Is Calvinism Biblical? (White vs Barker)

The Friendship and Respect Between Calvinist and Non-Calvinist Baptists

I'm just delighted that these two gentlemen are here today. Both men are Baptists. Both men are men who are sickened by much of the modern ecumenicalism and modern liberalism in So-called evangelicalism.

Today both men have a lot in common. Both men question the validity of my salvation. Both men have the misfortune of knowing me very well as a friend. But I can say that these two men are my friends and they're my brothers in Christ and I do want to say that.

This debate has taken place before amongst Methodists two Methodist men back in the days when you could say Methodist with a straight face and I emphasize the word straight John John Wesley and George Whitfield Were two great Methodist men two Christian men who differed over these things and They would correspond with one another and debate very heated debates.

But let me just read to you very briefly a few lines from John Wesley that sums up The sentiments that I have that I believe both of these men have and that I hope most of you have. The case is quite plain.

There are bigots both for predestination and against it. God is sending a message to those on either side, but neither will receive it unless from one who is of their own opinion. Therefore for time you are suffered to be of one opinion and I have another.

But when his time has come God will do what man cannot namely make us both of one mind. Then persecution will flame out and it will be seen whether we count our lives dear unto ourselves. So that we may finish our course with joy.

I am my dearest brother ever yours John Wesley and John Wesley wrote that the George Whitfield and George Whitfield Who was a Calvinist and John Wesley a non Calvinist. George Whitfield requested before he died that John Wesley? Speak at his funeral and he did when George would feel the home to be with the Lord.

So that's the kind of friendship that I should that I believe should be maintained between these two groups because we are both Fighting I believe the same enemies, but at the same time. We must be diligent to defend what we believe is true from the scriptures.

And we must not compromise doctrine or be wishy-washy or unconcerned about the truth. The debate is going to go as follows first of all, we're going to debate on the nature of man's will and To start off the debate James White is going to give a 20-minute presentation and then James Barker is going to also give a 20-minute presentation on his view of the will.

Then each man James White then James Barker will give a five-minute rebuttal to those views and then both men will make five minute closing arguments. After that, we will we will deal with the issue of the atonement of Christ and James Barker will begin.

You may notice that In your bulletins there are question sheets that we want you to write down. One the yellow one is a question concerning the atonement and the white one is concerning the issue of man's will so if you could fill those out at the end of each of the sessions and put those in the boxes that are in this middle aisle here and I would also like to invite you all before I sit down To a debate another debate this Thursday May 22nd at 7 30 p .m. At the Coral House Catering Hall in Baldwin Long Island, which is only about a half hour from here James White will be debating Roman Catholic apologist Jerry Matta ticks.

Jerry Matta ticks and apostate from true Christianity. I believe he was a Presbyterian who converted to Roman Catholicism and And This is a very serious issue of sola scriptura. Is the Bible alone our sole infallible rule of faith for the church?

Or do we need the Pope the Magisterium and the oral traditions of Catholicism that is the issue that's going to be addressed and even My brother James Barker will be praying for the success of James White that night.

I can be I can be sure if anyone would like. If anyone would like to see me for tickets to that debate you could see me at the end of the evening and Offering a discount the tickets are normally $8 and everyone who is here at this debate or at this conference this church Will receive the tickets for eight seven dollars a dollar less than the normal price.

I'll be selling those with watches and hubcaps downstairs. So now if we could begin on the Issue of the nature of man's will is it free or is it bound to Christ is it bound to Satan and sin? We are going to have James White begin.

Total Depravity, Total Inability, and the Need for Regeneration

Thank you. It's good to be with you this evening.

I know that it's always a frightening thing for me to have Chris get up and do introductions. You never know exactly what's going to result from that particular experience. I do thank you for being here this evening.

I Just want to echo Chris's statements concerning the need to believe the truth and know what the truth is. This evening in 20 minutes, which is basically the amount of time we have to present our positions.

We are not going to have much of an opportunity to do more than to whet your appetite. Have some interaction and then do as you have been. Encouraged to do and follow in the steps of the Bereans. The Bereans and Acts chapter 17 when Paul and Silas came preaching the gospel.

