Product Description

Grace, Faith, Free Will addresses issues that have divided Calvinists and Arminians since the Reformation. Using historical, systematic, and Biblical theology, Robert Picirilli contrasts both views

---

Product Details

Publisher	Randall House Publications
ISBN	0892656484
Format	Paperback
Author	Robert E. Picirilli
EAN	9780892656486
Label	Randall House Publications
Dewey Decimal Number	234
Studio	Randall House Publications
Number Of Pages	245
Title	Grace, Faith, Free Will
Publication Date	2002-04-01
Manufacturer	Randall House Publications

---

Customer Reviews

The best defense of Remormed Arminianism out there

Review by G. R. Tucker, 2010-07-30

This is the best book on soteriology I have read, especially from a true Arminian perspective. In fact, Picirilli, a prominent Free Will Baptist theologian, calls this theology "Reform Arminianism." Any Calvinist reading this review just cringed. A Presbyterian buddy of mine exclaimed: "There's no such thing! That's an oxymoron." Is it? Calvinists, I say, have hijacked the "Reform" label, excluding even the first reformer from the Reform club: Luther. But, I digress. Picirilli has crafted an excellent tome on the differences between Calvinism and Free Will Baptist Arminianism. Some Calvinists may scoff at his characterizations of their faith, but he is scrupulous in quoting Calvinist authors and laying out the Calvinist position. What really makes the Calvinists howl is that he follows up on the consequences of TULIP, namely that salvation is not by faith, but salvation is by election. Any Calvinists reading will say: "That's not what we say!" And, they're right. Calvinists don't say that, but that's what follows from their logic. "Logic?!?" they say, "We don't go by philosophy, we go by the Bible!" Not really, Picirilli makes that point. "It's you Arminians that don't follow the Bible!" Crap. Picirilli has laid out a most persuasive case for the original Arminianism of Arminius and the first Free Will Baptists and General Baptists that has the Bible as its backbone. Imagine, an Arminianism that defends:

* total depravity
* the sovereignty of God
* God's perfect foreknowledge of all, including the free choices of men
* a penal satisfaction view of a general atonement
* salvation by grace through faith alone, from beginning to end
* an apostasy that cannot be remedied

This is news to those who think Arminianism is right next to Unitarian Universalism, who think Arminius is the root of all liberal theology, or who think that the Wesleyan way is the only Arminian way there is. No.

Not much here on other Free Will Baptist doctrines, like credo-baptism or foot-washing - this is a book about salvation. Picirilli scrupulously cites his sources in, thank the Lord, FOOTNOTES! At the end of each chapter there are suggested readings with some helpful notes attached. I wish there was a comprehensive bibliography at the end, however. There are four indices: a scripture index, a subject index, an Arminius cite index, an index of citations from other authors. Quite helpful.

A great book.

---

Hard to put down

Review by William Waltz, 2010-02-13

There was not a part of the book I found dull. I looked forward to each new section and had time allowed I would have wanted to read it in one setting which is pretty much unheard of for me.

The author did not scimp on detail when addressing the main Bible passages and packed more into 232 pages than I could have hoped. He did real exegesis.

Picirilli addressed the main areas in which Calvinists would object to his understandings of Scripture (Reformation Arminianism)and whereas it is not like PERSPECTIVES ON THE DOCTRINE OF GOD; 4 views edited by Bruce A. Ware; there was significant value in the auther giving the various agruments opposed to his own and his response to such arguments.

Picirilli pointed out areas of agreement as well as points of difference which helped keep the issues clearly before the reader.

The short chapter on Arminius and related history was a useful and for me a warm chapter as a reminder that real men have paid a price to promote truth as they understand it.

A Calvinist reading this may still be a Calvinist when finished with it, but he should have real respect for Arminianism afterward. The Arminian reading this will gain in his understanding and ability to defend Arminians without disrespect for the Calvinist.

---

Great overview on Arminianism vs Calvinsim

Review by Robert M. Russell, 2009-08-27

Picirilli does a great job providing both a general overview and Biblical details in the discussion between Arminianism and Calvinism. He goes back to the roots of Arminius and describes the initial dialogue between the two theological bents. My old church is a big proponent of John MacArthur and the New Calvinism - so much so that I had to check it out for myself. Many of the things they were saying did not ring true, especially through my understanding of the Scripture. Picirilli goes in depth into Scriptures used by both Calvinists and Arminians, dissecting the original Greek or Hebrew language and how it relates to all of the Bible.

I am now convinced, more than ever, that the Arminian viewpoint is correct. How the Calvinists fully believe that God has created a certain number of his human creatures for the sole purpose of going to hell is beyond me. Forget the "passing by" idea, it is just their way of trying to deal the aforementioned concept to make it palatable to others. This would also argue for Calvinists believing that certain children will be predetermined to go to hell before they reach the age where they can be held accountable. Certainly not in my Bible.

---

Thankfully Beyond Jargon

Review by Readalots, 2009-03-20

Robert Picirilli's 2002 245-page paperback "Grace Faith Free Will" presents, as suggests the subtitle, contrasting views of salvation between Calvinism and Arminianism. This quick, but thorough, read positions itself early on as "a discussion about the issues that have long divided" the students of John Calvin (1509-1564) and Jacob Arminius (1560-1609).

Picirilli presents the Reformation theologies for the Plan of Salvation including its provision (predestination), application (atonement), and perseverance (meaning). Consider a few of the gems from this book.

· "Nothing that transpires is outside of [God's] plan" (page 21).
· "God is the source of all that is good" (page 22).
· "God's decrees encompass the voluntary acts of free creation...man is a free moral agent" (page 25).
· "God's purposes cannot be thwarted by man" (page 29).
· "God is not the author of sin". "Sin originates in the free exercise of the [human] will" (page 47).
· "Without faith it is impossible for any [person] to please God, or to be saved" (page 54).
· "Faith is the condition... that God elected people as believers" (page 56).
· "Scriptures are clear... that not all are saved, that many do perish. God's will can be resisted" (page 81).
· "God's will is that those who exercise faith in Jesus Christ have eternal life (page 83).

Picirilli's method is reflective of traditional theological treatments. Each chapter poses questions that are in turned answered by responses (both Calvinist and Arminian) and followed up with rejoinders (also from both positions). This systematized approach reminds of Aquinas' thoroughness while portraying the accuracy of Luther and Wesley. Thankfully, the author moves beyond theological jargon with Scriptural definitions and applications.

Although Picirilli's technical presentation is best read with Bible in hand, the theological novice should consider the book. It is recommended to everyone interested in God' s plan for salvation, Calvinists, Arminians, and those curious about Reformation theology.

---

Grace, Faith, and Free Will

Review by Eliot Lugo Hernandez, 2008-01-04

This is a book that should be in every serious Christian theology student. The author made a great case concerning salvation which has long be debated by Calvinists and Arminians alike. He made a great case for the Arminian view on Salvation. It is very interesting to know that many of the doctrines of salvation preached in most, if not all, churches hinge between these two points of view (Calvinists and Arminians). What it is interesting is that many of the things we give credit that Calvin and Arminius said, they never said. I learned a great deal on grace and faith as well as free will, though the Bible does not mention such term but, like the term "trinity", it is implied. Great book! You won't be disappointed if you buy it.

---