Total depravity – Grace Evangelical Society

Did Anybody in the Bible Ever Ask God about Everlasting Life?

February 22, 2024 by Bob Wilkin in Blog - seeking God, Total depravity

Some Christian traditions say that God does not hear the prayers of unbelievers. But weren’t there people in the Bible who asked God about everlasting life and, as a result, came to faith in Christ and were born again? A simple survey of the Bible shows that God does hear the prayers of unbelievers and

December 27, 2023

What Are Propitiation, Protoevangelium, and Total Depravity?

1 John 2:2, Eph 2:1-9, Gen 3:15, John 1:29, Mercy seat, Propitiation, Protoevangelium, Salvation, Seed of Woman, Serpent, Soteriology, Total depravity, virgin birth

Welcome to the Grace in Focus radio. Today, Bob Wilkin and Steve Elkins are continuing their study of salvation words. What is propitiation? Then, what in the world is this thing called the protoevangelium? Bob and Steve will offer their thoughts and define these very important words. Please listen!

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Am I Totally Depraved?

November 11, 2022 by Bob Wilkin in Blog - Total depravity, total inability

In response to the teachings of Arminius, Calvinism developed five points that are known by the acrostic TULIP. The T in TULIP stands for total depravity. That expression sounds as if it refers to someone like Hitler, Stalin, Mao, or Pol Pot. It sounds as if it refers to someone who is just about as

November 3, 2022

Does Man Choose Eternal Salvation for Himself or Does God Choose it for Him?

2 Pet 3:9, Arminian, choice, Choose, Corporate Election, Destiny, Election, Perish, Predestine, promise, Repentance, service, Total depravity

Welcome to Grace in Focus radio. How does 2 Peter 3:9 relate to Predestination, Election and Total Depravity? Bob Wilkin looks carefully at many of the key words of this verse. We hope you join him and Ken Yates as they dive into the meaning of this important verse.

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July 8, 2020

Was Raising Lazarus From the Dead an Image of the Unbeliever’s Total Inability?

Calvinism, Elements of Growing Spiritually, Hebrews 10:23-25, Importance of the Local Church, Total depravity

Was the raising of Lazarus an image of a Calvinist doctrine? Bob and Shawn discuss this Biblical account with the concept of Total Depravity. Plus, can Spiritual growth happen if you aren't going to church, taking communion, attending a Bible study, etc.?

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Does “Dead” Always Mean “Unable”? (Luke 15:11-32)

February 7, 2020 by Shawn Lazar in Blog - Death, Total depravity, total inability

One area of theology that needs to be rethought is the doctrine of total depravity, particularly the ability or inability of the unregenerate to respond in faith to God. Often, Calvinist and Lutheran theologians will appeal to the use of the word “dead” to prove that someone is unable to respond. After all, how can

Peter Kreeft on Free Will

August 22, 2019 by Shawn Lazar in Blog - Free-will, Peter Kreeft, Total depravity

Peter Kreeft is a prolific Catholic philosopher and apologist. He has written numerous books on apologetics and introductions to philosophy that I greatly enjoyed. What makes Kreeft’s introductions different is their dialogical format. Plato wrote his philosophy in the forms of dialogues, and Kreeft has followed that tradition. In Kreeft’s case, the dialogues occur between

If People Are Born Unable to Believe: Six Options

July 25, 2019 by Shawn Lazar in Blog - Arminianism, Calvinism, Faith, inner light, Quaker, Total depravity, Wesleyanism

Are people born unable to believe? If so, how does anyone come to faith? As I work through these issues for an upcoming book examining “total depravity,” it might help to conceptualize the different answers given to explain how people who are born unable to believe can ever come to faith. Here are six options.

A Is for “Able to Believe”

June 18, 2019 by Shawn Lazar in Blog - Arminianism, Calvinism, Total depravity, total inability

Bob and I wrote an article called “TULIP or ASSURE?” in which we briefly outlined what we thought was the Biblical alternative to the Five Points of Calvinism (and Arminianism). Our thinking has grown since then. Previously, we defined “A” as “All have sinned.” That was too general a statement. I now prefer “Able to

The Ability to Believe

March 29, 2019 by Shawn Lazar in Blog - Faith, Total depravity, total inability

Question Shawn, in recently countering Calvinism, you mentioned man has the “ability to believe or not believe”.  I agree with this, however it conflicts with GES’ normal position that “believing is passive”.  Bob often says “one either believes or he does not” and this not by decision of his will.  If man does not “decide