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Featured John MacArthur

Discussion in 'Baptist Theology & Bible Study' started by evangelist6589, Sep 10, 2015.

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  1. evangelist6589

    evangelist6589 Well-Known Member
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    Perhaps the best Bible teacher alive today is John MacArthur. Many of his books are homers, and he has no questionable doctrines. No he is not perfect as some of his books are poorly written, but doctrine is always solid. MacArthur holds fast to Lordship Salvation which he teaches clearly in many of his books, but the most popular books for the teaching are The Gospel According to Jesus, The Gospel according to the Apostles, and Slave. I own all three books and have read all except the Gospel According to the Apostles, which seems too technical and dry.

    He differs from traditional Calvinist/Reformed, in that he is also a dispensationalist, and unlike most dispensationalists, he holds to Reformed Soteriology. If you appreciate this man of God please reply.
     
  2. blessedwife318

    blessedwife318 Well-Known Member
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    I appreciate him enough not to idolize him.
    I also appreciate him enough to not put his books on par with Scripture.
     
  3. agedman

    agedman Well-Known Member
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    Why should we respond only if we appreciate him?

    That isn't showing balance is it?

    On a personal level, I do have some issues with some of his teaching.

    However, I am not a clone type follower who idolizes anyone. I am far and way past being impressed by name droppers, or those who must conform to everything JMc. Such as JMc will stand before the eternal throne to answer a greater account for their teaching, and so will I.

    I will say this.

    The sweet uneducated Godly elderly widow in the back woods of W. Virginia, who daily walks and talks with God, and demonstrates a Spirit filled life of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control will sit far closer to the Savior than JMc or I will.

    JMc was given a certain gift.

    He is supposed to be exercising that gift as his REASONABLE service, and not to be puffed up or for earthly gain.
     
  4. Rippon

    Rippon Well-Known Member
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    I'd say he has been gifted with several --not just one gift.
    Yes, I fully agree.
    Now here is where you have taken a strange detour. Why would you say such evil things like that about him?
     
  5. SovereignGrace

    SovereignGrace Well-Known Member
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    I agree with his soteriology, but his eschatology is way off, in my opinion. But that is just me.
     
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  6. Darrell C

    Darrell C Well-Known Member
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    When it comes to new believers no other teacher will benefit as well as MacArthur, in my view. Expository preaching seems to be a lost science (lol) these days, many preferring drama over serious exegesis. A must have for every new believer would be the MacArthur Study Bible, which while we do not have to embrace all of John's teachings, the cross referencing and study notes will certainly accelerate understanding and help to teach one how to cross reference, and the importance that holds in understanding Scripture.

    As far as John being Reformed, as contrasted with His Baptist position, I would say he leans more toward what some would label Dispensational, though he is without question bound to any position but his own.

    Truly a great teacher, and one of the few I believe raised up by God in these dark days.

    And The Gospel According to Jesus is another book I would recommend for all believers.


    God bless.
     
  7. Yeshua1

    Yeshua1 Well-Known Member
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    Still cannot discern from Him though what one has to do in order to be reaslly saved though. and while do appreciate his blending of Dispy and calvinis, as that is where i am at , I also tend to see him as being either all black or all white regarding his take on issues, where there are some areas wherer it is Grey!
     
  8. Darrell C

    Darrell C Well-Known Member
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    I am surprised at this, because I see MacArthur as clear as to how one is saved.

    You might try taking a look at his study Bible, if you have not already done so. He is sound in his view that salvation is through Christ Alone.

    By the way, I also appreciate where he differs from a strict Calvinistic view. Yet he is good friends with a number of well known Reformed Preachers, such as R.C. Sproul, from whom he differs greatly. The most significance difference would be, possibly, their Eschatology. And the impact of those differences might show us the importance of our eschatological views.


    God bless.
     
  9. JohnDeereFan

    JohnDeereFan Well-Known Member
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    I like MacArthur, but his protégé, Phil Johnson is actually much better.
     
  10. Yeshua1

    Yeshua1 Well-Known Member
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    His teaching though on Lordship salvation tends to be stressing too much on the external aspect of salvation, as he would seem to be stating that unless one conforms their life fully to jesus, one cannot really trust in their salvation?And do appreciate that he is a Dispy calvinist, as I am that myself!
     
  11. Darrell C

    Darrell C Well-Known Member
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    I have never heard or read a connotation of externals in his teaching concerning Lordship Salvation, the point is simply a contrast to easy-believism which targets false conversion, where people believe that they can be saved and never actually live a Christian life.

    It is no different than our Lord's teaching on this issue: a tree is known by it's fruits.

    As far as being dispensational, I know my views are in large part in agreement with a dispensational view, but I do not consider myself to be dispensational based on a standard rendering of the associated views. I prefer to simply be labeled a Christian with Biblical views, lol.

    God bless.
     
  12. Yeshua1

    Yeshua1 Well-Known Member
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    I also am one who sees things as being calvinistic as towards salvation, but Dispy as regarding other truths, but was just stating that at times he would seem to be stating that unless we have taken care of all known sin areas, jesus is not yet really lord, and doubts as to saved!
     
  13. heisrisen

    heisrisen Active Member

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    He teaches error. That someone can take the mark of the beast and still be saved.
     
  14. Darrell C

    Darrell C Well-Known Member
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    Let me get this straight: you think we must "take care of all known sin areas" before Jesus is Lord of those saved?

    Please clarify.


    God bless.
     
  15. Darrell C

    Darrell C Well-Known Member
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    I have to ask, where have you seen John teach that?


    God bless.
     
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  16. robustheologian

    robustheologian Well-Known Member
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    I do not agree with some of Pastor MacArthur's teachings but that doesn't take away from him being a great gift to the body of Christ. The resources that he has provided Christianity with are invaluable.
     
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  17. Darrell C

    Darrell C Well-Known Member
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    Agreed. I too disagree with some of what he teaches, but would not see that as a reason not to recommend him as a good source for believers. And we see in MacArthur that despite his differences of view with other Reformed teachers, he has not broken fellowship over those differences. He and Sproul are friends and often speak at the same conferences, as well as band together to address certain issues (i.e., the Evangelicals and Catholics Together Document) where prominent Doctrines are threatened by other faiths (Salvation by grace through faith).


    God bless.
     
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  18. Yeshua1

    Yeshua1 Well-Known Member
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    No, as jesus is put over us being the Lord once saved by God the father, but that at times Dr John and others seem to be implying that to be the truth, that until/unless jesus os Lord over all areas, he is Lord over none...
     
  19. Yeshua1

    Yeshua1 Well-Known Member
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    What is that mark of the beast though?
     
  20. SovereignGrace

    SovereignGrace Well-Known Member
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    Jesus is Lord, whether we like it or not. He shows His Lordship even over the reprobate when He renders their sentence of guilty on the day of Judgment.
     
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