A gracEmail subscriber in Arkansas asks the basis on which I believe God holds people accountable. * * * So far as I know, the Bible does not use the term "accountability," nor speak of a specific age at which one becomes accountable. Nevertheless, based on such texts as Leviticus 10:16-20; 2 Chronicles 30:17-20; Matthew 25:29; Romans 2:12-16, 25-29 and 2 Corinthians 8:12, I conclude that God holds humans accountable based on their individual knowledge, understanding, ability and opportunity. In other words, God does not hold people accountable for what they do not know, what they do not … [Read more...]
GETTING PAST THE IMPASSE
Part 1 Although Christians proclaim together that God saves sinners through the atoning death of Jesus Christ, they reach different conclusions regarding both the scope of Jesus' death (for whom did he die?) and also its effect (did it actually save anyone or only make salvation possible?). Calvinists conclude that Jesus died only for the elect, whose salvation his death assured. Non-Calvinists conclude that Jesus died for all people, whose salvation his death made possible but not certain. Since the Reformation, and even since ancient Augustine, advocates of these two views have advanced … [Read more...]
‘TULIP’ — FIVE PETALS OF GRACE
A gracEmail reader in California echoes a common inquiry when she asks: "I hate to appear ignorant, but what does T-U-L-I-P stand for in summing up the five theological points of John Calvin and the Reformed tradition?" * * * You are not ignorant, dear lady. The spiritual gardeners of your acquaintance have not cultivated this flower but have instead considered it a weed. In fact, "TULIP" is an acronym for five English phrases which came from a debate among early Calvinists, but their essential truths are officially taught also by Lutherans, Anglicans and, to varying degrees, by a wider … [Read more...]
WHAT IS ‘REFORMED’ THEOLOGY?
Someone asks: "You sometimes mention "Reformed" teaching or "Reformational" theology. What does that refer to?" * * * "Reformational" theology is the God-centered and Christ-honoring teaching which produced the Protestant Reformation -- much of which had been taught also by Augustine and certain other Catholic fathers. On major points, Luther and Calvin agreed, as later did Thomas Cranmer of the English church. These Reformers challenged the authority of the institutional Church to formulate doctrines not taught in Scripture, the saving power of sacraments apart from faith, and monetary … [Read more...]
REFORMED AND NON-REFORMED
Several gracEmail subscribers have asked for some explanation of the difference between "Reformed" and "non-Reformed" theologians as mentioned in a recent piece. * * * "Reformed" sometimes means "Calvinistic" but I use it in the broader sense to refer to the general framework of understanding held by the principal reformers Luther, Calvin and Cranmer as well as Augustine long before them. It includes a belief that the human race fell in Adam and that all humans since then (except Jesus Christ) are born "sinners" with an aptitude toward sin. The Reformed view holds that Jesus actually … [Read more...]
DOES GOD MAKE PEOPLE LOST?
A gracEmail subscriber asks, "Did God create some people to be saved and others to be condemned based on his own good pleasure and totally apart from their choices and conduct? * * * The Bible makes it clear that God is predisposed to save people, not to condemn them. He does not desire that anyone perish (2 Pet. 3:9). He desires that all people be saved (1 Tim. 2:4). He sent his Son to save the world, not to condemn it (John 3:17). When the end comes, God will save so many human beings from among all people groups and nationalities that they cannot be counted (Rev. 7:9). These are all saved … [Read more...]