Tuesday, October 19, 2021

Porn & Free Will @The Provisionist Perspective


I just can't agree with Leighton Flower's idea that human inability to be sinless means that we are not responsible for our sins but makes God responsible. This is why he says he rejects Calvinism. The problem is that scripture does not teach that God pre-ordains our sins. Dr Flowers is right about that but I do not think that Calvinists like James White and John McArthur are saying or implying what Flowers says they are. 

God clearly does not ordain our sins or causes us to sin or pushes us to do or be evil.

13 When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14 but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. 15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. 
-  James 1: 13-15


However God does ordain our good and righteous deeds. You cannot prepare something without also ordaining it as well. 

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. - Ephesians 2: 8 - 10


We can argue and debate about the origin of evil, but one thing that is completely beyond question: God is not the source of our evil or our sins.