recommend for anyone who wants to be amazed by how paradoxical and beautiful the mystery of sovereignty and meaningful choice is! Also known as free will, but I like the use of meaningful choice I thought this was a really helpful book.
A book helping Christians to navigate theological differences in doctrine when it comes to Gods sovereignty and human freewill, or known as calvinism and arminianism, This book does not try to solve those differences, but does go about showing us we can have these differences and still beChristian, This book is written with much grace and truth, It was the kindest explanation of reconciling God's sovereignty with human choice! He did an excellent 'understandable' job of explaining views "in light of all Scripture, " It offers a gentler way of thinking and discussion about this subject, which I appreciated, It will definitely be helpful in responding more compassionately, A good analysis and comparison of Arminianism and Calvinism, with an emphasis on the authority of Scripture over any theological grouping we subscribe to, Overall, I found his explanations to be clear and helpful and his encouragement to humbly dialogue instead of arrogantly assuming the worst in others beliefs to be sincere.
I was introduced to Randy Alcorn nearly twenty years ago through his fiction stories, and I still consider many of them among my favorites, I've also read a few of his theological studies and I greatly respect his opinions, Despite growing up in church, the terms "Arminianism and Calvinism" weren't even a part of my vocabulary, It wasn't until college that I remember being introduced to Calvinism, and I'm now aware that it was clearly HyperCalvinism, It wasn't until over a decade later that I've been made to feel pressured into siding as one or the other, Randy Alcorn shares that he was raised in an Arminian church but now considers himself apoint Calvinist,
Alcorn first shared the traditional beliefs of Calvinism and Arminianism before splitting them up further into some more radical groups like HyperCalvinism, Although he shares what his own theological thoughts are, he also tries to allow scripture to do the talking so that people are able to come to their own conclusions based on what God's Word says.
I found this book to be extremely helpful, I maintain that I consider myself neither Calvinist or Armenian, but I am at least able to see that some of my views towards the two groups have been formed by some that lean too heavily on the extreme sides particularly Calvinism.
One of the statements I have heard someone I know say is "you should believe like a Calvinist, but you need to preach like an Arminian.
" I won't go into all the reasons that phrase has bothered me, but this book actually takes a look into that kind of thinking and how it's not necessary to separate the two.
I highly recommend taking the time to read this book, I personally recommend the print version considering how many sections I wrote in and highlighted, There is a lot of deep, theological study contained in this book, Although you can read without looking up all of the extra scriptures, it's important that the scriptures are where you are finding your truth and understanding, This was well handled, though Im not sure why he chooses to call himself a Calvinist, This is the first book I've read that covers the topics of sovereignty and free will, As a starting point for my own intellectual investigation into these significant and often controversial topic I really appreciated the authors nuanced and sensitive approach to all the different view points.
His regular affirmation that we should allow Scripture to speak for itself is vitally important, I felt it was a balanced overivew of the differing viewpoints whilst also drawing clear lines where orthodoxy was lost, As it is the first book on this area I may end up disagreeing or agreeing more with his conclusions and ideas, but I found it a very readable introduction.
My main issue with it is that I felt it could have been about half the size! From Chapteronwards there wasn't much new, just more examples of the same ideas.
Whilst there may be little bits of helpful additions in there, it could probably have beenchapters shorter, An enlightening exploration of God's sovereignty and human free will in several areas, including salvation, human choices, sin, and suffering and disasters, It challenges Calvinists and Arminians to take a hard look at verses that are difficult to reconcile with their views, and to take all of Scripture into account.
It's repetitive Alcorn revisits certain topics several times, making the same point in several places,
Alcorn uses "meaningful choice" instead of "free will" because of the different ways people define it,
Alcorn started as a "moderate Arminian" and moved over time, until arriving at his currentpoint Calvinism he disagrees with limited atonement, because he says the Bible seems to teach that Jesus died for all, not just elect.
He describes himself asCalvinist, He respects both sides and treats each charitably,
Notes
Why Is This Tough and Controversial Issue Worth Discussing
God's choices are more foundational than our own, We're made in His image, His choicemaking precedes and empowers ours,
An Invitation to Calvinists, Arminians, and Those Who Dont Know the Difference
Calvinists believe that human will is bound by sinful nature until God regenerates a person.
People are free to choose according to their natures, and the choices of a fallen will are constrained by the limits of the sinful nature, When God regenerates a person, He frees their will so they can choose righteousness, A person who's dead in their sins can't cooperate with God in their salvation any more than Lazarus cooperated Jesus in raising himself from the dead,
The Sovereignty of God
God is sovereign over evil and disaster Is:Amos::Job,
Though evil wasn't part of God's original Creation, it was part of His original plan, because redemption from evil was part of His original plan Matt:Mark:,Luke::Acts:.
