Christian Free Will Theist Clearinghouse

[Christian Free Will Theist Clearinghouse @ChristianFWT]

@DPGBehler Well, there are the “free grace” people on the Protestant side.

[David L. Allen @DrDavidLAllen]

Announcing my latest book! Coming later this fall—

“Understanding Calvinism: A Guide for Non-Calvinists.”

For the last several years in virtually every church where I have preached or taught, I have been asked by pastors and lay people alike to write a non-academic book on Calvinism that does two things. First, explain Calvinism in understandable language. Second, offer a critique of Calvinism that is accessible to those who have little or no knowledge of Calvinism.

The first part of the book will be descriptive and explanatory. There will be not a single syllable of critique. The second part of the book will offer a critique of the basics of Calvinism, including issues of divine determinism, compatiblism, free will, each of the five points (though I basically agree with perseverance and affirm eternal security of the believer), and more.

The current manuscript is 150 pages. I will be handing it off soon to Tony Byrne @_TheoMed for editing.

It will be available on Amazon Books and will be reasonably priced.

Calvinists have rarely offered any substantive interaction with my previous three academic books on Calvinism (“The Extent of the Atonement,” “Calvinism: A Biblical and Theological Critique,” and “Liberating Romans from Reformed Captivity”).

Perhaps things will be different with this book.

[Dead Heroes Don't Save @_DHDS]

Saw this other post and think you've explained yourself well

It is a grace that we have inspired Scripture but the debate is not whether there is any grace given but on whether the HS must "attend" or "assist" the reader to overcome an incapacity

In terms of incapacity, I think that we can separate "understanding" from "applying"

After all, a natural ability would allow understanding while a moral inability would prevent application

Thus some might acknowledge an incapacity of fallen people born in such a condition that they cannot believe (or do good) without the aid of the HS but can still allow for comprehension/understanding of the content in Scripture without that aid

On the other side, setting aside TD, we see in Scripture that the HS does draw, illuminate & convict and these are all "assisting" the reader (inwardly) to understand both the content and the need to apply it

For many of us this work of the HS would fall short of the demand some make for a full regeneration that must come first

Finally, an active HS that does "assist" us can work in us in such a way that we can cooperate (or not) and that He will also respond to how we use this light (or don't)

[Christian Free Will Theist Clearinghouse @ChristianFWT]

@TKJaros @BaptistBavinck @Soteriology101 EO believe in the necessity of PG as well.

[Christian Free Will Theist Clearinghouse @ChristianFWT]

@Soteriology101 Yes, I have evidence from history. Words provide the object of faith upon with we believe, necessarily inspired by the Holy Spirit according to numerous Fathers.

Here’s one of the examples from history:

https://t.co/XTP6WEFVDC

[Christian Free Will Theist Clearinghouse @ChristianFWT]

@Soteriology101 Yes, I have evidence from history. Words provide the object of faith upon with we believe, necessarily inspired by the Holy Spirit according to numerous Fathers.

Here’s one of the examples from history:

https://t.co/XTP6WEFVDC

[Christian Free Will Theist Clearinghouse @ChristianFWT]

@Soteriology101 I think your wording is misleading

Enabling is a miraculous event to many of the ECFs.

They didn’t think we are saved or regenerated before we believe. But plenty believed that the desire to do what is right was necessarily coming from God’s divine, resistible inspiration

[Christian Free Will Theist Clearinghouse @ChristianFWT]

@HuiosAgapetos @6thsola @DineshDSouza There are several Bible translations and Greek grammarians that make the same distinction I’m making.

In addition, there are articles online.

https://t.co/lmPdKcuAYT

[Christian Free Will Theist Clearinghouse @ChristianFWT]

@HuiosAgapetos @6thsola @DineshDSouza As many as were stationed for eternal life by listening to the debate with the Jews believed.

[Christian Free Will Theist Clearinghouse @ChristianFWT]

@HuiosAgapetos @6thsola @DineshDSouza You are still missing the point. There is no direct object on the sentence. It does not say God appointed anyone.

τάσσω means “set to” or “set in position” —meaning in this context that they were prepared. How were they prepared? They were prepared by listening to Paul.

[Christian Free Will Theist Clearinghouse @ChristianFWT]

@HuiosAgapetos @6thsola @DineshDSouza How obvious is it that they ALREADY believed Paul’s message about eternal life before it was offered to them? So when Paul says “I now turn to the Gentiles,” they rejoiced because they were already prepared for eternal life by the message.

[Christian Free Will Theist Clearinghouse @ChristianFWT]

@HuiosAgapetos @6thsola @DineshDSouza No, their wanting of it is the same as being set for it. Luke wrote the sentence with no direct object because it’s obvious that Paul’s message prepared the audience to want eternal life. They were “set to/prepared for” eternal life. Paul then turned and offered it to them.

[Christian Free Will Theist Clearinghouse @ChristianFWT]

@_jonbowlin @CherylSchatz @Soteriology101 Seriously, you can’t possibly think decreeing that something must happen is the same as allowing it to happen!?

[Christian Free Will Theist Clearinghouse @ChristianFWT]

@ThugLifeSproul LOL. Even plenty of Calvinists don’t believe in limited atonement.

[Christian Free Will Theist Clearinghouse @ChristianFWT]

@LivingGodsTruth You beg the question. If God wants people to have free will, it is his sovereign will to do so.

[Christian Free Will Theist Clearinghouse @ChristianFWT]

@HuiosAgapetos @6thsola @DineshDSouza In other words, the Gentiles weren’t rejoicing that Jesus provided eternal life, per se. They are rejoicing that they are included in the offer of the eternal life they already wanted.

[Christian Free Will Theist Clearinghouse @ChristianFWT]

@HuiosAgapetos @6thsola @DineshDSouza You’re missing the context. Paul preached to the Jews, and the Gentiles were listening in. The Gentiles already wanted what the Jews were being offered. How do we know this?

We know this because the Gentiles rejoiced when Paul simply said, “I now turn to the Gentiles.”

[Christian Free Will Theist Clearinghouse @ChristianFWT]

@Bombasotta @NickQuient @jdpritchett @DPGBehler @thechurchsplit I came here to say that.

[Christian Free Will Theist Clearinghouse @ChristianFWT]

@HGastas @DineshDSouza So let God draw you.