by Bruce Hehl
What is Calvinism
John Calvin was a Huguenot, a French Protestant who was persecuted by the Roman Catholic church. He fled to Geneva, crossroads for exiles and expatriates, in 1536. He rapidly became the second most influential theologian of his time. He wrote a popular, systematic presentation of Christian doctrine and life, The Institutes (1536, final edition in 1559). Most important of Calvin’s Institutes was obedience to God’s will as defined in the scriptures.
What he is most famous for is his doctrines on salvation, which, he taught, was not an act of freewill as it seems, but is a sovereign work of God’s grace. That God chose those who will serve him before time began. Although he did not invent this doctrine, it is known now as Calvinism, because he wrote the definitive work on it. It is also known as predestination or election.
Calvinism is usually summed up in five main points, which form the word TULIP. They are:
Total Depravity
Total Depravity—Sin has affected all parts of man. The heart, emotions, will, mind and body are all affected by sin. We are completely sinful. We are not as sinful as we could be, but we are completely affected by sin.
The doctrine of Total Depravity is derived from scriptures that reveal human character: Man’s heart is evil (Mark 7:21-23) and sick (Jer. 17:9). Man is a slave of sin (Rom. 6:20). He does not seek for God (Rom. 3:10-12). He cannot understand spiritual things (1 Cor. 2:14). He is in conflict with God (Eph. 2:15), and, is by nature a child of wrath (Eph. 2:3).
The Calvinist asks the question, “In light of the scriptures that declare man’s true nature as being utterly lost and incapable, how is it possible for anyone to choose or desire God?” The answer is, “He cannot. Therefore God must predestine.” We are, therefore, not born again by our own will but God’s will (John 1:12-13); God grants that we believe (Phil. 1:29); faith is the work of God (John 6:28-29); God appoints people to believe (Acts 13:48); and God predestines (Eph. 1:1-11; Rom. 8:29; 9:9-23).
Unconditional Election
Unconditional Election—God does not base His election on anything He sees in the individual. He chooses the elect according to the kind intention of His will (Eph. 1:4-8; Rom. 9:11) without any consideration of merit within the individual. Nor does God look into the future to see who would pick Him. Also, as some are elected into salvation, others are not (Rom. 9:15, 21).
Limited Atonement
Limited Atonement—Jesus died only for the elect. Though Jesus’ sacrifice was sufficient for all, it was not effective for all. Jesus only bore the sins of the elect. Support for this position is drawn from such scriptures as Matt. 26:28 where Jesus died for ‘many’; John 10:11, 15 which say that Jesus died for the sheep (not the goats, per Matt. 25:32-33); John 17:9 where Jesus in prayer interceded for the ones given Him, not those of the entire world; Acts 20:28 and Eph. 5:25-27 which state that the Church was purchased by Christ, not all people; and Isaiah 53:12 which is a prophecy of Jesus’ crucifixion where he bore the sins of many (not all).
Irresistible Grace
Irresistible Grace—When God calls his elect into salvation, they cannot resist. God offers to all people the gospel message. This is called the external call. But to the elect, God extends an internal call and it cannot be resisted. This call is by the Holy Spirit who works in the hearts and minds of the elect to bring them to repentance and regeneration whereby they willingly and freely come to God. Some of the verses used in support of this teaching are Romans 9:16 where it says that “it is not of him who wills nor of him who runs, but of God who has mercy”; Philippians 2:12-13 where God is said to be the one working salvation in the individual; John 6:28-29 where faith is declared to be the work of God; Acts 13:48 where God appoints people to believe; and John 1:12-13 where being born again is not by man’s will, but by God’s.
Perseverance of the Saints
Perseverance of the Saints—You cannot lose your salvation. Because the Father has elected, the Son has redeemed, and the Holy Spirit has applied salvation, those thus saved are eternally secure. They are eternally secure in Christ. Some of the verses for this position are John 10:27-28 where Jesus said His sheep will never perish; John 6:47 where salvation is described as everlasting life; Romans 8:1 where it is said we have passed out of judgment; 1 Corinthians 10:13 where God promises to never let us he tempted beyond what we can handle; and Phil. 1:6 where God is the one being faithful to perfect us until the day of Jesus’ return.
Four-point Calvinists
A number of people, like Southern Baptists, agree with Calvinism, but have a problem with the concept of Limited Atonement because they feel like it limits Christ’s victory. Since they only believe in four of the five main points, they are called four-point Calvinists.
As Calvin teaches Limited Atonement, though, it is more about effect than cause. Christ’s death was more than sufficient to redeem all of creation, but some people are simply not destined to walk in it.