Comments on: January 28, 2010

By: Nelson Banuchi

Nelson Banuchi — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 19:27:20 +0000

Hi Ben2, I don’t know if I understand Carson’s comment correctly. Could you elaborate.

A question that comes up is, if man’s will or faith is not the ground of salvation, how does that affect the Biblical idea that grace is unmerited? Such a distinction, however ultimate, has no direct correlation with meriting salvation, does it?

What am I missing here?

By: Ben2

Ben2 — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 12:55:47 +0000

I came across the following quote by D A Carson today that clarifies what I’ve been trying to say:

“At the same time, to preserve the notion of particular redemption proves pastorally important for many reasons. If Christ died for all people with exactly the same intent, as measured on any axis, then it is surely impossible to avoid the conclusion that the ultimate distinguishing mark between those who are saved and those who are not is their own will. That is surely ground for boasting. This argument does not charge the Arminian with no understanding of grace. After all, the Arminian believes that the cross is the ground of the Christian’s acceptance before God; the choice to believe is not in any sense the ground. Still, this view of grace surely requires the conclusion that the ultimate distinction between the believer and the unbeliever lies, finally, in the human beings themselves. That entails an understanding of grace quite different, and in my view far more limited, than the view that traces the ultimate distinction back to the purposes of God, including his purposes in the cross. The pastoral implications are many and obvious.”

D. A. Carson, The Difficult Doctrine of the Love of God (Wheaton, Ill: Crossway Books, 2000), 73-79.

S.D.G.

P.S. Great book! I’d recommend it to anyone who cares to consider the different ways in which the Bible portrays the love of God.

By: Paul

Paul — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 23:27:14 +0000

Excellent Radio Show, got a lot out of that very helpful.

By: Michael K

Michael K — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 23:13:43 +0000

Hebrews 3:12-14 – “Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called ‘today’, that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end.”

By: greg

greg — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 03:44:09 +0000

gregorama91@yahoo.com

Thanks,
Anthy

By: Anthy

Anthy — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 18:02:21 +0000

Hello Greg
I sent them to you but I received a notice that the email did not get there. I will try again.

You could repost your email address on the blog, in case I have the wrong end of the stick.

By: Greg

Greg — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 23:36:57 +0000

Thanks Anthy. I really appreciate it.

By: Anthy

Anthy — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 22:02:07 +0000

Hello Greg

I saw your comment from 12.09 today, and have sent you the first of the talks. I might have to send them one at a time, as the old laptop is not behaving when I try to send two at once.

By: Dr Michael L Brown

Dr Michael L Brown — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 19:09:19 +0000

Thanks, Greg. It’s so important that we all understand how our language can sound, on both sides of every issue. As we listen to each other, we are sure to learn from each other.

By: Greg

Greg — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 17:18:44 +0000

“In my defense all I can say is that I have seen on this forum assertions that Calvinists have “a different God” and “a different Gospel”

Christophe,

I confess that I have engaged in this type of rhetoric. I apologize. However, my intention was never to be purposely offensive. I just have personal concerns about Calvinism.

If a person either agrees or disagrees with every point of TULIP (which obviously deals with soteriology), than I believe it’s reasonable to assume some degree of negative ramifications if you are on the incorrect side of this debate.

Again, I hope you’ll forgive my passion and lack of diplomacy with respect to this issue.

God Bless,
Greg