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PREFACE There is scarcely another word that arouses such suspicion, mistrust, and even animosity among professing Christians as the word Calvinism. And yet much of the zeal that is levelled against this system and those who hold and preach it is most certainly a zeal which is not according to knowledge. The following articles are written in the hope that much of the abuse that is hurled at the Calvinistic system of theology will be withdrawn, and that the truth of that great teaching, which was the backbone of our fathers in the faith, and the strength of the church in a far more glorious era than our own, will be clearly seen. Introduction We must take our starting point in Holland in the year 1610. James Arminius, a Dutch professor) had just died and his teaching had been formulated into five main points of doctrine by his followers known as Arminians. Up to this point, the churches of Holland, in common with the other major Protestant churches of Europe, had subscribed to the Belgic and Heidelberg Confessions of Faith, which were both set squarely on Reformation teachings. The Arminians wanted to change this position, however, and they presented their five points in the form of a Remonstrance or protest to the Dutch Parliament. The Five Points of Arminianism were, broadly speaking, as follows:
T Total Depravity (i.e. Total Inability)As can be readily seen, these set themselves in complete opposition to the Five Points of Arminianism. Man is totally unable to save himself on account of the Fall in the Garden of Eden being a total fall. If unable to save himself, then God must save. If God must save, then God must be free to save whom He will. if God has decreed to save whom He will, then it is for those that Christ made atonement on the Cross. If Christ died for them, then the Holy Spirit will effectually call them into that salvation. If salvation then from the beginning has been of God, the end will also be of God and the saints will persevere to eternal joy. These are the so-called Five Points of Calvinism. We shall now proceed to examine them in more detail, firmly based as they are upon the Word of God, and held tenaciously by our forbears in 'the faith once delivered to the saints'. For that faith we are to contend earnestly. We shall see the truth of what Charles Haddon Spurgeon meant when he declared, 'It is no novelty, then, that I am preaching; no new doctrine. I love to proclaim those strong old doctrines that are nicknamed Calvinism, but which are surely and verily the revealed truth of God as it is in Christ Jesus.' As we come to consider the first of the five main points of Calvinism, surely the thing that should impress us is the fact that this system begins with something that must be fundamental in the matter of salvation, and that is, a correct assessment of the condition of the one who is to be saved. If we have deficient and light views about sin, then we are liable to have defective views regarding the means necessary for the salvation of the sinner. If we believe that the fall of man in the Garden of Eden was merely partial, then we shall most likely be satisfied with a salvation that is attributable, partly to man, and partly to God. How full of common sense are the words of J. C. Ryle on this subject! 'There are very few errors and false doctrines,' he says, 'of which the beginning may not be traced up to unsound views about the corruption of human nature. Wrong views of a disease will always bring with them wrong views of a remedy. Wrong views of the corruption of human nature will always carry with them wrong views of the grand antidote and cure of that corruption.' Fully aware that this was the case, the theologians of the Reformation and those who formulated the Reformed teaching into these Five Points at the Synod of Dort, basing their findings firmly on the Scriptures, pronounced that man's natural state is a state of total depravity and therefore, there was a total inability on the part of man to gain, or contribute to, his own salvation. When Calvinists speak of total depravity, however, they do not mean that every man is as evil as he could possibly be, nor that man is unable to recognise the will of God; nor yet, that he is unable to do any good towards his fellow man) or even give outward allegiance to the worship of God. What they do mean is that when man fell in the Garden of Eden he fell in his 'totality'. The whole personality of man has been affected by the Fall, and sin extends to the whole of the faculties the will, the understanding, the affections and all else. We believe this to be irrefutably taught by the Word of God to which we now refer. The following are merely a selection of the Scriptures that confirm the Calvinistic teaching of total depravity. The Bible teaches with absolute clarity that man, by nature, is DEAD: 'Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.' [Rom 5.12]. It tells us that men are BOUND: 'In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; and that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.' [2 Tim 2.25 f]. It shows us that men are BLIND AND DEAF:'. . . but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables; that seeing they may see and not perceive, and hearing they may hear and not understand.' [Mark 4.1 if]. It shows us that we are UNINSTRUCTABLE: 'But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness unto him; neither can he know then', because they are spiritually discerned.' [1 Cor 2.14]. The Bible speaks of us as being NATURALLY SINFUL: [i] By Birth: 'Behold, I was shapen in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.' [Ps 51.5]. [ii] By Practice: 'And God saw that the wickedness of man was great upon the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.' [Gen 6.5]. This then, is man's natural state. We must ask, then: Can the DEAD raise themselves? Can the BOUND free themselves? Can the BLIND give themselves sight, or the DEAF hearing? Can the SLAVES redeem themselves? Can the UNINSTRUCTABLE teach themselves? Can the NATURALLY SINFUL change themselves? Surely not I 'Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean?' asks Job; and he answers, 'Not one!' [Job 14.4]. 'Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots?' asks Jeremiah; 