There were, yes. But instead of going back to that, we'll see if he answers my question to him in my last post.
Not gonna lie. I was gonna take the coward's way out and let Zippy take over. :noid:
Does God give those necessary graces to all people? I'm not talking about universal salvation here, which would be graces that are necessary and sufficient. I'm just talking about the necessary work on God's part that allows one to be saved. This is the question that I'm struggling to see a clear answer on your part to differentiate yourself from Calvinism.
These are very hard questions. Instead of dogmatically asserting a position, let's consider the following:
1. Is God (the Supreme Good) the cause of all created goods? Yes. Thus, all created goods, even whatever is good in man or what is good in what man does, is from God.
2. Can a man be saved apart from the grace and mercy of God? No. The reason for this is twofold. 1. Salvation is a supernatural end which exceeds the capacity of human nature, and 2. even were that not enough, man is even less suited to attain it than he naturally would be, given his fallen condition.
3. That said, is man a free agent, and must he cooperate in the divine plan? Again, the answer is yes. Man is a rational, living being.
From the above, it seems to follow that whatever good a man freely does, this good which we freely does at the same time 1. is the work of God's grace and 2. is at the same time the free cooperation of the free agent.
If you take away either, it seems as though this good would not be present. Take virtuous act A: but for the grace of God, I could not have done it. It is a good, and not only a good, but it's a good worked by man in possession of a fallen human nature. That said, my cooperation is also required. It is God's grace working in a human being (a rational being).
These seem to be rock solid premises. What conclusions do you draw, Kmo? :idunno: