Last week, we explored two very different understandings of grace. In the Calvinist view, grace is irresistible and particular, whereas the Arminian view sees grace as universal and resistible. Both views agreed that salvation is by grace and rejected salvation by works, piety, or sacraments, as Luther did earlier. However, they disagreed on how grace…

Irresistible, Particular Grace vs. Resistible, Universal Grace Over the past two weeks, we’ve been laying the groundwork for today’s important theological conversation: the Tale of Two Graces. This discussion, in my view, is important because the version of the grace we believe shapes how we see God, salvation, and even each other.  Disclaimer: As we…

Last week, we started exploring the evolution of soteriology from the apostolic period to the early medieval period. Here’s a quick summary of the medieval period where we left off. Medieval Soteriology (11th to 13th Centuries) Review In the 11th to 13th centuries, Europe’s feudal society was structured around land ownership and rigid social hierarchies….

Introduction:  What is Soteriology, and Why Does It Matter? Have you ever wondered why Christians today hold such different views about how people are saved? Some believe that once you’re saved, you can never fall away. Others argue that salvation requires an ongoing relationship with God, one that involves faith, obedience, and even transformation. Still…

Michael: Today I’m going to read a class that Dr. Weaver gave on September 12, 2015. I looked through the comments on the blog post, and most of the people here today didn’t comment on it, so I don’t think many of you were present then. This might be new to you. I really liked…

Over the past two weeks, we’ve been exploring a powerful question: What does a grace-transformed life actually look like? To answer that, we turned to Galatians 5:22,23, where Paul describes the fruits of the Spirit that begin to grow in the life of someone walking in step with the Spirit. We began by dividing these…