Calvinism Larry Johnson
Teacher
Lesson Summary
The class opened with a reminder that challenging doctrines, like Calvinism, sharpen our faith as iron sharpens iron. The teacher outlined Calvinist teachings on original sin and total depravity, arguing that these views risk portraying God as the author of sin and diminishing His loving character. By citing Proverbs 27:17, Genesis 1:26‑28, and Genesis 2:19, the teacher highlighted Scripture’s affirmation that humanity was created in God’s image with real dominion and the capacity to make choices. The discussion then shifted to God’s sovereignty, describing it as the establishment of reliable natural laws rather than micromanagement of every molecule. Illustrations such as the engineered engine and the events in Jonah were used to show that God can intervene selectively while allowing a self‑sustaining world. The teacher concluded that while God’s purposes cannot be thwarted, He grants genuine free will, making humanity co‑stewards of creation. This balanced view sought to reconcile divine control with human responsibility, encouraging believers to study the whole counsel of Scripture rather than isolated doctrines.
Key Scriptures
Then God said, "Let us make man in our image after our likeness and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth."