Soteriology 101 w/ Dr. Leighton Flowers

Dr. Robert Morey of faithdefenders.com has put out a video on YouTube that has become pretty popular.  He answers the question, "Does God Love Everyone?" from a "Reformed" perspective...though it could be argued that many Calvinistic believers would oppose this view as much as I do.  Let's dive in. For more visit us at www.soteriology101.com   Here is the video from Dr. Morey: https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=3&v=LxZKJSNVgqM  

In a recent "Ask Pastor John" podcast, Dr. John Piper answers the question about the major difference between Arminians and Calvinists.  He speaks of the decisive factor in the salvation process and Professor Flowers responds to his answer.  Let's dive in. For more information go to www.soteriology101.com

Matt Slick, the founder and President of CARM ministries and an accomplished apologist, appears on the Bible Thumping Wingnut podcast to answer the question, "What must we do to be saved?" My contention is that Slick contradicts the clear biblical teaching of man's responsiblity to humble himself. Let's dive in. For more information please visit www.soteriology101.com   What also must be noted is that the decision to trust in Christ for our salvation is not a meritorious work.  Asking for forgiveness does not merit being forgiven.  Think of it this way.  Did the prodigal son earn, merit or in any way deserve the reception of his father on the basis that he humbly returned home?  Of course not. He deserve to be punished, not rewarded.  The acceptance of his father was a choice of the father alone and it was ALL OF GRACE.  The father did not have to forgive, restore and throw a party for his son on the basis that he chose to come home. That was the father’s doing. Humiliation and brokenness is not considered “better” or “praiseworthy” and it certainly is not inherently valuable.  The only thing that makes this quality “desirable” is that God has chosen to grace those who humble themselves, something He is in no way obligated to do.  God gives grace to the humble not because a humble response deserves salvation, but because He is gracious. Clearly scripture calls us to humility and there is nothing which suggests we cannot respond in humility when confronted by the powerful clear revelation of God’s convicting life-giving truth through the law and the gospel: 1 Peter 5:5-6:  “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Isaiah 66:2: “These are the ones I look on with favor: those who are humble and contrite in spirit, and who tremble at my word. James 4:10: “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.” 2 Kings 22:19: “Because your heart was responsive and you humbled yourself before the Lord when you heard what I have spoken against this place and its people—that they would become a curse and be laid waste—and because you tore your robes and wept in my presence, I also have heard you, declares the Lord.” 2 Chronicles 12:7: When the Lord saw that they humbled themselves, this word of the Lord came to Shemaiah: “Since they have humbled themselves, I will not destroy them but will soon give them deliverance. My wrath will not be poured out on Jerusalem through Shishak. 2 Chronicles 12:12: Because Rehoboam humbled himself, the Lord’s anger turned from him, and he was not totally destroyed. Psalm 18:27: You save the humble but bring low those whose eyes are haughty. Psalm 25:9: He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way. Psalm 147:6: The Lord sustains the humble but casts the wicked to the ground. Proverbs 3:34: He mocks proud mockers but shows favor to the humble and oppressed. Zephaniah 2:3: Seek the Lord, all you humble of the land, you who do what he commands. Seek righteousness, seek humility; perhaps you will be sheltered on the day of the Lord’s anger. Matthew 18:4: Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:3:  Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 23:12: For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted. Luke 1:52: He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. Luke 14:11: For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” Luke 18:14: “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” James 4:6: But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” If you will not humble yourselves, God will humble you in judgment. The lost man’s inability to seek God does not equal the inability to respond to a God who is actively seeking to save the lost. (Luke 19:10) The lost man’s inability to save himself does not equal the inability to respond to God’s gracious and powerful appeal for all the lost to repent and believe. (Col. 1:23) The lost man’s inability to attain righteousness by pursuing it through works does not equal the inability to attain righteousness by pursuing it through faith. (Rom. 9:30-32) What then shall we say? That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith; but the people of Israel, who pursued the law as the way of righteousness, have not attained their goal.  Why not?  Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works.  – The Apostle Paul

Dr. Brian Wagner Ph.D, Professor of Biblical Languages at Virgina Baptist College, joins the discussion again today over the biblical doctrine of Divine hardening and how that can help us better understand the the meaning of Romas 9 in its context. To join Professor Wagner and Professor Flowers in a discussion over this topic and much more please visit www.soteriology101.com

This is part two of two in our discussion with Dr. Adam Harwood over the doctrine of Original Guilt, the nature of man from birth.  We discuss Dr. Harwoods much needed work over the doctrine of man in relation to inherited guilt and the nature of sin. You do not want to miss both parts of this highly educational podcast.  Dr. Harwood drops a bomb, of sorts, so be sure to tune in... To join our discussion go to www.soteriology101.com   To read more from Dr. Adam Harwood please visit: www.adamharwood.com or to order his book on this subject go to:  http://www.amazon.com/Spiritual-Condition-Infants-Biblical-Historical-Systematic/dp/1608998444/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8 Or for the shorter version referenced in the podcast go here: http://www.amazon.com/Born-Guilty-Southern-Baptist-Original/dp/1939283027  

Professor Flowers reads several positive and some no so positive comments about his podcast off Social Media and iTunes reviews.  In the last part of the podcast he interacts with one comment over the issue of exegesis.  A segment from Pastor Sean Cole's most recent podcast over the Romans 9 debate is played for a balanced approach. Let's dive in!   To join the conversation visit www.soteriology101.com

