Because, like the Calvinist, I am convinced the Bible teaches that (1) God is sovereign and his control is meticulous; that (2) man is incapable of contributing to his salvation or of even desiring to be saved; that (3) God through Christ, is Author, Accomplisher, and Completer of salvation (i.e., salvation is a work of grace from beginning to end); that (4) individual election is unconditional; and that (5) the believer is secure in Christ. 
However, like the Arminian, I am also convinced the Bible teaches (6) God is not the Author, Origin, or Cause of sin (and to say that he is, is not just hyper-Calvinism, but blasphemy); that (7) God genuinely desires the salvation of all humanity; that (8) Christ genuinely died for all people; that (9) God’s grace is resistible (this means that regeneration does not precede conversion); and that (10) humans genuinely choose, are causal agents, and are responsible for the sin of rejecting Christ (this means that the alternative of accepting salvation was genuinely available to the unbeliever).  There is only one position that coherently holds to all ten affirmations, and that is Molinism.  From Salvation and Sovereignty, pp. 7.
 


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Sterling Griggs link
04/21/2010 1:37pm

Just wanted to tell you that I just finished "Salvation and Sovereignty" today and it was excellent. Thanks for writing a piece that put so much of my spiritual formation and beliefs into writing.

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