peterlumpkins.com

Mark A. Rathel on the Calvinist-Arminian divide in the Southern Baptist Convention by Peter Lumpkins

Dr. Mark Rathel is Associate Professor of Theology and Philosophy at The Baptist College of Florida. Rathel is a graduate of William Carey (B.A.), New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary (M.Div, Ph.D), and Biola University (M.A.)  >>>

The Security of the Believer and Apostasy (part VI) by Steve Lemke

 In five prior issues, I have been presenting the biblical rationale for the belief that once we are genuinely saved, we are saved forever. We call this belief the security of the believer. The five reasons presented to support belief in the security of the believer’s salvation are: we cannot lose our salvation: (1) because salvation is not ours to lose since God provides it, not we ourselves, (2) because it is based upon a life-changing salvation experience with God, (3) because eternal salvation is a Scriptural promise, and (4) because eternal salvation is a logical necessity., and (5) because it is based on the unchanging status of our relationship with God.

 

Why Your Faith Is Secure: It Is Based on an Unchanging Status of Relationship (part V) by Steve Lemke

 

 

In this series of articles about the Biblical reasons supporting the security of the believer, we have already seen four that we cannot lose our salvation: (1) because salvation is not ours to lose since God provides it, not we ourselves, (2) because it is based upon a life-changing salvation experience with God, (3) because eternal salvation is a Scriptural promise, and (4) because eternal salvation is a logical necessity. This week we look at a fifth reason from Ephesians 1 and other Scriptures that we can have confidence that we cannot lose our salvation – because it is based on an unchanging status of relationship.

Why Your Faith is Secure: It is a Logical Necessity by Steve Lemke

 

 

In this series of articles about the Biblical reasons supporting the security of the believer, we have already seen three reasons based in Ephesians 1 that we cannot lose our salvation: (1) because salvation is not ours to lose since God provides it, not we ourselves, (2) because it is based upon a life-changing salvation experience with God, and (3) because eternal salvation is a Scriptural promise. In this article we examine the fourth reason that we can have confidence that once we are genuinely saved, we are saved forever: because eternal salvation is a logical necessity.

Why Your Faith Is Secure: It is a Scriptural Promise by Dr. Steve Lemke

We have been examining reasons for the security of the believer – that persons who are genuinely saved are saved forever. We have seen two reasons in previous articles why the Bible teaches that we cannot lose our salvation: (1) because salvation is not ours to lose since God provides it, not we ourselves, and (2) because it is based upon a life-changing salvation experience with God. In this third article of the series is the most compelling reason why we believe that we cannot lose our salvation – because eternal salvation is a Scriptural promise.

Why Your Faith Is Secure: It Is Based upon a Life-Changing Experience with God by Dr. Steve Lemke

Can you lose your salvation? This is the second in a series of six articles exploring the biblical teaching that that once you are genuinely saved, you are saved forever. In the last issue, we saw that we cannot lose our salvation because salvation is simply not ours to lose. God took the initiative in our salvation and He accomplished our salvation, not we ourselves. We did not earn or deserve our salvation; God provided it for us.

Theology Focus by Peter Lumpkins

  Over the next several weeks, we’ll observe a theological focus on what Baptists have come to call the “security of the believer.”  In pursuing our focus, I am glad to post a six-part series only recently published by The Baptist Message, Louisiana Baptists’ state paper.

Written by Dr. Steve Lemke, Provost and Professor of Philosophy and Ethics, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, and republished by permission, the series, while scholarly, is not written for scholars but for the widest readership possible.  Hence, some finer points within Dr. Lemke’s presentation may be filled in through conversation in the comment thread.

We thank both The Baptist Message and Dr. Lemke for allowing us to post this series at SBC Tomorrow.

With that, I am…

Peter

P.S.  My final part on "Is "Reformed Baptist" an Oxymoron?" is forthcoming

John Calvin Goes to Berkley: An Unusual Twist in the Calvinist-Arminian Debate: A Book Note by Peter Lumpkins

Student minister, James G. McCarthy, who’s served on five university campuses (including Berkeley) has authored four books, the last of which is his first novel, John Calvin Goes to Berkeley. Being the first in the University Christian Fellowship Series, this volume was published by City Christian Press, San Jose, California, 2010.

The plot centers around five students who are a part of the University Christian Fellowship Bible studies.  Peace reigns in the fellowship until the inevitable issue surfaces concerning predestination.  Then, division becomes deeply embedded, and the only solution is to solve the mystery which has stumped theologians for centuries—the paradox starring man’s free will and God’s sovereignty.

I found the dialog between the students wrestling with the issue quite familiar but nonetheless highly accurate, gauged by my own experiences. McCarthy does well in polarizing the theological notions which divide Calvinists from non-Calvinists, especially free will vs. God’s sovereignty and evangelism vs. non-evangelism (i.e. hyper-Calvinism).

If you’re looking for a pleasant break from wading through technical theological jargon, you would benefit from McCarthy’s book.  In addition, college ministers and student pastors would gain an accurate inside scoop about what’s hot on university campuses. The author even offers a helpful study guide for small group studies on John Calvin Goes to Berkeley.

With that, I am…

Peter

"Whosoever Will" Getting Good Press by Peter Lumpkins

As I posted late last week, Whosoever Will:  A Biblical-Theological Critique of Five-Point Calvinism edited by Drs. David Allen and Steve Lemke and published by B&H Publishing Group is already on backorder (//link). More good news is, 

The John 3:16 Conference

      One week away, November 6-7, The John 3:16 Conference (J316) will be held at the Woodstock First Baptist Church, Woodstock, Georgia.  Some have wondered whether or not the conference would succeed.  Evidently,  J316 has not only settled that ambiguity, registration is now limited: 

"Registration for the conference with meals has ended due to reaching capacity.  You may still register for the conference only." 

John 3:16 Conference

      

    The John 3:16 Conference is one conference you need to make this Fall.  Mark the dates--November 6-7, at First Baptist Church, Woodstock, Georgia.  You can sign up here. 

J316C promises to be a scholarly evaluation of the recent Calvinist Resurgence in the Southern Baptist Convention.  And, with the heavy weights involved, I do not personally see how it can miss.  Scholars delivering papers at this conference include: