The Reformed Doctrine of Predestination [Fifth Edition]

The Reformed Doctrine of Predestination [Fifth Edition]
Author: Loraine Boettner
Publisher: Pickle Partners Publishing
Total Pages: 637
Release: 2017-02-07
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 1787203786

First published in 1941, this is the Fifth Edition of Loraine Boettner’s 1932 publication The Reformed Doctrine of Predestination and is widely considered to be one of the 20th-century’s most reasoned explanations of the sovereignty of God and the Reformed interpretation of salvation. “THE purpose of this book is not to set forth a new system of theological thought, but to give a restatement to that great system which is known as the Reformed Faith or Calvinism, and to show that this is beyond all doubt the teaching of the Bible and of reason.”—Loraine Boettner, Introduction “Whoever really wants to know what Calvinism teaches cannot do better than to read this book from cover to cover”.—United Presbyterian magazine

The Reformed Doctrine of Predestination

The Reformed Doctrine of Predestination
Author: Loraine Boettner
Publisher:
Total Pages: 450
Release: 2011-07-01
Genre:
ISBN: 9781258057459

One of the 20th-century's most reasoned explanations of the sovereignty of God and the Reformed interpretation of salvation. "Whoever really wants to know what Calvinism teaches cannot do better than to read this book from cover to cover".--United Presbyterian magazine.

Predestination Is to Glory Not to Faith

Predestination Is to Glory Not to Faith
Author: Wayne ODonnell
Publisher: Wayne ODonnell
Total Pages: 437
Release: 2020-04-20
Genre: Religion
ISBN:

All my books can be read online for free at wayneodonnell.com. Mt. 10:8, “Freely you have received, freely give.” The Bible says we’re predestined to glory, but it doesn’t say we’re predestined to faith, as Calvinism teaches. The differences between the language of the Bible and the language of Calvinism indicate the doctrinal errors of Calvinism. All Reformed theologians teach predestination to faith, which includes faith in a sequence the Bible doesn’t include it in. The ‘Golden Chain’ of Romans 8:28-30 includes 1) foreknowledge, 2) predestination, 3) calling, 4) justification, and 5) glorification. Paul intentionally omits faith from this sequence because predestination is to glorification and sanctification, not to faith. Paying attention to this detail alters Calvinism’s TULIP. T (Total Depravity) doesn’t include an inability to believe the gospel. Election is not U (Unconditional), since God elects all whom he has known forever in the eternal Messiah, who entered into union with him through justification by unpredestined faith. I (Irresistible Grace) is after justification, for sanctification and glorification. L (Limited Atonement) is unbiblical. And, P (Perseverance of the Saints) is confirmed in the strongest possible way, to the extent it’s synonymous with eternal security and the certainty of glorification. Most other anti-Calvinist books deal heavily with the moral and philosophical travesties of Calvinism. For example, I highly recommend What Love Is This, by Dave Hunt. But this book tries to provide better expositions of the passages that lead good, godly men to accept Calvinism in the first place, like Romans 8, Romans 9, John 6, and Ephesians 1, by paying attention to the small, under-appreciated detail, that the Bible says predestination is to sanctification and glory, not to faith. If I felt this task was already accomplished, I wouldn’t have written this book, but would have promoted the books that already did it. White (Calvinist), "There is no meaningful non-Reformed exegesis of [John 6:37-45] available. As numerous as the attempts of Arminian exegetes to find some way around the testimony of these verses has been, not even a plausible solution has been offered that does not require the complete dismantling of the text, redefinition of words, or the insertion of utterly foreign concepts." Flowers (Non-Calvinist), "Would anyone dare adopt or seek to defend this most troubling doctrine [of reprobation] if not for the perceived defense offered by the apostle in Romans 9?" I rejoice in biblical, non-Calvinistic predestination, to glory, not to faith! Biblical predestination is about the certainty of God’s completion of our salvation through sanctification and glorification. Predestination shouldn’t be a word that conjures up images of Calvinistic horrors of reprobation in the minds of those who haven’t been indoctrinated to focus on the good fortunes of the elect. Instead, predestination should be a word that gives great joy, because it underlies the Biblical doctrine of the certainty of our future glorification! Rom. 5:3, “Having been justified by faith, we ... rejoice in [the sure and certain] hope of [sharing in] the glory of God!” My hope is that this book won’t only be a defense against Calvinism and its harms, and rescue some born-again Calvinists from Calvinism; but also that this consideration of the topic of predestination will give all readers a better understanding of the justification, sanctification, and glorification that comprise our gracious salvation, and this knowledge will also make us more fruitful. Jn. 15:7-8, “If ... my words abide in you, ... herein is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit.”

