Dr Paul Allen

The Reformed view of election, known as unconditional election , means that God does not foresee an action or condition on our part that induces Him to save us. Rather, election rests on God's sovereign decision to save whomever He is pleased to save. In the book of Romans , we find a discussion of this difficult concept. Romans 9:10–13 reads: "And not only so, but also when Rebekah had conceived children by one man, our forefather Isaac, though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad—in order that God's purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls—she was told, 'The older will serve the younger.' As it is written, 'Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.'" Here the Apostle Paul is giving his exposition of the doctrine of election . He deals with it significantly in Romans 8, but here he illustrates his teaching of the doctrine of election by going back into the past of the Jewish people a...

Matthias Flacius taught a strong view of what later theologians would call total depravity. (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) Paul raises in Romans 9:19, we cannot explain God’s sovereignty and man’s inability by appealing to conditional election or libertarian free will . This objection only makes sense if the Calvinistic doctrines of total depravity , unconditional election, and irresistible grace are true. But how is that fair? How can God command that which is impossible, and still hold people accountable? How can He command people to be born again, even though the new birth depends entirely upon “God, who has mercy” (Rom 9:16)? Well, Paul’s answer is to rebuke the questioner who seeks to impugn the righteousness of God: “On the contrary, who are you, O man, who answers back to God?” (Rom 9:20). If you seek to find fault with God’s character, you have a skewed understanding of righteousness (Rom 9:14; cf. 3:5b–6) and better put your hand over your mouth fast. But there i...

English: Portrait of Jacobus Arminius (1560-1609) from the Dutch portrait collection of the Andover-Harvard Theological Library, Harvard Divinity School. From an engraving by J. C. Philips and J. G. Meet. From the Seventeenth Century.Category: (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) It began within the theological faculty of a Dutch institution that was committed to Calvinistic teaching. Some of the professors there began to have second thoughts about issues relating to the doctrines of election and predestination. As this theological controversy spread across the country, it upset the church and theologians of the day. Finally, a synod was convened. Issues were squared away and the views of certain people were rejected, including those of a man by the name of Jacobus Arminius . The group that led the movement against orthodox Reformed theology was called the Remonstrants . They were called the Remonstrants because they were remonstrating or protesting against certain doctrines within their ...