'If they can,' he concludes, 'then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil.' [Jer 13.23]. Could the Word of God show more plainly than it does that the depravity is total? and that our inability to desire or procure salvation is also total? The picture is one of death spiritual death. We are like Lazarus in his tomb; we are bound hand and foot; corruption has taken hold upon us. Just as there was no glimmer of life in the dead body of Lazarus, so there is no 'inner receptive spark' in our hearts. But the Lord performs the miracle both with the physically dead, and the spiritually dead; for 'you hath he quickened made alive who were dead in trespasses and sins.' [Eph 2.1]. Salvation, by its very nature, must be 'of the Lord.' Our acceptance or rejection of total depravity as a true Biblical statement of man's condition by nature will largely determine our attitude towards the next point that came under review at the Synod of Dort. Unconditional election is well set forth in the Baptist Confession of Faith of 1689, which we here quote as a convenient summary. It is also stated in almost identical terms in the Westminster Confession and the Thirty-Nine Articles of the Church of England and all the major confessions. 'Those of mankind who are predestinated unto life,' says the Baptist Confession, 'God, before the foundation of the world was laid, according to His eternal and immutable purpose, and the secret counsel and good pleasure of His will, hath chosen in Christ unto everlasting glory, out of His mere free grace and love, without any other thing in the creature as a condition or cause moving Him thereunto.' [Chapter 3, Article 5]. The doctrine of unconditional election follows naturally from the doctrine of total depravity. If man is, indeed, dead and held captive, and blind etc., then the remedy for all these conditions must lie outside man himself [that is, with God]. We asked in the last chapter: 'Can the dead raise themselves?' and the answer must inevitably be: 'of course not.' If, however, some men and women are raised out of their spiritual death 'born again' as John's Gospel puts it and since they are unable to perform this work for themselves, then we must conclude that it was God who raised them. On the other hand, as many men and women are not 'made alive', we must likewise conclude that that is because God has not raised them. If man is unable to save himself on account of the Fall in Adam being a total fall, and if God alone can save, and if all are not saved, then the conclusion must be that God has not chosen to save all. This is no blind philosophy, but is drawn from, built upon, supported by, and revealed in the Scriptures of God. The subject is one that is as vast as the ocean itself; but we can do no more than quote just a few key verses and scriptures that act as chart and compass across these mighty seas. The story of the Bible is the story of unconditional election. It is strange that those who oppose themselves to this doctrine fail to recognise this. Some believers have difficulty in believing that God could pass by some and choose others, and yet they have no apparent difficulty in believing that God called Abraham out of heathen Ur of the Chaldees and left the others to their heathenism. Why should God choose the nation of Israel as His 'peculiar people'? There is no need to speculate, for Deuteronomy 7.7 gives us the answer: 'The Lord did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because you were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people; but because the Lord loved you . . .' Why should God, completely disregarding the family laws of Israel, choose the younger son Jacob, in place of the elder Esau? Again, 'to the law and to the testimony'. Romans 9.11-13: '. . . that the purpose of God according to election might stand . . . Jacob have I loved but Esau have I hated.' What was the doctrine that Jesus preached in the synagogue at Nazareth but the doctrine of unconditional election? 'And I tell you, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elias . . . but unto none of them was Elias sent save unto a woman of Sarepta. . . and many lepers were in Israel in the days of Eliseus . . . and none of them was cleansed saving Naaman the Syrian.' [Luke 4.25-27]. We know the outcome of our Lord's preaching of that message: 'They led him to the brow of the hill that they might cast him down headlong.' Lack of space forbids a full account of God's sovereign choice of His people; but the truth is clear: 'Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you' [John l5.6]; 'Has not the potter power over the clay, to make one lump unto honour and another to dishonour'? [Rom 9.21]. 'I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy.' [Rom 9.15]; 'Chosen in Christ from the foundation of the world,' 'predestinated unto the adoption of children' [Eph 1.45]; and so on. We grant that there is a 'kind of election' that is held by many believers today. Broadly speaking this is based on Romans 8.29: 'For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate, etc.' The case runs something like this: God foresaw those who were going to accept Christ, and therefore He 'elected' them to eternal life. Against this view we point out that:
This third point not only brings us to the central point of the five, but also to the central fact of the gospel, that is, the purpose of Christ's death on the Cross. This is not accidental. The theologians who had set themselves the task of defending the truths of the Protestant Reformation against the attacks of the Arminian party were following a Biblical and logical line in their formulations and had now arrived at the very pivot of salvation. First of all, they had asked, 'Who is to be saved?' The answer was 'Man'. But the Bible's teaching with regard to man showed that man, in his natural state, is totally unable to save himself. Thus, we have the teaching of the Bible on man set under the general heading of total depravity, or total inability. Secondly, as some men and women are undoubtedly saved, then it must have been God Himself who had saved them in contra-distinction to the rest of mankind. This is election: 'That the purpose of God according to election might stand . . .' [Rom 9.11]. However, this election only 'marked the house to which salvation should travel,' as Spurgeon puts it, and a full and perfect and satisfactory atonement was still required for the sins of the elect, so that God might be, not only a Saviour, but 'a just God, and a Saviour.' This atonement, as we all acknowledge, was accomplished through Christ's voluntary submission to the death on the Cross where He suffered under the justice of this just God, and procured the salvation that he as Saviour had ordained. On the Cross, then and, no doubt, we all accept this Christ bore punishment, and procured salvation. The question now arises: whose punishment did He bear, and whose salvation did He procure? There are three avenues along which we can travel with regard to this:
