God's Provision For All: A Defense of God's Goodness

by Leighton Flowers

This book makes a strong biblical case for the loving character of a God who treats His creation in a recognizably good way; a God who does not arbitrarily play favorites or show biased partiality; a God who makes Himself known in a clear and believable way; a God who is not most glorified at the expense of His creation, but at the expense of Himself for the sake of His creation; a God who demonstrates His love by providing the means of salvation for every individual. This book will address questions such What about those who never hear about Jesus? How can we say God is good when he seems to be so harsh in some of the stories within Scripture? What does it mean to call God good if we do not actually recognize Him as good?

Genres: Theology, Christian, Christianity, Nonfiction

175 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 10, 2019

Reviews

[Carrie Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

In God's Provision For All: A Defense of God's Goodness, Leighton Flowers aims to demonstrate not only is God good, but He is recognizably good. Flowers begins by defining for the reader what he means when he says God is recognizably good. Each chapter proceeds from the previous, following a nice and neat logical progression.

Having not read Dr. Flowers' previous book The Potter's Promise, I was pleasantly surprised by Flowers' approachable, congenial tone. He never condescends to the reader, instead assuming his reader is intelligent enough to follow his logic as he makes his case.

Not only does Flowers make his case for the goodness of God, but he also addresses the problems in a way that does not marginalize but instead honors the questions with thoughtful and honest responses.

A quick and easy read, God's Provision For All is an excellent introduction to the philosophical problem of evil for the everyday Christian. After reading this book you will feel more confident in your ability to address these difficult questions in your everyday faith conversations.

*This is an excerpt of my full review at Christian Women Apologists

[Fanie Viljoen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you !! Thank you !! Thank you!!

Thank you Dr Flowers. I grew up in a reformed church that sees the gospel from a calvinistic view. It was not until challenged a few months ago, after a sermon on election and possibly becoming an office bearer, that I really grasped what calvinism teaches. (It was painted differently when I confessed my faith as a young man). I was devastated and beyond depression. I frantically searched for some answers and like you indicated, most literature on the web are produced by calvinist. I sincerely thank God for discovering your work and some of Dr Charles Stanley’s sermons !!!!! May God continue to bless and sustain you in this ministry, to preach the gospel of our Lord Jesus truely and accurately. Thank you , Thank you !!!!!

[Vivian Barrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 STARS!

a well-written and digestible treatise on how God provides a pathway to salvation for all people 💚

As someone who has never believed in Calvinistic soteriology, the beginning felt a little repetitive, but I understand the need for it if the reader is coming from a different perspective! Highly recommend for any Christian, no matter your soteriology!

[Jacob O'connor · Rating 3 out of 5]

For whom did Christ die?  Who did Jesus come to save?  This is actually a pretty vigorous debate among churchy-types.  Flowers thinks Jesus died for all people, and that salvation is offered to everyone.  He makes a fine yet familiar case.  Good for someone just looking into the question.  



Notes: 


Kindle


God is most glorified not at the expense of His creation, but at the expense of Himself for the sake of His creation 

[Christian Huls · Rating 5 out of 5]

Flowers has a gift for making complex things simple.

He does an excellent job, for the scholar and layman alike, of explaining the biblical method of salvation believed by most evangelical Christians, and he has given it a fitting name, complete with an acronym--Provisionism

[Blake Western · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author supports the view that all people can respond freely to the Gospel. He does not believe that sin negates man's ability to reject or accept the Gospel. He prefers to call his view of salvation, "Provisionism." The author uses many Scriptures to support his view. The book is easy to read.

[Nick Barrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

A much needed book for today’s Christians!

Dr. Flowers brilliantly and biblically lays out a defense of God’s provision for all people.

If you are a Calvinist (as I once was), pick this up with an open mind!

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book seemed a little less helpful to me than the “A Potter’s Promise”. Nevertheless, it raises important questions about the sufficiency and power of God’s Word to efficiently draw people to Himself. The Appendices answered several questions I had about the differences between Traditionalism, Arminianism, and l Provisionalism, as well as, how Provisionalism differs from Pelagianism and semi-Pelagianism.

[Levy · Rating 5 out of 5]

God's provision is sufficient.

[Glen Johnston · Rating 5 out of 5]

A clear choice

I read this book and "The Good Potter" both were excellent reads. I think Leighton has a very good grasp on biblical soteriology. Both books are thoughtful, biblical and worth the read. I am just a layman but I think Leighton is scriptual.

