Soteriology 101: Former Calvinistic Professor Discusses Doctrines Of Salvation

After the debate last Thursday I have recieved a number of messages and links from Calvinists with responses to my views. Today we walk through some of those point by point to help better define my intentions and the true points of contention. Emilio with Red Grace Media, one of the sponsors for the debate, wrote an article about my gesture at the end of the debate and I begin by addressing that. Then I move to discuss a podcast with two Calvinists, one of which attended the debate but left confused about my perspective. Let's dive in. To join Professor Leighton Flowers in the discussion go to www.soteriology101.com

I play some of the audio of the debate over Romans 9 with Dr. James White and give my initial thoughts. I also wrote an article over the major points of our contention in the debate at www.soteriology101.com. The full debate audio and video should be out soon as well. I was going to wait until the release of the video but the social media rumor mill from the many Dr. White fans who were present is framing the debate as if I didn't address Romans 9 and I want to debunk that charge by letting my listeners hear for themselves...

More information about Professor Flowers' new book, "The Potter's Promise" is discussed in detail. Then the rest of the program is a line by line commentary through the entire 9th Chapter of Romans.  Let's dive in!   To join the discussion go to www.soteriology101.com

We got another theme song today. We tackle Romans 8 as it relates to man's inability to submit to the law of God versus man's inablity to admit that they cannot submit to the law of God. We also touch on the interpretation of the Calvinism's "golden chain of redemption."  Let's dive in!   To join a discussion with Professor Flowers please visit www.soteriology101.com

In debates the opponents often talk past each other because (1) there are various explanations within each camp and (2) the terms are not clearly defined. Today's message is an appeal to Dr. White to define some of our terms and our views of the basics so that we can be more fruitful in our discussion in a couple of weeks.   More from Professor Flowers can be found at: www.soteriology101.com    

Does God hate sin and love the sinner, or does God teach us that God hates sinners? Dr. David Platt got in a bit of hot water with the local media for teaching that God hates sinners, but isn't that what the bible teaches?  And what does a Calvinist mean when they say God "hates a sinner" as compared to what a non-Calvinist means?  Let's discuss. To join the discussion with Professor Leighton Flowers visit www.soteriology101.com

Today we continue our response to The Reformed Pubcast's series on TULIP.  This week we discuss the U of TULIP: Unconditional Election by responding to Pastor Doug Wilson and the pubcasters.  Join our discussion at www.soteriology101.com  

Is God's grace effectual?  Is God successful at accomplishing His purpose? RC Sproul Jr visits the pub and we respond to their discussion from the Traditional Non-Calvinistic Southern Baptist perspective.  Join us.   To interact with Professor Leighton Flowers go to www.soteriology101.com

The Reformed Pubcast puts out a podcast that teaches Calvinistic soteriology.  Jeff Durbin, host of Apologia Radio, is a guest on their series over TULIP and he expounds on the doctrine of Total Inability.  We start today looking at a book by Dr. Adam Harwood titled "Born Guilty?" where he shows the clear distinction between being born with a sin nature inclined toward sin and be born guilty of Adam's sin.  Let's dive in! To join the conversation with Professor Leighton Flowers go to www.soteriology101.com Music from today's episode can be found at www.truprophetministries.com

In the last two Dividing Line programs, Dr. James White, confronts the Traditionalist statement of SBC by attempting to redefine Federal Headship. He also confronts Dr. David Allen's accusation of his "Hyperisms."  In doing so he admits that he and other Calvinists (JD Hall) have been wrong ("muddle headed") to label us Pelagians.  I'm glad that Dr. White has recognized his error. Let's discuss! To join Professor Leighton Flowers and others in a discussion please visit www.soteriology101.com

The ending song is "How Can it Be" by Lauren Daigle and it is available on iTunes. Today we respond to another one of James White's Dividing Line programs where he continues to make the same basic errors, fallacies and misapplications. We go through each of these error point by point.  I then I end with some 'straight talk' of my own.  To join the discussion with Professor Leighton Flowers please go to www.soteriology101.com  

