Arrogant Calvinists, Humble Arminians

It's sad but true: Sometimes Christians who hold firmly to solid doctrine do so arrogantly. Sometimes people with good theology have bad behavior. Those of us in Reformed and Presbyterian churches don't always have a consistent balance of doctrine and everyday life. I believe that the reality of salvation by grace alone is one of …

The Spirit Gives Life (Boston)

 I really like the way Thomas Boston explained how the Holy Spirit gives life (cf. John 6:63; 2 Cor. 3:6).  I've updated the language slightly: [Jesus said] “All that the Father giveth me, shall come to me.” (John  6:37) Now, this also belongs to the promise of the Spirit, who is therefore called the Spirit …

A Ransom For All (Ryken)

 In 1 Timothy 2:6a Paul says that Christ Jesus "gave himself as a ransom for all" (NET).  What does this mean? Did Jesus redeem every person from sin and death?  I appreciate Philip Ryken's comments on  this verse: Calling Jesus a ransom for all men is something like calling your local physician the town doctor. …

John Wesley’s Hatred of Predestination

I was recently reading Lee Gatiss' collection of essays on Reformed theology and history when I ran across his article called, "Strangely Warmed: John Wesley's Arminian Campaigns."  I have to admit I have not read much of Wesley's writing (though what I have read has been less than impressive).  Since Gatiss mentioned Wesley's oft-preached sermon …

“A Strange Anomaly in Contemporary Evangelicalism” (Boice)

James Montgomery Boice made some good points on the perseverance of the saints in these following paragraphs: This doctrine has a logical connection to the other Calvinistic distinctives, of course.  Because we are radically depraved and because salvation depends on God's sovereign acts in our salvation, we have a security that is based on his …