I enjoyed writing out some Lutheran attacks on Reformed theology by Dr. Jordan Cooper and sharing some thoughts on them, so I thought I would do it again. I have a few books from my family's time in a Restoration church (Pelagianism & Baptismal Regeneration) when I was very young (infancy to six years old). I thought it would be interesting to deal with some arguments against Reformed theology found in these books. They're quite explicit about it, especially "The Holy Spirit" by Dr. Jack Cottrell, who actually received a Master's degree from Westminster Theological Seminary. I'll outline his points and quote a bit, and I'll also respond. He also explains the Calvinist view of regeneration quite well.
1. Calvinists believe "that every sinner is totally depraved and therefore must be supernaturally caused to believe by an irresistible act of the Holy Spirit." Every child is conceived and born into a state of total depravity. No one has free will in the sense of an ability to respond to the gospel. The only way for any one to be saved is for God to supernaturally cause sinners to believe and repent.
2. "We must without hesitation or qualification reject this Calvinistic view." Sinners have the free will to accept or reject the gospel. When he accepts he is especially influenced by the Spirit of God. God's working is always universal and resistible, not selective and irresistible.
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1. I think his explanation of Calvinist thought on this topic is representative of this doctrine quite well. I agree with everything in his explanation.
2. None of what Dr. Cottrell writes about Calvinism includes Scriptural references. The doctrine that God's working and grace is always universal, resistible, and non-selective is not found in Holy Scripture. Rather, Christ refers to the need for God to open the eyes of sinners to understand the kingdom of God: Mark 4:11-12. Christ's prayers for the church are specific and selective, noticeably not universal: John 17:6-9. This Restoration doctrine is also a denial of the writings of the Apostle Paul, namely Ephesians 1:4-5, Ephesians 1:11-14, Ephesians 2:1-8, Romans 8. Romans 9 debunks Dr. Cottrell's view of the universality of God's grace on men. Perhaps soon I'll dive into Dr. Cottrell's chapter on conversion, and how he posits that the moment of regeneration is only tied to baptism.
1. Calvinists believe "that every sinner is totally depraved and therefore must be supernaturally caused to believe by an irresistible act of the Holy Spirit." Every child is conceived and born into a state of total depravity. No one has free will in the sense of an ability to respond to the gospel. The only way for any one to be saved is for God to supernaturally cause sinners to believe and repent.
2. "We must without hesitation or qualification reject this Calvinistic view." Sinners have the free will to accept or reject the gospel. When he accepts he is especially influenced by the Spirit of God. God's working is always universal and resistible, not selective and irresistible.
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1. I think his explanation of Calvinist thought on this topic is representative of this doctrine quite well. I agree with everything in his explanation.
2. None of what Dr. Cottrell writes about Calvinism includes Scriptural references. The doctrine that God's working and grace is always universal, resistible, and non-selective is not found in Holy Scripture. Rather, Christ refers to the need for God to open the eyes of sinners to understand the kingdom of God: Mark 4:11-12. Christ's prayers for the church are specific and selective, noticeably not universal: John 17:6-9. This Restoration doctrine is also a denial of the writings of the Apostle Paul, namely Ephesians 1:4-5, Ephesians 1:11-14, Ephesians 2:1-8, Romans 8. Romans 9 debunks Dr. Cottrell's view of the universality of God's grace on men. Perhaps soon I'll dive into Dr. Cottrell's chapter on conversion, and how he posits that the moment of regeneration is only tied to baptism.
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