In a previous blog I mentioned that I would offer a simple explanation of the 5 points of Calvinism, so that everyone who does not know would have a simple reference for the conversation. I am in no way promoting this, though I believe it is an accurate summary of what Scripture teaches. It is is only my desire that the readers of this blog would search the Scriptures in order to settle the matter in their own minds.
Calvinism can be summarized in 5 easy points, which are remembered by the word TULIP. Each point beginning with a letter from the word tulip. Though much more could be said about each point, I will try to keep the explanations as brief as possible.
T: Total Depravity
This does not mean that humans are as bad as they could possibly be, but that every aspect of the human being (visible and invisible) has been touched or tainted by the effect of the Fall. Sin effects all that we are and all that we do and our will is in bondage to that sin until God frees us through regeneration
U: Unconditional Election
That is, God chooses those who will inherit salvation as out of his own free will and not for any foreseen goodness or merit in that person. God doesn't pick out people because He can tell that one day they will make a good Christian, He elects people out of His grace.
L: Limited Atonement
Simply put, this means that when Jesus died he bore God's wrath for the sins of those who would ultimately be saved and not for those who would ultimately reject Him and go to hell. Or another way to say it is this; Christ shed his blood only for those who would be saved and not for the whole world.
I: Irresistible Grace
This means that once God has, by His Holy Spirit, regenerated someones heart they will follow Him in faith and will not turn away from the grace that has been shown to them.
P: Perseverance of The Saints
This means that once someone is saved, they will remain saved and will not lose their salvation, because God has saved them apart from their works and it is impossible to lose their salvation according to their works.
As a side note it must be said that Baptist usually hold to at least one of these points. Typically is is the last one (The Perseverance of The Saints). Once one gives up this last point they would typically follow more in line with the Methodist or Wesleyan tradition.
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7 comments:
Mitch, you did a great job explaining Calvinism. This argument between these two belief systems has been going on for years. For the record, I am not a five point Calvinist. I believe that most Baptists, for generations would agree with two or three points of the TULIP. Limited atonement is one area I would disagree.
Not to get into an unending online debate, I just wanted to state that I appreciate the fact we can converse like this, in a spirit of unity and love as Christ would have us.
In our church we have members who would categorize themselves as 5 point Calvinists, others who would not, yet on the essentials we agree. There is no salvation apart from Jesus Christ and our mandate, our commission, is to make disciples. Thanks Mitch for your input.
Mitch,
Thanks for your input here. I have never looked at the 5 points of Calvinism very closely. After reading your blog on this, I too would have a tough time agreeing with limited atonement. John 3:16 came right to the forefront, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son". That does not sound like limitations to me. Again, Thanks.
It is true the God loves the world, all of it. But a deeper question would be, does the world love God? I think it is very biblical to say that God loves those who reject Him and if they freely reject Him, He has no obligation to still pay their sin debt does He?
Since when is God obligated to do anything? He is not. What God does, He does for His good pleasure. That debt was not paid out of obligation, it was paid out of love.
"For while we were still helpless, at the appointed moment, Christ died for the ungodly. For rarely will someone die for a just person--though for a good person perhaps someone might even dare to die.
But God proves His own love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us!(Rom 5:6-8)
Yes, Christ died for the ungodly. The debt paid was for the sins of all mankind, for all sin and for all time, since the very beginning and until the end of time. And the reason behind that payment is the love of God, not an obligation as if God would be obligated to anyone for any reason.
And, it was paid two thousand years ago, once and for all.
"But this man (Jesus), after offering one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God" (Hebrews 10:12).
On the night Jesus broke the bread and passed the cup in what we know as the Last Supper, he washed the feet of His disciples. Knowing that His betrayer was there in the room with Him, did He skip Judas? I don't think so. He washed the feet of Judas and Judas betrayed Him. Just like He paid the sin debt for everyone, even those who reject Him.
