Choosing or Chosen: Is Election Conditional or Unconditional? (5)
Choosing or Chosen: Is Election Conditional or Unconditional? (1) Choosing or Chosen: Is Election Conditional or Unconditional? (2) Choosing or Chosen: Is Election Conditional or Unconditional? (3) Choosing or Chosen: Is Election Conditional or Unconditional? (4) Problems with the Doctrine of Conditional Election Not only is unconditional election well-supported Biblically and theologically, conditional election suffers [...]
Choosing or Chosen: Is Election Conditional or Unconditional? (4)
That God’s election of sinners was executed apart from any righteousness or merit—including faith—on man’s part is made even more clear by considering this issue under two theological headings. First, the impact of sin on the human will and second, how the doctrine of unconditional election coheres with other aspects of salvation. The Impact of [...]
Choosing or Chosen: Is Election Conditional or Unconditional (3)
Choosing or Chosen: Is Election Conditional or Unconditional (1) Choosing or Chosen: Is Election Conditional or Unconditional (2) Romans 8:29 and God’s “Foreknowledge” First, although the etymology of the word “foreknow” in both Greek and English suggests that it can mean “know beforehand,” the New Testament usage of the word and its cognates does not [...]
Choosing or Chosen: Is Election Conditional or Unconditional? (2)
Choosing or Chosen: Is Election Conditional or Unconditional? (1) Election in the Old and New Testaments The idea of unconditional election is not exclusive to the New Testament; it is found both implicitly and explicitly through much of the Old Testament. Although the words “elect” or “chosen” are not used in God’s interactions with Abram [...]
Choosing or Chosen: Is Election Conditional or Unconditional? (1)
In the discussion of the doctrine of divine election, two primary positions arise to the forefront of the conversation. Historically, these two positions have been stated and defended by those who would classify themselves as classical Arminians and moderate Calvinists, respectively. Classical Arminians maintain that God’s election of men and women to salvation before the [...]
Fame, Talent, and New Conversions
One of my favorite roads is located in the south San Francisco Bay area, in a quaint, densely wooded neighborhood called the Los Altos Hills. It is a road that Amy and I have traveled together many times—it is the road to her parent’s house. Alongside the road, about three-quarters of the way to my [...]
Self-Examination, Obedience, and Assurance
Obtaining and regularly enjoying the assurance of one’s salvation is something that alludes many Christians. Get past all the spiritual jargon and start asking some difficult questions, and you might find that lack of assurance, whether it occurs occasionally or frequently, is a feeling that dogs many sincere Christians. During my college years, when I [...]
Book Review – ‘The God who Justifies’ by James White
Martin Luther described the doctrine of justification—the topic of this book—as the article of faith that determines whether the church is standing or falling. Speaking of Luther, James Buchanan writes, “By this he meant that when this doctrine is understood, believed, and preached, as it was in New Testament times, the church stands in the [...]
Spurgeon on the Miracle of True Faith
I thought it would be appropriate to provide a quote from Charles Spurgeon on the miracle of true saving faith. I think a foundational problem in the Church today is a woefully inadequate understanding of saving faith. I am afraid that many people are convinced they are saved when in reality, they have never actually come [...]
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