Soteriology 101 w/ Dr. Leighton Flowers

Dr. Brian Wagner joins Dr. Flowers to study the biblical doctrine of Free Will. Join us live as we will be interacting with your questions and comments! For more on this topic please read: https://soteriology101.com/2017/11/03... and... https://soteriology101.com/2017/07/24...

Dr. Leighton Flowers welcomes back Dr. Ken Wilson to defend his Oxford Thesis from over 15 hours of mostly fallacious and unfounded attacks by Dr. James White of Alpha and Omega Ministries. The Common Misconceptions in this Debate So Far: 1. Wilson's argument rests on Manicheanism and Augustinianism being the same worldview: This is untrue. It is not at all unreasonable to suggest that just one aspect of Manicheanism (i.e. its adherence to theistic determinism) might have influenced Augustine's interpretation of the scripture. 2. Wilson is saying Augustinianism is untrue because of its similarities with Manicheanism: This is inaccurate. It is possible for false worldviews to adhere to some aspects of truth, therefore proving that Calvinism has some link to Manicheanism doesn't prove Calvinism is false. Wilson is saying Augustinianism is not rooted or founded in the early church writings therefore it most likely originated from other gnostic, neoplatonic and Manichean roots, which brings into question its validity as the correct interpretive grid. 3. Wilson is arguing Augustinianism imports Manicheanism into Christianity because it uses similar words: This is also untrue. Just because Mani spoke of "the elect" and Calvinists also emphasize "the elect" does not mean they are necessarily linked, or even have the same definitions. Wilson is not attempting to argue that all aspects or jargon of the Manichean worldview are linked to the all aspects or jargon within the Calvinistic worldview. Wilson is only looking at the one common point of connection, namely deterministic philosophy, which was first introduced by Augustine, a former Manichean. 4. James White's criticism has accurately portrayed Wilson's arguments and showed Wilson's bias: This is demonstrably untrue as will be shown in this video and in many of the articles posted at www.soteriology101.com. 5. If it can be proven that Wilson held to preconception of the ECFs and Augustine's beliefs before doing his research, then his subsequent research is invalid: Again this is false. Even if it could be proven beyond all reasonable doubt that Wilson firmly believed the ECFs denied TULIP theology and that Augustine was the first to introduce it, this does not make his findings invalid. One would still need to demonstrate that Wilson's bias lead to poor research. ---------- Here are quotes from Reformed historians who validate the foundational claims of Wilson's work: Herman Bavinck: "In the early church, at a time when it had to contend with pagan fatalism and gnostic naturalism, its representatives focused exclusively on the moral nature, freedom, and responsibility of humans and could not do justice, therefore, to the teaching of Scripture concerning the counsel of God. Though humans had been more or less corrupted by sin, they remained free and were able to accept the proffered grace of God. The church’s teaching did not include a doctrine of absolute predestination and irresistible grace." Loraine Boettner: “It may occasion some surprise to discover that the doctrine of Predestination was not made a matter of special study until near the end of the fourth century....They of course taught that salvation was through Christ; yet they assumed that man had full power to accept or reject the gospel. Some of their writings contain passages in which the sovereignty of God is recognized; yet along side of those are others which teach the absolute freedom of the human will. Since they could not reconcile the two they would have denied the doctrine of Predestination... They taught a kind of synergism in which there was a co-operation between grace and free will... this cardinal truth of Christianity was first clearly seen by Augustine..." Robert Peterson and Michael Williams of Covenant Theological Seminary: "The Semi-Pelagians were convinced that Augustine's monergistic emphasis upon salvation by grace alone represented a significant departure from the traditional teaching of the church. And a survey of the thought of the apostolic father's shows that the argument is valid... In comparison to Augustine's monergistic doctrine of grace, the teachings of the apostolic fathers tended toward a synergistic view of redemption" (36). Louis Berkhof: "Their representations are naturally rather indefinite, imperfect, and incomplete, and sometimes even erroneous and self-contradictory. Says Kahnis: "It stands as an assured fact, a fact knowing no exceptions, and acknowledged by all well versed in the matter, that all of the pre-Augustinian Fathers taught that in the appropriation of salvation there is a co-working of freedom and grace." Berkhof goes on to admit that "they do not hold to an entire corruption of the human will, and consequently adhere to the synergistic theory of regeneration..." (130).   In other words, despite White's assertions to the contrary, there were no "monergists" before Augustine.

Listen to how James White slanders Dr. Flowers and the entire Texas Baptists State Convention by means of ad hominem and notice the double standards.... watch to the end, it's only 10 mins long!

Dr. Leighton Flowers, Director of Evangelism for Texas Baptists, walks through yet another critique brought against Provisionism by Dr. James White on a recent Dividing Line Program... The original Dividing Line can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqwLI...

Dr. Leighton Flowers welcomes our very own Eric Kemp to talk about his hunt for the elusive "hyper-Calvinist." To read up on Eric's journey to find this obscure and difficult to describe creature take some time to read his article here: https://soteriology101.com/2020/04/09...

