Show Notes
This chapter ended up being much longer than normal. It also made sense as a standalone book. So I published it as a Kindle and Paperback book on Amazon called Reading Romans 9 from a Non-Calvinist Perspective by Chris White Romans chapter 9 stands at the center of a significant theological debate—the question of divine sovereignty and human freedom. For many within the Reformed or Calvinist tradition, this chapter is seen as the clearest biblical evidence for their views. The Calvinist Interpretation of Romans 9 The importance of Romans 9 for Calvinism cannot be overstated. It is viewed as the foundational text for the doctrine of unconditional election—the belief that God, according to His sovereign will and purpose, chooses to save some and not others, entirely apart from anything foreseen in them, whether faith or works. As The Gospel Coalition summarizes, in Romans 9: “Paul teaches the (Calvinist) doctrine of unconditional election—the teaching that God chooses to save some and not others, not based on anything in them (whether faith or fruit, present or foreseen), but based solely on his sovereign will and purpose.” This chapter is also the main passage that Reformed believers turn to in support of predestination—the belief that God, before the foundation of the world, predetermined the course of all things, from the smallest detail to the greatest events. Human history in every detail unfolds exactly as God has decreed it, and that nothing is a result of independent or autonomous human decisions. As Martin Luther famously wrote in The Bondage of the Will, the idea of free will is a “mere lie.” The Early Church View While many today associate Romans 9 with the doctrine of predestination, this was not how the earliest Christians understood the passage. In fact, a deterministic reading of Romans 9—one that sees God as arbitrarily choosing some people for salvation and others for damnation—first appeared among certain Gnostic sects in the second century. These groups taught that human destinies were fixed by divine decree, that some were created as “spiritual” and destined for salvation while others were “material” and destined for destruction. Early Christian leaders such as Irenaeus, Origen, and Chrysostom strongly rejected these ideas. They saw the Gnostic-style interpretation of Romans 9—that some were born good and others born evil or damned—as a distortion of both Scripture and God’s character. For the first four centuries of the church, the freedom of the human will was taken for granted. The early fathers—interpreting Romans 9 within the broader scriptural witness—consistently rejected any notion of unconditional predestination that nullifies human responsibility. This was the standard reading in the Greek and Latin churches: divine mercy and human freedom work in concert, and the text was never taken to teach a unilateral, unconditional predestination of individuals to salvation or damnation. It was not until the fifth century that a more deterministic view of Romans 9 gained traction in Christian theology—introduced by Augustine of Hippo, a former Gnostic himself. Augustine’s later writings on grace and predestination drew heavily from Romans 9 and became the foundation for what would later evolve into Calvinist theology. I will be arguing against the Reformed interpretation of Romans 9 by first outlining the major problems I see with that view, and then walking through the chapter verse by verse to address each of the most difficult passages in detail. Before examining Romans 9 though, it’s important to understand what Calvinists believe and why this chapter is central to their system. The Core of Calvinism At the core of Calvinism is unconditional election—the belief that God, before creation, chose certain individuals for eternal life and passed over others, not because of anything He foresaw in them—no faith, no merit, no decision—but solely according to His own sovereign will. Calvinists insist this choice is
More from Vine Abiders Podcast
In this episode of Vine Abiders, Chris White talks with Drew Whitton, author of Atonement and Union with Christ: Rethinking Penal Substitution in Light of Scripture’s Priestly and Participatory Logic. Drew explains why his study of Scripture led him to reject penal substitutionary atonement (PSA) in favor of a model centered on purification and union with Christ. We discuss the Old Testament sacrificial system, why blood was used to cleanse rather than punish, the significance of the Day of Atonement, and how Jesus fulfills the role of both sacrifice and high priest. We also explore the argument from Hebrews that Christ’s resurrection, ascension, and ongoing heavenly intercession are essential to understanding His atoning work. Finally, we discuss union with Christ—what it means to die, rise, and be seated with Him, and why abiding in Christ is central to our salvation. Get Drew Whitton’s book:https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0HGL9DM84 Find Drew’s work:Search for Grafted Theology on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, X, and Facebook.