They listened they received the Word of the Lord with all diligence and they took that message that was preached to them and they went to the scriptures and they compared with the scriptures the message they heard and Because of the congruence the harmony that existed they recognized that these individuals were speaking the same truth That had been spoken by the prophets of old and hence they embraced that message.

And so I hope that you will do the same thing this evening. You'll take some notes that you won't make up your final decision this evening. But that you will write down the verses that are referenced.

You'll think you'll consider and the tonight will be a start not a finish. But a start for you in studying into these particular issues. Charles Hodge once said no more soul-destroying doctrine could belt well be devised and the doctrine that sinners can regenerate themselves and repent and believe just when they please as.

It is a truth both of Scripture and of experience that the unrenewed man can do nothing of himself to secure his salvation. It is essential that he should be brought to a practical conviction of that truth.

When thus convinced and not before he seeks help from the only source from whence it can be obtained. This evening we look at the nature of man's will and specifically The first of what are known as the five points of Calvinism total depravity or total inability specifically the position that I wish to present before you is that man's will is Touched by sin Enslaved by sin so much so that we have the words of the Lord Jesus Christ in John 6 44.

And I hope some of you have your Bibles with you this evening. I'll be in John for the first few references if you want to get a running head start. John chapter 6 verse 44 the Lord Jesus says. No one can come to me unless the father who sent me draws him.

And I will raise him up on the last day. Listen carefully to the words of the Lord Jesus. No one can come to me. Specifically in the language in which John wrote. He says no man is Able no man has the capacity.

No man is able to come to me. Unless something else happens. Unless there is a divine enablement. Unless the father who sent him draws that person to Christ. Now why is it the scriptures tell us that man is unable in and of himself to come to Christ?

What is wrong with man? Well as we look through the scriptures this evening We will see that what is wrong with man is that he is dead in sin. That he is a slave to sin that sin has so touched all of man that even his very will.

That by which he makes decisions the the being of man presenting his heart presenting to the will different desires. His being has been so corrupted by sin that it no longer presents to the will both Holy and righteous desires as well as evil desires.

But until regeneration takes place until a man is made new born again. Is the term that the Lord Jesus used that individual is a slave to sin and is not capable of Coming unto the Lord Jesus Christ now.

I know something very quickly in passing. That one might say well yes. No one can come to Jesus Christ unless drawn by the father. But the father has drawn everyone and I'm going to operate upon the assumption this evening that none of us are Universalists that is none of us are individuals who believe that everyone is going to be saved.

I certainly believe the biblical teaching that there is a place called hell and there will be Individuals who spend eternity in that place and rebellion against God and hatred toward him. And I do obviously do not believe that my esteemed opponent this evening isn't a universalist either so we can sort of dismiss that.

And hence we look at verse 44. I would point out to you that if all are drawn then all are raised up. Because everyone who is drawn to the father is raised up by the Son on the last day and. So there is a very special thing about this drawing and all evening as we talk about depravity as we talk about the atonement.

We will also in essence be discussing the issue of election and I will Direct you to John 6 35 through 37 for a discussion of that particular issue. But we don't have time to deal with it or at this particular moment.

Turn with me to John chapter 8 verse 31. John 8 31 and listen to the words Lord Jesus again. So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed him if you continue in my word. Then you are truly disciples of mine and you will know the truth and the truth will make you free.

They answered him we are Abraham's descendants and have never yet been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say you will be free. Jesus answered them? Truly truly I say to you everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin.

The slave does not remain in the house forever. The Son does remain forever and then skip down with me to verse 43. Why do you not understand Jesus says what I am saying? It is because you cannot Hear my word and verse 47 he who is of God.

Here is the words of God for this reason. You do not hear them because you are not of God. Here the Lord Jesus in talking to these Jews who first say they believe in him. But by the end of the chapter you may notice or picking up stones to stone him.

They did not have a true abiding faith in Christ. He talks to them about being set free from slavery to sin and they rebel against this because it's natural for the natural man to rebel against the teaching that.

Every one of us every single individual has been enslaved to sin. Oh, no, not me. We like to sing with with Frank Sinatra. I did it my way. And we don't like the idea of being told that no. You have a problem.

