Dr Paul Allen

Arminianism is an extremely defective and weak theology. It has serious consequences and ramifications for the church in general and for the Christian individual in particular. Are they saved? I always like to say yes, but by a happy inconsistency. If they really believe what they say they believe, then I don’t think they would be saved. Arminians affirm justification by faith alone, the work of Christ, and all of those orthodox things. However, if you ask them why it is that they’re saved and their neighbor isn’t, they will say that God gave grace both to them and to their neighbor but they said yes to that grace and cooperated with it while their neighbor said no and rejected it. I say to my Arminian friends:  “So, you did the good thing and your neighbor did the bad thing. You have something to boast about, but they have only sin. You have done the right thing, but they’ve done the wrong thing. Your work, in the final analysis, is the decisive factor for your being saved, where...

THE ARMINIAN REPLY Some Arminians will reply to my treatment of this text with indignation. They agree that the passage teaches a strong view of divine sovereignty. Their objection will focus on another point. They will insist that Paul is not even talking about the predestination of individuals in  Romans 9. Romans 9 is not about individuals but about God’s electing of nations. Paul is here talking about Israel as God’s chosen people. Jacob merely represents the nation Israel. His very name was changed to Israel and his sons became the fathers of the twelve tribes of Israel. That God favoured Israel over other nations is not in dispute. It was out of Israel that Jesus came. It was out of Israel that we received the Ten Commandments and the promises of the covenant with Abraham. We know that salvation is for the Jews. That much is indeed true of Romans 9. We must consider, however, that in the electing of a nation God elected individuals. Nations are made up of individuals. Jacob w...

For many are called, but few are chosen. (Matthew 22:14) I am not speaking of all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But the Scripture will be fulfilled, “He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.” (John 13:18) For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. (Matt.24:24) And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. (Matt. 24:31) And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? (Luke 18:7) For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will. (John 5:21) All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose ...

No. It’s totally a mystery in God’s love. Here’s the beautiful thing: go to Deuteronomy, and go to chapter 6, chapter 7, and chapter 10, and look at God’s election of Israel. At one point God says, “I did not choose you because you were the greatest of all the nations, for you were the least” (Deut. 7:7). If I was God, I would have chosen Egypt, because then you’ve got a superpower and you already have a leg up to conquer the world with your religion, right? Israel is a tiny sliver of land between massive nation-states. At one point in Deuteronomy 10, God says: “To the Lord God belongs the earth and the nations and the heavens. And yet, I set my elective love on you” (Deut. 10:14–15). If there is any text we need that tells us God’s election is absolutely unconditional, it’s that one. There is nothing in us that merits God’s election; it is purely His good pleasure and will and grace and love. This is Ephesians 1. And what does this do but drive us to gratitude and worship? It...

In Colossians 3:12 Paul reminds Christians of our privileged position as members of the Body of Christ. 3 REMINDERS OF YOUR PRIVILEGED POSITION IN CHRIST 1. SELECTION Colossians 3:12 Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience… The first way Paul describes the Colossian’s position is as God’s chosen or elect ones. Who chose? God did. 1 Thess. 1: 4 For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you. Was our free will involved? Rom 9:16 [in the context of God’s election] So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy. Who is chosen? 1 Pet 2: 9 But you [Christians] are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light. When did the choice happen? Eph 1: 3-4 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, … even as ...

Peter said to the “elect exiles” — that is, to Christians scattered throughout the Roman Empire — “You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession” ( 1 Peter 2:9 ). www.hopecollege.com He meant it as an enormous encouragement for a tiny, beleaguered, persecuted minority in a vast sea of unbelief and growing hostility. The adversaries may seem powerful and numerous and dangerous and dominant. But look again. You are God ’s chosen ones: “a people for his own possession.” O dear suffering Christians, Peter would say, do you feel what that means? Revel in being God’s chosen ones! There are so many reasons! 1. Your faith is not the basis of God’s choosing you, but the result of it. This means that your faith is a wonder — more wonderful than any of the seven wonders of the world. Jesus said, “You did not choose me, but I chose you” ( John 15:16 ). And there was a deeper choosing going on here than just the selection of the Twelve. We know ...