What does it really mean to have faith in Jesus? This short animation explores faith as allegiance: believing the gospel and pledging your loyalty to Jesus as King. Beginning with a royal announcement in the Roman world, we explore the language of the gospel, the Greek word pistis, and the connection between faith and obedience. Drawing on the argument in Matthew Bates’s book Salvation by Allegiance Alone, the video asks what changes when we understand faith as loyalty to the risen King. Why does Jesus ask, “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?” And why does James say that faith without works is dead? Obedience does not earn his mercy. It follows from giving him your allegiance. Notes: My new Books: How to Quit Drinking Forever - The Hard Truth for Christians: https://www.amazon.com/How-Quit-Drinking-Forever-Christians-ebook/dp/B0HHQWHGSJ Seven Pretrib Problems and the Prewrath Rapture: https://www.amazon.com/Seven-Pretrib-Problems-Prewrath-Rapture-ebook/dp/B0HMFNTX7P New Bible Prophecy Podcast: Alan’s Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@bibleprophecyanswers My Bible Prophecy Podcast: https://bibleprophecytalk.com/ Animation by Artiseca Studio: https://artiseca.com Explore Matthew Bates’s book, Salvation by Allegiance Alone:https://www.amazon.com/dp/0801097975 Scripture references: Mark 1:15; 1 Corinthians 15:3–4; Matthew 28:18; Luke 6:46; James 2:17. #BiblicalFaith #JesusIsKing #ChristianAnimation
Get the book on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/How-Quit-Drinking-Forever-Christians/dp/B0HHR129DX What does it mean to truly repent—and how can faith in Jesus Christ change your relationship with alcohol? In this complete audiobook, Chris White shares his own journey out of drunkenness and examines what the Bible teaches about repentance, the fear of the Lord, and freedom from sin. He explores faith as allegiance to Christ, the seriousness of Scripture’s warnings, and the power of the Holy Spirit to help believers live differently. Written for Christians who struggle with drinking or have grown comfortable making excuses for it, How to Quit Drinking Forever challenges familiar assumptions and offers a direct call to turn wholeheartedly to God. Alongside biblical teaching, Chris addresses common questions, offers guidance for beginning the Christian life, and tells the longer story of how his own life changed. Listen to all 13 chapters of How to Quit Drinking Forever: The Hard Truth for Christians by Chris White.
In this episode of Vine Abiders, I’m sharing an interview I recently did with Phil Baker on his excellent podcast, Reclaiming the Faith. Phil and I discuss my book The Deformation and explore some of the major theological shifts that have shaped modern Christianity. We begin with my own journey away from Once Saved, Always Saved and then dig into what the New Testament means by the “gospel” and “faith”—including the idea of faith as allegiance to Jesus as King. From there, we discuss Augustine’s influence on Christian theology, original sin and total depravity, Romans 7, Martin Luther and the Reformation understanding of “works,” the Sermon on the Mount, and how the early church understood the death and atonement of Jesus. Toward the end of the conversation, things become more personal as Phil asks me about losing my wife to cancer and what that experience taught me about suffering. We talk about the biblical idea that life is a test, why trials matter, and why the choices we make in the midst of suffering may have eternal significance. Also Mentioned: How to Quit Drinking Forever I recently released a new book, How to Quit Drinking Forever: The Hard Truth for Christians. It tells the story of my own freedom from alcohol and lays out what I believe Scripture teaches about repentance, freedom from bondage, and the genuine power available to Christians—not merely to stop drinking, but to become free from the desire to drink. How to Quit Drinking Forever: The Hard Truth for Christianshttps://www.amazon.com/How-Quit-Drinking-Forever-Christians/dp/B0HHR129DX In This Episode * Why I changed my mind about Once Saved, Always Saved * The gospel as the announcement that Jesus is King * What “faith” means and why allegiance matters * Augustine, original sin, total depravity, and free will * A different way of understanding Romans 7 * Martin Luther, “works,” and the Sermon on the Mount * How Reformation theology changed the understanding of atonement * Penal substitutionary atonement, Christus Victor, and the Old Testament sacrificial system * The scapegoat and what it means for Jesus to “bear” our sins * Why suffering so often becomes a test of faithfulness * What losing my wife taught me about endurance, trials, and eternity Thanks again to Phil Baker for having me on Reclaiming the Faith.
Chris White talks with Chris P. Bacon, a brother he’s followed on X for years, about how theology actually lands in a person’s life. They cover once-saved-always-saved, the hard verses, and what it means to abide in Christ instead of living under a cloud of defeat. Bacon’s story is that a change in what he believed about Scripture changed how he walked. He talks about 1 John, the warnings, and the difference between half-hearted repentance and real freedom in Christ. Audio only. Chris P. Bacon’s X profile