Categories
Providence

A divine determinist’s reflections on a self-determinist’s reading of Scripture: the original sin

I came to the third chapter of Robert Picirilli’s book, Free Will Revisited, with particular eagerness. I concur with him “that what matters most, in the discussion of free will (or any theological issue), is what the Bible says” (p. 18). I also agree with his intent when he states that “the Bible never undertakes […]

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Books Theological method

The “open” and “closed system” approaches to theology

I have begun to read Michael J. McClymond and Gerald R. McDermott’s  masterpiece, The Theology of Jonathan Edwards, and I’m finding it wonderfully stimulating to my own theological thinking. Early in the book, I enjoyed the discussion of “the ethos and method of Edwards’ theology,” particularly as I reflected on my own method in relation […]

Categories
Soteriology

How correct must our theology be for our faith to be saving?

Some time ago, I spoke about the aha experience I had, while leading an evangelistic Bible study in the home of a Roman Catholic family, when I first began to ask myself whether it is possible to be justified by faith if one does not know that justification is by faith. That came back to […]