peterlumpkins.com

Whomever He Wills: a brief discussion on Dr. Mark Devine's chapter--"Total Depravity" by Peter Lumpkins

Below begins a series of my initial thoughts on the chapter concerning total depravity written by Dr. Mark DeVine in Whomever He Wills 1. I hope my commentary is helpful and the video format useful2... >>> 1"Total Depravity: A Biblical and Theological Examination" is chapter two in Whomever He Wills (pp. 16-36) 2I continue to work on the audio quality of my video presentations. While it is improved somewhat from earlier videos, it still is not at the level I'd like it. Any feedback would be appreciated... Read more →

Monergism.com snubs two Southern seminary professors' book by Peter Lumpkins

Drs. Peter J. Gentry (PhD, University of Toronto), professor of Old Testament Interpretation at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and director of the Hexapla Institute, and Stephen J. Wellum (PhD, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School), professor of Christian theology at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and editor of The Southern Baptist Journal of Theology, just released their latest volume, Kingdom through Covenant: A Biblical-Theological Understanding of the Covenants, to high-five accolades from a broad swath of pleased supporters within the Reformed community >>> According to the cover, Dr. Thomas R. Schreiner,... Read more →

Response to Whomever He Wills: Part II by David Allen

UPDATE: Note: four parts are now available. Check out the links at the bottom of the post... We linked to Dr. David Allen's introductory remarks concerning the newest release by Founders Press, Whomever He Wills , edited by Drs. Matthew Barrett and Thomas J. Nettles. Since Allen's opening remarks were posted, Dr. Fred Zaspel, author of the book's Preface which Allen critically engaged in his introductory remarks, has offered a brief response to Dr. Allen >>> In Part 2 (which will be offered in several increments due to length), Dr.... Read more →

New Resource: articles from Baptist media sources concerning Calvinism in the Southern Baptist Convention by Peter Lumpkins

I just put up a new resource--a page containing articles from Southern Baptist media sources concerning the subject of Calvinism in the Southern Baptist Convention. Sources will include Baptist Press and all available state papers. No commentary is offered. Nor is the resource intended as a polemical tool. If the article was published by a Southern Baptist news venue, it qualified for the resource. Check out the page (click here or look on the sidebar for a link there). It obviously is only a beginning. When it is finished, I... Read more →

Preaching "Regeneration precedes faith" deadly for Baptists in the Mississippi Valley in the 19th century by Peter Lumpkins

In Whomever He Wills , Dr. Matthew Barrett writes in his chapter entitled, "The Scriptural Affirmation of Monergism" concerning the doctrinal significance of what has become known as regeneration precedes faith--or, in short, monergism. He writes: "For some, such a debate [i.e. synergism vs. monergism] may appear insignificant. To the contrary, God's glory hangs in the balance. If God's working in calling and regenerating the sinner is conditioned upon man's will, then God cannot receive all of the glory in salvation. But if God works alone, effectually to call and... Read more →

Whomever He Wills: a brief introduction by Peter Lumpkins

I spoke with a friend on my way to Indy last week. He mentioned the amazing success he's had doing video book-notes posted on his site. I decided to give it a try. While I won't bind myself using this form of media, I hope to add it to the writing I do on SBC Tomorrow. It's actually a lot quicker than pecking out my thoughts on the keyboard. Whatever the case, I intend to continue communicating mainly through the written word >>> Whomever He Wills: a brief introduction from... Read more →

James White critiques Ronnie Rogers' book, “Reflections of a Disenchanted Calvinist” by Peter Lumpkins

UPDATE: As expected, James White responded to this piece on his follow-up "Radio Free Geneva" podcast. Well, let me be clear: it really wasn't a response to this piece so much as an acknowledgment of it. During the first few minutes, he talks about "almost forgetting" about old "Petey" (And, we want to assure James White we've not forgotten about him, either!) Then, he and Rich Pierce ridiculed the video I put up because of the number of views, etc. comparing my traffic to his. What a hoot! Like giddy,... Read more →

Former Calvinist speaks about his journey away from the "doctrines of grace" by Peter Lumpkins

Ronnie Rogers is pastor of Trinity Baptist Church, Norman, OK. In Reflections of a Disenchanted Calvinist, Rogers speaks as no stranger to his subject. Indeed for years he embraced Calvinism but through systematic exposition of Scripture, he came to view the Reformed hermeneutical template a hindrance to understanding biblical revelation rather than a help >>> click the book icon to go to Amazon.com1 Those of you who have followed me on this site for a while know I have a similar story. Few will be able to suggest Rogers does... Read more →