Predestination to Glory - Come by Faith

Predestination to Glory - Come by Faith
Author: Wayne ODonnell
Publisher: Wayne ODonnell
Total Pages: 246
Release: 2020-05-09
Genre: Religion
ISBN:

All my books can be read online for free at wayneodonnell.com. Mt. 10:8, “Freely you have received, freely give.” This booklet is included in and comprises of one section of my book "Predestination is to Glory not to Faith: Anti-Calvinism & Reformed Theology; Pro-Certainty of Sanctification & Glorification; In Romans 8, Romans 9, & John 6." Most other anti-Calvinist books deal heavily with the moral and philosophical travesties of Calvinism. For example, I highly recommend What Love Is This, by Dave Hunt. But this book tries to provide better expositions of the passages that lead good, godly men to accept Calvinism in the first place, like John 6, by paying attention to the small, under-appreciated detail, that the Bible says predestination is to sanctification and glory, not to faith. If I felt this task was already accomplished, I wouldn’t have written this book, but would have promoted the books that already did it.White (Calvinist), "There is no meaningful non-Reformed exegesis of [John 6:37-45] available. As numerous as the attempts of Arminian exegetes to find some way around the testimony of these verses has been, not even a plausible solution has been offered that does not require the complete dismantling of the text, redefinition of words, or the insertion of utterly foreign concepts." This book is the result of 1) a paper I wrote for a Soteriology class at Veritas International University, 2) my coming into contact with an increasing number of Reformed church plants, 3) my deep appreciation of D. Martin Lloyd-Jones’ teaching about the certainty of the hope of our future glorification, and 4) my gratitude for the simple gospel message I first heard when I was fourteen years old after having been raised a Roman Catholic. Jn. 3:36, "He that believes on the Son has everlasting life." Not, “He that is good,” or “He that goes to church,” or “He that is -predestined to- believe,” but “He that believes on the Son.” The gospel is a genuine offer for every person, in the way we usually think of an offer, and not something predetermined. My hope is that this book won’t only be a defense against Calvinism and its harms, and rescue some born-again Calvinists from Calvinism; but also that this consideration of the topic of predestination will give all readers a better understanding of the justification, sanctification, and glorification that comprise our gracious salvation, and this knowledge will also make us more fruitful. Jn. 15:7-8, “If ... my words abide in you, ... herein is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit.”

Romans 9 - 11

Romans 9 - 11
Author: Wayne ODonnell
Publisher: Wayne ODonnell
Total Pages: 132
Release: 2020-05-09
Genre: Religion
ISBN:

All my books can be read online for free at wayneodonnell.com. Mt. 10:8, “Freely you have received, freely give.” This booklet is included in and comprises of one section of my book “Predestination is to Glory not to Faith: Anti-Calvinism & Reformed Theology; Pro-Certainty of Sanctification & Glorification; In Romans 8, Romans 9, & John 6." As in Romans 8, we were predestined to glorification, not to faith or unbelief; so in Romans 9, Israel was predestined to glorification, not to faith or unbelief. The best way to demonstrate this is by Paul’s examples of the adversaries Pharaoh and Moses. Despite the unscriptural claims of Calvinists, Pharaoh wasn’t hardened about believing in God or the gospel. Over and over the scripture makes it clear that God hardened Pharaoh’s heart about not letting his people go. “I will harden his heart, so that he will not let the people go,” Ex. 4:21. See also Ex. 7:14; 8:32; 9:7; 10:20, 27; 11:10, etc. And God didn’t harden Pharaoh’s heart so that he would go to hell, but so that once Pharaoh had made his decision not to let Israel go, he wouldn’t give in too soon due to weakness or aversion to pain, so that God could complete all ten plagues and destroy the mightiest army in the world of that time in the sea, so that all the world would hear of it. “I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and multiply my signs and my wonders in the land of Egypt, ... so that I can lay my hand on Egypt, and bring forth my armies, and my people the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great judgments,” Ex. 7:3-4. See also Ex. 10:1-2, 7; 9:1; 14:4, 17. And in our passage, “Even for this same purpose I have raised you [an unbeliever] up [to be Pharaoh], so that I could show my power in you, and so that my name would be declared throughout all the earth,” Rm. 9:17. In contrast to Pharaoh, Moses accomplished something that wasn’t predestined at all, through his free-will choice. When Israel sinned by worshipping the golden calf, Moses interceded, and was granted mercy for them. But then Moses went beyond even that, and asked to see God’s glory as a gracious favor, and was also granted that request. “[Moses] said, ‘I beseech you, show me your glory.’ And [the LORD] said, ‘I will make all my goodness pass before you, ... and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy,’” Ex. 33:18-19. God knows beforehand which vessels are destined for eternal glory and which are destined for eternal shame. And it isn’t unrighteous of him in his providential control to make use of both kinds of vessels in his plans during our time on earth. He formed a man like Pharaoh who is destined for eternal shame into a vessel to rule Egypt so his name would be magnified in the earth at the time of Israel’s national birth. And he gives men like Moses and us experiences that help “fit” (Rom. 9:22) and “prepare” (Rom. 9:23) us for even more glorification. “Our light affliction [light compared to the weight of glory], which is but for a moment [a moment compared to the eternal glory], produces for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,” 2 Cor. 4:17. Flowers (Non-Calvinist), ”Would anyone dare adopt or seek to defend this most troubling doctrine [of reprobation] if not for the perceived defense offered by the apostle in Romans 9?” Pink (Calvinist), “It is a remarkable and telling phenomenon that those who find no individual predestination to eternal life in Rom 9:6-13 cannot successfully explain the thread of Paul’s argument as it begins in Rom 9:1-5 and continues through the chapter.” Berkouwer (Calvinist), “Every hesitation about or hidden resistance against the sovereign freedom of God, every form of indeterminism which defends man's cooperation against the divine act, will suffer shipwreck on Romans 9.” We shall see.

