I am a Calvinist. This is a term that is applied to people who adhere to the five points of Calvinism as set forth by Calvin in response to a theology known as Arminianism. In truth all five points of Calvinism are taught by the Apostle Paul, all are Biblical, and were believed and taught by such greats as John Gill, Charles Spurgeon, John Owen, John Bunyan, Jonathan Edwards, Matthew Henry, William Tyndale, George Whitefield and a host of others. These doctrines were held by some great missionaries like William Carey, Robert Moffat, David Livingstone, and John Mott. Long before John Calvin came on the scene St. Augustine taught the doctrines of grace. So when I say that I am a Calvinist I mean that I hold these Biblical Doctrines as dearer than silver or gold because they reveal to me the great work God has done to secure my salvation and my preservation and that, even with all of my failings and short comings, none of it depends on me! So, let me, in my own understanding, share with you, in summary form, what the Bible teaches using the "Five Points of Calvinism" in the acrostic TULIP:
TOTAL DEPRAVITY- Some call this Total Inability and it speaks to the fact that every aspect of our lives has been stained by sin. It does not mean we are as bad as we can be, nor does it mean that virtuous acts cannot be found with us. It means, basically, that sin has so pervaded our being that we cannot do good, that is, what God would call good. We are limited in our freedom of choice so that we cannot love God, nor can we live godly so long as we remain in that depraved state. Since God judges, not only our deeds but our motives as well, we are all found wanting! Therefore, except our will is freed, we are contained, limited, bound by sin. "Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?" (Romans 6:16)
UNCONDITIONAL ELECTION- By unconditional election it is meant that there is nothing within man to merit election. Because man is totally depraved, which means he is without Christ, without God, and without hope (Ephesians 2:11-13) God must do a work in man to bring him to Himself. Since God is no respecter of persons, there an be nothing within the man to provoke God to choose him as a vessel of honor, fit for His use. God chooses whom He will according to His own purpose. Remember this is just a brief summary and there is a lot more to say! Election simply cannot be denied! However, some people attempt to change the objects and meaning of election from for instance, the election of individuals to the election of the Church. And some attempt to base the election of the saints on God's foreknowledge. However, a true study will reveal both of these as errant!
LIMITED ATONEMENT- We might better call this Definite Atonement! The point is that Christ died on behalf of a particular, definite number of people who are the objects of God's saving grace. That is, the elect, those whose names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life from the foundation of the world (Revelation 20:12-15) who are gifts to the Son from the Father (John 6:37-40, 44) and who are promised preservation eternally. To believe that Christ's died for all men, even for those who are not of the elect, is to fail to recognize the significance of Christ's offering on our behalf.
IRRESISTIBLE GRACE- I suppose there are lots of ways of stating this but I look at it like this. All men come into this world "dead in trespasses and sins" and because we are dead God has to bring us to life so that we can respond to the gospel. This is called regeneration. So as we are regenerated we are given the gift of faith (Ephesians 2:8). Of course, if we are dead we cannot respond, but when we are quickened (made alive) and having been granted the gift of faith, we naturally respond to the call of God. Oh, I know, we might resist for awhile; I did! But eventually we will lose the battle and bow to grace through faith. Just as God said of his word, "So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it." (Isaiah 55:11) so it is with his gospel message. Remember, each of these points need to be taken as a whole.
PERSEVERANCE OF THE SAINTS- Frankly, it makes no sense to me when people say they believe this point but do not accept the others! We are talking about eternal security here. We are preserved in Christ, in God, forever! I personally take great comfort in knowing that my salvation was an act of God according to His Sovereign Will. I did not help him save me and I can't lose me!
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadethWho are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time." (1 Peter 1:3-5)
I have great admiration for those gifted men who have gone before. Some of the greatest minds mankind has ever known can be found there. They were Calvinists! The believe what the Bible taught and they followed sound practices for studying the word of God. I, on the other hand, am just a man, hopefully a man of God, who wants, above all things, to be faithful to the word of God. I hope you have a noble desire as well!
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