In the movie “The Castle” (1997) Darryl Kerrigan gets a letter from the local council telling him his house is about to be “compulsorily acquired”……he explains to the family that that means the house is about to be “acquired compulsorily”.

In a later scene Darryl’s lawyer Denis Denuto tells the court that it’s the “vibe” of the law that’s important, not necessarily the actual words.

How should we interpret the Bible?  Should we read the scriptures and consider the audience of the text, their culture and the times they were written in or do we assume that “the vibe” of what is written has a superior meaning.  Or should it be both? Does it depend on the literary style of the text? Continue Reading →

Since a sermon preached at our church a couple of weeks ago challenged the doctrine of election and promoted universalism (the belief that everyone will be saved) Ive been gathering teaching and putting here – mainly so I have a central collection as I learn more, but if you have comments they will contribute to the learning as well.

Hosea 4.6 – “My people are perishing for lack of knowledge”

Jesus

• John 15.16 – You did not choose me, I chose you”

Paul

• Romans 8.28 – “and we know in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
• Titus 1.1 - Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ for the faith of God’s elect and the knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness

The Gospel Coalition

• Chronology of articles on “Love Wins” teaching
• http://carm.org/1-tim-24-2-pet-39-and-universalism
  

Interview with Rob Bell  - actually admits to not believing in Hell – here

John Macarthur

• answers “What is the doctrine of election?”
• answers a young girls question – “Why didn’t God choose everybody to be saved?”
• interview with Don Mayhue, Phil Johnson – “Election and Predestination“
• answers “What does the Bible teach about election?”
• video – 2010 Shepherds Conference Q&A

JI Packer

• Election: God chooses His Own

RC Sproul

• video – “Does God really want all people to be saved?”

Tim Keller

• sermon – What is the doctrine of election?

Mark Driscoll

• article – “Predestination: Duck, Duck, Damned?”
• video – “Election and Grace”
• video – Predestination?

Scott Thomas

• Acts29 Network: “Theological Clarity and Application” – list of “things to know”

Wikipedia

• Predestination
• Doctrine of election
• Universalism
• Calvinism
• Arminianism