You've been enslaved to sin. And these Jews they become more and more angry with Jesus and he says in verse 43. The reason you can't hear what I'm saying is you cannot hear my word and why can't you hear my word verse 47?

Because he who is of God. Here's the words of God for this reason. You do not hear them as you are not of God today. Most people feel well, if you just hear and you respond then you become of God. Jesus says to hear them.

You must be of God. What is the order? What is the divine order presented here? Well, it's a divine order that was presented earlier on in the Gospel of John and a passage that most of us don't even need to turn to in John chapter 3.

Remember Nicodemus comes to Jesus by night. And what does Jesus say to him a passage? We all know verse 3. Jesus answered and said to him truly truly I say to you unless one is born again He cannot see the kingdom of God and Nicodemus said to him.

How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time in his mother's womb and be born. Can he Jesus answered truly truly I say to you unless one is born of water in the spirit He cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

Now notice what a man cannot do. The Bible says a lot about what men cannot do and Here we are told that a man cannot even see the kingdom of God cannot enter into the kingdom of God unless what happens.

Unless he's born again. Unless he's renewed, but how often is it presented? Well, you desire to enter into the kingdom and you desire to do these things you start moving that direction you have faith and you believe.

And then you are born again. What does Jesus say you cannot even see the kingdom let alone desire to enter into it until something happens until you have spiritual life given to you turn with me to Romans chapter 8 and This very same point is emphasized very strongly in a passage.

We frequently read right past because it's such a beautiful chapter. There's so much in Romans chapter 8 but look at verses 5 through 8 and listen carefully. For those who are according to the flesh, who are they?

Those are the people who are not yet born again. Those are unregenerate individuals people who do not have spiritual life. For those who according the flesh that their minds and the things of the flesh.

But those who according to the spirit the things of the spirit. For the minds on the flesh is death, but the minds on the spirit is life and peace. And notice these verses. Because the mind son the flesh is what?

Hostile toward God. For it does not subject itself to the law of God. And then notice these last few phrases. For it is not even able to do so. And those who are in the flesh Cannot please God. Here in the very words of inspired scripture.

We are told that a person who has not yet received that Regeneration of the Holy Spirit of God has not been made a new creature is what? Hostile toward God is not subject to the law of God and what is not even able to do so we are told you mean There's an inability.

There's something wrong with man that does not allow him to do this. Yes for verse 8 says. And those who are in the flesh can not please God. Think about it. We are often told well what you do is. By by an act of free will autonomous human will you Accept Christ and you repent and as a result of you doing these things.

Then you are born again. Very common message and. Yet, let me ask you something is having faith in the Lord Jesus Christ true saving faith in Lord Jesus Christ pleasing to God. Seems like a rather obvious question, isn't it?

Is repentance before God true heartfelt repentance something that's pleasing toward God pleasing in his sight. Well, then how are we to understand verse? Those who are in the flesh. Those who have not been born again.

Those who have not been given spiritual life been raised from spiritual death to spiritual life by the sovereign act of God. Can not please God as why as we will see. Faith and repentance are described as gifts in the New Testament given by the Holy Spirit of God to the elect of God in the act of salvation.

I Over and over again described man as being dead in sin. That's exactly what we read in Ephesians chapter 2 verse 5. We are told there that even when we were dead in our transgressions God made us alive together with Christ.

Do we take those words seriously? Or do we say? Oh, well, we're not really dead in sin. We're just sort of. Just sort of sick, you know going down for the third time in the in the ocean. But then someone threw us the life ring or whatever it might be or do we really believe?

That we were dead in our transgressions and in our sins just as Colossians chapter 2 says. When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, he made you alive. We're dead.

God makes us alive. It's not like we're very sick very ill and then we with our last grasp we we reach out for something. No, we're dead. We're buried. We're in the ground. We're gone. But does it really mean that mankind is is unable to do these things.

Turn with me to Romans chapter 3. I don't have time. To read verses 10 through 18 the rather depressing section to read anyways. But I invite you to do so at some time this evening read Romans 3 10 through 18 where you have a description of what man is really like and We are uncomfortable looking at ourselves this way.

The Bible is holding up a mirror before us and and we see ourselves in these words. It is our tendency to do everything we can to to to say well. We're not really that bad because we know our own heart.

