PROVISIONISM vs ARMINIANISM | Dr. Leighton Flowers | Soteriology 101

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#Leighton Flowers #Predestination #Calvinism #Provisionism #Calvinist #salvation

[jhq]

Thank you for not condemning those you disagree with as I've seen both sides do that.

[kennethmitchell]

I'm sure glad I found your channel. For years I was tormented believing I could be non elect. Can you imagine loving God and desiring to be saved and not accepted by God. That is so horrible to believe that. Thank you Leighton what a burden lifted.

[cecilspurlockjr.]

The working or action of THE HOLY SPIRIT is necessary for one to be convicted of their sin and need for CHRIST to be saved, but THE HOLY SPIRIT doesn't make HIMSELF irresistible, HE doesn't force HIMSELF on us or everyone would be saved.

[Richard_Rz]

Satan's ability to blind a dead man sounds like a bad Chick Norris joke.

[MattyJohn]

thank you for producing your content. I use it a lot to show people what I believe about soteriology. You represent my beliefs and the correct biblical doctrine very well. God bless.

[bayesianhulk]

I'd like to see Leighton dialogue with a Wesleyan - maybe Ben Witherington, IIII?

[Tothehighwaysandbyways]

Leigh ton, it seems as if buying into a system can cause us to deny some very basic biblical truths in order to make everything fit. For example John 3:16 which is one of the most basic truths in scripture can’t mean what we’ve always understood it to mean, or because of the system we can longer understand the major differences between the power of the Bible and the lie of the Quran. “The power of God to salvation” (which is the gospel) is now some mystical thing that we can’t understand or respond to. To me although there is benefit from understanding theology systematically, it becomes a danger when we start to deny very basic biblical truths in order to make a system (and all its logical inferences) all coherently fit together.

[yvonnedoulos]

I remember having this question when Brian said this in your debate. Hearing him say it again now reminds me to ask this question. At around the 36 minute mark he posits that there is Scripture saying man cannot respond rightly and cannot believe/ understand the Gospel without God doing something to our hearts.

What Scripture says that?

[R.L.KRANESCHRADTT]

The Gospel is the POWER of salvation ...it is THE power of God for salvation to everyone who believes. For those who are not willing to believe it doesn't matter, because "The righteous shall live by faith. " Rom.1:16.

[dokidokibibleclub]

Nothing wrong with the rebuttal pace, quality over quantity brother. Thank you for your time

[newcreationcoachingllc]

Learning so much from these analysis vids and dialogues. I think shifting from one position to another has advantages in that it makes you more aware and willing to ask hard questions as well as to see WHY people say what they say.

I do believe the Holy Spirit (who is a person) is always working when His word and the gospel is proclaimed-- they are God breathed words and they are often given through people with the indwelling Spirit. What people do with that is on them. Biblical scholars can be believers or unbelievers. The difference is in the attitude toward what they are studying.

Is my proclamation more powerful when I pray for HIs help? I think the bible would support that. Is it insufficient if I did not and said the same words? I don't believe so. The truth is the truth.

[thomasfryxelius]

the LOTR - analogy is great!
Elves were taken by the Dark Lord and twisted and made into Orcs. Saruman later bred another, more powerful version of orcs, the Uruk-Hai.
The evil orcs were from the beginning good elves, so the evil in Tolkien´s world is something good that has been corrupted.
Of course you are more blameworthy if you have the capacity to choose otherwise. Jesus makes this point about knowledge, that a servant that knows his masters will deserves a harsher punishment. The more you are given, the greater the responsibility in biblical justice.
I wonder if the reason Chris Date (who I love) can´t relate to this is that he has as a calvinist trained himself to separate the actions from the causes, since he believes that man is responsible for the evil even if God decreed it.

[R.L.KRANESCHRADTT]

10:18 ... Leighton, with all due respect, don't give him any 'quarter' on this. Dr. Abasciano does, in fact, call it 'mystical'. It is not... but he definitely uses that term in a subtle pejorative way to undermine his opponent/you. He is obviously playing with his 'mental blocks'. In order to defend his premise he, like all ideologues, (no offense intended), must 'dance' around the facts that their paradigm prevail.

[sharonlouise]

Your debater says something to the effect "do we believe that the word of God is mystical in some way to cause a reaction different to reading the koran." The answer, it would seem should be, "What does the word of God say about the word of God?" That answer doesn't require a name given to it. The answer is what the word of God "says." First, the gospel is the POWER OF GOD FOR SALVATION to everyone who believes." (Rom 1:16). God's word is different because it is a living thing and it is active. It has abilities that no other word has (Heb 3:12). God Himself declares that His word that goes forth from his mouth shall NOT return to Him empty without accomplishing what He desires and without succeeding in the matter for which He sent it (Isaiah 55:10, 11) All Scripture is "inspired"...it is "God-breathed." God's "breath" is in all Scripture. This is why it is living. Adam himself became a "living being" because God "breathed into his nostrils the breath of life." (Gen 2:7).

Additionally toward what some Arminians say that God gives to each person a measure of faith. There is only 1 verse in Scripture which states "a measure of faith." It's found in Romans 12:3. The context surrounding this text is that God gives to each believer a measure of faith regarding their spiritual gift or gifts. You can't yank it from it's context and apply it to salvation or pre-salvation when it isn't addressing salvation. The instruction beginning in Romans 12 is given to those who are already believers.

[cousinbryan]

Listening to people defending total inability is frustrating. He says, because of our sin, we are inclined to accept lies and reject the truth. But while I am inclined to avoid touching dog poop, I am incapable of touching the moon. Its not total inclination. Its total inability. Don't claim one is true by describing the other.

[gabrielharr]

Reminds me of Pulsar: Lost Colony. Now that's a great game!

[fernandoformeloza]

To be spiritually dead in sin and trespasses is different from being physically dead. There are still many things we could do spiritually dead that we cannot do physically dead. To be physically dead is a picture that God uses to show that God must be involved in the conversion process

[exagra]

When he was using 2 Corinthians 4:4 to prove total inability and that prevenient grace is needed to lift those blinders enacted by Satan, I think he's ignoring the second half of that verse: "... unless the glorious light of the gospel should shine unto them." It's the gospel that's the "power unto salvation" that allows people to make the choice to remain blind or to open their eyes and see.

[philipbenjamin]

On the issue of whether people who aren't born again are or are not able to believe the ideas stated in the bible - consider this - the bible speaks to every happening under the sun! Therefore if people are prevented from believing biblical truth until they are born again it would mean they weren't capable of thinking straight about any situation or activity on earth which has any association with relational/spiritual wisdom.

I make the same point to those who argue that Chistians should not be involved in politics. Politics is about everything that matters - relationships, money, the order of society, the environment - everything! If Christianity has nothing to do with politics then it has nothing to say about anything.

[duncescotus]

I think that given his own terms, brother Flowers is right on, however, prevenient grace might not be defined so narrowly. It can be seen as the grace which precedes the grace (gift) of eternal life, as John puts it:
"...grace for grace..." !