Comments on: Dever on Election and Evangelism http://timmybrister.com/2007/10/15/dever-on-election-and-evangelism/ Trusting God :: Treasuring Christ :: Triumphing the Gospel Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:22:38 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: Thomas Twitchell http://timmybrister.com/2007/10/15/dever-on-election-and-evangelism/#comment-15979 Sun, 21 Oct 2007 02:48:41 +0000 http://timmybrister.com/2007/10/15/dever-on-election-and-evangelism/#comment-15979 There is often a confusion when the term Pelagianism is thrown around in reference to Arminianism. Classically the two are distinct schools. However, they share certain components. As the DoG are commonly called Calvinism because they share much in common, when in reality the too are distinct, so too the swing terms when speaking of doctrines of works are either Pelagianism or Arminianism. In any case, we do muddy the waters by interchanging terms that are not technically true to their origin. But, it is a distraction that many throw up when the issues are being discussed. It shouldn’t be an issue if one pays attention to the context of the discussion. The great divide is not the terms, but the doctrines of Grace versus the doctrine of salvation by works of the law. Works of the law are, bottom line, anything that man must do to be justified. It is faith versus works, and that not of ourselves it is the free gift of God. We reject any sense in which man is involved in the creative work of regeneration, whether in a Pelagian sense, or a Semi-Pelagian sense. Creation is the sole work of God without any counsel of the creation. No cooperation, no synergism, for God alone is creator and he knows no other god.

]]> By: qbaileys http://timmybrister.com/2007/10/15/dever-on-election-and-evangelism/#comment-15978 Sun, 21 Oct 2007 01:20:50 +0000 http://timmybrister.com/2007/10/15/dever-on-election-and-evangelism/#comment-15978 We must be regenerated before we can respond to God’s call upon our lives. Our response cannot happen unless the Holy Spirit does that regenerating work in our hearts. ..if that does not happen then how will a sinfully blind man going to respond to an awesome God? We cannot and will not seek out God without this regeneration in our heart. 100% God and zero man….when God has planned the day of our responding to the call we are drawn or as the greek actually discribes it as “dragged” to the Father…not swayed or pursuaded. This begins with our hearts being regenerated then we will say a resounding “Yes” to salvation in Jesus Christ. This point is very well backed by the scriptures. A person elected by our heavenly Father will not escape God’s calling nor will the elect want to resist that calling because of our regenerated heart.
Great post.
scott

]]> By: Billy Birch http://timmybrister.com/2007/10/15/dever-on-election-and-evangelism/#comment-15706 Tue, 16 Oct 2007 05:00:56 +0000 http://timmybrister.com/2007/10/15/dever-on-election-and-evangelism/#comment-15706 No, it cannot happen at any time. The Holy Spirit must be active in the sinner’s heart. But, you are right; we do not hold to monergism. Guilty. By “prevenient grace,” however, we mean that it is the means by which one may respond to God’s grace; it is not regeneration, but an “opening up” of the heart.

I am fully aware of our differences. God bless.

Billy

]]> By: Stephen Newell http://timmybrister.com/2007/10/15/dever-on-election-and-evangelism/#comment-15696 Mon, 15 Oct 2007 21:37:30 +0000 http://timmybrister.com/2007/10/15/dever-on-election-and-evangelism/#comment-15696 I thank God that classical Arminianism teaches no such thing.

It doesn’t teach that “conversion is simply something that anyone can do at any time?” Doesn’t everyone have “prevenient grace” or whatever the term is? Doesn’t everyone still have to “cooperate” with that grace? It may not be Pelagianism — and in many ways it isn’t — but you still have the position that salvation amounts to nothing more than the will cooperating with the grace received. And that cooperation is not instantaneous with the reception of that grace. It can happen “at any time,” and usually it is thought of as happening during some sort of evangelistic moment.

]]> By: billy http://timmybrister.com/2007/10/15/dever-on-election-and-evangelism/#comment-15693 Mon, 15 Oct 2007 17:37:01 +0000 http://timmybrister.com/2007/10/15/dever-on-election-and-evangelism/#comment-15693 “If you think that the gospel is all about what we can do, that the practice of it is optional, and that conversion is simply something that anyone can do at any time . . .” I thank God that classical Arminianism teaches no such thing. But I do lament the fact that many believe Arminianism teaches such nonsense–once again confusing Pelagianism with Arminianism.

And I, for the most part, agree with Dever.

Billy

]]> By: johnMark http://timmybrister.com/2007/10/15/dever-on-election-and-evangelism/#comment-15691 Mon, 15 Oct 2007 15:29:33 +0000 http://timmybrister.com/2007/10/15/dever-on-election-and-evangelism/#comment-15691 Timmy,

I didn’t even catch Hunt’s endorsement. I just went and looked at my copy though. Wow!
I wonder what Hunt would say about what you’ve pointed out?

There is also a Methodist who endorsed the book. Whitefield or Wesley? :)

Mark

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