Soteriology Simplified

Welcome to Soteriology Simplified.

Today there is resurgence toward Reformed Theology that needs to be cause for concern for non-Calvinist believers in the Southern Baptist Convention. One of the perceived problems that this study will propose is the contention that the distinguishing characteristics of Reformed Theology are way too broad today. Calvinists are a lot like Christians; they come in all shapes and sizes. There are “hyper-Calvinists” and then there are 5-point, 4-point and even 3-point Calvinists. There are Calvinists that are distancing themselves from the term “Calvinism” who are waving the banner of the Doctrines of Grace and identifying themselves as Sovereign Grace believers and churches. This study will consider a need for new terminology that can resonate well with pastors and people in the pew who may be Calvinistic leaning in some areas, but not decidedly Reformed in their theology. It is time to broaden the choices identifying the divide between “Calvinism and Arminianism.”

How a person passes from death to life is central to the Christian experience.

Calvinism focuses in on this salvific process and seeks to answer the question,

“What must I do to be saved?” Calvinism goes to great lengths to define and

demonstrate the degree of responsibility that God plays in this process as

contrasted to the responsibility and role that man plays in the same process.

Calvinism clearly stands on the side affirming the sovereignty of God while

adamantly denying any human role in the salvific process. The proposed balance that differentiates the sovereignty of God and the free-will of man is the distinguishing characteristic of Calvinist Doctrine. If an individual does not believe in Unconditional Election and Limited Atonement and Irresistible Grace that ascribe salvation to God and God alone, it is the assumed contention in this dissertation that this individual is not a Calvinist or a proponent of Reformed Theology. It does not matter how much an individual may agree with Calvinist doctrine, it must be understood that the distinguishing characteristics of Calvinism are what separates it from other theological postulates.

Soteriology Simplified will examine the TULIP and its theological implications. Soteriology Simplified will present new terminology and a “New TULIP” that will seek to offer individuals an optional solid foundation upon which to stand. This foundation will reflect much of what the Reformed platform is rightly founded on, and then offer an alternative platform to modify some of the extreme positions that the Reformers have proposed in trying to solidify their theology as a whole. With this in mind, welcome to Soteriology Simplified: Conversionism instead of Calvinism; Transformed Theology instead of Reformed Theology.