But I want to look just like verses 10 and 11 as it is written. There is none righteous not even one. There is none who understands and then please look at your Bible and make sure that that last phrase in verse 11 is right there.

Like it is in mind. There is none who seeks for God. Literally it says there is no God seeker. You say but there's an entire movement these days of churches for seeker friendly churches. I've always wondered how you build a whole church for people don't exist.

There are no God seekers, but wait a minute I've got a friend and he's studying religion and he's dabbled with Buddhism and he's dabbled with Hinduism and and he even had the Mormon Missionaries over this week.

I mean he's seeking. What's he seeking. I suggest to you that he's seeking the benefits of God without God. Because I suggest to you that until a heart is Renewed until a heart is made to be a lover of the true God not an idol.

There's lots of religious people in the world. There's lots of people who don't mind doing religious things. But it takes the sovereign work of God in changing a person's heart to make you love the God who truly exists.

To love him as he exists to love his holiness to love what he demands of you that takes a supernatural work of the Spirit of God. There is no God seeker. Because the man who is still in his sin is an enemy of God.

That's why the Bible says it must be God who renews us. Remember the words in 1st John 5 1. John there says. Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God and whoever loves the father loves the child born of him.

And you say what does that have to do with our topic this evening? Well, if you look closely at the text whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ Is born of God and the Greek tenses will not allow you to say well.

What it is is you believe Jesus is the Christ and as a result you are born of God. No. You look at the tenses and what John is saying is every person who is truly born of God the result of that is they?

Believe that Jesus is the Christ. God's work first man's response after Lydia knew this truth remember Lydia in Acts 16 14 a woman named Lydia from the city of Thyatira a seller of purple fabrics a worshiper of God was listening to what Paul said and What has to happen my friend?

Does Lydia have the ability just sitting there to weigh the message of God and come to a proper conclusion? What does the scripture say and the Lord? Opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul.

Well, why Lydia seems like a nice lady? Yes, but until she's born again She's an enemy of God and she is opposed to everything he has to say. But the Lord is gracious and opens her heart. That is really the foundation in our last four minutes here.

That is really the foundation of the confidence we have in evangelism. In Acts chapter 13 you have a wonderful example of the early church recognizing this truth. Paul preaches a message and many of the Jews Begin to blaspheme and oppose the gospel and Paul announces well now we're turning the Gentiles.

The message goes to them as well and in verse 48 acts 1348 when the Gentiles heard this they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed.

It doesn't say they appointed themselves to eternal life. It says as many as had been appointed to eternal life believe. Now you may not like that truth. But we all believe or are supposed to believe and by God's grace Every day and be made more and more consistent in believing and applying sola scriptura.

That this is God's Breathe out word to us and we must take our beliefs and we must conform them to what this word says. And that's why we must deal with passages such as this. That's why we must deal with passages like Hebrews 12 to Philippians 1 29 that say that faith is a gift of God given to us by God.

That is why we must deal with 1st Corinthians chapter 1 verses 30 to 31. We are told it is by his doing that you are in Christ Jesus not by your doing. By his doing well, no, it's a it's a it's a joint effort.

He made the plan available and I just turned the key. No but by his doing you were in Christ Jesus who became to his wisdom from God and Righteousness and sanctification redemption so that just as it is written what let him who boasts boast in The Lord.

I can't boast in myself. I can't look at the millions around us in this very city who despise the name of Christ and Say I'm better than they. I'm better than they are because I I went ahead and did the right thing.

I turned that key. I had that faith. No. Except for the grace of God. I would be in the exact same position anyone in this city is I'm no better. I cannot boast. What is the passage that you would turn to?

When talking to someone about salvation by grace would not be Ephesians 2 8 through 9 and yet that very passage. For by grace you have been saved through faith and that not of yourselves the word that Wraps up everything that came before grace salvation and faith and That not of yourselves.

This is a gift of God not of works list any man should boast. But then the rest of the verse goes on to say for we are his workmanship Created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God before ordained that we should walk in them.

We are his creation. He's the one who gives us spiritual life. He's the one who draws us unto his son my friends. I Leave you with this one thought. It is very natural for us to overestimate our capacities and to underestimate God's role.

