Why Provisionism Is Not Biblical

[Zaatar71]

Found this fine article from Reformation Today;

Why Provisionism Is Not Biblical​

Provisionism, a view popularized by Leighton Flowers, teaches that God has made salvation available to everyone and that anyone can choose to respond to that provision by exercising their faith. While this may sound reasonable or appealing, it does not align with what the Bible actually teaches about salvation.

1. It Denies How Deeply Sin Has Affected Humanity​

Provisionism assumes that people, in their natural state, can respond to God on their own. The Bible, however, is clear that human beings are spiritually dead because of sin. We cannot choose God by ourselves.

• John 6:44 says, “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him.”
• 1 Corinthians 2:14 says, “The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God.”
• Ephesians 2:1 says, “You were dead in your trespasses and sins.”

Being spiritually dead means we are completely unable to reach out to God on our own. Just as a dead person cannot bring themselves back to life, we cannot turn to God without Him first giving us life (Ephesians 2:5). Salvation is initiated by God, not by our effort or decision.

2. It Reverses the Biblical Order of Salvation​

Provisionism suggests that faith is something we produce first, and that faith allows God to save us. The Bible teaches the opposite: God must first give us new life, and that new life makes faith possible.

• 1 John 5:1 says, “Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God.”
• John 3:3 says, “Unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
• Acts 16:14 describes how God opened Lydia’s heart to respond to the gospel.

Faith is a result of God’s work in our hearts, not the starting point of salvation. We believe because God makes it possible for us to believe.

3. It Reduces God’s Role in Salvation​

Provisionism places the power of salvation in human hands. It suggests that God provides, but ultimately it is up to us to accept Him. Scripture, however, repeatedly emphasizes that salvation is entirely the work of God.

• Romans 9:16 says, “It depends not on human will or effort, but on God, who has mercy.”
• Ephesians 1:4 says, “He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world.”
• Acts 13:48 says, “As many as were appointed to eternal life believed.”

Faith itself is a gift from God (Ephesians 2:8–9; Philippians 1:29). We do not save ourselves by deciding to believe; God’s mercy and initiative make salvation possible.

4. It Ignores the Transforming Work of the Holy Spirit​

Provisionism assumes that human hearts are capable of responding to God without divine help. The Bible teaches that the Holy Spirit must actively draw and change a person’s heart for salvation to happen.

• John 6:37 says, “All that the Father gives Me will come to Me.”
• Romans 8:30 says, “Those whom He predestined, He also called… justified… glorified.”

There is no neutral or naturally willing heart. Only the Spirit’s transforming work enables someone to turn to Christ in faith.

The Gospel Truth​

If salvation depended on our own ability to believe, it would no longer be grace—it would be something we earn or control. Scripture makes it clear that salvation comes entirely from God, so all glory goes to Christ.

• 1 Corinthians 1:30–31 says, “By His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness, sanctification and redemption… let him who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

Salvation is God’s work from beginning to end. He makes us alive, gives us faith, and secures our eternal life. Humans contribute nothing to our salvation except the sin that makes it necessary.

 

[DaveXR650]

Somebody told me that Dr. Flowers used to be a member on this site. I just thought that was remarkable. Tried to look up old posts but couldn't, the reason being that he claims to have taught Calvinism in the past and I wanted to see how he handled it then. I actually like listening to him and am just a little curious in that he sometimes uses arguments that are easily refuted by Calvinists and I question whether anyone could honestly claim his background and not know the obvious answers to what he sometimes argues.

That's not to say that some of his work, especially when he has the guy on who wrote "The Foundation of Augustinian Calvinism", that he does not make some good points. What I do is wait and see what is said about such a book and what I see is that it gets slammed, but not refuted point by point, which may say something. And that's interesting.

If you're interested, there is also a Lutheran on YouTube named Cooper who makes a pretty good case that Flowers is not Arminian but full on Pelagian, for what that is worth.