας εν αυτω προ καταβολης κοσμου ειναι ημας αγιους και αμωμους κατενωπιον αυτου εν αγαπη –Byz

There are problems with the above verse that might not be apparent at first. For instance Continue reading

Chapter 3 of the Westminster Confession of Faith states: “By the decree of God, for the manifestation of his glory, some men and angels are predestinated unto everlasting life, and others foreordained to everlasting death.”
The cornerstone of this view is found in Romans 8:

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.”

Ro 8:28-30 –KJV

Instead of emphasising where we disagree with the Calvinist view of the above passage and why they are wrong, let’s do something different. Let’s start with those points on which both sides agree. Continue reading

John 6:44

“No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. “

This verse has fuelled much debate on the assumption it teaches Unconditional Election, given that the drawing here mentioned is presumed to be irresistible. And even if it could be resisted, simply by not being drawn, some men are altogether denied the choice to accept or reject the drawing.

Although ostensibly this verse may be interpreted thus, Jesus says further on Continue reading

One of the various NT verses often relied on for showing the Apostles accepted predestined election as fact, is 1 Pe 1:1-2.

The KJV renders it this way:

Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.

However, the Greek text does not say: “Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father.” Continue reading