[David · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's no secret that Leighton Flowers is driven by a focused desire to discredit Calvinism. In addition to his many YouTube videos and his previous book, all on the same anti-Calvinist theme, this latest title takes another shot in the same direction. Had this Kindle book not been free under my Kindle Unlimited subscription, I wouldn't have spent the money to read it. Since it was free, I wanted to learn if there is anything different. There isn't. It's the same simplistic eisegesis that characterizes everything else he's had to say.

Theologians have grappled for centuries with the tension between God's sovereignty and man's responsibility as they both are communicated in the Scriptures. In a nutshell, many of them have chosen to emphasize God's sovereignty (Calvinism), while others have chosen to emphasize man's responsibility (Arminianism). Now Leighton Flowers, with his determination to discredit Calvinism, enters as an ambitious newcomer with a position that is neither Calvinist or Arminian. In the process, he pulls Scriptures out of context and read meanings into them.

I don't recommend this book. If you want to learn more about the author's "Provisionism," watch a few of his many free YouTube videos on the subject. I give him two stars in this review for his effort and determination.

[Trevor Binkley · Rating 1 out of 5]

While I consider Leighton to be a brother in the Lord, his refusal to do deep and careful exegesis is grieving. He is a seminary trained pastor with both graduate and post graduate degrees and so he really should know how to follow the logic and grammar of the text, but instead he proof-texts endlessly and in so doing he teaches people to be flippant in their personal reading of the Bible.

James 3:1 - “Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.”

[Brad · Rating 5 out of 5]

So much to think about with this book and finer points to work through and find disagreements in, but the main point of this work is an incredible and beautiful idea that rings true, the likes of which I have been yearning for a long time, ever since I read Lewis' "The Great Divorce" in high school...God makes a provision for all to have the possibility to believe and be saved through Christ's atonement, even those who do not hear specifically about Jesus during their lives.

[Max Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this book Dr. Flowers does a great job laying out biblical a biblical interpretation of God's provision of salvation to all people. One of my favorite things about this book is that it gives traditionalist or provisionist views of soteriology without attacking Calvinism. The book simply lays out the reasons that these soteriological views make sense solely based on the Bible, not based on opposing differing views.

[Dale Johnsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

death knell to 5 point Calvinists

In recent years, Calvinism has been boldly proclaiming that God is fully responsible for every detail, and every choice, in the universe. This biblically based book shows the error of blaming God for evil, and uphold the goodness of God, and making a provision of salvation available to everyone who receives it.

[Danny Bennett · Rating 3 out of 5]

Flowers seeks to defend God's goodness by showing how He is recognizably good through providing the Gospel and the ability of humans to accept it. This is a much shorter and easier to read book than Potter's Promise. Half the book is quoted Scripture. It's a quick read and he gets more into theological positions in the appendixes.

[David Zuccolotto, PhD · Rating 5 out of 5]

The ability to hear God’s grace

A clear and well organized presentation of coming to the knowledge of Truth through the word of God. Bible verses are integrated well through out the book.

[Kevin Tang · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book offers an alternative to common soteriology camps. It allows me to understand his framework more and to be more equipped to defend his position. A must read book that will change your perspective of a deterministic God .

[Bruce Thacker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Worth the Read

My seminary daughter told me I was a provisionalist. It was a term I was not aware of. So I read this book and she was right. I have been teaching this position for 40-plus years. It helped me with a clearer presentation of who I am.

[Josh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Biblical Soteriology

This book explains biblical soteriology in an easy to understand manner. It is a positive case for Provisionism which is a theory of soteriology that states God wants everyone to be saved but it is necessary to turn to Jesus in faith in order to be saved.

[Zachary Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. This book quickly and succinctly offers a defense of both God's goodness and Corporate Election in an understandable yet thorough manner.

[Lynn Myers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Defense of Baptist salvific traditionalism

An excellent review of what makes the doctrine of Whosoever Will so thoroughly good and right from good bible exposition.

[Brandon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book to understand a good argument against Calvinism.
Perhaps the best part is the appendix. He refutes possible arguments against his position.

[Uhhmainduhmeh · Rating 3 out of 5]

The very online hullabaloo between Provionists and Calvinists is extremely unnecessary. Provionists aren't saying much, and about 75% of what they are saying is completely copacetic with Calvinist thought.

[Jesus Salgado · Rating 1 out of 5]

Leighton Flowers's director of Texas Evangelism and Apologetics does not correctly represent Calvinism that he claims he used to believe. He doesn’t understand the difference between general and special generation, does not understand what Total Depravity is, and does a horrible job of making the case for Provisionism. Bad exegesis and bad analogies. I don’t recommend this book to anyone.