What is the intent of the apostle John in the sixth chapter of his gospel?  Does he teach the Calvinistic doctrine?  Professor Flowers addresses James White's erroneous and short sited interpretation of the hotly contested chapter on today's episode.  Below is a copy of the original blog article from www.soteriology101.com    I remember my hermeneutics professor saying at the beginning of every class: “Text without context is a pretext for proof-text.” Context tells us the history, the setting, the audience and thus helps understand the intention of the author.  The grammar can inform us of what interpretations are allowed, but the author’s intent is best discovered in the overall context. The sixth chapter of John is one of the top three most contested passages in all of scripture regarding the doctrine of salvation (along with Rom. 9 and Eph. 1). So, as students of scripture lets put our hermeneutical training to work and answer the major questions about the context of this hotly contested chapter: 1. Wh

In today's episode we discuss the origin of evil as the basis of autonomous freedom and the dilemma of divine culpability that some Calvinists are not willing to admit.  We also discuss the purpose of means as it relates to accomplishing the purpose that is stated in the bible if Calvinism is true.   To join the discussion with Professor Leighton Flowers please visit www.soteriology101.com

Dr. James White, on his Divinding Line program, addressed another one of my articles and this is my response. Below is a copy of that article from www.soteriology101.com   In order to prepare for a debate with Dr. James White I have been listening and reading through many various online discussions. Recently I have come across a troubling and quite confounding argument made by my Calvinistic friends. They seem to insist that all the heinous evil in our world must have been meticulously brought to pass by God’s sovereign plan otherwise it would prove (1) God has no purpose for evil's existence or (2) He is powerless to do anything about it. For instance, James White was asked, “When a child is raped, is God responsible and did He decree that rape?” He answered, “Yes, because if not then it’s meaningless and purposeless and though God knew it was going to happen he created it without a purpose… and God is responsible for the creation of despair… If He didn’t then that rape is an element of meaningless evil that

Professor Flowers reflects on his time in college with Matt Chandler and the similar journey into Calvinism being mentored by the same man.  Are people coming out of "Arminianism" into Calvinism in this modern day resurgence? Or are people coming out of ignorance of biblical doctrine into Calvinistic understanding?  There is a difference. Join the discussion at www.soteriology101.com

You have to listen to the intro song.  Why we all gotta be so rude? Why does this discussion turn sour so often?  What are some of the practical implications of our Theological perspectives?  Information on a possible up coming debate is coming soon! To join Professor Flowers in this discussion visit us at www.soteriology101.com

The song played is from the artist "Rakim: The 18th Letter" and can be purchased on itunes. We also play another clip from the Theology Unplugged podcast in regard to the appeal to mystery. Should we remain silent where scripture remains silent?  Is there anything wrong with saying "I don't know" when it comes to certain aspects of God's infinite ways? Most classical theistic scholars do not seem to think so.  Let's dive in! To join in the discussion with Professor Leighton Flowers go to www.soteriology101.com

Battle Hymn of the Republic by SHeDAISY (buy on iTunes) Today we talk about #the15, Ed Stetzer and other Southern Baptist Leaders in conflict over a variety of matters. I read an article from: AW Tozer (http://www.worldinvisible.com/library/tozer/5f00.0888/5f00.0888.01.htm) and Frank Violia (http://frankviola.org/2015/02/09/heresy/) To give some balance and biblical wisdom to how we are to respond to a percieved enemy and deal with conflict. To join the discussion with Professor Leighton Flowers at www.soteriology101.com

Dr. James White, host of The Dividing Line, responds to my article confronting my accusation against his inconsistency. Here is the article from www.soteriology101.com Calvinists (compatibilists) deny that the Bible teaches that man has a free will. They believe, rather, that God ordains all things that come to pass, including the homosexual’s choices, yet the homosexual is still culpable for his choices. Compatibilism, held to by most Calvinistic scholars, is a form of determinism and it should be noted that this position is no less deterministic than hard determinism (according to John Hendryx of monergism.com, Phil Johnson, and James White, to name a few). This simply means that God’s predetermination and meticulous providence is “compatible” with voluntary choice. They do not believe homosexual’s choices are coerced …i.e. the gay man does not choose against what he wants or desires, yet no gay man ever makes choices contrary to God’s sovereign decree. What God determines will always come to pass according

Join us as we answer common misconceptions raised by our Calvinistic brethren. Music: Jesus Paid it all by Fernado Ortega  www.soterology101.com