This summer I came to the realization that i was a Calvinist. I find myself answering a lot of questions about Calvinism and what I mean when I say I'm a Calvinist. To avoid repeating myself or typing up long explanations frequently, I figured I'd share this explanation I recently sent to a friend that asked.When someone says they are a Calvinist they are saying they hold to 5 theological points about soteriology (the study of salvation). This is a huge theological system that effects every other doctrine and belief of scripture (or so I believe). Its called "Calvinism" because a man named John Calvin (an early Protestant/reformer) was one of the first teachers to document these teachings in written form. Before him, the most well known person to teach these things or document these beliefs in written form was St. Augustine. Calvinists do not follow all teachings of John Calvin, just 5 specific points regarding salvation. Sometimes I refer to these teachings as "The doctrines of grace". But mostly I stick with the title Calvinist because its the most familiar term with most people. But please keep in mind, I'm a Christian and follower of Christ first and foremost. I just agree with the teachings that Calvin outlined.
What are the 5 points? They can be known by the acronym TULIP.
T-Total depravity
U-Unconditional election
L-Limited atonement
I-Irresistible grace
P-Perseverance of the saints
Total Depravity: We believe that man (apart from Christ) is in a position of spiritual death. We believe that man is corrupt, wicked, sinful. Scripture goes as far as to say man is dead spiritually. We believe that on his own, man does not desire the things of God, nor can he see them, hear them, or comprehend them. Apart from the regeneration of the Holy Spirit, we are walking corpses (spiritually speaking). We lack the ability to come to God on our own without the work of the Holy Spirit.
Unconditional election- We believe that God elected certain individuals for salvation before the foundations of the earth. We do not believe He elected everyone. We believe this election is not based on anything thing He foresaw in us (good or bad) or whether or not we had a desire for Him (because as the first point said, we can't even have that desire for Christ unless God gives it to us). We believe he predestined some individuals for salvation, others for vessels of wrath.
Limited atonement- We believe that while the death on the cross was sufficient to save all men and powerful enough to atone for all sins and all people, it was only efficient in redeeming the Lord's elect people. So what we're saying is that Christ did not die for every single person, but only those God has predestined for salvation.
Irresistible grace- We believe that salvation is wrought in the sinner by the work of God the Holy Spirit, not by man. We believe that if you are truly one of God's elect, then when the Holy Spirit regenerates you, you will ultimately come to Christ and be unable to resist the Holy Spirit and the grace given to you. Which just means- if you're one of God's elect, when He calls you, you can't resist that grace. We believe that all people are able to hear the external call of the gospel- the teaching that Jesus is God in the flesh, a call to repent and accept Christ by faith, and the promise of forgiveness. But we believe that only the elect can respond to that call by the irresistible grace given by God.
Perseverance of the saints- we believe that if an individual is truly one of God's elect and has been redeemed, then they cannot lose their salvation. We believe the elect cannot lose their salvation because it is in the hand of God, not of man. Once we are saved, we cannot part from the Father. This is not the same as "once saved always saved". That term suggests a false carnal Christianity where you can live however you want and claim Jesus as savior, but not acknowledge Him as Lord over your life, and still make it to heaven. That term almost implies a license to sin. We do not believe eternal security is a license to sin. We believe it is a gift and we should remain and abide in God's love and press on towards the goal. We believe that there is personal responsibility and that if one is truly a Christian, they will persevere to the end.
If anyone has a question about a specific point or would like some scriptural proof for a specific point, please let me know. I will do my best to reply as quickly as possible.
7 comments:
I am struggling with this right now.
"We believe he predestined some individuals for salvation, others for vessels of wrath." Explain what you mean here
I apologize for taking so long to reply Erica. If I can help you out with this or answer any questions you may have, please let me know.
Eric, Calvinists believe that God has not elected everyone for salvation and apart from that election, you cannot be saved. This means that we believe God has created some with no intention of saving them, and others, He has poured out his mercy and love and regenerating Spirit upon. Consider the scriptures as they discuss this difficult truth:
Rom 9:10 And not only so, but also when Rebekah had conceived children by one man, our forefather Isaac,
Rom 9:11 though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad--in order that God's purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls--
Rom 9:12 she was told, "The older will serve the younger."
Rom 9:13 As it is written, "Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated."
Rom 9:14 What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God's part? By no means!
Rom 9:15 For he says to Moses, "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion."
Rom 9:16 So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy.
Rom 9:17 For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, "For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth."
Rom 9:18 So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills.
Rom 9:19 You will say to me then, "Why does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?"
Rom 9:20 But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, "Why have you made me like this?"
Rom 9:21 Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use?
Rom 9:22 What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction,
Rom 9:23 in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory--
Rom 9:24 even us whom he has called, not from the Jews only but also from the Gentiles?
You know, that whole passage in context (Romans 9) isn't even talking about salvation. In fact, St. Paul doesn't even say anything about the Jews' salvation until chapter ten. Reread that section in light of what Paul is really talking about here, that is the election of Israel (not election = salvation, but election = chosen for a purpose, to reveal God to the nations) in light of their rejection of Christ. Context, context, context.
Ikonophile- Who is revealing God to the nations, the lost or saved people?
Pharaoh revealed the glory of God as Romans 9 says, and he wasn't saved, right?
Israel as a nation, had a purpose, as did the twelve apostles, yet not all the apostles, nor was all of Israel, saved.
Post a Comment