The Potter's Freedom: A Defense of the Reformation and the Rebuttal of Norman Geisler's Chosen But Free

338 Pages·2000·1.85 MB·English

by  James R. White

Praise for T P F ...
HE OTTER’S REEDOM
Some time ago, I had the opportunity to hear a tape of Dr. Geisler presenting his
understanding of “moderate Calvinism.” The errors in the tape were simply
breathtaking, and so I was very glad to hear that James White had undertaken a
book-length response to Dr. Geisler’s Chosen But Free. This response is
outstanding. The Potter’s Freedom is firmly, pointedly, and charitably written.
For someone of Dr. Geisler’s stature to go into print with his misunderstandings
was simply inexplicable. The easy thing would have been to simply let the whole
thing go in an embarrassed silence, but in this book, James White has assumed
the role of a biblical friend to Dr. Geisler. It deserves a wide reading.
—Douglas Wilson, Pastor; Editor of Credenda Agenda Magazine
We are in debt to Norman Geisler for displaying once again just how unpalatable
the truth of the Scripture can be, even for those who know its contents well. His
screed against Calvinism has provided the occasion for James R. White to give
us The Potter’s Freedom, a book that not only reveals the poverty of Geisler’s
argument but also provides us with a refreshing presentation of the glorious
truths of salvation by grace alone as set forth by authentic Calvinism. The so-
called “moderate Calvinism” which Geisler embraces and presents in Chosen
But Free is no more useful than a moderate fire department.
—Joel Nederhood, Pastor; Host of The Back to God Hour
The Potter’s Freedom is a more than adequate response to the misleading and
erroneous book, Chosen but Free by Norman Geisler. Indeed, it is a fresh and
helpful statement of true Calvinism over against a system purporting to be
“Calvinistic” which is really nothing more than a brand of Arminianism. This
book should be widely disseminated and read as it will clarify much that is often
misunderstood about Calvinism.
—Jay Adams, Ph.D., Westminster Seminary, Escondido, California
James White’s The Potter’s Freedom is a modern “Antidote to Arminianism.”
His devastating rebuttal to Geisler’s Chosen But Free is a clearly expressed
alternative to a theology which halts between two opinions. White not only
effectively presents the case for the absolute sovereignty of God but
demonstrates Geisler’s tendency to faulty research, partial citations, and
fallacious argumentation. If you desire to better understand the ways of God
with man, this book is for you.
—Kenneth L. Gentry, Jr., Th.D.; Bahnsen Theological Seminary
Many of us, who have otherwise profited from the writings of Dr. Norman
Geisler, have been grieved by his hapless attempt to harmonize Calvinism and
Arminianism. With the skill of a surgeon, Dr. James R. White dissects Geisler’s
arguments and reveals them to be based on convoluted thinking, inconsistencies,
and misinterpretations of Scripture. I pray that this book shall have a wide
audience, not just as a definitive rebuttal to Geisler, but also as a helpful
exposition of the Calvinisim/Arminianism debate.
—Dr. Erwin W. Lutzer, Senior Pastor, Moody Church, Chicago
Piece by piece, James White dissects the flawed arguments of Geisler’s
misnamed “moderate Calvinism,” which is in fact a very common breed of
Arminianism. I am under no illusion that Geisler will wave the white flag on this
one, but every honest reader of this book will know that he should.
—Jim Elliff, President, Christian Communicators Worldwide
James White’s response to Chosen but Free arises from a personal knowledge of
Dr. Geisler and an appreciation for his positive impact on the broader
evangelical community. This sincere appreciation, however, does not cause him
to downplay the seriously flawed presentation Geisler gives of the issue of
divine determination and human responsibility. White’s work is an incisive and,
in my opinion decisive response to the specific fallacies of Geisler, and provides
a positive exposition of the issue that is valuable even apart from its polemical
context.
—Dr. Tom J. Nettles, Author of By His Grace & For His Glory
The popular view of divine sovereignty which Geisler advocates is a serious
departure from the self-revelation of God in the Scriptures. Indeed, White’s
strongest suit is his demonstration that Geisler’s argument is entirely
indefensible at the exegetical level. Some may read White and continue to hold
Geisler’s opinions, but they will no longer be comfortable with those opinions.
—Fred G. Zaspel, Pastor, Author of The Theology of Fulfillment
There can hardly be a topic more important or relevant than the one James White
tackles in this superb book. Who is free? Man or God? Which is sovereign?
These are the issues at stake in this timely rebuttal of error and demonstration of
biblical truth. This book deserves a careful reading by all who truly seek clarity
and genuine biblical light.
—Rev. Richard D. Phillips, Assoc. Minister, Tenth Presbyterian Church,
Philadelphia, PA; V. P., Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals
This vigorous defense of the Reformation exposes the widening gap, and the
growing hostility, between “evangelicalism” and classic confessional Protestant
Christianity. Synergism may wear a happy face, but it proclaims a hollow
“gospel.” Written in the context of high-profile rapprochement between
evangelicals and Catholics, and between Lutherans and Romanists, Dr. White
turns up the lights to show us the real struggle, namely, the fundamentally
religious contest between divine sovereignty and human ability. Our salvation
comes either from God or from man. And in terms of both Bible teaching and
human experience, this is where everything starts—and ends.
—Nelson D. Kloosterman, Th.D., Professor of Ethics and New Testament,
Mid-America Reformed Seminary
James White combines sound biblical exegesis, theological erudition, and a deep
passion for truth in his able rebuttal to Norman Geisler’s Chosen but Free. I am
grateful that The Potter’s Freedom powerfully exposes Geisler’s inconsistencies