Oh, I almost forgot. The deeper question, the answer is found in The Gospel of John Chapter 7 and verse 7 "Joh 7:7 (Jesus speaking) "The world cannot hate you, but it does hate Me because I testify about it--that its deeds are evil."
Rob I appreciate your fervor, really I do, but I am curious of this one last thing.
If Christ died for the sins of all mankind, then does anyone go to hell? And if they do, why? Their sins have been atoned for.
And are you sure God has no obligations? Not even to keep His word? I sure hope He does.
“Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.” (Revelation 20:11-15 NASB)
Based on the above scripture I would say that the answer to the first part of your question is a resounding, Yes. Some, actually many as indicated in Matthew 7:13-14 below, will spend eternity separated from God, cast into the lake of fire to suffer eternal torment.
"Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.” (Matthew 7:13-14 NASB)
As for the second part of your question;
“For the wages of sin is death,” (Romans 6:23a NASB).
Quite simply, those cast into the lake of fire suffer eternal separation from God because that is the wage they earned. But it doesn’t have to be that way.
“but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23b NASB)
The alternative to the second death, “going to Hell” if you will, is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. I love this verse. There is an alternative to eternal damnation and it is eternal life. It is only possible through and found in Christ Jesus. And best of all, it is “the free gift of God”.
Just for a moment, concentrate on that phrase, “the free gift of God”.
When was the last time you bought a gift for someone? You select the gift. You pay for the gift. You present the gift to the one for whom you have bought the gift. At that point, the person to whom you have offered the gift has a choice. They can receive the gift or they can reject the gift. If that person rejects the gift, does that change the fact that you have already bought and paid for it?
Why will some go to hell? Because when offered the gift of eternal life, bought and paid for by the blood of God’s own Son, Jesus Christ, they rejected that gift and thereby chose instead the wage they had earned in and by their sin.
Finally, am I sure God has no obligations? Not even to keep His word?
Yes I am sure God has no obligations. Not even to keep His word. God does keep His word. God does not keep His word out of obligation. He keeps His word simply because of who He is.
God is truth.
When Jesus interceded with God the Father on behalf of His Apostles He said,
"Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth. (John 17:17 NASB)
There is no need to hope God will keep His word, you can count on it, because God is truth and cannot lie.
To suggest God is obligated to do anything is to suggest He is God because of what He does. God is not God because of what He does, He is God because of who He is.
Prior to responding to this particular question I went back to the final chapters of Job, just to remind myself of whom God is. As I read God’s address to Job it is apparent to me, God is not obligated to do anything. He is God. Who are we to even suggest that He would be obligated to anyone for anything?
One last thing regarding obligation.
When you do something for your wife, do you do it out of obligation or a sense of duty because, after all, she is your wife? Or, do you do it out of love? Which do you think she would prefer?
When your wife does something for you, does she do it out of obligation or a sense of duty because, after all, you are her husband? Or, does she do it out of love? Which do you prefer?
When God does something for us does he do it out of obligation or a sense of duty because, after all, we are His children? Or, does He do it out of love for us? Which do you prefer?
When we are obedient to God are we obedient out of obligation or a sense of duty because, after all, He did give His only begotten Son? Or, are we obedient to Him out of love for Him because He first loved us? Which do you think He prefers?
Obligation and duty are found at the heart of legalistic religion. That is not God. I can find no reference in the scriptures that say, “God is a God of obligation”. I can find several scriptures that tell me, “God is a God of love”.
The God of the Bible is not a God who is obligated to me, The God of the Bible is a God who loves me, and gave himself for me.
This is my final post under this blog.
I have enjoyed it, Mitch. God’s blessing on you and yours.
We must have coffee sometime.
Yes, coffee sounds good.
And I hope that people see this; I do not know Rob Miller, but I love him as a brother in Christ.
I appreciate your passion for Scripture and the zeal with which you present it.
I hope you feel the same and can at least see where my biblical convictions come from even if you do not see things as I do.
Thanks again.
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