Salvation and Sovereignty: A Molinist Approach
Digital Logos Edition
Overview
In Salvation and Sovereignty, Kenneth Keathley asks, “What shall a Christian do who is convinced of certain central tenets of Calvinism but not its corollaries?” He then writes, “I see salvation as a sovereign work of grace but suspect that the usual Calvinist understanding of sovereignty (that God is the cause of all things) is not sustained by the biblical witness as a whole.”
Aiming to resolve this matter, the author argues that just three of Calvinism’s five TULIP points can be defended scripturally and instead builds on the ROSES acronym first presented by Timothy George (Radical depravity, Overcoming grace, Sovereign election, Eternal life, Singular redemption). In relation, Keathley looks at salvation and sovereignty through the lens of Molinism, a doctrine named after Luis Molina (1535-1600) that is based on a strong notion of God’s control and an equally firm affirmation of human freedom.
- Explores the acronym ROSES to address Molinism as an alternative to Calvinism
- Argues that the Molinist paradigm presents the best model for understanding the relationship between God's sovereignty and human responsibility
- Contends that the ROSES framework provides the best way of applying Molinism to the doctrines of salvation
Top Highlights
“First, character determines the range of choices, rather than a specific choice itself.” (Page 70)
“Necessity is a property of God’s ability to know all things, not of Simon Peter’s choices” (Page 32)
“So fallen humanity still possesses freedom as a permission but lacks it as a power. The biblical definition of freedom is the ability to do what is right, to choose and obey the will of God.” (Page 87)
“The fifth tenet of soft libertarianism is the distinction between the two types of ability: freedom of responsibility and freedom of integrity.” (Page 76)
“God antecedently wills all to be saved. But for those who refuse to repent and believe, He consequently wills that they should be condemned.” (Page 58)
"Keathley's botanical garden uproots the TULIP and plants ROSES in its place. Using the acrostic ROSES...he presents a far more palatable and, I believe, faithful witness to the New Testament. He has a philosopher's reasoning, a theologian's grasp of Scripture, and a preacher's clarity"
Paige Patterson, president, Southewestern Baptist Theological Seminary
"Finally, an approach to the doctrines of salvation that breaks the impasse between the extremes of Calvinism and Arminianism...I migrated from Calvinism to Molinism several years ago, but have been unable to point others to a suitable primer - until now."
Gordon Johnston, Old Testament department, Dallas Theological Seminary