God's Salvation Call: Calvinism & Provisionism Contrasted

Drew McLeod has a conversation with a Calvinistic brother, Zack Avery about the Provisionist perspective on God's calls, whether they are effectual or ineffectual, carry a different meaning, etc.
Drew and Zack have been talking theology online for a while, their online conversations even spawning articles that have recently been reviewed by James White. Zack begins with their agreement on the Gospel (Good News) and how it presupposes a problem: Man's depravity. Zack talks a little bit about Oneness theology as contrasted with Trinitarianism along with his thoughts on what the Bible teaches about Man's inability. Zack talks a bit about the need--on his view--for the effectual call, the Holy Spirit's work on the sinner's heart and Drew highlights an oft neglected truth of the inherent spiritual nature of the Gospel and the Word of God. Zack and Drew go on to discuss their views on "the called" in 1 Corinthians 1 and how it is that people generally regard the Gospel as foolish and yet some believe it and are saved. Drew talks about the Gospel being foolish to most people and how, because it is foolish, we must humble ourselves to receive it and for this reason, many Christians are a weird and peculiar people. Drew highlights his own views on what it means to be "being saved" as contrasted with those who are "perishing" in 1 Corinthians 1,18 and that if it were an ontological condition we would be "being saved" irrespective of our faith. Drew talks about his views on Romans 8,28-30 and subtly highlights the "synergism" mention in verse 28. A question for Leighton Flowers' view comes up that Drew can't answer along with Zack's view on "calling" in Acts 2 that Drew confesses he hasn't studied much on. Drew gives a little bit of pushback with some seeming "resistible grace" from Acts 7,51 and Zack asks why some seem to receive more light if God wants all to be saved equally.

0:00 Intro
7:27 What is the Gospel?
9:39 On Trinitarianism vs Oneness
13:35 Zack's Views on Man's Depravity/Inability
21:15 God's Calling & The Word's Power
24:53 The Called in 1 Corinthians 1
33:30 1 Corinthians 1:18-19, 23
40:35 Responding to the Foolish Gospel
50:51 Who Are Those "Being Saved"?
56:27 The Called in Romans 8, 28-30
1:05:29 A Question For Leighton Flowers
1:10:41 The Called in Acts 2,39
1:19:32 Resisting the Call in Acts 7,51
1:28:04 Why Do Some Receive More Light?
1:33:00 Conclusion

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#Calling #EffectualCalling #Depravity

[TheProvisionistPerspective]

I would be interested in anyone who would like to try to answer Zack's question about Acts 2 and God's "calling" there... Time stamp: 1:10:41

[jacoboverstreet]

Great episode! Really enjoyed the discussion. Quick note on Matthew’s “many are called but few are chosen.” R. T. France argues that this is basically a way of saying that many are invited but few accept the invitation. The Pharisees are “called” and invited but “they refused to come.” The invitation then goes out to the many and though they come, only those dressed in the right garments are “chosen” to stay. The passage has nothing to do with effectual calling and everything to do with salvation in Christ alone.

[steveobrien]

I wouldn’t have much of a problem with Calvinists if they were all like Zack.

[HonorGod-MakeDisciples.]

How did the Father draws man to Christ? Did The Father draws man by mystical or esoteric means or by the Gospel?

[janetdavis]

Scripture never says the Spirit draws. God draws and Jesus calls, but the Spirit’s job is to convict of sin.

[kimberleerivera]

It's GOD'S GOSPEL,
and Romans 10:17 - says - Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of GOD.

So are we saying that's (not true), that FAITH does not come by hearing the Word of GOD?

Because this gentleman said that we need "extra" of something.

[kimberleerivera]

Also in verse 2, of 1st Corinthians, it says, "To the Church of GOD which is at Corinth, to (those who are "SANCTIFIED IN" CHRIST JESUS), CALLED (TO BE) SAINTS, WITH ALL WHO in "every place"
call on the NAME of JESUS CHRIST our LORD, (BOTH) THEIRS and OURS.

[janetdavis]

And later on Jesus says he will draw ALL men to himself when he’s raised up.

[Etheralking]

Brother Zach appears to be holding to a severely unconventional version of Calvinism, judging by his responses towards the latter end of the video. I mean, saying that God truly desires all men to be saved is a step in the right direction, but it bears with it unreconcilable implications for the rest of the Calvinistic system, which I would be very interested in questioning him about further. That being said, it was a good video. I believe Calvinism is a false system which undermines and corrupts the nature of God (woe to those who call evil good and good evil), and having these discussions is important.

I understand that for the sake of remaining on cordial terms with the body of Calvinists we need to be careful with the more... critical poking. But I get the sense that some of the milder interactions come with the unfortunate consequence of downplaying the importance of the critical differences.

[kimberleerivera]

In the "New King James version"--- 1st Corinthians 1:1- "Paul, called (to be) an Apostle of JESUS CHRIST through the will of GOD, and Sosthenes our brother, ...

[franksaved]

I think it is important to point out for Nicodemus that Jesus asked him how he didn't know these things. Jesus expected him to know.

For 1 Cor 1:18 we have to look at it from the fact of 1 Cor 1:2, these are Christians, so when he says that the word or the cross is the power of God to us, this is to those in the church that he sees as believers. The foolishness would be in regard to those that aren't part of the church and do not believe.

[juanitadudley]

A calvinist who doesn't refer to all noncalvinists as arminians...

[athbhu]

I generally enjoy what you guys do, but this was so annoying, I could not even watch it to the end. Sorry.