Calvinism – Grace Evangelical Society

What’s Wrong with Calvinism? Part 1

December 18, 2025 by Bob Wilkin in Blog - Calvinism, GES Seminary, Total depravity, total inability, TULIP

GES has an online seminary. While the education is quite expensive, our donors are paying the cost of the faculty, teaching assistants, and administrators. Classes are free for the students if they maintain at least a B average. Starting in January, Dr. Tony Badger, author of Confronting Calvinism, will be teaching a thirteen-week elective on Calvinism. New students can apply to the school by clicking here. Once accepted, they will receive an

November 18, 2025

Is God’s Grace Irresistible and Is Faith a Choice?

Acts 16:14, Acts 17:27, Calvinism, choice, Cornelius, Decision, Faith, Free Grace, Free Will, Grace, Hebrews 11:6, Irresistible, John 5:39-40, Lydia, Matthew 7:7-11, regeneration

Welcome to the Grace in Focus podcast. Today, Bob Wilkin and Sam Marr are answering two questions about grace and faith. The questions are complementary. Is God’s grace irresistible and Is belief a choice? If faith isn’t a choice, do we really have free will? Please listen to a great discussion, and never miss an episode of the Grace in Focus Podcast!

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November 10, 2025

When Was Cornelius Born Again? For Him, Was it Similar to Being An Old Testament Believer?

Acts 10, Acts 10:43, Acts 11:14, Again, Born, Calvinism, Cornelius, Forgiveness, Holy Spirit, Receive

Welcome to the Grace in Focus podcast. Today, Ken Yates and Kathryn Wright are answering a question about the transitional nature of the New Testament book of Acts. When was Cornelius saved? Is it possible that he, like others in the book of Acts, received the Holy Spirit some time after he was saved? What is the point of Cornelius’ story? - Please listen to this and every episode of the Grace in Focus podcast!

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Read the Fine Print

November 3, 2025 by Ken Yates in Blog - Assurance, Calvinism, evangelism, Lordship Salvation

We have all heard the warning: “Make sure you read the fine print.” We are told to do so whenever we enter into any agreement—for example, when we sign a contract. My wife just experienced an example of the need to read the fine print when she received an email. She was told that her

October 22, 2025

Is There an Age of Accountability?

Accountability, Age, Calvinism, Faith, John 5:39-40, justice, Mental Handicapp, regeneration

Welcome to the Grace in Focus podcast. Today, Bob Wilkin and Sam Marr are answering a question from a father of four children about the age of accountability. Is there an age of accountability? Is it a specific age or does it depend on a person’s ability to understand the concept of eternal salvation? What clues can we gain from Scripture about this? Please listen today and each weekday, to the Grace in Focus podcast!

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July 25, 2025

How Can An Anxious Person Remain Assured?

Anxiety, anxious, Calvinism, Cheap Grace, Doubt, Easy believe-ism, Ephesians 2:8-9, Fellowship, Free Grace, generalized anxiety disorder, gift, Hebrews 10:23-25, John 4:10, John 6:47, Lordship, OCD, Salvation

Welcome to the Grace in Focus podcast. Today, Bob Wilkin and Sam Marr are fielding a question about anxiety and the assurance of salvation. How can an anxious person or one who struggles with anxiety dealwith the tendency to doubt and worry about the reality of Eternal Salvation? Thank you for listening and keep grace in focus!

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What Did Calvin Mean by Assurance Is of the Essence of Saving Faith?

June 25, 2025 by Bob Wilkin in Blog - Assurance, assurance is of the essence of saving faith, Calvinism, Eternal Security, Eternal security and evangelism

A friend, HB, sent an exchange he had with someone online about Calvin’s famous saying. Here is what HB’s interlocutor wrote: “Assurance is of the essence” for the Reformers meant knowing that Jesus died “for me.” It was not being assured of one’s own eternal security. Zane Hodges took that Reformation term and gave his

No Root, No Fruit, No God

May 6, 2025 by Kathryn Wright in Blog - Calvinism, fruit, Isaiah 5, John MacArthur, Root, vineyard

Many catchphrases that get tossed around the church today have caused confusion. One such expression is, “No root, no fruit.” The idea is that if a person is not producing spiritual fruit––meaning that they are not living righteously and following the Lord in obedience––then they have not truly been born again. If there is no

April 15, 2025

Does Spiritual Death Mean Unbelievers Cannot Respond to God?

2 Corinthians 4:4-6, Acts 11:14, Acts 16:14, Acts 17:27, Blinding, Calvinism, Ephesians 2:1, Ephesians 2:5-8, Free-will, Hebrews 11:6, John 5:40, Matthew 7:7-11, Response, Romans 3:11, Romans 8:28-30, Spiritual Death, Unbelievers

Welcome to the Grace in Focus podcast. Today, Bob Wilkin and David Renfro are answering a question about the being spiritually dead. Does this mean there is a complete inability to respond to God? If Satan is blinding people, how can they possibly come to faith without being regenerated first? This is the Calvinist position. Is it consistent with Scripture? Please listen to this and every episode of the Grace in Focus podcast!

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Theological Prison

March 19, 2025 by Ken Yates in Blog - Calvinism, Election, John 3:16, Lordship Salvation, Perseverance of the Saints

Most of us have met people who are prisoners in a theological prison. Calvinists believe that God chose those who would be in His kingdom before they were born. If you were chosen, you are good to go. If you weren’t, you will spend eternity in the lake of fire. Calvinists and Lordship Salvation adherents