Christ's death, then, could only have been for one of these three reasons: to save all; to save no one in particular; to save a particular number. The third view is that which is held by the Calvinist and is generally called limited atonement, or particular redemption. Christ died to save a particular number of sinners; that is, those 'chosen in him before the foundation of the world' [Eph 1.4]; those whom the Father had 'given him out of the world' [John 17.9]; those for whom He Himself said He shed His blood: 'This is my blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many, for the remission of sins' [Matt 26.28]. This last view, we claim, does justice to the purpose of Christ's coming to this earth to die on the Cross. 'Thou shalt call his name Jesus, for he shall save his people from their sins.' Not the Jews, surely, for the Jews are not saved as a people. Jesus 'loved the church, and gave himself for it' [Eph 5.25]. 'He was delivered for our offences, and raised again for our justification' [Rom. 4.25]. Whom does the Holy Spirit mean when He says, 'Our'? The world? If so, then the Universalist is right, for Christ was, then, 'delivered for [the world's] offences and raised again for [the world's] justification', so the world is justified before God. 'As in Adam all die, so in Christ shall all be made alive' [1 Cor 15.22]. This again can only mean that all of Adam's posterity die in Adam, as indeed they do, for 'death has passed upon all men'; but all of Christ's posterity the Church that He gave Himself for are made alive in Him. Why is this? Surely, it is because He gave Himself for them! 'By his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many, for he shall bear their iniquities' [Is 53.11]. And when He accomplishes this as He hangs upon the Cross, says the prophet Isaiah in that great chapter 53 of his prophecy, He sees 'of the travail of his soul and shall be satisfied.' The travail of His soul as He pours out His soul an offering for our sin shall bear spiritual children to the praise of His name, and He shall be satisfied when He sees this work accomplished. We do not overlook the fact that there are some Scriptures which refer to the 'world', and many have taken these as their starting point in the question of Redemption. However, when we compare scripture with scripture, we see that the use of the word 'world' need not imply 'every man and woman in the world.' 'Behold, the world has gone alter him,' they said of Jesus; every person, however, had not 'gone after' Christ. The expression means 'every kind of person' and normally Gentile as well as Jew. The over-riding question must always be the Divine intention; did God intend to save all men, or did He not? If He did not intend to save all men without exception but only the elect, then, the work of Christ on the Cross is a glorious success, and we right well believe: 'All that the Father giveth me shall come to me . . .' [John 6.37]. If, on the other hand, it was God's intention to save the entire world, then the atonement of Christ has been a great failure, for vast numbers of mankind have not been saved. Christ paid our debt! Whose debt? The world's, or the elect's? Surely, if a man has been redeemed by a redeemer, then the law which he has broken must be satisfied by reason of the work of the Surety on his behalf. And freely in my place endured The whole of wrath Divine; Payment God will not twice demand, First at my bleeding Surety's hand, And then again at mine. This fourth point of the Calvinistic system of belief is, once again, the logical outcome of all that has gone before it. If men are unable to save themselves on account of their fallen nature, and if God has purposed to save them, and Christ has accomplished their salvation, then it logically follows that God must also provide the means for calling them into the benefits of that salvation which He has procured for them. The Calvinistic system of theology, however, although soundly logical, is more than a system of mere logic. It is a system of pure Biblical belief which stands firmly on the Word of God. Its doctrine of irresistible grace, then, is not devised by the men who drew up the Five Points of Calvinism at the Synod of Dort, but is the revelation unfolded in God's Holy Word. For example, Romans 8.20: 'Moreover, whom he did predestinate, them he also called.' God not only elected men and women to salvation; He also called those whom it pleased Him to elect. What is meant by irresistible grace? We know that when the gospel call goes out in a church, or in the open air, or through reading God's Word, not everyone heeds that call. Not everyone becomes convinced of sin and his need of Christ. This explains the fact that there are two calls. There is not only an outward call; there is also an inward call. The outward call may be described as 'words of the preacher', and this call, when it goes forth, may work a score of different ways in a score of different hearts producing a score of different results. One thing it will not do, however; it will not work a work of salvation in a sinner's soul. For a work of salvation to be wrought the outward call must be accompanied by the inward call of God's Holy Spirit, for He it is who 'convinces of sin, and righteousness, and judgment.' And when the Holy Spirit calls a man, or a woman, or a young person by His grace, that call is irresistible: it cannot be frustrated; it is the manifestation of God's irresistible grace. This is substantiated again and again in God's Word of Life, as for example in the following verses and portions.
Arminians believe that men and women can and do resist the call of God's gospel, and, therefore, they contend, there can be no such doctrine as that of irresistible grace. We believe that not only can men and women resist God's gospel, but that they do, and must by their very natures, resist it. Therefore there must be such a doctrine as the doctrine of irresistible grace. In other words, some influence greater than our natures greater than our resistance must be brought to bear upon our souls, or else we are for ever doomed, for 'the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God.' There are three great forces at work in the matter of a man's salvation:
And now, to the final point the perseverance of the saints. Again, for the sake of summary, let us refer to the Baptist Confession, which agrees on this point with the other historic confessions of faith. 'Those whom God hath accepted in the Beloved,' it says, 'effectually called and sanctified by His Spirit, and given the precious faith of His elect unto, can neither totally nor finally fall from the state of grace, but shall certainly persevere therein to the end, and be eternally saved, seeing the gifts and callings of God are without repentance. . . ' Again let us show that this is exactly what the Scriptures teach us. 'For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. 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. What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? . . . for I am persuaded that neither death, nor life . . . nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.' [Rom 8.27 ff]. And again, let us recognise the fact that all that the men at the Synod of Dort [and those who teach likewise] were doing, was putting into small compass in a systematic form, the teaching of God's gospel of free and sovereign grace. If man cannot save himself, then God must save him. If all are not saved, then God has not saved all. If Christ has made satisfaction for sins, then, it is for the sins of those who are saved. If God intends to reveal this salvation in Christ to the hearts of those whom He chooses to save, then, God will provide the means of effectually doing so. If, therefore, having ordained to save, died to save, and called to salvation those who could never save themselves, He will also preserve those saved ones unto eternal life to the glory of His Name. Thus following total depravity, and unconditional election, and limited atonement, and effectual calling, we have the perseverance of the saints. 'He that hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ' [Phil 1.6]. The Word of God is replete with references to this blessed truth. 'And this is the Father's will, that of all He hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day' [John 6.39]. 'I give unto my sheep eternal life, and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand' [John 10.28). 'For if; when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life' [Rom 5.10]. 'There is therefore now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus' [Rom 8.1]. This is the believer's hallmark, that he belongs to Christ; that he is persevering in the things of Christ; that he is 'giving all diligence to make his calling and election sure.' The believer in Christ may fall into temptation, but the Lord will 'not suffer him to be tempted above that which he is able, but will with the temptation also make a way to escape,' so that the believer comes forth, and goes forth again in the things pertaining to his salvation to the glory of Christ. Those matchless verses of Romans 8.28-39 show the Divine logic in God's eternal salvation; the logic that Calvinism simply states. The salvation that begins in the mind and purpose of God must end in the fulfillment of His unthwartable purpose that those 'whom he did foreknow' are eternally united with their Saviour. This, then, in very broad outline, is the teaching that is sometimes called Calvinism. Far from being an innovation of man, it is the doctrine of the Word of God clearly formulated and set forth. The perennial question, however, is sure to be raised: 'But does not this Calvinism hinder the work of the gospel?' The most casual glance at the history of the church of Christ in this world is sufficient to invalidate such an opinion. The gospel of Christ has flourished most where and when the Lord's people have held these doctrines of grace close to their hearts. We think of the zeal of William Carey that drove him from his shoe-maker's shop to evangelize for Christ in India. Carey was a solid Calvinist, as also was Andrew Fuller, another great Baptist who helped form the Baptist Missionary Society. Consider these words of the godly David Brainerd, the man who believed that the Red Indians of America as well as the white men had souls; 'I then had two desires', he writes in his journal, 'mine own sanctification, and the ingathering of God's elect.' One of the greatest evangelists of modern times was the Calvinistic George Whitefield, yet his Calvinism never hindered his preaching the gospel of Christ: 'With what divine pathos', it was said of him, 'did he exhort the sinner to turn to Christ.' Calvinism, if we can use that word and not be misunderstood, was the gospel of Robert Murray M'Cheyne, as it was of Andrew Bonar, and William Burns, that great leader of revival and missionary to China. Martyrs, Reformers, leaders of Christ's church on earth, when they tell of the gospel that they preached and died for, tell out the gospel of God's saving grace to His own elect flock. How could one begin to list them? Luther, Calvin, Tyndale, Latimer, Knox, Wishart, Perkins, Rutherford, Bunyan, Owen, Charnock, Goodwin, Flavel, Watson, Henry, Watts, Edwards, Whitefield, Newton, Spurgeon, are but a few of God's noble army of witnesses to the truth of sovereign grace. Was any of their work for the Lord hindered by what they believed? And what did they believe? They believed that God was sovereign Lord. They dared to believe that they worshipped and served a King who 'worketh all things after the counsel of his own will.' Well did that prince of preachers, Charles Haddon Spurgeon, put it when he said, 'I have known men bite their lip and grind their teeth in rage when I have been preaching the sovereignty of God . . . the doctrinaires of today will allow a God, but He must not be a King.' Did Spurgeon hinder the gospel? And yet, how many rose up in strife against him on account of his doctrine! 'We are cried down as hypers,' he could say, 'scarcely a minister looks on us or speaks favourably of us; because we hold strong views upon the divine sovereignty of God, and His divine electings and special love towards His people.' Perhaps a word from that same giant of the church should set a closing exhortation before us to lay firm hold upon these blessed truths of God's Word and tell them forth to the praise of His Name. 