Defending the Reformed Faith
Related Categories: Reformed Faith
I am praying God will use the economic crisis along with the energy crisis and the world at war to bring a great revival to this land. I do not believe that will happen without a renewed interest in the great doctrines of grace, that is, the doctrines of the reformed faith. Historically, this is the stuff true revivals are made of. I distinguish between revival and revivalism. The latter involves mere experience but little in the way of true heart change. This is not to say a revival will be devoid of emotion. But the emotion will be centered in the change that comes from the heart and originates in the truths of scripture. Heart change emanates from the convictions wrought by scripture.
I am often questioned, sometimes angrily, about the doctrines of predestination and election. Yet these doctrines are at the very core of what drove the theology of the Reformation. Many simply do not understand the teaching of a Calvinist and unfairly misrepresent our teaching. These are honest questions from people who truly desire to understand the doctrines of grace. Over the next few months I will answer questions like these:
- Did Jesus die for everyone or just the elect?
- Is there a difference between predestination and God's all knowing power?
- If we are predestined and God already has determined who the elect are, then why bother praying and why bother evangelizing?
- What if I want to become a Christian but am not one of the elect?
- If I am elect are my children then automatically elect?
- Where does my free will play into all of this?
- What about all of those verses that seem to say that Jesus died for all people, e.g. John 3:16.
Join me as we work through these great doctrines that give comfort and strength. What are your questions?
In His Grip,
Dr. Chuck Betters
I think of two books, one that you pointed me to by accident a few years ago PB...Bondage of the Will by Martin Luther and another book by Lorraine Boettner called the Doctrine of Predestination. People with questions that are not looking for surface answers that are reading this post should check both out in regards to free will and the election of God's people. I read your blog and I kept thinking about your sermon last week or 2 weeks ago, about the parable of the 4 soils. The hasty soil (revivalism) and the good soil (true heart change and revival). In the wake of the events you describe and the miraculous changes that have gone on in my life personally, I can't help but feel safe in the sweet comfort of knowing that God has a plan for all of us. It is both individual and aggregate in nature. It is so nice knowing that we don't know, that He does, and that He uses these crises and miracles in our lives to say to us, "Hey, don't forget, I am here and I love you. Just trust me, I have your back through this." The Scriptures reveal every answer to every question asked (as you know) and I am sure, just as Martin Luther and Lorraine Boettner do in their literature, that we will be enlightened through your teaching via the only Truth that exists, the Holy Scriptures. PB, when my wife and I were church shopping a few years ago, we caught you on a whim one Sunday doing a sermon on God's elect. You were very clear that not all people are going to Heaven and that the "L" in tulip had so many people very angry with your teaching. We haven't missed a sermon since. My family and I are SO GRATEFUL that you have the courage to preach the TRUTH, that there is one book, the Bible, and it is perfect, inerrant, and it is going to ruffle some feathers. That "by grace we are saved through faith; that not of ourselves, but a GIFT from God, not by works, so that NO MAN may boast." Eph:2 8-9
I am looking forward to reading all of your post on this...Touchy subject that is for sure. Thanks for being bold and writing about it.
