We are now in part 3 of our Foreknowledge and Free Will series. We’ve considered Open Theism–the idea that God’s foreknowledge is limited to what he plans to do as well as what he can ascertain from past and present conditions. In a couple of weeks we’ll examine Calvinism, which holds that God not only foreknows but also predestines all who will be saved. But, for today, our focus is on the Arminian position.
Today, I’m happy to have Dr. Leighton Flowers the host of the Soteriology101 a podcast that puts forward an Arminian understanding of salvation as well as responds to prominent Calvinist thinkers. Flowers is also the Director of Evangelism and Apologetics for Texas Baptists. He has authored two books, including The Potter’s Promise, which rebuffed the theology found in James White’s The Potters Freedom. More recently, he came out with God’s Provision for All, which sets out a positive case for provisionalism, an understanding of salvation that teaches everyone is free to choose to believe the gospel. Flowers earned his PhD from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary where his dissertation focused on the rise of Calvinism in the Southern Baptist Convention.
In this episode, I ask Flowers to share about his background in Calvinism and how he changed his mind about it. We discuss his middle position that both affirms God’s exhaustive foreknowledge and our free will. Then we take a look at a couple of texts like Ephesians 1 and Romans 8 to hear his exegesis of them.
—— Books ——
- The Potter’s Promise by Leighton Flowers
- God’s Provision for All by Leighton Flowers
—— Links ——
- See other episodes in this series on Foreknowledge and Free Will
- Soteriology101 Podcast: YouTube, RSS, Apple, Stitcher
- YouTube debate: Romans 9, James White vs. Leighton Flowers
- Purchase Flowers’ class, “Tiptoeing through TULIP,” a six-week study on the doctrines of human responsibility and God’s saving grace ($39)
- Check out the affirmations and denials about the provisionalist soteriology
Hi Sean, Thank you for your Podcast, especially this series. ( calibre of speakers )
I just wanted to make a quick comment regarding the Peter denial it was said by Dr Dale Tuggy that
a determination in ones heart is one of the mechanisms that God uses to predict the Future.
When Jesus predicted this event it seems truly to go against where Peter’s heart was at, (Mt 26:31-35) unless Peter was faking it or God could see much deeper I don’t think it could be said about this occurrence.
It seems more likely to fulfil a prediction given 500 years before Christ in Zechariah 13:7 with the suggestion of Determinism or Foreknowledge as better suited to this story.
Thanks again for your efforts and sharing.
I FIND THAT RESTITUTIO SPENDS TO MUCH TIME ON DISCUSSING WHAT CHRISTENDOM HOLDS FAST TO. I DON’T THINK OUR JOB IS TO DISPROVE WHAT CHRISTENDOM BELIEVES OR FOLLOWS. INSTEAD OUR EMPHASIS SHOULD BE ON PREACHING AND PUBLISHING THE PLAIN TRUTH AS REVEALED IN THE SCRIPTURES WHICH CAN MORE THAT SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES.
JESUS CONFRONTATION WITH THE LEADERS OF THE JEWS WAS TO POINT OUT THAT THEY WERE HOLDING BACK TELLING THE PEOPLE THAT LOVING GOD WITH ALL ONE’S HEART AND LOVING THEIR NEIGHBOR AS THEMSELVES WAS THE WAY TO LIFE. THEY DIDN’T TEACH THAT BECAUSE IT WENT AGAINST THEIR LUST FOR POSITION, MONEY AND CONTROL.
THE JEWISH LEADERS WERE DOING THE SAME THINGS THAT LEADERS IN CHRISTENDOM ARE DOING TODAY. WHY NOT CONDEMN THEM FOR DOING JUST THAT. CHRISTENDOM IS DYING A SLOW DEATH BY THEIR LAODICEAN MIND SET AND LACK OF TOTAL COMMITMENT TO LOVING GOD WITH ALL THEIR HEART, MIND AND STRENGTH AND LOVING THEIR NEIGHBOR AS THEMSELVES.
PEOPLE ARE BEING TURNED OFF ON MASS BY WHAT CHRISTENDOM IS DOING TODAY. PEOPLE ARE NOT LED BY INTELLECTUAL ARGUMENTS BUT ARE LED AND INSPIRED BY THE WORD OF GOD BEING PROCLAIMED BY THOSE WHO ARE LED BY THE INDWELLING PRESENCE OF YEHOVAH GUIDING THEM AND WORKING THROUGH THEM. DON’T SEE MUCH OF THAT TODAY ANYWHERE! INDEED, WHEN THE LORD JESUS COMES BACK WILL HE FIND FAITH ON THIS EARTH. VERY FEW TODAY ARE WALING ON THE NARROW PATH THAT LEADS TO LIFE IN THE COMING KINGDOM OF GOD.
Hi Sean, I am loving this series, it is so informative to learn the different views around foreknowledge and how this can work in with free will. I am of the open theism view having considered all of the other different views.
But I have a question you may like to answer for me. I was listening to a prominent atheist debater/speaker by the name of Dan Barker. One of his arguments is to show that there is a contradiction in what some say about the nature of God to discredit his existence.
His argument goes like this.
God is unchangeable.
God is all powerful.
God is all knowing.
If God foreknows what he will do in the future, and he cannot change, then this means that he lacks the power to do so. Hence God is not omnipotent and does not have free will. A logical contradiction as he puts it, discrediting the existence of God.
The arguments and information so far in this series have been in regards to Gods interactions with mankind and peoples ability to exercise their free will. What are your thoughts on this argument which only has to do with the nature of God, and how we define God as being omniscient, omnipotent and eternal and the matter of free will.
I have my thoughts on the matter as to how I could overcome the objection, however I would love to hear you or Dale roll out some ideas in a nutshell as a response to this argument so I can use it in discussion/rebuttals with atheists.
Is there really a contradiction in the nature of God, is this a valid argument, or is this just an arbitrary term definition of eternal, all knowing all powerful nature of God problem?
Open theism is unbiblical and heretical. There is no “future” for God because He is outside of time. He had declared the end from the beginning, meaning before the creation, He had already written this beautiful love story of His redemption with His people through the blood of His son, Jesus. To state otherwise, is to say that luck is a force that is above God, and that chance rules over us and God.
Hi Sean, with regards to a comment by one of your listeners that your content should be more focused on Christian living, and not be so diverse in subject matter; I would like to say how much I have benefited from your greatly diverse approach to the subject matter in your podcasts.
Firstly, since you broadcast an interview with Greg Deble who lives here in Australia, this has led to quite a bit of networking amongst some isolated Christians like myself who were desperate for fellowship. The ripple effect has been quite extraordinary bringing together many isolated individuals into fellowship and provided a group were one can direct others to for general Christian up-building.
In addition I have greatly benefited when I listened to a series on apologetics. You featured Ravi Zacharias. From this I have been led to other great Christian apologists such as William Lane Craig, Frank Truek and their publications and so forth. I have found this to be greatly faith strengthening. In fact it has become my ministry in a way. I love engaging atheists who take a poke at Christian articles or podcasts, and even on their own web sites, and I thoroughly enjoy demolishing their arguments. Besides the selfish pleasure this brings me, others who read the comments have expressed their appreciation for the ability to defend the faith in this way and I have helped them to the sources where they can build their faith further.
Also your series on the Kingdom has been a blessing too. I follow Boerean Pickets which is mostly an ex-Jehovahs Wittness site. They are an honest bunch that sincerely seek the truth about certain doctrinal matters. When I started to follow I was roasted when I shared some of the things I learned here such as the Earthly hope being the only hope for mankind under the kingdom. However with persistence they have come around to the real hope for mankind not having anything to do with abiding in Heaven. Information from your presentations have been greatly helpful in my being able to influence the results. I think this is a great blessing for all to come to this realisation. There are further improvements in understanding that are in the making and I think much can be attributed to Restitutio.
Prior to these comments I have also benefited from the series on foreknowledge too. With my interest in apologetics I came across a point used by atheists to discredit the existence of God around Gods ability to foresee the future. I was stumped for a while, but Dale Tuggy has given me the ideas overcome this seemingly clever objection. Thanks Sean and Dale.
So in my view I think your approach is really good and has been for me and many others. The ripple knock on effects I see, continue and result in growth, as many are now fortified and empowered to intensifying their efforts to spread the word through You Tube and other means too.
Keep up the good work Sean I just thought I would let you know what others think about the diversity of information you deal with and the positive affects it is having.
“Some things are to remain a mystery.” I like what G. K. Chesterton wrote: “The riddles of God are more satisfying than the solutions of man.” We should learn to live in that place of contentment in not knowing everything.