Founders Calvinist Tom Nettles and the takeover of the Southern Baptist Convention (part I) by Peter Lumpkins

Kentucky pastor and SBC Voices contributor, Jared Moore posed a series of questions to "Traditionalists" about the address Dr. Tom Nettles, Professor of Historical Theology, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, recently gave at the Founders Breakfast held during the Southern Baptist Convention in New Orleans. >>> To be specific, Moore wondered "how traditionalists answer Nettles's [sic] assumptions here. Do you view the entities of the SBC as only your property, or as only the property of those who affirm a "majority" soteriological viewpoint beyond the Baptist Faith and Message 2000, instead... Read more →

We're down to 2 Point Calvinism by Peter Lumpkins

This week was an interesting week on SBC Tomorrow. On Wednesday, we offered a piece on Andrew Broaddus (1770-1848), a legendary figure in his own time... >>> A strict Baptist of the south, Broaddus remained a positive influence for evangelical Christianity all over the region. The famed Calvinist, J.B. Jeter, a friend and supporter who preached Broaddus' funeral homily, hailed him as the most formidable foe against whom Alexander Campbell contended on the historic Baptist side of the Campbellite controversy, a controversy which wreaked havoc on 19th century Baptists. Yet,... Read more →

E. C. Dargan rejects total depravity; or, Was E. C. Dargan actually a Semi-Pelagian? by Peter Lumpkins

Edwin Charles Dargan was born on November 17, 1852. A native of South Carolina, he converted to Christ at age sixteen and went on to earn two degrees from Furman University (B.A., M.A.) and later enrolled in Southern Baptist Theological Seminary studying theology under the famed founder of Southern, James. P. Boyce >>> After serving the pastorate for several years in Virginia and California, Dargan was invited to join the faculty of his beloved alma mater in 1892. Hence, he became the professor of homiletics and ecclesiological history and remained... Read more →

Tom Ascol, Regeneration, and the Baptist Faith and Message by Peter Lumpkins

Dr. Tom Ascol, Director of Founders Ministries, is presently doing a lengthy series1 of responses to the recent Traditional Statement (TS) released by Dr. Eric Hankins, Pastor, First Baptist Church, Oxford, MS. As indicated here and elsewhere many times since the initial TS release, Hankins' statement of faith generated a sizeable amount of criticism—both sober and vitriolic in nature--particularly but predictably from Baptist Calvinists. Even Al Mohler publicly lamented the document's creation and content; and thankfully, Mohler represented the more sober criticism to date even if TS supporters understandably took... Read more →

Calvinists recruit W.A. Criswell to their cause by Peter Lumpkins

Dr. Tom Ascol is Director of Founders Ministries, the largest network of Calvinists affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention. Founders Ministries maintains that since Southern Baptists have “lost the gospel”, it apparently will be up to like-minded Calvinists like themselves to assist us in finding the gospel* >>> *I remain very much aware I broke my own ususal standard in posting such a long piece. I only hope I have not presumed upon my readership for whom I am always thankful... Of course, their understanding of the gospel is summed... Read more →

Al Mohler, Semi-Pelagianism, and being "Traditional" Southern Baptists by Peter Lumpkins

I’m personally appreciative Al Mohler responded to “A Statement of the Traditional Southern Baptist Understanding of God’s Plan of Salvation” (TS) released to the public last week by Dr. Eric Hankins, Senior Pastor, First Baptist Church, Oxford, Mississippi >>> Entitled “Southern Baptists and Salvation: It’s Time to Talk” Dr. Mohler demonstrates that the issue the document discusses is really worth our time as Southern Baptists. Several worthy responses to Mohler are already logged including Eric Hankins, Truett-McConnell, Malcolm Yarnell, and Adam Harwood. I hope Dr. Mohler will contemplate well these... Read more →

Tom Ascol: "I have no interest in participating in any such disunity" by Peter Lumpkins

Apparently, a group of Southern Baptists who have a genuine concern for the rise of "New Calvinism" have been busily but quietly putting together a fairly sophisticated theological document which contends with the visible resurgence of strict Calvinistic soteriology within Southern Baptist ranks. From all indication, they were almost ready to release a document to the general public. But Tom Ascol, Director of Founders Ministries, the largest network of Baptist Calvinists in the SBC, evidently got hold of the document before they were ready to release it and decided to... Read more →