We must be very very careful That we look to the Word as the perfect mirror to reveal to us our own hearts. Our hearts are desperately sick and wicked. Jeremiah tells us We need to look to God's Word to know what our capacities truly are and are not.

Thank you, and now we will hear a 20-minute opening statement from Pastor Jim Barker who is taking the non Calvinist position on the nature of the human will. I just like to quickly say that you folks have been real great up to now and you haven't even been Instructed not to do this.

I want to thank you for remaining quiet during the presentations. We don't want anybody Making sighs or moans and groans or sounds of disapproval or even too much sounds of approval either because this is a debate.

It's not we Baptists like to amen and everything, but we have to keep it toned down during a debate situation so I want to thank you all for doing that and now we will hear from Pastor Jim Barker on the non Calvinist position of the nature of the human will.

Total Depravity, Human Responsibility, and Regeneration Through the Word

Thank you. Thank you, brother. I see brother more That there's going to be an offering taken up. This is a freewill offering. Couldn't resist couldn't resist that sorry. All right. There are some Christians who like to identify themselves as 4 .3 point Calvinist and usually the reason they do so is because they Shy away from limited atonement and we'll deal with that in a few minutes.

And I think it's a good thing to shy away from a little me because the Bible doesn't teach it. But nevertheless, I believe the whole system is in error and I think upon close examination will be quite clear that total inability is vitally important to the system and if I think total inability should be discarded with all the other unscriptural theories of Calvinism if all men are unable to repent and Believe the gospel then it logically follows that if the elect are to be saved then God must first irresistibly Overcome their so-called inability by regenerating them first in order for them to be able to repent and believe the gospel.

Therefore the system is interdependent. It either stands together or falls Together as a unit and I think under the examination of the Bible. We'll see that it falls short as a Bible believing Baptist as a fundamental Christian.

I think we should avoid the extremes of both Arminian ism and Calvinism and by the way, I'm really glad that tonight so far. No one's called me an Arminian. I appreciate that I do believe once you're saved you're always saved.

I believe in the eternal security of the believer. I don't follow the systems of Jacob Arminius. Matter of fact, I never read his books. I don't follow the teachers of John Wesley. I just follow the Word of God and I might add the King James Version.

Also now I believe that John Calvin was a Great man in many ways. But I believe his system was in error and I do believe any system which denies or minimizes The free will of man is wrong. Just as this is just like any system that minimizes the sovereignty of God is wrong on the other hand any system that minimizes Man's responsibility to believe the gospel is wrong.

The Bible teaches both. Now I want to stop at this point and emphasize that I do believe in the doctrine of total depravity however, I believe the biblical doctrine of total depravity is Significantly different than the Calvinist doctrine of total inability.

I believe there's a vast difference. For example, the prophet Isaiah says the whole head is thick. The prophet Jeremiah says the heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked who can know it.

David wrote They're all gone aside. They're all together become filthy. There's none that do with good. No not one and as has already been quoted from Romans 3 the Apostle Paul summarizes by saying for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God now by total depravity.

We mean that there's nothing good in man to please a holy God. That is different Considerably different than the Calvinist doctrine of total inability which teaches that man is so dead That he's unable to even hear the Word of God.

You see there's a big difference there now. The Bible does when we say total depravity. We don't mean it's nothing good in man at all. We mean there's nothing good in man to please a holy God. There are some good things in bad men.

And there are some good things in unsaved men. I'll give you one example in Acts chapter 10 verse 2. The Bible says that Cornelius was a devout man and one that feared God with all his house. Which gave much alms to the people and prayed to God always so here we have a man that was devout.

He feared God. He prayed he was a commendable man in many ways, but yet he was not saved. He was not born again. Acts 11 14 by the way proves that Cornelius was not saved at that point. Now you see the there's an extreme here that says total inability means man is Incapable and unable to even believe the gospel.

I Believe that that is not taught in the Bible now brother White teaches that of a sinner a sinner must be regenerated before he can believe the gospel and be saved. But the Bible teaches us how a sinner is regenerated.

