classical calvinism vs moderate calvinism

classical calvinism

1. God created the world.
2. in the world, 'all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus' (Romans 3:23-24, NIV).
3. if not for God's transforming grace, all are condemned.
4. God's transforming grace is limited.
5. God's transforming grace is irresistible.
6. those whom God shows transforming grace to are transformed. consequently, they freely believe as a result of being shown God's transforming grace.
7. those whom God does not show transforming grace to are not transformed. consequently, they freely do not believe as a result of not being shown God's transforming grace.

God is sovereign in the sense that God shows transforming grace to some but not others.

man is compatibilistically free in the sense that man freely believes (or freely does not believe) as a result of being shown (or not being shown) God's transforming grace.

moderate calvinism

1. God created the best possible world (from His perspective).
2. in the best possible world, 'all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus' (Romans 3:23-24, NIV).
3. if not for God's transforming grace, all are condemned.
4. God's transforming grace is unlimited.
5. God's transforming grace is resistible.
6. those who accept God's transforming grace are transformed. consequently, they freely believe as a result of accepting God's transforming grace.
7. those who reject God's transforming grace are not transformed. consequently, they freely do not believe as a result of rejecting God's transforming grace.

God is sovereign in the sense that God created the best possible world (from His perspective).

man is compatibilistically free in the sense that God occasions (not causes) man to freely accept (or freely reject) His transforming grace.

link: more on classical calvinism vs moderate calvinism (20 nov 08)