This is part one of two in our discussion with Dr. Adam Harwood over the doctrine of Original Guilt, the nature of man from birth.  We discuss Dr. Harwoods much needed work over the doctrine of man in relation to inherited guilt and the nature of sin. You do not want to miss both parts of this highly educational podcast.   To join our discussion go to www.soteriology101.com   To read more from Dr. Adam Harwood please visit: www.adamharwood.com or to order his book on this subject go to:  http://www.amazon.com/Spiritual-Condition-Infants-Biblical-Historical-Systematic/dp/1608998444/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8 Or for the shorter version referenced in the podcast go here: http://www.amazon.com/Born-Guilty-Southern-Baptist-Original/dp/1939283027  

Dr. Brian Wagner Ph.D, Professor of Biblical Languages at Virgina Baptist College, joins the discussion today over the role of the Holy Spirit in Salvation. To join Professor Wagner and Professor Flowers in a discussion over this topic and much more please visit www.soteriology101.com

Professor Flowers was addressed on the "downgrade" segment of the Pulpit and Pen Podcast hosted by JD Hall.  Hall took issue with Flowers' definition of "Divine Sovereignty," in a recent article ran by SBC Today, yet Hall never really engaged Professor Flowers on their point of contention. Here is a copy of the article from www.soteriology101.com   The attribute of God’s Sovereignty is not an eternal attribute. Sovereignty means complete rule or dominion over others. For him to be in control over others there has to be others in which to control.  He can’t display His power over creatures unless the creatures exist.  Therefore, before creation the concept of sovereignty was not an attribute that could be used to describe God. An eternal attribute is something God possesses that is not contingent upon something else. The eternal attribute of God is His omnipotence, which refers to His eternally limitless power. Sovereignty is a temporal characteristic, not an eternal one, thus we can say God is all powerful, not because He is sovereign, but He is sovereign because He is all powerful, or at least He is as sovereign as He so chooses to be in relation to this temporal world.  As Dr. Ach put it, “Sovereignty is the expression of God’s power, not the source of it.”  If the all powerful One chooses to refrain from meticulously ruling over every aspect of that which He creates, that in no way denies His eternal attribute of omnipotence, but indeed affirms it. It is the Calvinist who denies the eternal attribute of omnipotence, by presuming the all powerful One cannot refrain from meticulous deterministic rule over His creation. In short, the Calvinist denies God’s eternal attribute in his effort to protect the temporal one.  Additionally, an argument could be made that the eternal attributes of God’s love and His holiness are likewise compromised by the well meaning efforts of our Calvinistic brethren to protect their concept of deterministic sovereignty over the temporal world. No one is denying that sovereignty is a current attribute of God, but only in part given that He has not yet taken full sovereign control over everything on earth as it is in heaven. Passages throughout the Bible teach that there are “authorities” and “powers” which are yet to be destroyed, and that have been given dominion over God’s creation. Isaiah 24:21A time is coming when the Lord will punish the powers above and the rulers of the earth. Ephesians 6:12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Colossians 2:20You have died with Christ, and he has set you free from the evil powers of this world. 1 Corinthians 15:24Then the end will come; Christ will overcome all spiritual rulers, authorities, and powers, and will hand over the Kingdom to God the Father. Don’t misunderstand my point. I affirm that God is greater than these powers and authorities. He created them after all. Colossians 1:16For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. And one day God will strip them of that authority: Colossians 2:15 God stripped the spiritual rulers and powers of their authority. With the cross, he won the victory and showed the world that they were powerless. But, if God has chosen to allow created beings to have dominion and power over something, even for a time, how is His “sovereignty” (as defined by some being “complete and total control/determination over every single thing” eternally) not compromised? God is certainly more powerful than any evil.  He could stifle it at any moment with a word. I don’t think anyone is denying that. And I think we all agree that there’s a sense in which it is proper even to say that “evil is part of His eternal decree.” (Permissively) He planned for it, obviously. It did not take Him by surprise. He declared the end from the beginning, and He is still working all things for His good pleasure (Isaiah 46:9-10), but isn’t there a difference in working evil out for good and unchangeably determining evil yourself? It’s one thing to help my child grow from being bullied, its another for me to hire the bully so as to make my child grow. Most say that God’s role with regard to evil is never as its “author,” but few define the distinction between “predetermining,” “ordaining,” “decreeing,” as contrasted with the concept of “authoring.”  Ask the next Calvinist you speak with to give example of God authoring evil and then an example of God decreeing evil and see if you can find a distinction with an actual difference. Only if he affirms the concept of bare permission (God allowing men to be free and make their own choices) can any real distinction be drawn between those terms. 1 Tim 6:15, Isa 48:11, Isa 42:8. Isa 44:24, Heb 1:3, Rev 19:6, 1 Cor 8:5

Another great "Sound of the Saints" episode where we hear from a faithful listener and patron of the podcast, Stephen Bowen. Practical theology is the primary topic of discussion as Leighton and Stephen discuss how theology affects every part of our lives.  Some time is also spent talking about the debate with James White and others over the doctrines of Calvinism.  Let's dive in.   To join Professor Leighton Flowers in discussion or to support the ministry please visit www.soteriology101.com