Reformed Theology coming under more published scrutiny by Peter Lumpkins

The publication of Whosoever Will (edted by Drs. David Allen and Steve Lemke) was the result of The John 3:16 Conference held at the Woodstock First Baptist Church November 6-7, 2008. Contra some Southern Baptist Calvinists' unwavering confidence, the scholarly contributions in Whosoever Will demonstrated that Reformed theology is not the only, viable theological kid on the block. In fact, the composite thrust of the contributors to Whosoever Will makes it fairly clear that strict Calvinism as a system must be abandoned for a more robust biblicism >>> Since the... Read more →

I was saved through a sinner's prayer by Peter Lumpkins

Recently, the tattered, torn cloth of easy believism was draped once again over the shoulders of Southern Baptists by one of the young new lights shining among evangelicals—David Platt. He said in a “talk” excerpt at Verge 2012: “Making disciples is the supernatural overflow of being a disciple. Proclaiming the love of Christ is the overflow of sharing in the life of Christ. And I’m convinced many people in our churches are simply missing the life of Christ. And a lot of it has to do with what we’ve sold... Read more →

Al Mohler: "Calvinism is the shape of our future" by Peter Lumpkins

Recently, Dr. Al Mohler spoke to the annual meeting of Baptist state convention editors and made this plain but provocative remark concerning the theological future of Southern Baptists >>> "Calvinism is the shape of the future, because the options otherwise don’t very much exist" When will Southern Baptists finally admit we're facing an inevitable head-on collision with aggressive Calvinism in the Southern Baptist Convention? More in an upcoming post... With that, I am... Peter Read more →

The Calvinists are here: a guest editorial by Gerald Harris

UPDATE: the word is LifeWay is preparing a detailed response to Gerald Harris' essay and is scheduled to post this evening on Baptist Press. I'm anticipating precisely what facts in the essay LifeWay intends to dispute. ======================= Below is the current editorial in The Christian Index, the Georiga Baptist Convention's state paper. Dr. Gerald Harris has served as editor of The Christian Index since May 2003. We happily publish by permission Dr. Harris' latest editoral, "The Calvinists are here" >>> SBC Tomorrow welcomes Gerald Harris as guest contributor* John Calvin... Read more →

Tom Ascol on Gerald Harris by Peter Lumpkins

I called to get permission to post Gerald Harris' latest editorial on SBC Tomorrow. The Christian Index graciously gave me permission to do so. It was scheduled to publish at 5:15 A.M on Friday. The reason for permission is two-fold: a) plain, old-fashioned courtesy; b) at the bottom of the editorial page there is a clear indicator I needed to get the permission. It reads: Even so, Tom Ascol, Director of Founders Ministries, put up a piece just a short time ago criticizing Harris' editorial including a full version of... Read more →

Calvinists react to Jerry Vines interview (part II) by Peter Lumpkins

Calvinists react to Jerry Vines interview Part I may be found here. Part II is below and focuses on Joshua Breland's piece on Jerry Vines >>> Part II A brief rejoinder to Breland’s “lengthy response” to Jerry Vines may be helpful. First, Breland criticizes Vines because “citing Calvinism as the reason for current division within the SBC is not helpful to the discussion.” Why? Because, according to Breland, since “Calvinism neither walks nor talks” but is a mere “system of theology”, Breland concludes “ Calvinism is not creating division in... Read more →

The latest theological journal issue from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary deals with Calvinist, Arminian, and Baptist perspectives on salvation by Peter Lumpkins

The spring issue of The Journal for Baptist Theology & Ministry deals with three perspectives on soteriological models: Calvinistic, Arminian, and Baptist. Authors include Steve Lemke, J. Matthew Pinson, and Kenneth Stewart among others >>> Especially helpful is a paper presented by Dr. Pinson, President of Free Will Baptist Bible College, entitled "Thomas Grantham's Theology of the Justification and the Atonement" with panel responses by several theologians including James Leonard, Rhyne Putman, and Clint Bass followed with a rejoinder by Dr. Pinson. We tend to forget that Thomas Grantham was... Read more →

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 Florida Baptist Witness plans to publish a 12 Part series by Dr. Rathel the purpose of which, in its words, is "addressing the always controversial theological issues surrounding how Southern Baptists understand the doctrine of salvation". Dr. Rathel adds his own vision he possesses for the series in his first installment of the... Read more →

