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All (83) Scripture Commentary (18) Theology (19) Mike Winger (46)
Mike Winger idea 2019-07-31

Q&A: Are those who never hear the gospel lost? Is it your fault if you fail to share?

Winger addresses two connected questions about evangelistic responsibility.

Ezekiel 33 evangelism accountability hell
Mike Winger idea 2020-08-28

Proverbs 16:4 is a text that theological grids are read INTO, not a proof text for either Calvinist determinism or open theism

Question from Tobias about whether Proverbs 16:4 suggests God predestined the wicked for condemnation.

Proverbs 16:4 hermeneutics Molinism middle knowledge
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-17

All five TULIP points are ultimately one point: denial of free will

Mike summarizes his overarching critique of Calvinism.

Calvinism TULIP Free Will
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-23

God's choices of Jacob, Abraham, Moses, prophets — not favoritism but purposive grace for non-salvific roles

Question from Ryder Ness, a "struggling Calvinist," about divine favoritism in biblical election.

Isaiah 6 Romans 9 Genesis 25 election Moses Abraham
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-23

Mike affirms free-will salvation against Calvinism but insists rejection of Calvinism must be theological, not emotional

Mike gives his own position on Calvinism while counseling the questioner.

election Calvinism free will
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-30

2 Corinthians 4:4 — Satan as 'god of this world': reconciling Satan's dominion with God's sovereignty

Question from Mikey about 2 Corinthians 4:4.

2 Corinthians 4:4 2 Corinthians 4:4 Satan sovereignty of God
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-30

Kung Fu / judo illustration: God redirects Satan's own force rather than controlling him directly

Illustration drawn from the TV show Kung Fu to explain how God exercises sovereignty over Satan.

Luke 22:3 Satan Luke 22:3 sovereignty of God
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-30

Job as example of God's sovereignty over Satan: Satan required permission to afflict Job

Supporting biblical example for the model of divine sovereignty.

Job Satan Job sovereignty of God
Mike Winger idea 2018-09-26

Molinism — middle knowledge reconciles divine sovereignty and human free will

A viewer asks about Molinism as a worldview for reconciling sovereignty and free will.

Calvinism Molinism middle knowledge
Mike Winger idea 2020-12-18

The 'evil spirit from the Lord' that afflicted Saul may simply mean a harmful/distressing spirit (Hebrew ra = bad/harmful, not necessarily morally evil), and God allowing adversarial spirits as discipline for rebellion is not itself immoral.

Continued discussion of the evil spirit from God in 1 Samuel.

1 Samuel — Spirit on Saul Saul Nebuchadnezzar ra
Mike Winger idea 2020-12-18

Critical distinction: what God directly causes versus what he sovereignly allows and guides — God is not morally culpable for the actions of the enemies he permits; he works all things together for good.

Theological synthesis drawn from the Saul discussion.

Romans 8:28 Romans 8:28 Divine Sovereignty and Evil God Uses Enemy Nations / Agents
Mike Winger idea 2020-12-18

God's sovereign will and human free will coexist: God allows choices he does not desire; his overarching plan unfolds through, not in spite of, human free choices.

Q: How does God's will not infringe on free will? What is the point of praying if it is already in God's will?

Romans 8:28 Prayer Romans 8:28 Divine Sovereignty and Human Free Will
Mike Winger idea 2020-12-18

Prayer is powerful precisely because God's will can be conditionally contingent on prayer — he may desire to do something but not do it if we do not pray; Moses' intercession for Israel is the paradigmatic example.

Answering the secondary question: what is the point of praying if it is already God's will?

Exodus 32 — Moses Intercession Prayer Divine Sovereignty and Human Free Will Moses — Intercession
Mike Winger idea 2021-01-01

God's hardening of hearts: temporary, judgment-related, not arbitrary — non-Calvinist reading

Continuing Q15 — part about those God hardens, blasphemers, and people in hell

Romans 9 Exodus 4-14 Calvinism free will Romans 9
Mike Winger idea 2021-01-15

Spiritual gifts cannot be taught or transferred — they are given by the Spirit as he wills

Question from Ad Chan about whether spiritual gifts can be taught.

1 Corinthians 12 Spiritual gifts 1 Corinthians 12 Holy Spirit sovereignty
Mike Winger idea 2021-01-15

The Potter/clay metaphor does not eliminate human responsibility — diligence and trust in God operate simultaneously, not in opposition

Question from David Mason about whether God being the Potter means humans are not responsible for their own lives.

Romans 9 Isaiah 64:8 Luke 16:8 Romans 9 Divine sovereignty and human responsibility Potter and clay (Isaiah 64:8 / Romans 9)
Mike Winger idea 2021-02-05

Satan's rebellion and God's will: God wills that creatures have genuine free will, which entails the possibility of rebellion.

Question from Casey Mills about whether Satan's rebellion was God's will if God's will is always done in heaven.

Isaiah 14 Free will Isaiah 14 Satan's rebellion
Mike Winger idea 2021-02-12

Q2: Do we have free will? Mike asserts strong yes — biblically, intuitively, and philosophically supported

Viewer Lace Buck Corny asks about free will, sovereignty, and whether punishment is just if we lack free will.

