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Issues and Disagreements || Understanding Reformed Theology || Part 2 of 5
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This is Part 2 of a 5 Part series on the evaluation of Reformed Theology, also referred to as Calvinism. We hope you will join us for this complete series.
The age-old theological tension between God's sovereignty and human responsibility takes center stage as we evaluate Reformed theology and Calvinism. Building on our previous overview of Reformed doctrines, we now assess their biblical validity and practical implications for Christian faith.
We tackle several problematic aspects of classical Reformed teaching, particularly the concept that regeneration must precede faith. This foundational Calvinist doctrine creates unnecessary contradictions with Scripture's clear pattern of "believe and be saved" rather than "be saved in order to believe." Biblical examples like Cornelius and Lydia demonstrate that unregenerated people can genuinely seek God before their salvation moment, challenging the Reformed understanding of total depravity.
At the heart of our discussion lies the false dilemma Reformed theology creates between God's work and human response. Scripture consistently distinguishes between faith and works, showing that believing is not a "work" that earns salvation. By recognizing this distinction, we can affirm both God's sovereign election and genuine human responsibility without theological contradiction.
Perhaps most troubling is how some Reformed teaching creates uncertainty about salvation when people wonder if they're among "the elect." This stands in stark contrast to 1 John 5:13, written "so that you may know that you have eternal life." We propose a more balanced approach that honors God's sovereignty through His "infinite persuasion" while maintaining that the gospel invitation remains genuinely open to all.
Though we disagree on certain theological points, we demonstrate that Christians can engage these complex issues with mutual respect and without division on core gospel truths. Join us next time as we examine the specific Bible passages addressing election, predestination, and free will to determine what Scripture actually teaches.
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May God Bless you!! - Glenn and Steve
Chapters
1. Introduction to Evaluating Reformed Theology (00:00:00)
2. Understanding Divine Knowledge vs. Foreknowledge (00:03:57)
3. The Problem with Total Depravity (00:14:22)
4. Faith Is Not a Work: False Dilemmas (00:21:50)
5. The Issue of Regeneration Before Faith (00:32:53)
6. God's Infinite Persuasion and Free Will (00:46:02)
7. Concluding with Common Ground (00:54:39)
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