Calvinism's "deep, dark, dirty little secret" by Peter Lumpkins

Below is a quote from a paper entitled "Salvation and the Sovereignty of God: The Great Commission as the Expression of the Divine Will"1 by Dr. Kenneth Keathley, Professor of Theology, Dean of the Faculty, and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (Keathley's blog is here) >>> Let us remember that there is no disagreement about human responsibility. Augustinians, Calvinists, Arminians, and all other orthodox Christians agree that the lost are lost because of their own sin. But that is not the question at hand. The... Read more →

Packer on Calvinist Evangelism | robfaircloth.com by Peter Lumpkins

J.I. Packer assesses the Calvinist mindset: via robfaircloth.com Rob Faircloth is pastor of the Covenant Grace Baptist Church in Troy, Alabama. Quoting from a piece James Packer wrote in the sixties, Faircloth concludes: It is difficult to find a more pithy statement of the issues appropriate to the Calvinist-Arminian divide today...Forty-six years ago Packer saw the caricature of Calvinism as anti-evangelistic, and sought to correct the error in part...by citing men who were ardently evangelistic because they were Calvinists (italics original) First, I personally appreciate Packer's contribution to conservative Christianity.... Read more →

Christ's Death: designed for all, designed for some? (part II) by Peter Lumpkins

John writes: “He Himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins—and not only for ours but the sins of all the world” (1 John 2:2 NLT). In order to better grasp this verse, let’s consider a brief background of the Elder’s first little letter >>> Undoubtedly written by an eye witness of Jesus (1:1-4), most scholars seemingly attest to a date for it in the mid to late nineties A.D. And, though some have questioned whether John the Apostle penned it, Guthrie is surely right to insist “ it... Read more →

Christ's Death: designed for all, designed for some? (part I) by Peter Lumpkins

One of the clearest expressions in Scripture pertaining to the infinite worth of Christ’s sacrifice is found in the Apostle of Love’s first little letter. He writes: “He Himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins—and not only for our sins but the sins of all the world” (2:2 NLT). This post is meant not to be an exhaustive exposition of this text. Rather, my desire is to allow the Word of God to simply speak for itself through honest evaluation of the text sufficiently showing John’s basic intent... Read more →

The Spiritual Condition of Infants: a Biblical-Historical Survey and Systematic Proposal by Adam Harwood: A brief Review by Peter Lumpkins

Adam Harwood's new book, The Spiritual Condition of Infants: A Biblical-Historical Survey and Systematic Proposal (hereafter, Spiritual Condition) was released this past Spring by Wipf & Stock Publishers (March 2011, $23.00). Dr. Adam Harwood, Assistant Professor of Christian Studies at Truett-McConnell College in Cleveland, Georgia, answers a profound question which has baffled the greatest minds of the Christian church--the eternal destiny of children. Paige Patterson wrote the Foreword while endorsers include Charles White, James Leo Garrett Jr., Malcolm Yarnell, and Rustin J. Umstattd >>> After the Foreword by Patterson, Harwood... Read more →

Evangelism: A Biblical Response to Today’s Questions: A Brief Review by Peter Lumpkins

J. D. Payne serves as a National Missionary with the North American Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention and an Associate Professor of Church Planting and Evangelism in the Billy Graham School of Missions and Evangelism at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. Evangelism: A Biblical Response to Today's Questions ($17.99 Biblica Publishing, 2011) answers questions about evangelism from an admittedly Calvinistic perspective (47) >>> Dr. Payne addresses 33 questions about evangelism in a decidedly conversational style. Each question is a chapter; and adding a Foreword (written... Read more →

Brad Whitt Makes Baptist News Again by Peter Lumpkins

On February 28, South Carolina pastor, Dr. Brad Whitt, wrote a provocative piece entitled “Young, Southern Baptist…and Irrelevant?” Within a few weeks, over a half dozen state papers had picked up the young pastor’s essay. He obviously resonated with Southern Baptists all over the United States. Indeed his stated concerns shook loose a rebuttal from two Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary professors, Nathan Finn and Ed Stetzer >>> Truth be told, Whitt has kept those in the convention who desire to change the methodology/ecclesiology of SBC churches from the top-down running... Read more →

Professor David Allen on Andrew Fuller's Shift from Hyper-Calvinism by Peter Lumpkins

