more on classical calvinism vs moderate calvinism

this is the continuation of a previous post on classical calvinism vs moderate calvinism.

classical "supralapsarian" calvinism

1. God predestined man to sin.
2. God predestined Christ to reconcile the world to Him.
3a. God predestined some to be reconciled to Him.
3b. God predestined others not to be reconciled to Him.
4. God created the world.
5. man sinned, having been predestined by God to sin.
6. God sent Christ to reconcile the world to Him.
7a. those who are predestined to be reconciled to God are reconciled to Him.
7b. those who are predestined not to be reconciled to God are not reconciled to Him.

according to classical "supralapsarian" calvinism, both the fall and faith are caused by God.

classical "infralapsarian" calvinism

1. God created the world.
2. man sinned of his own free will.
3. God predestined Christ to reconcile the world to Him.
4a. God predestined some to be reconciled to Him.
4b. God predestined others not to be reconciled to Him.
5. God sent Christ to reconcile the world to Him.
6a. those who are predestined to be reconciled to God are reconciled to Him.
6b. those who are predestined not to be reconciled to God are not reconciled to Him.

according to classical "infralapsarian" calvinism, the fall is occasioned by God while faith is caused by God.

moderate "middle knowledge" calvinism

1. God saw that the best possible world (from His perspective) was one in which man would sin of his own free will.
2. God saw that the best possible world (from His perspective) was one in which He would send Christ to reconcile the world to Him.
3a. God saw that the best possible world (from His perspective) was one in which those who would freely believe in Christ would be reconciled to Him.
3b. God saw that the best possible world (from His perspective) was one in which those who would freely not believe in Christ would not be reconciled to Him.
4. God created the best possible world (from His perspective), predestining that i) man would sin of his own free will, ii) He would send Christ to reconcile the world to Him, iii) those who would freely believe in Christ would be reconciled to Him and iv) those who would freely not believe in Christ would not be reconciled to Him.
5. man sinned of his own free will.
6. God sent Christ to reconcile the world to Him.
7a. those who freely believe in Christ are reconciled to God.
7b. those who freely do not believe in Christ are not reconciled to God.

according to moderate "middle knowledge" calvinism, both the fall and faith are occasioned by God.

God - knowing (not causing) each of our free choices - created the best possible world (from His perspective) in which each of our free choices would work 'for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose' (Romans 8:28, NIV). in this way, God is completely sovereign and man is compatibilistically free.

*****

we might question whether this particular world is indeed the best possible world which God could have created. to answer this question, we have to bear in mind that God created this particular world to reflect His glory. to this end, the best possible world which God could have created is the world which most reflects His glory.

if creating any other possible world (eg. a world without evil) could reflect His glory more than creating this particular world, then God would have created that other possible world instead of creating this particular world. however, God created this particular world. therefore, creating this particular world reflects His glory more than creating any other possible world.

for that matter, if not creating at all could reflect His glory more than creating this particular world, then God would have not created at all instead of creating this particular world. however, God created this particular world. therefore, creating this particular world reflects His glory more than not creating at all.

at the end of the day, we have to trust - not against all odds, but with complete assurance - that this particular world is indeed the best possible world which God could have created, that this particular world is indeed the world which most reflects His glory.

link: classical calvinism vs moderate calvinism (22 oct 08)