Amillennial futurism asserted and dispensationalism finally rejected!

[Craig kennedy]

Having a "free will" would mean that we are free to make decisions, do actions, etc... outside of the absolute sovereignty of Yahweh.

That's right, Travis. This is why Luther called 'free will' the devil's fiction. The first to use the term in a 'christian' (?) context was Justin in his first Apology. Of course, in that work he was stating this very thing--choices can be made that God does not sovereignly determine.

Free will implies absolute equality of motive--the motive to choose a particular action is absolutely equal with a motive to choose a different action. All teachers of free will propose that this is true.

You will notice in my Profile that I have affirmed my belief in "free will". Does this make me an Arminian?

No! It does not!

John Frame, the Reformed Theologian posits that human beings retain CREATURELY OTHERNESS. I agree with Frame on this point; and posit that God's Sovereignty and true creaturely responsible belong together. Frame writes:

" And although God will be the "author" of the drama, he will not be the "author of sin;" for he remains perfectly holy. The sin and evil will be part of the creature's responsibility; for creaturely integrity is not illusory."

Frame's article, which is my own position, can be read with edification and profit here:

http://www.frame-poythress.org/frame...es/Mystery.htm

In Christ, Craig

[Robert R. Higby]

Although I agree with certain valid points in Frame, I certainly cannot subscribe to his position overall as I'm convinced it contains many errors leading to a denial of God's full sovereignty. Arminians say that God's foreordination is based on his foreknowledge. The Calvinist need not deny that this is the case. Well, who cares about being labeled a 'Calvinist'? Arminius did, I don't.

In no sense biblically is God's foreordination based on foreknowledge (prescience), which is the context in which Frame used the term. God has no prescience with regard to anything that He does not sovereignly plan.

[rlhuckle]

Frame and others cannot comprehend the notion that God holds humanity accountable for their sinful behavior even though God has ordained (authored) it and metaphysically insures (causes) it happens!

God's "authorship" of sin is fully holy and righteous BY DEFINITION since ALL that God does is fully righteous and holy. Sin is beneficial in the lives of God's elect in the sense that it is the means God has chosen by which His elect come to know of their need for an alien righteousness--and are then given faith in (true propositions regarding) Christ's person and work on their behalf.

Sin is beneficial (for the elect: Rom 8:28) in the lives of the reprobate in that God is glorified in the damnation they merit by that behavior!

Col 1:16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: 17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

Rom 7:14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. 15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. 16 If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. 17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. 18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. 19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. 20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. 21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. 22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: 23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.

I'll re-post what Bob said in another thread:

1. The ultimate cause of the damnation of the reprobate is the sovereign will, purpose, and decree of God. God purposes to create a people to bring glory to himself in their damnation.

2. When reasoning about the historical purpose of God in reprobation, we start with the final damned state of the non-elect bringing glory to God (the sole reason for their creation) and reason back in time from there.

3. The elect in Christ are worthy of redemption only by the alien righteousness of their substitute. However, God has purposed to make the reprobate worthy of their final damnation by plunging them into personal sin which merits it.