My recent book review of A. Chadwick Mauldin's work entitled, Fullerism as Opposed to Calvinism inspired a follow-up piece citing Dr. David Allen's helpful analysis of Andrew Fuller's theological shift from Hyper-Calvinism to High Calvinism to Moderate Calvinism. In a chapter entitled "Preaching for a Great Commission Resurgence” found in The Great Commission Resurgence: Fulfilling God’s Mandate in our Time, edited by Chuck Lawless and Adam Greenway (B&H, 2010, pp.281-298), Dr. Allen expounds on Andrew Fuller and his move away from what had become the theological norm of English Particular... Read more →

Fullerism or Calvinism? by Peter Lumpkins

Recently, Baptist theologian Malcolm Yarnell put up a brief review of Fullerism as Opposed to Calvinism: A Historical and Theological Comparison of the Missiology of Andrew Fuller and John Calvin (hereafter “Fullerism”) by A. Chadwick Mauldin ($12.80 Wipf & Stock Publishers, Eugene, OR, 130 pages). With a Foreword written by Michael A.G. Haykin, Professor of Church History and Biblical Spirituality, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Mauldin offers an invigorating proposal to contemporary Baptists—perhaps especially to those Baptists among us who insist on making Calvinism proper the theological benchmark for orthodoxy within... Read more →

"Forsaken: A Meditation" by Peter Lumpkins

Our Lord enabled me to preach this morning on the excruciatingly difficult words of our crucified but soon to be risen Savior when He uttered the words Mark records...>>> "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?"(15:34) Mark records the mysterious darkness descended upon Israel for a three-hour run (v.33), a darkness surely indicative of Israel's rejection of her prophesied Messiah. In John's words, He came to His own, but His own received Him not (John 1:11). Scriptural revelation shows darkness is indicative of separation. For example, in the... Read more →

Are Baptists Calvinists, Arminians, Calminians, or, well...Baptists? by Peter Lumpkins

Many times we stand reminded by our Calvinist family how, in so many ways, our Baptist ancestors in 19th Century America were overwhelming Calvinistic in their understanding of salvation. We repeatedly hear of James Boyce, Basil Manly, Jesse Mercer, P.H. Mell, John Gano and a host of others who embraced classic Calvinism. Indeed, for Calvinists, these men only represent the unified theology of that massive Baptist body who would eventually become the Southern Baptist Convention in 1845... >>> In addition, since so many Baptist churches, especially in the south, embraced... Read more →

Top Ten Theological Truths for New Generation Christians by Peter Lumpkins

Theologian, Malcolm Yarnell, offers a great piece to consider for new generation believers. Entitled "Top Ten Theological Truths Every Young Christian Should Know," Dr. Yarnell's piece is a condensed version of a summary of doctrine created for the Youth Ministry Lab at its 2011 meeting. He includes succinct but helpful theological statements on The Trinity, The Holy Spirit, and Humanity and Sin, and Creation and Providence among others. For example, Yarnell writes of Creation and Providence: "On the basis of His love, the triune God created all things, visible and... Read more →

Love Wins by Rob Bell: A Reformed Scholar's Review by Dr. Paul Owen

SBC Tomorrow welcomes Dr. Paul Owen as guest contributor* Having heard all of the internet buzz about Rob Bell’s new book, I decided to stop in at the local bookstore and pick up a copy. It’s an extremely short book, and only takes a couple of hours to read. It has a relaxing and engaging tone and writing style, and I’m sure it will sell well, given all the publicity it has received on Morning Joe and other news venues. But what of the content?>>> Let me just start out... Read more →

Judgment is No Joke by Peter Lumpkins

A few years ago, I preached a message entitled “Judgment is no Joke” based upon perhaps the most provocative words the Lord Jesus ever spoke; so provocative, in fact, some scholars deny the Lord of Glory spoke them. In part Jesus said>>> "And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire…And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to... Read more →

Clark Pinnock on Eternal Torment & Millard Erickson on Clark Pinnock by Peter Lumpkins

The late Clark Pinnock was one of the more provocative evangelical theologians.* His firey literary style riled his many (and just) critics about as much as some of his theological heterodoxy>>> Note how Pinnock framed the doctrine of eternal punishment: "Let me say at the outset that I consider the concept of hell as endless torment in body and mind an outrageous doctrine, a theological and moral enormity, a bad doctrine of the tradition which needs to be changed. How can Christians possibly project a deity of such cruelty and... Read more →

With that, I am*...Peter Lumpkins

I posted a similar post a few years ago. And, at the risk of being a bit too personal, this post focuses more on me than I normally allow. It is not that I am reluctant for people to know who I am. Most ministers finally accept the reality that, to a large extent, they live in see-through quarters. Rather, it is simply not the purpose toward which I started this site. Forgive me, then, as I become a bit too personal... By Conversion, I'm Believer Growing up in Tennessee... Read more →