God is sovereign over disabilities, diseases Ex:John:,
Bible speaks of genuine human choice Deut:Joshua:,
Free Will and Meaningful Choice
Jesus calls the fallen will a slave to sin John:and a slave isn't free, When God redeems a person, he frees their wills to do right Rom:, though they're not entirely free from sin,
God used Herod, Pilate, Gentiles, Jews "to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done" Acts:, This means they didn't have enough contrary choice to thwart God's plan,
Bible assumes humans have ability to make meaningful choices, including ability to choose one action or attitude rather than anotherCor:Rom:Deut:Ezek:Prov:, Look up all verses containing form of word "choose" and see that God's will dominates Scripture, but human choice is also prevalent,
Luther said, "free choice is allowed to man only with respect to what is beneath him in relation to God, or in matters pertaining to salvation or damnation, a man has no free choice, but is a captive.
"
Augustine said fallen men could still choose what we desire, but our desires are chained by our evil impulses, and always leads to sin,
Bible says unbelievers can do good Rom:,
Total depravity doesn't mean completely evil it means total inability to work our way to God's favor it could be called "pervasive depravity, "
Unbelievers can modify their sinful behaviors, but can't escape sin built into their nature, Romsays sinners can't stop doing evil, but doesn't say they can never do good,
We're free enough to be morally accountable and make consequential choices, but not free enough to make ourselves righteous before God,
Many verses wouldn't make sense if humans didn't have some degree of free willCor:,
Regeneration renews will, enabling humans to make godly choices Phil:Thess:and choose not to sin Rom:,
Main Views of Sovereignty and Choice
God brings disaster to righteously judge human evil Isaiah:Jer::Amos:,
God knows not only what will happen, but what would have happened in other circumstances Matt:Cor:,
Jesus and apostles taught that salvation is of grace alone, yet spoke to people as rational beings and moral agents,
If some degree of divine determination doesn't exist, how can God predestine His people according to His plan, and work out "everything in conformity with the purpose of His will" Eph:.
And what would Rom:"So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy" mean
Does Open Theism Resolve the Sovereignty/Choice Paradox
If you went to the future and saw a quarterback throw a winning pass, then returned to the present, would your knowledge of the future rob the quarterback of his free choice No.
In the same way, God's knowing our choices in advance doesn't rob us of free choice, nor necessarily cause us to do things,
When Bible speaks of God regretting, it means that He grieves over sin, not that He changes His mindSam:Mal:Jas:,
God responds to His creatures, and has and shows emotions, In that sense, He changes in attitudes and actions in response to repentance, prayers, and sin, but He doesn't change in essence, character, knowledge, plans, purposes,
Cases where God seems to change His mind e, g. , threatened destruction of Nineveh are true expressions of God's present attitude or intent based on situation as it exists at that moment, If situation changes, God's attitude or expression of intent can change Jer:,
God knows all that will occur Job:John:Matt::including future human choices Ps:Sam:, and what would have happened if humans made different choices Matt:.
The Fascinating Interplay of Gods Sovereignty and Human Choice
God can limit and overrule free will of rulers Pharaoh, Nebuchadnezzar, Cyrus Prov:Rom:.
God tolerates wrong choices partly because they will lead to a redemptive end that will please Him more,
Categories of Bible passages that show people are free and responsible moral agents
, People face many divine exhortations and commands
, People obey, believe, choose God
, People sin and rebel against God
, People's sins are judged by God
, People are tested by God
, People receive divine rewards
, Elect are responsible to respond to God's initiative
, Prayers aren't showpieces scripted by God
, God pleads with sinners to repent and be saved
Greatest example of divine sovereignty and meaningful human choice working together: Jesus' crucifixion Acts::,
Phil:and Col:shows God's action and human action working together,
God draws and enables His people to come to Him John:,,:Cor:, God grants salvation to whom He will John:,
God calls us spiritually dead without Christ Eph:, God makes us alive in Christ Col:,
Meaningful Human Choice and Divine Sovereignty Working hand in Hand
God extends a genuine invitation to choicemaking people to come to Him, as He sovereignly empowers them His elect.
Sinners should choose to repentance, yet only God grants saving repentanceTim:,
Trusting God to Weave All Choices Together for His Childrens Good
Bible speaks of God allowing sin and disaster Ex:Mark:Ezek:,
God allows evil with a definite purpose, Job:says God allowed Satan to bring troubles on Job, but Job:says God brought them on Him, This shows God's permission of evil is more active than many suppose,
Our experiencing evil and suffering makes us like Christ, If God answered all our prayers to be delivered from evil and suffering, He'd be delivering us from Christlikeness,
Concluding Thoughts on Sovereignty, Choice, Calvinism, and Arminianism
Alcorn encourages Calvinists to read sitelinkWhat the Bible Says about God the Ruler by Jack Catrell though he disagrees with him in areas and sitelinkAgainst Calvinism by Roger Olsen.
He encourages Arminians to read sitelinkTrusting God by Jerry Bridges and sitelinkFor Calvinism by Michael Horton, He says you must compare what you read with Scripture,
"The bottom line is this: be willing to have leaks and inconsistencies in your theological system, but be unwilling to reject portions of Scripture, ".
Achieve Hand In Hand: The Beauty Of Gods Sovereignty And Meaningful Human Choice Compiled By Randy Alcorn EPub
Randy Alcorn