I don't know if you have the same problem that I do. If you are unfamiliar with how Kindle highlights work, and even if you are familiar, you probably don't have the same problem that I do. I make promises to myself but over and over again I fail (evidence of my depravity, perhaps?). You see, the promise that I make to myself every time I start a new book is that I am ONLY going to highlight minimally. I confess that I am a compulsive highlighter. I've actually received a message from Mr. Kindle saying that I've reached the limit of available highlighting in a book. If I'm reading an actual book (not an electronic copy), I have been known, on more than a few occasions, to go through multiple highlighters for 1 book because they run out of ink. Sometimes this really irritates my OCD because often times I won't have the same color of highlighter on me and will have to switch colors in the middle of the book. The problem, though, is that I love to highlight!
Doctrines of Grace, by Boice and Ryken, has been no exception. I've got the book on Kindle and only read the first chapter, but have a total of 23 highlights! I haven't read any "new" material in it thus far, but what I have read has been helpful in bolstering my understanding and belief in the doctrines of grace...and I can only believe that the rest of the book will accomplish the same thing in me.
There is going to be much to discuss and quote from the book in my opinion and I'm looking forward to reading and discussing the different things that grab each one of us. Here is one of quotes that caught my attention as I was reading chapter 1 last night. It's not necessarily my favorite quote from the chapter but I think it is something very important to look at and remember in this "Calvinism vs. Arminianism" debate (BTW, I really don't want this blog to turn into a C vs. A debate). It appeals to one of the 5 "solas" of the Reformation: "Soli Deo Gloria." Pay attention to the nuances of what he says about the glory of God!
Having a high view of God means something more than giving glory to God, however; it means giving glory to God alone. This is the difference between Calvinism and Arminianism. While the former declares that God alone saves sinners, the latter gives the impression that God enables sinners to have some part in saving themselves. Calvinism presents salvation as the work of the triune God—election by the Father, redemption in the Son, calling by the Spirit. Furthermore, each of these saving acts is directed toward the elect, thereby infallibly securing their salvation. By contrast, Arminianism views salvation as something that God makes possible but that man makes actual. This is because the saving acts of God are directed toward different persons: the Son’s redemption is for humanity in general; the Spirit’s calling is only for those who hear the gospel; narrower still, the Father’s election is only for those who believe the gospel. Yet in none of these cases (redemption, calling, or election) does God actually secure the salvation of even one single sinner! The inevitable result is that rather than depending exclusively on divine grace, salvation depends partly on a human response. So although Arminianism is willing to give God the glory, when it comes to salvation, it is unwilling to give him all the glory. It divides the glory between heaven and earth, for if what ultimately makes the difference between being saved and being lost is man’s ability to choose God, then to just that extent God is robbed of his glory. Yet God himself has said, “I will not yield my glory to another” (Isa. 48:11).
- Doctrines of Grace (Kindle location 436, Chapter 1)
Soli Deo Gloria!
Michael
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