All That Is in God: Evangelical Theology and the Challenge of Classical Christian Theism

by James E. Dolezal

The traditional doctrines do not need to be replaced or supplemented by more dynamic and lively notions of God. In fact, the God of classical Christian theism is infinitely more concerned with the welfare and conduct of His creatures than the God of theistic mutualism could ever be. This is because on the classical account God’s concern and care do not come and go; they do not rise and fall. They are one and the same as His eternal act of creation and, for His elect, the same as His eternal decree to do them good through the salvation He provides in His Son.

These virtues by which God cares and provides for His creatures are purely and unchangingly actual in Him. They are not stirred up or actualized by the actions of His creatures upon Him.

Moreover, God need not experience changes of relation in order to meaningfully relate Himself to His creatures. He need only ordain a change in the revelation of His unchanging being in accordance with His wisdom and the needs and requirements of the creature in time.