The Bible teaches a sinner is regenerated when he believes the gospel and is saved not before He hears the gospel and is saved. Let me read to you from first Peter Chapter 1 verse 23 being born again.

Not of corruptible seed but of incorruptible by the Word of God which liveth and abideth forever. How was the person regenerated? How was the person born again by the Word of God? God doesn't orbit arbitrarily select certain people and regenerate them even before they hear the gospel.

No, they hear the Word of God the Holy Spirit convicts them of their sin. They trust in Christ and then they are born again. This is what the Bible teaches our Lord said in John chapter 3 verily verily I say unto thee except the man be born of water into the spirit.

He cannot enter into the kingdom of God now. However, you take that water. I believe it represents the Word of God. The point is The Word of God is essential for salvation. The Word of God tells man of sin and judgment.

The Word of God presents the gospel. The Word of God teaches man about heaven and hell and the death of Christ and so forth and the Bible says so then faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God the lost man.

Here's the Word of God. Repent of a sin believes that Christ died on the cross for a sin and is converted and that's when he is Regenerated. Regeneration and conversion take place simultaneously to insist.

Otherwise is to make salvation a process to teach. Otherwise is to distort the gospel. It's also illogical think about if sinners are regenerated before they're converted. Why don't even need to be converted in the first place if they're already regenerated?

They're already born again. Why bother even getting saved. You see salvation is not a process. And by the way, the Roman Catholic Church teaches salvation is a process. The Bible teaches salvation happens Instantly the moment a person trusts Christ as a savior.

That's when he's born again. That's when he passes from death unto life the moment He received Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. Now to the Calvinist sinners are not born again by the Word of God. To them sinners are dead and therefore Incapable and unable to hear the Word of God.

The Bible teaches that salvation comes through faith in Christ. But how does one come to believe? To them a lot to teach that a lost sinner is regenerated before he hears the gospel and before he believes in the Lord is Unscriptural.

The fact is there's not one Bible verse which teaches this. The Bible teaches. But as many as received him to them gave you power to become the sons of God. How does a person become a son of God? How does a person become regenerated?

How was the person born again? But as many as received him to them gave you the power to become the sons of God even to them that Believe on his name. Now some might say well. You're teaching that a sinner has to do something to be saved.

Believing is not doing something. Repenting of your sin is not doing something when the Bible speaks of works. It teach about some religious rituals keeping these rules and laws and so forth. Believing is not a work.

Repentance is not a work. That's the way God saves sinners through faith and repentance. You see now Calvinists are fond of quoting John 1 13. Which were born not of blood nor of the will of flesh nor the will of man, but of God.

However to properly understand this passage we must read the verses that precede it. We have to look at the context and these verses don't teach what they say. It teaches they. The Bible teaches that Jesus was the true light which lighted every man.

Notice those words every man and by the way, every man means every man which light of every man that cometh into the world. He was in the world and the world was made by him in the world knew him not.

He came into his own and his own received him not but as many as received him. To them gave you power to become the sons of God even to them that believe on his name. The new birth is a spiritual birth.

Yes, man cannot regenerate himself by his own efforts. We regenerated we become the sons of God. We are born again through believing in the Lord Jesus Christ through trusting in him. The thrust of John chapter 1 is Not how God mysteriously and arbitrarily Regenerate certain individuals against their will.

The thrust of John 1 is that Jesus is the light that has come into the world and men Have rejected him. The Bible goes on to say in John chapter 3. That and this is the condemnation that light was in the world and men.

We men Rejected the light because their daughter their deeds were evil, but give me for quoting it off the top of my head. Let me turn there. John chapter 3 verse 19. There we go. And this is the condemnation that light has come into the world and men love darkness rather than light because their deeds were Evil.

The light has come into the world men reject the light, but thank God some Did trust Christ. John goes on to say in John chapter 1 verse 12. But as many but as many as received him. So there are those who trust in Christ and those are the ones that are born again through faith in Christ.

So it's not. It's that God just selects certain people and he generates them before they're saved. No people come to Christ and they believe in Christ then they are Regenerated. That is what the Bible teaches.

James chapter 1 verse 18 says of his own will begat he us with the word of truth. We were born again by the word of truth through hearing the gospel and believing the gospel. James goes on to say in verse 21.