and shows that his self-labeled “moderate Calvinism” is no Calvinism at all. The
Potter’s Freedom has far-reaching consequences for any serious student of
Reformed theology, for Geisler is not a lone ranger in promoting historic
Reformed theology as “extreme Calvinism” and Semi-pelagianism as “moderate
Calvinism.” I pray that God may use this book abundantly to remove many
caricatures about the Reformed faith and to move many to embrace unabashedly
solid, Reformed convictions.
—Dr. Joel R. Beeke, Author, President of Puritan Reformed Theological
Seminary, Grand Rapids, Michigan
The Reformed community has given Norman Geisler a “free” pass for too long
with respect to his pronouncements on God’s sovereignty and free will. James
White’s book, The Potter’s Freedom, is the much-needed antidote to his flawed
(and failed) attempt, in typical Thomistic fashion, to synthesize what cannot be
synthesized. As soon as he insists that “God’s grace works synergistically on
free will,” and that the “one condition” for receiving grace, namely, faith, “is
logically prior to regeneration” (pp. 233-34), he falls away from the thought of
the sixteenth-century Reformation and stands in concert with the synergism of
Rome. It is high time that he who has warned the members of the Evangelical
Theological Society to “beware human philosophy” should heed his own
warning and listen less to Aquinas and more carefully to Holy Scripture.
—Robert Reymond, Ph.D., Knox Theological Seminary, Ft. Lauderdale,
FL, Author of A New Systematic Theology of the Christian Faith
A comparison of Norman Geisler’s book, Chosen But Free, with James White’s
book, The Potter’s Freedom, reveals two observations. First, Geisler’s book is
one of demagoguery, propaganda, and an embarrassing lack of accurate
scholarship, while White’s book is one of careful and scholarly exegesis of the
Bible, coupled with a convincing exposition and defense of the Reformed Faith
(i.e., the Biblical Faith) from misrepresentation and caricature. Second, James
White effectively distinguishes Norman Geisler’s theology from Calvinism by
pointing out this difference: Geisler believes in a God who tries to save all the
sinners He can, and Calvinism believes in a God who saves all the sinners He
will.
—Dr. Joseph C. Morecraft, III; Author, Pastor of Chalcedon Presbyterian
Church, Cumming, GA; Publisher of The Counsel of Chalcedon
White’s work evidences unusually good exegetical and theological insight into
some of the greatest themes of the Bible touching our Lord’s work of salvation,
themes that Geisler has abused, maltreated and generally misunderstood (for
example, Geisler attempts to make a case for a conditional unconditional
election!), such as the biblical doctrines of man under sin, divine election and the
sovereignty of God in salvation. With a keener grasp of systematic theology and
exegesis of the text of Scripture White has taken Geisler to the theological
woodshed!
—S.Lewis Johnson, Jr., AB, ThM, ThD, Former Prof. of New Testament &
Systematic Theololgy at Dallas Theological Seminary; Former Prof. of Bible
& Systematic Theology at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School
There are few authors today who are able to write with a burning passion for
truth, tempered by a charitable spirit towards those with whom one disagrees.
Having achieved that balance, Dr. White’s contribution to the defense of
Reformed soteriology is both sound and timely. His biblical exegesis of all the
relevant passages, together with the misrepresentations he corrects, is secured by
detailed analysis and demonstrates convincingly to the fair-minded reader that
every true believer in the Lord Jesus Christ has nothing of which to boast but in
the freedom of the Potter.
—David King, Pastor, Dayspring Presbyterian Church, Forsyth, GA
The
Potter’s
Freedom
A Defense of the Reformation
and a Rebuttal of Norman Geisler’s
Chosen But Free
James White
CALVARY PRESS PUBLISHING
WWW.CALVARYPRESS.COM
©2009, James R. White All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including
informational storage and retrieval systems without the expressed permission from the publisher in writing,
except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or critical reviews.
Unless otherwise noted, the Bible quotations contained in this manual are from the New American Standard
Bible, © by the Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995. Used
by permission. Verses marked KJV are taken from the King James Version of the Bible. Verses marked
NKJV are taken from the New King James Version of the Bible. Verses marked NIV are taken from the
New International Version of the Bible.
White, James R., 1962-The Potter’s Freedom / James R. White.
Includes index.
ISBN: 1-879737-43-4
1. Justification 2. Evangelicalism—Controversial literature. 3. Evangelicalism—Doctrines 4. Church—
Contemporary Issues 5. Title
Manufactured in the United States of America 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 00 01 02 03
I have had the great blessing of introducing many
brothers and sisters in the Lord to the doctrines of
grace. Nothing is more encouraging than to see those
who have come to know these divine truths growing
in grace and maturing in the faith.
It is with great love and thankfulness that I dedicate
this work to my close friend, Greek student, lifting
partner, and fellow Reformed Baptist,
Simon Escobedo III.
Acknowledgements
I am deeply grateful to the many brothers and sisters in the Lord who have
provided encouragement and assistance in this work. Especially I wish to note
Richard Pierce, Mike Porter, Simon Escobedo III, Larry Vondra, Chris Jenkins,
Pastor David King, Jeff Niell, Kevin Johnson and all the kind folks in
#prosapologian, especially NIna ^‘^ (Han vet ikke mer enn katten!). Special
thanks go to Keith Plummer and Mark Ennis for their help in research. I am
grateful to the wonderful people of the Phoenix Reformed Baptist Church and
my fellow elders Don Cross and Don Fry. My thanks as well to Chris Arnzen
and the folks at Calvary Press. And of course I am thankful for the patience and
support of my wife Kelli and my children, Joshua and Summer.