'The old truth that Calvin preached, that Augustine preached, that Paul preached, is the truth that I must preach today, or else be false to my conscience and my God. I cannot shape the truth, I know of no such thing as paring off the rough edges of a doctrine. John Knox's gospel is my gospel; that which thundered through Scotland, must thunder through England again.' Amen and Amen Author W.J. Seaton is Minister of Inverness Reformed Baptist Church. This tract is taken from a booklet published by The Banner of Truth Trust, 3 Murrayfield Road, Edinburgh, EH12 6EL. One of the premier publishers of Puritan and Reformed works is the The Banner of Truth Trust. ALSO OF INTEREST: Back to Top  5 Points of Calvanism Posted By: Norm Laurence - Ma. I must admit that I also held a rather dubious, but mistaken view of this teaching until, that is, I read for myself the 5 Points in your article and was surprised to find some of my favorite authors among those that you have listed, as well as the fact that I totally agree with them. Thank you for a most informative work. Post New Comment :: Reply to this Comment 
The main point- the 6th point of calvinism Posted By: John Keeter And here I was thinking salvation was "by grace through faith" and had nothing to do with Calvin and everything to do with God! Oh wait--that's because it is right! Even when I was a Calvinst I had sense enough to realize that the root is somewhere --and that if you go down deep enough- to the source from which it springs- it makes God LESS than Sovereign (He can't allow freewill because that would keep Him from having His) the author of sin and little more than a monster. BTW look up the actual definition of the word monster to see what I am saying. More bully than beast. As an intellectual argument is sure is satisfying. That is, until you realize that it wont work until or unless you admit that it does indeed what you so strongly insist it doesn't-which is make men muppets and the Father a fiend. Logic is logical. Calvinism is fatlism and even Lorraine Boettner knew and admitted it had more in common with Islamic philosophy than Biblical theology. But it sounds so smart! And it makes those who believe it sound and seem so superior for espousing it! If you don't believe it just ask them and they'll be glad to show you! Poor dumb sinners-- if only they knew they weren't elect and that God double damned them ( or maybe He just snubbs them by passing them by like a snooty prom Queen does a chess club president) then they'd realize they are indeed just part of a cruel show off of sovereignty, doomed for hell in eternity past, headed for hell because God was bored. No wonder reformers like Calvin could and did kill those they called heretics, just like their papist forefathers and close kin (it was a re-formation) so easily, after all God could! Alas, 2 Peter 2:1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. 2 Peter 2:2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. No wonder they call Christians cruel and cold hearted. The truth is evil spoken of because so many distort it and disseminate it that way while wondering why they are so disliked. Post New Comment :: Reply to this Comment
Thirty-Nine Articles Posted By: Nehna - Forest Lake Do you believe that the Thirty-Nine Articles is a via media between Catholism and Calvanism? I would very much appriectiate your views, and replys on the matter. Post New Comment :: Reply to this Comment
The Five Points of Calvinism by W.J. Seaton Posted By: Mike Ratliff - Gardner, Kansas God has been drawing me into the truth of the Doctrines of Grace for over a year. The Church I am part of is mired in a mismash doctrinal stew that is part Calvinism and part Arminianism or Pelagian at best. I suppose that is called partial-Pelagian. The evangelical church in the West is polluted by this. Since I have been studying the Doctrines of Grace I have repented of my false views. This article was the final "straw that broke the camels back" in my case. I am grateful for the Lord leading me to this article and I am very glad their are theologians who still hold to the truth. Yours in Christ. Post New Comment :: Reply to this Comment
Calvinism: What a Relief! Posted By: Karen Kellock - Borego desert Understanding the history of the church is crucial to getting Calvinist fine points. After a lifetime search, the bible and Christianity is finally non-contradictory, like a jigsaw puzzle which has finally come together. And to think that it was Calvinism which was so utterly disclaimed in the public schools. No other theology begat such repugnance. And yet it is so beautiful and relieving--simple enough for a peasant or child to understand, yet deep enough for the greatest minds on earth. Post New Comment :: Reply to this Comment
Calvinism is Thrilling Posted By: Karen Kellock - Southwest Desert Even telling someone I've become a happy Calvinist brings such disparagement. It was given such a bad rap by the Arminian religious establishment. But it is such thrilling reading, reconciling all discrepancies which I have sensed since becoming a Christian and hobbling from one church to another, finding only contradiction in the Bible. AT LAST, CALVINISM SOLVES IT ALL--IT ALL "FITS". And to think our government began on these principles, and what we have to contend with now that Arminians (fool) tend to rule--esp in school. Post New Comment :: Reply to this Comment
Televangelists and the Arminian Error Posted By: Maria Civetta - Desert Sabatical I don't even watch TBN now that I've started reading Calvinism. These five doctrines are totally reconciling--there is no more discrepancy in the Bible. The reason Calvinism is so thrilling is because it is GOD--His plan, His words, His attitude and not man's. The Arminian error is everywhere--and it is a scare, blasphemiasly saying that salvation isn't rare and that man is only partially depraved (about the five graces, they don't really care). If only people realized how thrilling it is--but they can't since only God can make them aware. Until that time Arminian mediocrity is their fare. Post New Comment :: Reply to this Comment
Makes Perfect Sense Posted By: Dr. Marikelok - Early California This idea of limited atonement clears everything up perfectly, and it's God's justice. This has cleared enigmas from psychology and life. And it brings such gratitude from the Elect. Post New Comment :: Reply to this Comment