The Reformed Doctrine Of Predestination

The Reformed Doctrine Of Predestination
Author: Loraine Boettner D.D.
Publisher: Lulu.com
Total Pages: 182
Release: 2017-02-08
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 177356000X

The Reformed doctrine of predestination has been coming under fire a lot in recent days especially among open theists that question God's sovereignty in the face of evil. Although this book was written many years ago, it still helps to shed light on the true roots of the doctrine and the philosophical and Biblical answers it offers. The doctrine deserves a proper treatment and this work is an attempt at that justification and a look at its history.

Predestination

Predestination
Author: Matthew Levering
Publisher: OUP Oxford
Total Pages: 240
Release: 2011-05-26
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 0191619124

Predestination has been the subject of perennial controversy among Christians, although in recent years theologians have shied away from it as a divisive and unedifying topic. In this book Matthew Levering argues that Christian theological reflection needs to continue to return to the topic of predestination, for two reasons: Firstly, predestinarian doctrine is taught in the New Testament. Reflecting the importance of the topic in many strands of Second Temple Judaism, the New Testament authors teach predestination in a manner that explains why Christian theologians continually recur to this topic. Secondly, the doctrine of predestination provides a way for Christian theologians to reflect upon two fundamental affirmations of biblical revelation. The first is God's love, without any deficiency or crimp, for each and every rational creature; the second is that God from eternity brings about the purpose for which he created us, and that he permits some rational creatures freely and permanently to rebel against his love. When theologians reflect on these two key biblical affirmations, they generally try to unite them in a logical synthesis. Instead, Levering argues, it is necessary to allow for the truth of each side of the mystery, without trying to blend the two affirmations into one. Levering pairs his discussion of Scripture with ecumenically oriented discussion of the doctrine of predestination in through the ages through the figures of Origen, Augustine, Boethius, John of Damascus, Eriugena, Aquinas, Ockham, Catherine of Siena, Calvin, Molina, Francis de Sales, Leibniz, Bulgakov, Barth, Maritain, and Balthasar. He concludes with a constructive chapter regarding the future of the doctrine.

Getting the Gospel Right - A Balanced View of Salvation Truth

Getting the Gospel Right - A Balanced View of Salvation Truth
Author: Carl Gordon Olson
Publisher: Global Gospel Publishers
Total Pages: 388
Release: 2005-11
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 9780962485060

A revised and abridged edition of Beyond Calvinism and Arminianism: An Inductive Mediate Theologyof Salvation, in Which theologian/missiologist Olson gives the fruit of a 25-year theological pilgrimage. His inductive focus on Scripture results in a middle view of salvation truth, thus resolving polarized extremes. This edition is much more readable and accessible for most Christians. The exegetical methodology emphasizes context, word studies, and grammar of all relevant passages, with extensive support for eternal security and refutation of deterministic concepts of salvation. In the foreword, Dr. Tim LaHaye refers to the incredible distribution of the academic edition, which sold out in 3 years. A revised academic edition is forthcoming in 2006.

Reformation Thought

Reformation Thought
Author: Alister E. McGrath
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
Total Pages: 328
Release: 2021-07-06
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 111975660X

Reformation Thought Praise for previous editions: “Theologically informed, lucid, supremely accessible: no wonder McGrath’s introduction to the Reformation has staying power!” —Denis R. Janz, Loyola University “Vigorous, brisk, and highly stimulating. The reader will be thoroughly engaged from the outset, and considerably enlightened at the end.” —Dr. John Platt, Oxford University “[McGrath] is one of the best scholars and teachers of the Reformation... Teachers will rejoice in this wonderfully useful book.” —Teaching History Reformation Thought: An Introduction is a clear, engaging, and accessible introduction to the European Reformation of the sixteenth century. Written for readers with little to no knowledge of Christian theology or history, this indispensable guide surveys the ideas of the prominent thought leaders of the period, as well as its many movements, including Lutheranism, Calvinism, Anabaptism, and the Catholic and English Reformations. The text offers readers a framework to interpret the events of the Reformation in full view of the intellectual landscape and socio-political issues that fueled its development. Based on Alister McGrath’s acclaimed lecture course at Oxford University, the fully updated fifth edition incorporates the latest academic research in historical theology. Revised and expanded chapters describe the cultural backdrop of the Reformation, discuss the Reformation’s background in late Renaissance humanism and medieval scholasticism, and distill the findings of recent scholarship, including work on the history of the Christian doctrine of justification. A wealth of pedagogical features—including illustrations, updated bibliographies, a glossary, a chronology of political and historical ideas, and several appendices—supplement McGrath’s clear explanations. Written by a world-renowned theologian, Reformation Thought: An Introduction, Fifth Edition upholds its reputation as the ideal resource for university and seminary courses on Reformation thought and the widespread change it inspired in Christian belief and practice.