Where Grace Abounded Sin Abounded More?
In his 1611 work A Short and Plaine Proofe, Thomas Helwys argued against unconditional election and limited atonement. Helwys was convinced that these doctrines were not only unbiblical, but actually implicated God in man’s sin. What follows is a quite intriguing portion of his argument: Yet those of this opinion that hold God has decreed some to reprobation say he would not have all, but some to repent. If they would speak...
Reformed Arminianism & the Death of the Holiness Movement
Through a friend’s recommendation, I recently read a blog entitled, “The Death of the Holiness Movement and The Imminent Collapse of Arminianism” by Jeff Paton.[1] I know very little about the author, but the blog was intriguing for a couple of reasons. First, Paton rightly understands that various forms of Arminianism exist. For many, only one form of Arminianism exists, and it is Wesleyan Arminianism. Paton is aware that...
Thomas Helwys: Father of Religious Freedom
The American Church increasingly faces serious challenges concerning religious freedom. Many already see trouble on the horizon concerning homosexuality. Likely this issue will be only one of many to assault the church’s freedom to practice her beliefs unhindered by the state. Therefore, we must begin to redevelop a strong theological defense of religious freedom that will guide us in these days. Free Will Baptists have a unique...
Thomas Helwys: A Short Declaration of the Mystery of Iniquity
Of all the works penned by Thomas Helwys, A Short Declaration of the Mystery of Iniquity is his most famous. A Short Declaration is Helwys’ interpretation of prophesies in John’s Apocalypse as taking place in England. Helwys uses apocalyptic imagery and prophesy to address the contemporary issues of his day [1]. Before dealing with the book’s specifics, an overview is helpful. The volume is split into four books. The first book lays...
Thomas Helwys: A Short and Plaine Proof
John Donne famously wrote, “No man is an island, entire of itself.” Likewise, no theology is formed within a vacuum, but rather emerges from within the context of human history. This is the same history in which God speaks, works, and incarnates Himself. We are called to remember the works of God (cf. Deut. 6:12; 1 Cor. 11:24; Rev. 2:5). For that reason, there is great value in studying history to try and understand how God has worked...
Recent Comments