Calvinism has at least three dilemmas: (1) reconciling God’s sovereign election of individuals with his genuine desire for the salvation of all; (2) adhering to a deterministic view of sovereignty without blaming God for the Fall of Adam; and (3) adhering to limited atonement and irresistible grace while also affirming that the Gospel is genuinely offered to everyone.  There is an alternative to Calvinism—called Molinism—which provides answers to these three quandaries that are both biblical and logically consistent.    

Most Christians have heard about Calvinism, but not as many are familiar with Molinism. I suspect some who embrace Calvinism do so because they recognize the Bible teaches that God is sovereign and Calvinism is the only theological system of which they are aware that attempts to do justice to God’s sovereignty. Calvinism often wins by default, especially when Arminianism is understood to be the alternative.  Simply put, Molinism argues that God perfectly accomplishes his will in free creatures through the use of his omniscience.  It reconciles two crucial biblical truths: (1) God exercises sovereign control over all his creation, and (2) human beings make free choices and decisions for which they must give account.   

From Salvation and Sovereignty (pp. 4-5)

 


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