James 1 Genesis 4 James 1 Calvinism free will
Mike Winger idea 2021-02-12

Free will and divine sovereignty are compatible — sovereignty means ultimate control, not micromanagement of every choice

Mike addresses how free will coexists with divine sovereignty.

free will divine sovereignty compatibilism
Mike Winger idea 2021-02-19

Translation debate: harmful vs. evil vs. distressing spirit in 1 Samuel 16

Different English translations render the Hebrew term differently, reflecting genuine exegetical ambiguity.

1 Samuel 16 ESV NASB NKJV
Mike Winger idea 2020-12-04

Isaiah 6's commissioning does not mean God does not want Israel healed — the prophet's message hardens already-rejecting hearts, and God's overall posture throughout Isaiah is restorative.

Question from V Palumbi about Isaiah 6 and God's apparent unwillingness for the people to return and be healed.

Isaiah 6 Isaiah 1:18 Atonement Isaiah 6 Divine sovereignty and human responsibility
Mike Winger idea 2021-01-22

Why God creates people he foreknows will reject him

Our Fish asked why God would create people he knows will not choose him.

Matthew 13:24-30 free will theodicy problem of evil
Mike Winger idea 2021-01-22

God is in control: sovereignty without divine determinism

Wade Nelson asked whether "God is in control" is a meaningless platitude implying divine determinism.

Ephesians 1:11 Calvinism free will providence
Mike Winger idea 2021-03-05

God does not create people destined for hell; the verb tense in Romans 9 distinguishes God's active preparation of the saved from passive endurance of the lost

Responding to the difficulty of reconciling God's glory with creating people He knows will end up in hell

Romans 9 Romans 9:22-23 Romans 9 predestination God's sovereignty
Mike Winger idea 2021-03-05

Molinism helps explain how divine sovereignty and human free will operate together

Expanding the discussion about God creating people He knows will reject Him

middle knowledge free will divine sovereignty
Mike Winger idea 2021-04-09

The Canaanite genocide: why God commanded Israel to kill rather than drive out or convert

Question from Lindsey Kelso about the moral difficulty of God commanding Israel to kill thousands of Canaanites.

Deuteronomy / Joshua conquest texts Theodicy Children and salvation Canaanite conquest
Mike Winger idea 2021-04-23

God's command to kill the Amalekites (including infants) in 1 Samuel 15:3 is addressed through hyperbolic language theory, military depot context, and divine sovereignty.

Q4 from Jay: how does one justify God's directive to kill the Amalekites including children and infants (1 Samuel 15:3)?

1 Samuel 15:3 theodicy infant salvation divine sovereignty
Mike Winger idea 2020-03-11

The "footstool" verses (Isaiah 66:1) are metaphorical — God is sovereign. If "earth is my footstool" is literal, then "heaven is my throne" must be literal too (but no flat-earther takes it that way). Isaiah 40:12 says God measured waters in "the hollow of his hand" — also obviously metaphorical. 1 Kings 8:27: even the highest heavens cannot contain God.

Footstool verses — metaphor for sovereignty

Isaiah 66:1 Isaiah 40:12 flat earth Isaiah 66:1 footstool of God
Mike Winger idea 2020-04-15

Sovereignty of God: God is good, all-knowing, and in ultimate control. Romans 8:28: works all things for good for those who love him. But sovereignty doesn't mean exhaustive divine determinism (God causing every single thing). Job: God allowed Satan's attack but didn't cause it. God is in control of the flow of all things, can stop or allow anything, but humans have real choices.

Sovereignty of God — not determinism

Romans 8:28 free will sovereignty of God free will
Mike Winger idea 2020-08-07

Calvinism and free will: Mike isn't a Calvinist. He believes in genuine human free will while also affirming God's sovereignty. The key issue: does God determine every single human decision (Calvinist compatibilism) or do humans have genuine libertarian choice? Mike believes libertarian free will better fits Scripture and makes better sense of God's commands, judgments, and the problem of evil.

Calvinism and free will — Mike's position

Calvinism free will Calvinism
Mike Winger idea 2021-10-01

Trusting God in Very Difficult Times: Do you have any advice for dealing with a miscarriage? It’s the first time in my life where I’ve been angry at God. I know He’s sovereign, but it’s difficult to accept right now.

Q&A question: Trusting God in Very Difficult Times

suffering sovereignty of God
Mike Winger idea 2023-03-03

My Efforts & God’s Sovereignty: How much do my efforts influence situations when God is sovereign and in control? For example, my hard work vs. God blessing my business, improving my health to "extend" my life vs. God setting the number of my days, etc.

Q&A question: My Efforts & God’s Sovereignty

sovereignty of God
Mike Winger idea 2024-05-03

Our Choices & God’s Sovereign Will: Do we have any true control over life entering the world, or is it only based on God's sovereignty? I think if it’s God's plan for me to have a child, I'll get pregnant even if on birth control. But my husband thinks we control conception through birth control. If Jeremiah 1:5 applies to all people, wouldn't that mean God's plan overrides our plan for procreation?

Q&A question: Our Choices & God’s Sovereign Will

Jeremiah Jeremiah 1:5 Jeremiah 1 Jeremiah marriage creation
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