John Bunyan on the antichrist

According to an online source, John Bunyan’s Of Antichrist and his ruin was first published four years after his death. The following are a few excerpts: ==Antichrist is the adversary of Christ; an adversary really, a friend pretendedly: So then, Antichrist is one that is against Christ; one that is for Christ, and one that [...]

James White’s attractive theology

Here is an excerpt from OTC’s “The attractive theology of James White”: [James White] “Your kindness and the fact that your theology is so attractive and evidences the Spirit so strongly I am sure will be noted by your six or seven readers.” [Marc] Without the sarcasm, this means, “You’re unkind and I’m kind. Your [...]

Three Blind Mice

Paul said the gospel includes the truth that Christ “was raised the third day, according to the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:4). He said by this gospel “you are saved” (1 Corinthians 15:2). He further stated that “if Christ has not been raised, your faith is foolish; you are still in your sins” (1 Corinthians 15:17). [...]

Augustus Toplady and Thomas Oliver

Marc posted this to our e-mail list recently: In a letter “To the Rev. Mr. P.”, Augustus Toplady recounts his conversation with arch-Arminian Thomas Oliver. You can find it here: http://books.google.com/books?id=s7YOAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA177&dq=letter+xx+toplady&hl=en&ei=7ZvSTsnUNem60AGdtcXsDg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CDAQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=letter%20xx%20toplady&f=false or if you have the one-volume Works, it’s on page 840 (Letter XX). Excerpts: “Permit me, Mr. Oliver, to put the above question to [...]

Pernicious theological connoisseurs

Recently a “Desiring God” blog article entitled The Tragic Hypocrisy of Joyless Calvinism, was posted by David Mathis. Mathis plugs a new book called “Gospel Wakefulness” by a pastor in Vermont named Jared Wilson. Mathis presents the following sample from Wilson’s book: I have discussed with other Calvinists just where the (well-earned) stereotype of the [...]

Foolishness to those being lost

“And, of course, you cannot begin to substantiate the idea that Paul was going about adding “limited atonement” to the list of things that define the gospel proclamation, without which, there is no true faith” (James White). [see the following link for the historical background behind White's quote: http://www.outsidethecamp.org/jameswhite.htm] It’s NOT “limited atonement” that is [...]

James White vs. Robert Sungenis

I was just going through my e-mail drafts folders and found the following (I don’t know which day was “todays” Dividing Line, nor do I remember if I ever posted this to the OTC list before; new comments by me are between brackets): When I was a lost Calvinist I attended a debate at the [...]

The Reign Of Grace (Part 1)

The following are my comments on portions of Abraham Booth’s, “The Reign Of Grace.” I have been reading this on my Kindle and then “copy and pasting” it from Google Books so I am unable to put exact page numbers as they vary widely. “For as it [the gospel --CD] is entirely inconsistent with the [...]

Augustus Toplady (1)

Here are some of the heterodox things spoken by Toplady: Mr. Whitefield cannot but stand highest on the modern list of Christian ministers. England has had the honor of producing the greatest men in almost every walk of useful knowledge. At the head of these are, 1. Archbishop Bradwardin, the prince of divines. 2. Milton, [...]

Inclusivism: The Calvinist Consensus?

Inclusivism briefly defined is the position that states that while salvation by Christ is *ontologically necessary*, it is not *epistemologically* necessary. Of course, a simpler way to state the position is that a person who is saved *by Christ* can be saved *in ignorance of Christ.* As far as I know, those who hold this [...]