Free Will and The Path to Universalism

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By Mark W. Christy, PhD Among many Southern Baptists, a sort of popular theology has taken root which persists in affirming a salvific role for what is known as an autonomous/libertarian free will. Whereas classical Arminianism affirms the bondage of the will due to sin and the role of prevenient (coming before) grace in a person’s heart (their inner person including mind, will, desires, and emotions), this view supports a more semi-Pelagian view of will whereby a person can, in their own po...
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A Biblical Argument for a Female Deacon

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Traditionally, many Baptist churches have spurned the idea of female deacons. Their position on this subject is due, at least in part, to their ecclesiology. In a typical Baptist congregation, the pastor serves as sole elder and the deacons share spiritual authority with him.[i] When this is the case, the deacons must be only men because the Bible clearly teaches that women are not to have spiritual authority over men: “I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man” (1 Tim 2:...
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Critical Response to The Traditionalist Statement: Part 11 (Article 10)

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By Mark W. Christy, PhD This article is the eleventh 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 10 of the TS: Article Ten: The Gre...
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Critical Response to The Traditionalist Statement: Part 10 (Article 9)

Posted on by markwchristy
By Mark W. Christy, PhD This article is the tenth 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 9 of the TS: Article Nine: The Securi...
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Critical Response to The Traditionalist Statement: Part 9 (Article 8)

Posted on by markwchristy
By Mark W. Christy, PhD This article is the ninth 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 8 of the TS: Article Eight: The Free ...
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Critical Response to The Traditionalist Statement: Part 8 (Article 7)

Posted on by markwchristy
By Mark W. Christy, PhD This article is the eighth 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 7 of the TS: “Article Seven: The Sov...
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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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