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Doctrines: Calvinism
Doctrines: Calvinism
Adapted
“Calvinism” is a very popular and widely held doctrine. The doctrine is named after a man named John Calvin, a reformer, who lived in the 1500’s. Calvinism propagates error. Knowledge of error helps us to be discerning when listening to, or reading, Bible material. If a teacher is a Calvinist, all that they teach will be taught through the lens of Calvinism. The result of this Calvinistic “bent” will be teaching that is dangerously distorted.
Calvinism is constructed of five major doctrines. An easy way to remember these doctrines is to remember the acrostic “TULIP.” This stands for: Total Depravity, Unconditional Election, Limited Atonement, Irresistible Grace, and Perseverance of the Saints.
1. TOTAL DEPRAVITY – Calvinism teaches that a person is born totally depraved. In other words, they mean that man’s nature is corrupt, perverse, and sinful throughout. As a result of this depravity, man is not capable of making a choice to follow the Lord. It is taught that God is the one who predestines some to believe in Him and be born again, and predestines others not to believe in Him. The ones who are not predestined to believe will perish in hell. This doctrine denies free will. They say it doesn’t, but it does.
SCRIPTURE CLEARLY TEACHES that an individual has the God given ability to choose:
Matthew 11:20 “Then began he (Jesus) to UPBRAID the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not:”
UPBRAID - Find fault with, or reproach severely. (dictionary.com)
Luke 13:34 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but YOU WERE NOT WILLING!” (NKJV)
Romans 1:18-20 “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for GOD HAS SHOWN IT TO THEM. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that THEY ARE WITHOUT EXCUSE,” (NKJV)
2. UNCONDITIONAL ELECTION – This “Calvin” doctrine propagates the error that some individuals are elected/chosen to salvation, and some are not. It is taught that God’s choices are unconditional.
SCRIPTURE CLEARLY TEACHES that Christ is the chosen, Christ is the elect. When we believe the gospel we are then called chosen and elect because we are “in Christ.” It’s not about us, it’s about Christ.
Matthew 12:18 “Behold my servant, whom I have CHOSEN; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall shew judgment to the Gentiles.”
Luke 23:35 “And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the CHOSEN of God.”
Isaiah 42:1 “Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine ELECT, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.”
3. LIMITED ATONEMENT – Since only a percentage of mankind will be saved (only those God has predestined to be saved), then Christ died only for the elect. It makes no sense that Christ would have died for those who could not possibly be saved. This “Calvin” doctrine propagates the error that Christ’s atoning work on the cross was only for certain individuals. His atonement was limited.
SCRIPTURE CLEARLY TEACHES that Christ’s atonement is available to all people.
John 3:16 “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.”
Luke 2:10 “And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to ALL people.”
Luke 2:31 “Which thou hast prepared before the face of ALL people;”
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.”
Revelation 22:17 “And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And WHOSOEVER WILL, let him take the water of life freely.”
4. IRRESISTIBLE GRACE - This “Calvin” doctrine propagates the error that when God calls a person to salvation, that person cannot resist God’s call. We cannot fight the sovereignty of God. Bottom line – if God wants to save us we will be saved, we cannot resist.
SCRIPTURE CLEARLY TEACHES that it is possible to resist the Holy Ghost.
Matthew 11:20 “Then began he (Jesus) to UPBRAID the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not:”
UPBRAID - Find fault with, or reproach severely. (dictionary.com)
Luke 13:34 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but YOU WERE NOT WILLING! (NKJV)
Acts 7:51 “Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, YE DO ALWAYS RESIST THE HOLY GHOST: as your fathers did, so do ye.”
5. PERSEVERANCE OF THE SAINTS (also known as Once Saved Always Saved) – This “Calvin” doctrine propagates the error that a person can never fall away from the faith. Jesus died for the elect, God regenerated the elect, now they are lead by the Spirit. They cannot fall – this too would be resisting God’s sovereignty. If God does not choose you, you cannot be saved – but if God choose you, you cannot be lost.
SCRIPTURE CLEARLY TEACHES that it is possible to “fall away from the faith.”
John 8:31 “Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, IF YE CONTINUE in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;”
1 Timothy 1:19 “Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away CONCERNING FAITH HAVE MADE SHIPWRECK:”
2 Timothy 4:7 “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have KEPT THE FAITH:”
2 Peter 2:20-22 “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. 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. 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.”
Conclusion: Gospel preachers have long said: "the Lord draws, but we have the free will to respond, or not to respond, to that drawing." God did not create us as robots. To accept Calvinism, a person is left to wonder if they are one of God’s chosen ones. How can anyone ever have any peace wondering if they are one of God’s elect. Our peace comes from the atoning work of Christ on the cross. There is stability at the cross. There is nothing to wonder about. Jesus said “whosoever will” may freely receive salvation. “And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that hears say, Come. And let him that is thirsty come. And WHOSOEVER WILL, let him take the water of life freely” Revelation 22:17. You can have peace and assurance that Christ is the chosen One, and when you believe in Him you are chosen in Him. This leaves the door to salvation open for all people, as God intended it to be, and as the Scripture declares.
