Pelagians Around Us All

By Anthony W Brooks

Monergism.com says this,

"In 411, Paulinus of Milan came up with a list of six heretical points in the Pelagian message. (1) Adam was created mortal and would have died whether he had sinned or not; (2) the sin of Adam injured himself alone, not the whole human race; (3) newborn children are in the same state in which Adam was before his fall; (4) neither by the death and sin of Adam does the whole human race die, nor will it rise because of the resurrection of Christ; (5) the law as well as the gospel offers entrance to the Kingdom of Heaven; and (6) even before the coming of Christ, there were men wholly without sin. Further, Pelagius and his followers denied unconditional predestination."

Source: https://www.monergism.com/pelagianism-religion-natural-man

Now, does this sound familiar? I think these do. Some of these points are found taught in our churches today. I have personally experienced many of these teachings in churches I've attended in the past. I think it is rather sad. I've actually heard 2-6 taught in a church I'm attending right now and I actively point it out as heresy when I hear it.
But I've never heard it more than in the teachings of some SBC churches. I've attended 5 SBC churches in my life (3 in the Dallas area and 2 in the Tyler-Longview area) and I can honestly say that these 5 churches have taught some level of the Pelagian/Semi Pelagian Heresy. Which point is the more popular? Well, I believe it is a tie between 2 and 3.

I would define the shared opinion of 2 and 3 as Semi Pelagian Heresy because, though it doesn't adopt the whole scope of pelagianism, it does offer the foundation and denies original sin as a whole. Infants are born innocent without sin and guilt and Adam's sin doesn't make us guilty but only gives us a capacity toward sin. Sounds familiar... I'll let you guess at the possible groups I'm talking about.

There is actually a specific SBC pastor and Traditionalist Theologian that I must call out for this, and that is Adam Harwood... When exegeting Romans 5:12 he says:

"Paul indicates that Adam sinned, and as a result of his sin death came into the human race. However, it is important to realize that Paul does not make men guilty of Adam’s sin or indicate that all men die because of the sin of Adam. Paul says rather that death spread to the whole human race, because all men sinned."

Source: http://sbctoday.com/10271/

This is the typical non-Calvinist response to Reformed exegesis of this text, "look at verse 12!" In fact Dr. Harwood said he didn't have time to go any further than verse 12... If he did then he would run into a problem.

"15 But the free gift is not like the transgression. For if by the transgression of the one the many died, much more did the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abound to the many. 16 The gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned; for on the one hand the judgment arose from one transgression resulting in condemnation, but on the other hand the free gift arose from many transgressions resulting in justification. 17 For if by the transgression of the one, death reigned through the one, much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.

18 So then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men. 19 For as through the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous. 20 The Law came in so that the transgression would increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, 21 so that, as sin reigned in death, even so grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

See what I mean? Explicit statements saying "through one all men die, through another, many are made alive!" In all 7 of these verses this comparison is made. Specifically verse 17 says, "For if by the transgression of the one (Adam), death reigned through the one, much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ." So by the one transgression of Adam death came upon all men and by another, Jesus, the gift (his saving grace) is given to all men. So I don't know where Dr. Harwood gets his exegesis, but it seems to be spoken from the very mouth of Pelagius himself.

For a thorough exegesis that is much more comprehensive than any Traditionalist can offer see here: https://www.monergism.com/…/arti…/onsite/commentaryrom5.html

Now, am I condemning Dr. Harwood or any of the other SBC entities I mentioned as Pelagian, not entirely, but the similarities are terrible, and their rejection of prevenient grace leaves them very few alternatives.

I encourage all to inspect my sources and to respond to this post on the original "The Reformed View" page here: https://www.facebook.com/ReformedPathBlog/

Soli Deo Gloria!