Founders Journal & Whosoever Will: Matthew Barrett on Steve Lemke: Part I by Peter Lumpkins

Earlier we noted our agreement with Tom Ascol’s intention for irenic “debate” over the issue of Calvinism in the Southern Baptist Convention. The latest issue of Founders Journal was supposed to illustrate Ascol’s hope such an encouraging exchange is possible. Our lament was and remains that while Ascol may possess every intention of sincere dialogue with brothers on the opposite side of the issue, some of the language the essayists employed in the Founders Journal was, at times, both unduly provocative and unbrotherly* >>> What follows are some observations on... Read more →

Lifeway Wants to Know--"What Politico-Cultural Icons are Christians?" by Peter Lumpkins

Suppose I asked, “Which, if any, of the following people do you believe are Christians?” and listed five people: Barack Obama Glenn Beck Sarah Palin Oprah Winfrey George W. Bush Do you think a poll like this offers substantial information which assists us with the Great Commission? Or, could the negativity toward the inquirers (Lifeway affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention) outweigh any potential assistance the feedback could offer? Well Lifeway Research answered "yes" to the first question and "no" to the second. Not with an added benefit of a... Read more →

Salvation and Sovereignty: a Molinist Approach: An Extended Book-look (Part II) by Peter Lumpkins

Dr. Kenneth Keathley is Professor of Theology and Senior Vice President for Academic Administration/Dean of the Faculty at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. His book, Salvation and Sovereignty: A Molinist Approach (SSM, B&H, 2010, $24.99) contributes a unique approach among Southern Baptists toward solving the classic dilemma between God’s Sovereignty and human free will. In fact, unless I am mistaken, Dr. Keathley is the first writing Southern Baptist theologian who embraces the historical theological position known as Molinism. The engagement below is Part II in a series of three parts. To... Read more →

Calvinism: Necessary, Sufficient, or Neither? by Peter Lumpkins

I was recently in dialog with a very learned Southern Baptist. I cherish those moments when I may ask brilliant men questions, informally chatting along and even saying, "Hold it for a moment; What do you mean by...?" Indeed I'm telling you, a theological chat, a cup of San Fransisco Coffee Company's Old Whaler's Blend, a half sesame-seed bagel, toasted with peanut butter, and it just doesn't get any better. I wish I could have something like that more often...>>> Anyways, I had a chat recently concerning Christianity Today's (CT)... Read more →

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... Read more →

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:... Read more →

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. The second reason that we can be assured in our salvation is... Read more →

Why Your Faith Is Secure: Salvation is of God, Not of Us by Dr. Steve Lemke

Why Your Faith Is Secure: Salvation is of God, Not of Us* From time to time, many Christians struggle with the issue of the assurance of their salvation. Often these doubts arise out of a sense of unworthiness when the believer becomes aware of stubborn sins in their own lives that hinder their fellowship with God. Some other denominations teach that even true believers can lose their salvation. Does the Bible teach that once we are genuinely saved, that we are saved forever? Or can we lose our salvation? Southern... Read more →

On Calvinism and Infant Salvation: A Brief Proposal (Part II) by Peter Lumpkins

As I mentioned in Part I, I felt it necessary to set the record straight because some “Reformed” brothers claimed I did not take the time to rightly understand “reformed theology” and consequently was butchering it. And, one of the supposed outrageous claims I made pertained to Calvinism’s darker side in assigning all reprobate infants to hell. I began with John Calvin’s “horribile decretum”; so horrible, in fact, that Calvinism’s 19th century Princeton champion, B.B. Warfield hid Calvin’s view from plain sight, burying it in a footnote, when he offered... Read more →

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... Read more →

Whosoever Will: Non-Calvinism Gaining Traction in the Marketplace by Peter Lumpkins

Earlier this year, Time Magazine listed neo-Calvinism as one of the hottest new "ideas" blowing through our cultural milieu (//link). Does this renewed focus on theological determinism have what it takes to sustain inquiring minds? Time Magazine does not say. For my part, I think not. Reformer Balthasar Hubmaier's most famous dictum is apt: truth is unkillable Even so, I just learned Whosoever Will: a Biblical-Theological Critique of Five-Point Calvinism is currently their third best-selling book. Into its third printing with B&H, another 2500 copies is expected in the warehouse... Read more →