The Five Points of Calvinism
There are two mains camps of theology within
Christianity in America today: Arminianism and Calvinism. Calvinism is a
system of biblical interpretation taught by John Calvin. Calvin lived
in France in the 1500's at the time of Martin Luther who sparked the
Reformation.
The system of Calvinism adheres to a very high view of
scripture and seeks to derive its theological formulations based solely
on God’s word. It focuses on God’s sovereignty, stating that God is able
and willing by virtue of his omniscience, omnipresence, and
omnipotence, to do whatever He desires with His creation. It also
maintains that within the Bible are the following teachings: That God,
by His sovereign grace predestines people into salvation; that Jesus
died only for those predestined; that God regenerates the individual
where he is then able and wants to choose God; and that it is impossible
for those who are redeemed to lose their salvation.
Arminianism, on the other hand, maintains that God
predestined, but not in an absolute sense. Rather, He looked into the
future to see who would pick him and then He chose them. Jesus died for
all peoples' sins who have ever lived and ever will live, not just the
Christians. Each person is the one who decides if he wants to be saved
or not. And finally, it is possible to lose your salvation (some
arminians believe you cannot lose your salvation).
Basically, Calvinism is known by an acronym: T.U.L.I.P.
Total Depravity (also known as Total Inability and Original Sin)
Unconditional Election
Limited Atonement (also known as Particular Atonement)
Irresistible Grace
Perseverance of the Saints (also known as Once Saved Always Saved)
These
five categories do not comprise Calvinism in totality. They simply represent some of its main points.
Total Depravity:
Sin has affected all parts of man. The heart, emotions,
will, mind, and body are all affected by sin. We are completely sinful.
We are not as sinful as we could be, but we are completely affected by
sin.
The doctrine of Total Depravity is derived from scriptures
that reveal human character: Man’s heart is evil (
Mark 7:21-23) and sick
Jer. 17:9). Man is a slave of sin (
Rom. 6:20). He does not seek for God
(Rom. 3:10-12). He cannot understand spiritual things (1 Cor. 2:14). He
is at enmity with God (Eph. 2:15). And, is by nature a child of wrath
(Eph. 2:3). The Calvinist asks the question, "In light of the scriptures
that declare man’s true nature as being utterly lost and incapable, how
is it possible for anyone to choose or desire God?" The answer is, "He
cannot. Therefore God must predestine."
Calvinism also maintains that because of our fallen nature
we are born again not by our own will but God’s will (John 1:12-13); God
grants that we believe (Phil. 1:29); faith is the work of God (John
6:28-29); God appoints people to believe (Acts 13:48); and God
predestines (Eph. 1:1-11; Rom. 8:29; 9:9-23).
Unconditional Election:God
does not base His election on anything He sees in the individual. He
chooses the elect according to the kind intention of His will (
Eph. 1:4-8;
Rom. 9:11) without any consideration of merit within the
individual. Nor does God look into the future to see who would pick Him.
Also, as some are elected into salvation, others are not (
Rom. 9:15, 21).
Limited Atonement:Jesus
died only for the elect. Though Jesus’ sacrifice was sufficient for
all, it was not efficacious for all. Jesus only bore the sins of the
elect. Support for this position is drawn from such scriptures as Matt.
26:28 where Jesus died for ‘many'; John 10:11, 15 which say that
(Jesus
died for the sheep (not the goats, per Matt. 25:32-33); John 17:9 where
Jesus in prayer interceded for the ones given Him, not those of the
entire world; Acts 20:28 and Eph. 5:25-27 which state that the Church
was purchased by Christ, not all people; and Isaiah 53:12 which is a
prophecy of Jesus’ crucifixion where he would bore the sins of many (not
all).
Irresistible Grace:When
God calls his elect into salvation, they cannot resist. God offers to
all people the gospel message. This is called the external call. But to
the elect, God extends an internal call and it cannot be resisted. This
call is by the Holy Spirit who works in the hearts and minds of the
elect to bring them to repentance and regeneration whereby they
willingly and freely come to God. Some of the verses used in support of
this teaching are Romans 9:16 where it says that "
it is not of him who wills nor of him who runs, but of God who has mercy";
Philippians 2:12-13 where God is said to be the one working salvation
in the individual; John 6:28-29 where faith is declared to be the work
of God;
Acts 13:48 where God appoints people to believe; and
John 1:12-13 where being born again is not by man’s will, but by God’s.
“All that the Father gives Me shall come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out," (John 6:37).
Acts 13:48 "And
as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.
"
Rom.8:29-30 "For whom he did foreknow, he also did
predestinate.... Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he
called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified."
Eph.1:4-5 "He hath chosen us in him before the
foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself,
according to the good pleasure of his will."
2 Th.2:11-12 "God shall send them strong delusion,
that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned."
2 Tim.1:9 "Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling,
not according to our works, but according to his own
purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ
Jesus before the world began."
Jude 1:4 "For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to
this condemnation.
Perseverance of the Saints:You
cannot lose your salvation. Because the Father has elected, the Son has
redeemed, and the Holy Spirit has applied salvation, those thus saved
are eternally secure. They are eternally secure in Christ. Some of the
verses for this position are John 10:27-28 where Jesus said His sheep
will never perish; John 6:47 where salvation is described as everlasting
life; Romans 8:1 where it is said we have passed out of judgment; 1
Corinthians 10:13 where God promises to never let us be tempted beyond
what we can handle; and Phil. 1:6 where God is the one being faithful to
perfect us until the day of Jesus’ return.
