Further, it demonstrates that we don't have a world where, "God always gets what he wants" (falsifying Calvin's view of providence).
This is a defeater for the total depravity view. One needs to engage it, and explain it. Feel free to quote whomever you like. But we are called to be able to handle the data of scripture not reduce and eliminate those scriptures that don't fit into our world view (as we all do from time to time).
Clearly I don't think man is able to present themselves as sinless so as to make their reliance on Christ's sacrifice unnecessary! But I do think they have the freedom to engage the claims and accept them as rational and true. The HS/human mix of inputs to human decisions and actions seems to me to be underdetermined by the scriptures. My claim is that it isn't not solely human will and not soley HS but a blend...further our walk and maturity in Christ also seems to be a function of our action and HS action.
This salvific blend in fact seems to be we have freedom to comprehend God's offer and respond or reject it. We don't have any ability to earn salvation. So that certainly separates me from Erasmus, but to be fair Luther would have called me a heretic and at least assaulted me for quoting Luke 13:34.