Regarding Omniscience... Posted By: A Sinner - In the Hands of a Compassionate Creator Free will is evidenced in the bible, of a variety that precludes foreknowledge by God. In Genesis Chapter 3 verses 9-11, God calls to Adam and asks where he is, and Adam says to God that he was hiding because he is naked. God infers that Adam has eaten from the tree in this dialogue. Moreover, He did not know in advance that Adam would eat from the tree, as He is surprised and reacts in anger to Adam's actions. Omniscience, it would seem, refers to knowledge of the function and property of things, but not knowledge of the future. God cannot know the future in such explicit terms because humanity has free will. One can indeed make choices to do good or to do evil. All that denying the existence of choice facilitates is the resignation of sinful men to sin, and the haughty judgement of others by those of us who consider ourselves pious. Calvinism promulgates both the arrogance of the pretentiously pious and the debauchery of the habitual sinner. God will forgive all those who ask for forgiveness and mean it. I say this not from fear of punishment for my sins, but from faith in the compassion of our Creator. For if we are in fact created in His image, it must go beyond the aesthetic. Human compassion must be like God's. If we feel compassion for sinners and the sanctity of their souls, God must feel this compassion on a much more powerful scale. How could an Entity with such strong compassion do anything less than forgive all who ask for forgiveness? To suggest that God is a petty accountant of sin is an insult to Him. And to suggest that He knows everything in advance of its occurrence is not supported by biblical evidence. To twist scripture to make it say something politically advantageous or self-aggrandizing is all I see being done with these five points. Calvinism served to do nothing more than drive people to the ascetic over-production that is today's capitalist American establishment, and speaks nothing to the compassionate God I pray to. Post New Comment :: Reply to this Comment
Limited Reasoning Posted By: Tom - California "Christ's death, then, could only have been for one of these three reasons: to save all; to save no one in particular; to save a particular number." I have enjoyed your articles, but have found too many declarations like this one. This tendancy to think that every point has been covered in the article leads to glaring omisions. There is at least one more reason for Christ's death, and one far more biblical than any stated in your article. Jesus died to save whosoever. John 3:15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Do notice the word "believeth", it means continues to believe. Can someone fall from grace, ask Paul, 2 Timothy 4:10 For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world,... If the believer were truly secure why would Peter say 2 Peter 2:20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. 21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. 22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire. Back to Christ's other reason for going to the cross. The Scripture is clear that He died for all men. John 12:32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. Heb. 10:10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. I am glad that sinners are not in the hands of an angry God, but from now until their judgment they are in the hands of a loving God. Pray that more people find Him. Post New Comment :: Reply to this Comment
In Him before the foundation of the world Posted By: Jordan Walters - Plainwell, MI That pretty much sums it all up. God's chosen people were chosen before there was a world, that means the election took place before we were registared voters. If are names are in "The Lambs Book of Life," the Holy Spirit will hunt us down and snatch us out of lodibar, as my pastor would say. The only part we have in salvation is we do the sinning, God does the saving. Amen. Post New Comment :: Reply to this Comment
The Tulip Posted By: Charles Quinn - Northern Ireland I love the doctrine of election.just to think that choose me in Christ before the foundation of the world Thes. 2:13 Post New Comment :: Reply to this Comment
Elect and elect's inheritance Posted By: Jon Stockton - Maui Is it possible that there are the elect (foreknown) of God and then those whom God sends the elect to as part of the ministry of reconciliation? Is not the inheritance of the elect- the Lost who are totally depraved- the work remaining to make up what is lacking in the sufferings of Christ? Why are all Christians considered the elect? We are His workmanship created for good works in Christ for whom or who's benefit? If God is to be faithful to a thousand generations of those who believe, doesn't the two-tier concept apply? (Those on the wathershed of blessings and promises attributed to the covenant and those who are not) Post New Comment :: Reply to this Comment
Question Concerning Calvinism Posted By: Michael Jones - Atlantic Beach, NC I have just completed this reading and was motivated to do so, by a search to confirm or disconfirm a "belief posture" recently offered to me as a "Calvinist Doctrine", that "belief posture" being - that a Christain cannot be free, this side of physical death, from sin. This belief was heralded from a Mens Bible Study meeting being held on Saturday Morning in a Florida Presbyterian Church. I did not see any justification for this "belief posture" in this article. My research continues. Any help you can provide concerning the Calvinist position on this "belief posture" is greatly appreciated. Thank you for your attention. Post New Comment :: Reply to this Comment
God is God, that is Calvanism! Posted By: David Afoakpah - Ghana, West Africa. Just take one point out of the truth of calvanism and you would destroy every thing. Any doctrine that contradict calvanism is idolism they all else most of the time< would want to give the glory to themselves if not satan their master. Calvanism is all about God's sovereignty being proclaimed. Post New Comment :: Reply to this Comment
