Evangelical Calvinism, part 2

A common acronym or mnemonic for Calvinism is TULIP:

1. Total Depravity
2. Unconditional Election
3. Limited Atonement
4. Irresistible Grace
5. Perseverance of the Saints

When rightly understood, these points are helpful for understanding Biblical teaching about God's role and man's role in salvation. The problem is - they're often not rightly understood. How can any description of the atonement as "limited" cause anything but problems? But, even with its short-comings, the ideas are concise and the verbal packaging is catchy, which makes it hard to replace.

I'm daring to propose a rework. Instead of another acronym, not as catchy and not as well-ordered, I'm just restating the five points, in order, but with some parallelism: two adjectives or two adverbs followed by a prepositional phrase. Perhaps this has similar mnemonic value but with a bit more clarity.

1. Unable and Unwilling in Sin - In his sinful state man is unable and unwilling to seek God. Man may appear to have some civic good, or some interest in spiritual things, but in his heart there is no true desire for God. Man is hopelessly lost and completely dead in his sin. (Rom 3:11, Eph 2:1)

2. Elected and Predestined by God - From all eternity God chose a people for his own glory. He looked at sinful humanity and graciously decided to save some, but not all. His choice was not conditioned on seeing something in us, but is hidden in the mystery of his will. We cannot see who is elect, but when we look back at our own salvation, we know that it was God who did it. (Eph 1:4, Rom 9:16, 2 Thes 2:13)

3. Specifically and Actually Saved by Christ - Christ laid down his life for his sheep. Even though Christ's death is genuinely offered to all, it was specifically intended for God's elect. Christ's death is not merely potential salvation: it is actual salvation for his people. However, Christ is rightly held up as the savior of all men because he is offered to all and he is the only hope for every man. (John 10:14-15, 1 Tim 4:40, Tit 2:14)

4. Regenerated and Called by the Holy Spirit - God works by his Spirit through the preached Word to bring his people to faith. At some specific point in time, God's Spirit regenerates a sinful man so that he hears and responds to the gospel in faith. God desires that all people hear the message of salvation, but only those in whom the Spirit moves will actually believe. (Rom 10:14, John 3:5, 1 Tim 2:4, 1 Cor 1:23-24)

5. Sanctified and Secure unto Glory - God's sovereign work of salvation continues throughout the believer's life. After conversion, God's Spirit tirelessly and unfailingly works to conform us into the image of Christ. And we have the Spirit as a seal, a guarantee, that we will be brought into glory. Christ will not lose even one of his sheep. (Rom 8:29, Eph 1:13-14, 1 Thes 5:23-24, John 10:28)

This is an understanding of salvation that gives God all the glory. We humbly receive and respond to his grace. However, even though God sovereignly moves in ways we cannot see, we are not passive. We must hear and believe. We must join in God's work of bringing the gospel to all. But in doing so, we know that it is God orchestrating everything from beginning to end. To God be the glory.