The Calvinist Position: Sproul’s Take on Romans 9 R.C. Sproul, in his book Chosen by God, presents a strong case for the Calvinist doctrine of unconditional individual election, especially when he digs into Romans 9. On pages 20–23, he argues that this chapter proves God picks specific people for salvation, no questions asked. He points…
The Calvinist Claim: Salvation Is All God’s Work Calvinism teaches a doctrine called monergism, which means that salvation is entirely the work of God, with no human contribution. One prominent Calvinist thinker, R.C. Sproul, sums it up clearly: “Man lacks moral ability to desire God without divine intervention” (The Holiness of God, p. 61). In…
The Calvinist Position: Unconditional Election In Chosen by God, R.C. Sproul tackles the idea of predestination head-on, especially in his discussion of Romans 8:29. He firmly rejects the notion that God’s election—choosing who gets saved—is based on foreseen faith. On pages 127–130, Sproul argues that God’s choice is “unconditional,” rooted solely in His sovereign will,…
The Calvinist Position: Regeneration Precedes Faith In his book Chosen by God, R.C. Sproul lays out a cornerstone of Calvinist theology: regeneration must come before faith. On page 72, he writes, “Regeneration liberates us from original sin,” arguing that God’s act of making a person spiritually alive is what enables them to believe. Sproul insists…
Introduction: The Calvinist-Arminian Spectrum Theological debates often frame Calvinism and Arminianism as opposing systems. Norman Geisler’s Chosen But Free proposes a “moderate Calvinism” as a middle ground, claiming to balance divine sovereignty and human free will. However, this article argues that Geisler’s “moderate Calvinism” is functionally Arminian, exposing inconsistencies in blending free will with divine determinism. The…
Introduction: Understanding the Debate Romans 9 is one of the most controversial passages in the Bible, often cited by Calvinists to defend their doctrines of predestination and election. In The Potter’s Freedom, James White argues that Romans 9 teaches God’s sovereign and unconditional election of individuals to salvation or judgment. Specifically, White frames the passage as evidence…
Defining the Debate Calvinism’s Unconditional Election asserts God sovereignly chooses individuals for salvation solely based on His will, not human merit or foreseen faith (Ephesians 1:4–5). In The Potter’s Freedom, James White argues this doctrine reflects God’s glory, not human worthiness (pp. 121–135). But a moral dilemma arises: If God predestines some to hell, how is this consistent with…