The Five Points of Calvinism Posted By: Sylvia Denton - Inverness I thoroughly enjoyed `The Five Points of Calvinism` and would offer my own comments as follows. Grounded in the teachings of a Free Baptist Minister as a young Christian I quickly came to terms with the doctrines of election and free grace. It was much later that I was to consider Paul the Apostle, and in particular his conversion experience to confirm my belief in irresistable grace. Paul(Saul of Tarsus) was an unbeliever and what is more he persecuted the early Church (Acts 9 v 1) and yet in Galations 1 v 15 & 16 we read of a coverted Paul declaring that God separated him for service while in his mother's womb. A rebellious Paul then was predestined to serve God but it would be much later that he would effectively capitulate his rebellious position following a unique call by Christ and in the fullness of Godd's timing, a call that Paul could not resist. Christ confirmed in Acts Ch 9 v 15 that Paul was indeed `a chosen vessel` and in verse 19 Paul was said to be `certain days with the disciples who were at Damscus` before immediately preaching Christ in the Synagogues. A learning process perhaps for a self confessed Pharisee, son of a Pharisee steeped in tradition and the teachings of Judaism? Here we have evidence of an unbeliever who openly rejected Christ's teachings while hostile to the Church who was then radically transformed to believe in Him as a result of a supernatural call from Jesus himself. This surely must equate to a living testimony of irresistable free grace? Post New Comment :: Reply to this Comment
Calvinism Posted By: Haskel Sikes - Amarillo Texas Our subscribing to the tenets of Calvinism does not free us from evangelism. It is difficult to by-pass the Great Commission. It is rather presumptious for us to preach or teach that "election" determines who will come to Christ, without accepting our role in telling people about our Lord and Master. I don't think we want to void Sunday School teachers or preachers because they have no say in who comes to Christ. Lastly, I don't think we have reached that level of understanding God's will so well that we can say absolutely what "election" encompasses. But, it is also sad to believe that anyone has been foreordained to never know Jesus as their Savior. Thank you, Haskel Post New Comment :: Reply to this Comment
Calvinism Posted By: Otfried Schellhas - Germany I am not sure what shocks me more:reading the asseritions of calvinism, or the rejoicing of several commentators in their agreement. What joy or satisfaction can there be in this doctrine, even or especially if it is true? Are we then not just helpless and hopeless puppets? Why even try to respond to God or to care about others salvation? What difference does it make? I am sure the is some aspect of truth in calvinist teaching, as I am sure that not all scriptures have been thorouhgly considered. I am not absolutely sure we can even understand it all from our perspective, but this: I know whom I have believed and the Spirit of Him who is my Saviour is vastly different from the image of a God who is described by Calvinism: all peace , love and joy- nothing arbitrary, even terrifying as I would expect in the God of Islam and other fatalistic creeds. Lastly, as mentioned by other commentators, look at the proponents of this creed: intolerant even merciless prosecutors of what they regarded as heretics. -Somehow I cannot get myself to follow their icy cold creed. Post New Comment :: Reply to this Comment
Calvinism Posted By: Otfried Schellhas - Germany At the risk of over-responding in this my 3. comment, I wish to add some theological caveats to my initial, more emotionally felt reservations: Obviously some truth is included in the 5 points and no-one will deny there are elements of predestination and all that prsent in the word. Two observations however need to be made; Calvinism, like all -"Isms" is mostly a logical abstraction and does not present a balanced view, in that it leaves out inconvenient passages contradicting its assertions. Secondly, it does not convey a spiritual perspective, being in effect contradictory to the Spirit of Christ (compassion for the lost, concern for souls and joy over one sinner who has repented..e.a.; in short, this theology is uninspiring , and seems un-inspired; it does not breathe the Spirit of the God of the gospel, it does not edify the soul and seems to only appeal to the intellect and those who appear to have no concern for the unfortunate non-elect. Specifically dubious are the last points of the celebrated TULIP acronym: 5. Perseverance of the saints A casual (but hope fully comprehensive) reading of the NT will produce many, many passages telling of the danger or the actual incidence of those falling away. 2. Irresistable Calling/Grace(both have been used): What happened to "Many are called, but few are chosen.." If God called irresistably those He chose, why then only choose few- doesn't it make anyone think? And what happened to the rich man Jesus called, who didn't follow? And what about " I set before thee a way of life, and a way of death.." Why, oh why, present a choice when in reality there isn't one!?-Point made. 1. Total Depravity, Okay, total sinfulness and inability to come to a realization of God without the Spirit-YES to that!But, having been enabled by God to see oneself in one's lost condition and His way out, it appears to me the response is up to the individual.. (see" Parable of the sower")and many other refernces I am glad to give to the interested enquirer. Two last observations. Even the brief comments above sufficiently erode the calvinistic system to invalidate its claim of infallibilty (who was this guy anyway-the Pope or something?. Lastly , I am NOT sure to have all the answers to this complex question and deeply hope not to offend God in the manner of Job and his companions, with my own trivial mind. Yours, a seeker of God's truth Post New Comment :: Reply to this Comment
Whoa to you, Arminians! Posted By: Child of the ONLY, MOST HIGH GOD - Heaven Bound!!!! Oh John Keeter and some of the others here, how wise you are in your own deceit. You can quote scriptures until your head spins around just like any other lost Scholar or man who spends their entire life trying to "figure out" God's word but cannot. You should be very careful your words towards ALMIGHTY GOD, Firstly, and then to those "dumb sinners" who are the children of the ONE AND ONLY, MOST HIGH God. You will be judged for every idle word you utter. And not only for those against ALMIGHTY GOD, but for the ones you utter against God's Children and the the lies you spread about the truth of God's word. I do not defend Calvin and I refuse to defend Calvin, but I am commanded to contend for the truth as spoken of in Jude 3 and to defend the Word of God. Anything less than God being ALL POWERFUL is calling MY FATHER, God a liar, and THAT, sir, I tell you HE IS NOT. Proverbs 12:15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise. Romans 1:22,23 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. 1 Corinthians 1:19 For it is written, I will destory the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. 