Theology

The Gospel by Those Frequently Charged with Being False Teachers

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By Mark W. Christy, PhD In this article, the salvation plan of various individuals who frequently are associated with the Prosperity Gospel Movement are laid out and examined to determine the degree of similarity and whether or not potential errors may be involved. Overall, they typically present a soteriology that could easily be construed to be correct given the simplicity and lack of detail in their statements. While their approach does not typically cross the line into confirmed heresy, ...
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The Divine Escape from the Bondage of the Will

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By Mark W. Christy, PhD In Matthew 23:37, Jesus laments, “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling.”[i] Some have suggested that this verse offers support for the doctrine of resistible grace. On the surface, this hardly seems surprising since Jesus Himself, in this verse, declares His desire to save the Jews but was prevented...
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God’s Desire for the Salvation of All and the Biblical Reality of Hell

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By Mark W. Christy, PhD At times, the Bible seems to teach that God desires all people to be saved. In his discussion on the coming Day of the Lord (i.e., Judgement Day), Peter writes, “The Lord is…not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance” (2 Pet 3:9).[i] Calling upon the faithful to pray (in context, he is specifically calling on men to pray in the worship service), Paul observes the heart of God “desires all men to be saved” (1 Tim 2:4). Ezekiel, also noting the desi...
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John 12:32 and God’s Saving Grace

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By Mark W. Christy, PhD In John 12:32, Jesus declares, “And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself.”[i] On the surface, some suggest that this verse is offering evidence that Christ draws all people to Himself in such a way that all people can freely respond to saving grace. This position, known as the doctrine of resistible grace (RG), lies in stark contrast to what has been called the doctrine of irresistible grace (IG). According to IG, whomever God sovereignly c...
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The Doctrine of Christ’s Eternal Sonship

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By Mark W. Christy, PhD This doctrine is supported by many passages throughout Scripture. The Bible specifically declares that ‘the Son’ created all things (Col 1:13-16; Heb 1:2). In Colossians 1:15, Paul says, “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.”[i] This suggests that Christ’s Sonship existed at least before creation. While Scripture speaks of Christ’s physical birth through Mary, it also teaches that Christ was sent into the world as the Son, and this i...
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Were False Teachers Bought by the Lord in 2 Peter 2:1?

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By Mark W. Christy, PhD In 2 Peter 2:1, the apostle seems to quite clearly suggest that false teachers have been “bought” by the Lord: “But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves.”[i] These false teachers, however, could not have been born-again or regenerate because Peter goes on to say (among other th...
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The Holy Spirit’s Work Before Salvation

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By Mark W. Christy, PhD In the Old Testament (OT), God’s people, saved by faith in the revelation made available to them at the time, were able to repent and trust in God (e.g. Abraham, Job, David, Jeremiah). Both of these activities reveal the work of the Holy Spirit in their lives. In earnest repentance, David cried out, “Do not cast me away from Your presence and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me” (Ps 51:11).[i] David’s prayer reveals that in some way the Holy Spirit was an active part...
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John 1:29 and the Atonement

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By Mark W. Christy, PhD Robert Wilkin, in Is Calvinism Biblical?, offers two verses (John 1:29; 2 Peter 2:1) which he claims offer solid biblical support for the doctrine of unlimited atonement (UA).[i] This doctrine, held by Arminians among others, states that Jesus died for the sins of all people and not just the elect (those chosen by God). To be clear, this doctrine still affirms some people will still go to hell, but their final eternal destination is ultimately dependent on their respo...
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The Bereans and Unconditional Election

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By Mark W. Christy, PhD In a previous article on this blog, “Acts 13:46 and Unconditional Election,” the doctrine of unconditional election was discussed. Basically, it says that all people who receive salvation through Christ are first chosen by God and regenerated solely by the work of God within their inner persons unto salvation. At the point of salvation when a person expresses repentance and faith (both gifts from God and part of His regenerative work), God’s regenerative work is made ...
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Acts 13:46 and Unconditional Election

Posted on by markwchristy
The doctrine of unconditional election holds that no one can be saved unless God chooses to save them. God’s choice, His election, of people, according to this doctrine, ensures the salvation of those chosen in such a way that those who are elect will respond to the gospel in repentance and faith. Given that the two conditions of salvation, repentance and faith, are both gifts of God, it would seem that God’s electing choice plays a vital role in salvation as He is the giver of the conditions n...
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