Dr. Leighton Flowers responds to James White's misunderstandings of the Provisionist view of grace, love and election...

Dr. James White suggested that eventually Dr. Ken Wilson would retract his challenge to debate by saying he would have to go "floss a cat," but who is really avoiding a debate here? Let's observe the facts by looking at the diversions and fallacious tactics White has used thus far in his replies to Dr. Wilson...

Dr. Leighton Flowers continues to look at James White's mistreatment of the Early Church writings. After a look at his misunderstanding of Clement, seen here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qyLw... , the focus now moves to White's maligned use of "The Epistle of Mathetes to Diognetus" and his blatant strawman attack on Provisionistic/Traditionalistic soteriology.

Dr. Leighton Flowers, Director of Evangelism and Apologetics for Texas Baptists, walks through some of Dr. James White's misunderstandings and misapplications regarding Clement of Rome and the quotes that were used in the debate over Romans 9 back in 2015...   From Clement 1: 2:3   And you, being filled with a holy desire, with excellent zeal and pious confidence, stretched out your arms to Almighty God, beseeching him to be merciful unto you, in case you had done anything wrong unwillingly. 2:4 You contended day and night for the whole brotherhood, that in his mercy and good pleasure the number of his elect might be saved.   How does one become elect?   Why does God choose someone over other?   Calvinism: We don’t know. It’s a mystery and according to the secret counsel of God. All we know is that it has nothing to do with us personally or our faith, choices, behaviors or actions. God’s election is “unconditional.”   Provisionism: God graciously chooses to save those who put their trust in Him. God’s election to send the gospel to all people is not conditioned upon the good or bad things they do (unconditional of their morality), but it is conditioned upon their faith in Him.   Which of these best aligns with Clement’s own teachings:   59:3. …God of all flesh, who looks into the abysses, who beholds the works of men, who is the helper of those in danger, the savior of those who have lost hope, who is the maker and bishop of every soul, who makes the nations to multiply upon the earth, and out of all you have chosen those that love You through Jesus Christ your beloved Son, through whom You have taught us, and have sanctified us, and have honored us. 58:2 Accept our advice, and it will not be repented by you. For as God lives, and as the Lord Jesus Christ lives, and the Holy Spirit, the confidence and hope of the elect, he who observes in humility with earnest obedience, and repining not, the ordinances and commands given by God, he shall be reckoned and counted in the number of them that are saved by Jesus Christ, through whom is there to him glory, world without end. Amen. 52:1 The Lord of all things, brethren, is in need of nothing; neither does He require anything of any one, except to confess unto Him. 35:3-4 What therefore are the things that are prepared for them that abide in patience?... Let us, therefore, strive to be found in the number of them that await him, that we may partake of the promised gifts. 29:1 Let us, therefore, approach him with holiness of spirit, lifting unto him pure and undefiled hands; loving the kind and compassionate Father who has made us a part of His elect. 46:4 Let us, therefore, cleave to the guiltless and the just, for they are the elect of God. 48:1 Let us, therefore, remove this thing as quickly as possible, and let us fall before the feet of the Master, and beseech him with tears, that he will have mercy and be reconciled unto us, and restore us again to the grave and pure conversation of brotherly love. 48:2 For this is a gate of righteousness opened unto life, as it is written, Open unto me the gates of righteousness; I will go in unto them, and give thanks unto the Lord: 48:3 this is the gate of the Lord; the righteous shall enter thereby. 48:4 Now, since many gates have been opened, the gate of righteousness is that which is in Christ. Happy are all they that enter therein, and who keep their path straight in holiness and righteousness, quietly performing all their duties. 48:5 If a man be faithful, if he be mighty to expound knowledge, if he be wise in the interpretation of words, if he be pure in his deeds, 48:6 by so much the more ought he to be humble, and by as much as he seemeth to be greater, by so much the more ought he to seek the common advantage of all, and not of himself alone.

Dr. Leighton Flowers, Director of Evangelism and Apologetics for Texas Baptists, addresses an article written by a Calvinistic author regarding "the 12 myths about Calvinism," which can be seen here: https://credohouse.org/blog/12-myths-... This is part 9 of 12 in the series and Dr. Flowers looks at the logical consistency of Calvinists who claim evangelizing shouldn't be limited to only the elect. More can be read here: https://soteriology101.com/2020/03/09/if-calvinism-is-true-then-why-evangelize/ The series can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLcOscF8UfNydjx6QqfJiWkhBxPQQYQg6V Please don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE! To listen to the audio only be sure to subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play or one of the other podcast players found here: https://soteriology101.com/home/ For more about Traditionalism (or Provisionism) please visit www.soteriology101.com Dr. Flowers’ book, “The Potter’s Promise” can be found here: https://www.amazon.com/Potters-Promise-Biblical-Traditional-Soteriology/dp/0692561846/ref=nodl_ To become a Patreon supporter or make a one time donation: https://soteriology101.com/support/