Theology

The Deciding Factor in Our Salvation

Posted on by markwchristy
By Mark W. Christy, PhD Classical Arminianism and Calvinism both affirm the bondage of the human will due to the sin of Adam. Both also agree no one can be saved apart from God’s prevenient (coming before) saving grace working in the human heart (inner person including the mind and thoughts) in such way that a person is enabled to respond to the gospel in repentance and faith. In 1610, the followers of Arminius wrote in defense of their view: “That man has not saving grace of himself, nor...
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Critical Response to The Traditionalist Statement: Part 7 (Article 6)

Posted on by markwchristy
By Mark W. Christy, PhD This article is the seventh in a series designed to carefully consider the theological position against Calvinism taken by those who have signed what is called A Statement of the Traditional Southern Baptist Understanding of God’s Plan of Salvation (released in 2012). In short form, this document is commonly known as the Traditionalist Statement (TS) among Southern Baptists. Presently, comments will be made in response to Article 6 of the TS: Article Six: The Elect...
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Critical Response to The Traditionalist Statement: Part 6 (Article 5)

Posted on by markwchristy
This article is the sixth in a series designed to carefully consider the theological position against Calvinism taken by those who have signed what is called A Statement of the Traditional Southern Baptist Understanding of God’s Plan of Salvation (released in 2012). In short form, this document is commonly known as the Traditionalist Statement (TS) among Southern Baptists. Presently, comments will be made in response to Article 5 of the TS: Article Five: The Regeneration of the SinnerWe affi...
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Critical Response to The Traditionalist Statement: Part 5 (Article 4)

Posted on by markwchristy
By Mark W. Christy, PhD This article is the fifth in a series designed to carefully consider the theological position against Calvinism taken by those who have signed what is called A Statement of the Traditional Southern Baptist Understanding of God’s Plan of Salvation (released in 2012). In short form, this document is commonly known as the Traditionalist Statement (TS) among Southern Baptists. Presently, comments will be made in response to Article 4 of the TS: Article Four: The Grace ...
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Critical Response to The Traditionalist Statement: Part 4 (Article 3)

Posted on by markwchristy
By Mark W. Christy, PhD This article is the fourth in a series designed to carefully consider the theological position against Calvinism taken by those who have signed what is called A Statement of the Traditional Southern Baptist Understanding of God’s Plan of Salvation (released in 2012). In short form, this document is commonly known as the Traditionalist Statement (TS) among Southern Baptists. Presently, comments will be made in response to Article 3 of the TS: “Article Three: The Ato...
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Critical Response to The Traditionalist Statement: Part 3 (Article 2)

Posted on by markwchristy
By Mark W. Christy, PhD This article is the third in a series designed to carefully consider the theological position against Calvinism taken by those who have signed what is called A Statement of the Traditional Southern Baptist Understanding of God’s Plan of Salvation (released in 2012). In short form, this document is commonly known as the Traditionalist Statement (TS) among Southern Baptists. Presently, comments will be made in response to Article 2 of the TS: Article Two: The Sinfuln...
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Critical Response to The Traditionalist Statement: Part 2 (Article 1)

Posted on by markwchristy
By Mark W. Christy, PhD This article is the second in a series designed to carefully consider the theological position against Calvinism taken by those who have signed what is called A Statement of the Traditional Southern Baptist Understanding of God’s Plan of Salvation (released in 2012). In short form, this document is commonly known as the Traditionalist Statement (TS) among Southern Baptists. Presently, comments will be made in response to Article 1 of the TS: Article One: The Gospel...
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Critical Response to The Traditionalist Statement: Part 1 (Preamble)

Posted on by markwchristy
By Mark W. Christy This article is the first in a series designed to carefully consider the theological position against Calvinism taken by those who have signed what is called A Statement of the Traditional Southern Baptist Understanding of God’s Plan of Salvation (released in 2012). In short form, this document is commonly known as the Traditionalist Statement (TS) among Southern Baptists. Among Calvinists, this document has had many detractors who have unhesitatingly published articles, b...
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The Necessity of the Doctrine of Perseverance of the Saints

Posted on by markwchristy
By Mark W. Christy, PhD Multiple times during Christ’s earthly life, he warned that some who came to Him were not truly His followers. In Matthew 7:21, He says, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.”[i] In this text, Christ plainly connects true salvation with obedience to the will of God. This truth, for many people, has proven too difficult to bear because it places one’s eternal secu...
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Towards the Restoration of Scholarly Objectivity in the Arminianism/Calvinism Debate: An Interaction with Robert Wilkin’s Is Calvinism Biblical?

Posted on by markwchristy
By Mark W. Christy, PhD Both on the popular level and unfortunately to some extent among scholars, the centuries old debate between those who hold to Arminianism and Calvinism has grown increasingly emotional and disconnected from sound exegesis of Scripture. To better understand this argument, a faithful steward would be well-advised to read and study from both sides while maintaining a firm footing in Scripture. In an attempt to do just this, I recently purchased multiple books which purpo...
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