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Melvin Harter | PentecostalTheology.com
In Dr. Bowdle’s book entitled, “Redemption, Accomplished and Applied,” Dr. Bowdle actually promotes the Calvinistic view of sanctification. There seemed to be much controversy with students/pastors and Dr. Bowdle regarding this matter. Perhaps his view was determined from his attending Presbyterian Post Graduate schools?
Charles Page
I retrieved my copy of Bowdle’s textbook and immediatel I saw the chapter heading Sanctification and Glorification and just that title is Calvinism in scope. He was a Keswick Reformed (not much different from moderate Calvinism) and they mingle Sanctification with glorification.
Melvin, what part of the chapter best conveys Bowdle’s snactification?
Charles Page
I still am of the opinion that Gause was more Calvinist than Bowdle.
Melvin Harter
No, I would think that Bowdle was far from Gause.
Melvin Harter
Dr. Bowdle would have been an excellent professor with the AoG schools.
Melvin Harter
Dr. Bowdle’s teaching helped to bring about the 1986 occurrence. Students accepted his theology. Some brought him before the board with the accusation he not only failed to teach CoG doctrine, but was teaching false (AoG) doctrine.
Charles Page
do you have a link for that occurrence – you can inbox me if you don’t want to post it.
Melvin Harter
I have several. I would have to find them. I believe some were actually posted on the Internet.
Varnel Watson
Dr. Bowdle actually promotes the Calvinistic view of sanctification which is NO where found in Calvins free grace RichardAnna Boyce
RichardAnna Boyce
for the hundredth time, i am neither Calvinistic or Arminian, but an independent free grace belief.
Varnel Watson
RichardAnna Boyce there is not such thing as independent free grace All biblical grace is dependent on GOD
RichardAnna Boyce
Troy Day you know exactly what i mean. Free grace is different from calvinism and arminism; it is independent of any denomination. It is dependent on Biblical truth, NOT denominational “truth”.
RichardAnna Boyce
Troy Day 14 hours ago i detailed 8 independent Biblical beliefs of Free Grace.
RichardAnna Boyce
Arminians warn we can lose salvation, and Hebrew warnings are written to believers. Puritans warn we were never saved in the first place.
Calvin/Reformists believe in a perseverance of fruit bearing as well as perseverance of faith.
Neonomians, MacArthur, Piper believe salvation is faith plus obedient fruitful works.
Calvinist Experimental Predestinarian believe heaven is an inheritance not a gift,
so unbelieving professors of faith can lose their inheritance; but EP never know if they are one of the elect until they meet God (when it’s too late).
Arminian is slightly closer to Scripture than Calvinism,
but Partners Free Grace model is closest.
Partners of Free Grace agree to Calvinists eternal security of the Christian,
and also Arminian warnings in New Testament apply to Christians.
Partners will reign in eternity with Christ, but are in danger of severe discipline by losing reward of reigning with Christ, while still having secure salvation.
RichardAnna Boyce
Free Grace beliefs are distinctive by:-
1. Good works will inevitably result from faith, but not as visibly as we desire them to appear, and not as consistently as the Lord would desire them to appear.
2. Justification is by faith alone.
Faith is believing and persuaded and confident trust in the finished work of Jesus for the free gift of the forgiveness of sins, admitting personal guilt and need for a Saviour.
Repentance, discipleship or lordship submission are not conditions for salvation.
Salvation is a free grace without cost (Rev 21:6)
whereas discipleship costs our entire life (Matt 16:25).
3. Assurance of salvation is found looking outwardly to Christ’s finished work at the Cross.
Spiritual ‘fruit’ is helpful but not essential.
A lifestyle of sin is Biblically and experientially impossible Rom 6:1, 11, 8:35-39, Heb 11:1-2.
4. Christians may fail to persevere in faith, or even deny faith altogether (Heb 3:12).
Continuous growth in Christ is commanded, but a Christian can finish his race as carnal.
The automatic necessary lifetime unity between justification and sanctification is unbiblical.
5. Warning passages in NT are for believers, not professing seekers,
but the real danger is not loss of salvation but divine discipline (even physical death)
as well as loss of reward in eternity at the Judgement Seat of Christ.
6. Justification commands and intends a life of good works, but not inevitably (Rom 8:12).
7. Those who have believed on Christ and have been regenerated by Holy Spirit can never fall away from salvation, regardless of the lack of works in a believer’s life (John 6:38-40).
8. The motive for Godly living is not fear of losing salvation (Arminian), but hope of gaining rewards in heaven and a gratitude for security of salvation, anticipating ‘well done beloved’
Eternal rewards greatly influences in a life of good works 1Cor 9:24-27, 2Cor 5:10, 2 John 8.
These beliefs don’t assume that Christians will lose faith or deny pursuing personal holiness but they are logically, theologically and exegetically true.
There are serious doubts about a Christian who feels no pull towards personal holiness, whether they are truly regenerate and born again,
but this widespread problem needs to be addressed Biblically and not judgementally.
We need to teach more about some losing rewards when they get to heaven,
and less about all Christians being rewarded in heaven, if they earn salvation in this life.
Varnel Watson
RichardAnna Boyce yes you did and I would like to remind you of my answer which is still the same – what you posted was all heresy