1 Corinthians 3:18-20 Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness. And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain. The God of the Bible is LOVE and OF WRATH. Just because you are blind to His wrath does not mean that He will not have it and enjoy it. Romans 3:3,4 For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? GOD FORBID: yea, let God be true,but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged. Lost men will always think there is something in them that is DESERVING of the Love of God. They say God can't do it all Himself, He needs our help because without us, He's helpless. He needs our permission to damn us to hell. Why would a God of love send so many good people to hell, especially me. This is not the Spirit of Truth. This is the spirit of the flesh and ONLY the flesh. This is the spirit of the god of this world. Are you so much more greater than God that you can discern the scriptures without any guidance of the Holy Spirit? Whoa to you, how blind you truly are... 2 Corinthians 4:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them (by the Holy Spirit). There is NOTHING good in any of you, not even in me. I could no more save myself, or even aid God for my salvation anymore than we can give a dead man a cane and attempt in helping him walk. When the Spirit comes into your life, SIMPLY by the pleasure of God and for his Will, IF HE SO CHOOSES, you will see that God OWES US NOTHING. I am very fearful for any man who is wise in his own heart to question God and goes as far to call His sovereignty foolish and misused and is so puffed up with pride to call the children of God "dumb sinners." The only reason we are dumb (unable to speak) is because we see just how loathing we are before ALMIGHTY GOD. Sinners, filthy, sick and putrid under the Judgement of a JUSTIFIED PERFECT, ALL POWERFUL, HOLY GOD. If that makes us unable to speak, then yes sir, we are, because we have the guidance of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit of God does not puff up and make prideful, He breaks down the evil of the wise. By the Spirit of God, His children are given the words to speak out against the anti-christ and any anti-christs that rever themselves above God. The children of God have something that lost men do not...The SPIRIT of Truth, We are not SPIRITUALLY ignorant OR "dumb". The very sin that made satan who he is and the same desire that caused satan to be cast out of heaven by an ALL POWERFUL God. Desiring, like the Arminians, to be at least equal or better than God. Jesus says Luke 18:10-13 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. Seems there are too many Pharisees in this world, people who think they are the children of God whose fruit show the spirit of the flesh and of this world, who use their words to chastize, question, ALMIGHTY GOD and their words to lash out at the publican children of the MOST HIGH GOD. Romans 9:20,21 Nay but, O man who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honor, and another unto dishonor? God used Pharaoh, a vessel of dishonor to achieve HIS PURPOSE and HIS WILL for HIS PLEASURE and THAT ALONE. God brought plagues on Egypt. He hardened Pharoah's heart so that Pharaoh would not let His people go. Egypt was destroyed by these plagues (Exodus 10:7). Thousands (estimated) were killed. The plagues were water to blood, frogs, lice, flies, livestock killed, boils, hail and fire, locusts and darkness (Exodus 7-10) Whether you acknowledge God's sovereignty or you don't, whether you Believe He is all powerful or not, whether you have the spiritual ability to understand that God has the power to destroy you right this moment or not and is TOTALLY, COMPLETELY JUSTIFIED to the UTTERMOST in DAMNING EVERY LAST ONE OF US is totally irrelevant. GOD WILL HAVE HIS WRATH and NO MAN WILL DENY GOD HIS WRATH! The Word of God assures this! In Genesis 6&7 God destroyed the entire old world, except for Noah and his family, with a flood because of their extreme wickedness and utter corruptness. God had his wrath on billions and billions (estimated) and drowned them with a flood that lasted 40 days & 40 nights. All inhabitants of the City-states of Sodom & Gomorrah and the cities of the plain consumed by Fire and Brimstone in Genesis 13:13; Genesis 18 &19; Jude 7; 2 Peter 2:6. God HATED Esau. Jacob and Esau were twin brothers born to Isaac and Rebekah. Before the children were born or done good or evil, God purposed according to election, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated. Esau was a profane person. God hated Esau and laid his mountains and heritage to waste. God told Rebekah there were two nations and two manner of people in her womb. Romans 9:11-13; Hebrews 12:16; Mal. 1:2-4; Genesis 25:23 The unregenerate man will not see God justified in hating these wicked men or hating even the best man in this world with lots of good works, the Spirit of TRUTH will rejoice that ALMIGHTY GOD showed his POWER in destroying wicked men and will REJOICE that God chose a people before the foundation of the world. I pray that God has mercy on any of you that question Him and that He may grant the gift of repentance to any of you who rever themselves above God IF ITS HIS WILL. I hope and pray that the Holy Spirit breaks your wise heart and shows you how unable you are to please God in your flesh. If the Spirit grants the gift of Repentance, PRAISE GOD! If the Spirit doesn't grant you repentance, there will be a seat in hell reserved just for you, and God will show you His wrath that you so mock! PRAISE GOD! Post New Comment :: Reply to this Comment
What about Romans 8? Posted By: Dennis - MB Canada This article is really informative and fairly in depth, considering the little space it was written in. The only problem I have is a scripture you used. According to my judgement it's ripped out of context. Romans 8:29For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among MANY brothers. At first glance Romans 8 seems to say that God elected all those who would come to be saved. But looking at this verse, it seems to be talking about the election for certain purposes of only some true believers, not actually predestination. It says here that "he might be the firstborn among many brothers." That doesn't sound like it's talking about the election of all believers UNTO salvation does it? What does the phrase "firstborn among many brothers" mean? Right now I'm considering believing these points, but especially that verse, as well as Hebrews 10:26 and Hebrews 6:4-6, and somewhere in 1 Peter I believe where it says that God wills ALL to be saved. I hope I made any sense. Regards, Dennis Post New Comment :: Reply to this Comment
Follow-up Posted By: Dennis - MB Canada If anyone could explain these verses to me, I would appreciate it very much. Dennis Post New Comment :: Reply to this Comment
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