Category Archives: Theology

Election: The Problem with Perseverance of the Saints, Part 1

A very long time ago — back when I had hair and was skinny — all the way back to high school that is — I had a date with a good Baptist girl. (I, of course, didn’t not let … Continue reading

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Election: Some Conclusions

At this point, I’ve not answered all the questions and certainly haven’t solved all the disagreements between Calvinists and Arminians. That’s not been the goal. The goal is to learn what Paul has to teach us in Rom 9 – … Continue reading

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Election: Isaiah 65

There are numerous prophesies in the Old Testament about God’s plans for Israel. We don’t study them because we thnk they have little to do with “New Testament Christianity.” We think they were written for a people that God rejected … Continue reading

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Election: Romans 8:31-39 (“we are more than conquerors”)

Indeed — (Rom 8:31-34)  What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all–how will … Continue reading

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Election: Romans 8:29 (“those God foreknew he also predestined”)

(Rom 8:29)  For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. Whom did God “foreknow”? The word only appears one other time in the … Continue reading

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Election: Romans 8:28 (“called according to his purpose”)

We’ve already considered the core of this magisterial passage. But my proposed interpretation of chapters 9 – 11 so radically changes our understanding of 8:28 ff, it’s critical that we consider chapter 8 in light of chapters 9 – 11 … Continue reading

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Election: Romans 11, Part 6 (“they are enemies on your account”)

(Rom 11:28-29) As far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemies on your account; but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs, 29 for God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable. Notice … Continue reading

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Election: Romans 11, Part 5 (“Israel has experienced a hardening”)

(Rom 11:25-27) I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in. 26 And … Continue reading

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Election: Roman 11, Part 4 (“you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in”)

(Rom 11:16a) If the part of the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, then the whole batch is holy; Paul sees the Gentiles and Jews as part of the same whole. The faithful Jews are the firstfruits sacrificed at the … Continue reading

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Election: Romans 11, Part 3 (“salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel envious”)

(Rom 11:11) Again I ask: Did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Not at all! Rather, because of their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel envious. Paul makes two points. His second is that … Continue reading

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