What Arminius Taught About Salvation | Part 5

I believe much of what hides behind the label “Arminianism” today actually disregards core Scriptural truths. Since Arminianism is generally accepted as a viable framework, Arminian-sounding beliefs are accepted as true, even if they are disharmonious with God’s revelation. I will attempt to paint several warning signs that we can use to determine when someone is beginning to go off the rails of biblical Christianity. Read More

What Arminius Taught About Salvation | Part 4

As we continue down the roads of these systems, we find that they continue to diverge. While they agree on some of the initial principles, there are some subtle—but important—differences between these views, especially on their understanding of predestination, election, faith, and the nature of man’s free will. Read More

What Arminius Taught About Salvation | Part 3

Arminius was quite unwilling to go beyond the clear teachings of Scripture. As such, he left a number of theological blanks, unwilling to fill them in if he believed Scripture gave no clear answer. Those who followed him gradually filled in those blanks, developing a system more logically cohesive but less biblical. Logic superseded biblicism and the resulting system, though not unbiblical, seems to me to exceed God’s revelation in Scripture. Read More

What Arminius Taught About Salvation | Part 2

Arminius believed that if anything good will happen in our world, it must begin with God. The foremost good thing is the salvation of sinners, a work God both initiates and enables. Arminius allowed no merit or credit to go to man, describing even faith itself as God’s gift. As we think of our own salvation experiences, we are reminded that God alone gets the glory for saving sinners such as us. Read More

What Arminius Taught About Salvation | Part 1

Arminius dedicated himself to the faithful study of Scripture. He developed a cohesive explanation of the gospel and of Christianity that is both compelling and biblical. Yet he may not believe everything you think he believes. Read More

Living and Powerful: The Animation of Scripture | Part 2

Good Christian theology is both intellectual and tangible. It ought not only to affect our minds but also our actions. In light of this principle, how does a right understanding of Scripture’s animation affect our daily walk? Read More

Living and Powerful: The Animation of Scripture | Part 1

The Bible is more than just an information bank, it is living and powerful. It is able to transform our lives. Read More

The Sufficiency of Scripture | Part 9

Commitment to Scripture alone is sometimes set against Spirit-led Christianity, as if following the written Word is less spiritual than following the Spirit’s leading. But Spirit-led living is not opposed to Scripture-led living. Rather, the Spirit works through the Word to instruct and change us. True spiritual life springs from knowledge of God found in Scripture. Read More

The Sufficiency of Scripture | Part 8

Scripture not only describes what holiness is, but also describes the means to holiness. Scripture tells us about the one who alone can change our sinful hearts, who alone can continually conform us into the image of Christ. Thus we depend on Scripture both to know what holiness is and to know how holiness is possible. Read More

The Sufficiency of Scripture | Part 7

Biblicism is, in fact, the ultimate litmus test for whether or not a man’s preaching meets God’s criteria. This is the central notion behind the apostle Paul’s command to Timothy that he “Preach the Word!” Nothing else is expected—or permitted—than preaching the Word. Everything in a sermon must be geared toward helping the hearers understand God’s Word. They should be left on a higher plane than before, knowing more of who God is, what He has done for them, and what He expects them as His redeemed children. The end goal is deeper relationship with God, but that relationship is indivisible from what He has told us in His Word. Thus the preacher’s responsibility is to look to Scripture alone to lead his people toward God. Read More