Calvinism
“For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Jude 1:4)
Calvinism is the theological system (or religion) following the thoughts and teachings of John Calvin regarding the Christian faith. A reformer and humanist, his writings and doctrines were reflective over misinterpreted Scriptures and expressed some ideas of previous reformers and theologians like Luther and Augustine. Perhaps not intentionally, adherents became known as Calvinists and they hold near and dear some of the most destructive doctrines. The tenets of this religion are found in the following acronym: TULIP; total depravity, unconditional election, limited atonement, irresistible grace, preservation of the saints. Although these tenets seek to emphasize God’s sovereignty in glorification of Him, these teachings are from men and misrepresent God because they do not teach His truth. Much of Calvin’s thoughts and doctrine (supported with isolated Scripture texts) influenced Protestantism and contributed to what we have today as Reformed theology.
Total Depravity
This idea is akin to the “original sin/sin nature” doctrine which states that the nature of man is corrupt and sinful as a result of Adam and Eve’s disobedience in the garden. It holds that man is a slave to sin and by himself, apart from grace, cannot choose to follow God, refrain from sin, or accept/receive salvation. This has been discussed in the sin nature article which can be viewed here.
Unconditional Election/predestination
This states that God has predestined every individual who will be saved and those who will be damned from the beginning. This, they state, is all done within the sovereignty of God - that He decides who to save and who to leave to perish. That stance, though they support with certain verses, misrepresents God’s character and ignores the entirety of God’s Word. “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.” (1 Tim 2:1-4). Doesn’t that pose a contradiction here since it is evident that God desires that all people should be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth? Why then would He create some to destroy and others to save? As it is, because Calvinists and other reformed theologians hold to the sinful nature doctrine which removes accountability from man, they also twist God’s sovereignty and His love and present Him as unreasonable, ruthless, and even partial. Seeing as many who adhere to these doctrines also follow OSAS (see subsequent article) which states that nothing one does can cause them to lose their salvation, it is as if to say, individuals were chosen by God beforehand to be saved and because they were chosen beforehand by God, they will never lose their salvation even if they were to live in sin. It must be understood that God made man righteous but it is man who sought after his own schemes (Ecc 7:29). From here we can understand why sin is not innate but rather decided upon by the choices individuals make.
Having these truths, it should be evident why repentance is necessary and why Christ is the only one who can forgive past sins to those who come to Him in brokenness and contrition. These, thereafter, like the woman caught in adultery are instructed to go and sin no more. If we would see that God expects this of everyone, then it should be evident that He is not showing partiality. His divine knowledge or foreknowledge of those who become His (following repentance and obedience) does not prevent Him from calling all people everywhere to repent (Acts 17:30). But the Calvinist would rebut with “For many are called, but few are chosen” (Matt 24:14) to emphasize being chosen or selected but again they neglect also, “while it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.” (Heb 3:15). Being chosen is available to all but with conditions attached. It is for this reason that Jesus stated, “So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen” (Matt 20:16). Those who hear and endure in obedience to the master are those who are part of the chosen. Many will indeed fall away as was the case with many of Jesus’ disciples, excluding the twelve (Jn 6:66). Some start who will not finish with Christ and some will repent and come in later and die in the Lord. The elect of God will be saved and whoever obeys the Lord will be part of His elect. This opportunity, again, is available to all people.
God hinders no one from following, neither has He predestined individuals to obedience or disobedience. Those who are the elect, the Lord’s people: called out of the darkness into His marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9) and are living in obedience to the Lord, will be saved collectively. These elect people were once disobedient but submitted themselves to the Lord and His righteousness. The Lord calls and draws all people but those who remain and become His people (‘the chosen’) are those who abide in Him (John 15)--those who obey Him. “And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;” (Heb 5:9). So yes, while Christ did die for the sins of the whole world, it is those who come to Him and follow Him in obedience who will receive salvation because we are expected to respond as recipients. The elect collectively is those who have obeyed and sought the Lord with their hearts. This is not limited to a particular group but made available to all who will sincerely seek the Lord and be obedient. Scripture is very clear that the Lord does not take pleasure in the death of the wicked but rather that they turn and live (Eze 18:23). That was the ministry of the prophets of old, of Jesus Christ, the Apostles, and now the saints of God; to call all people to repentance and for people to choose to turn from sin and live. Whoever forfeits this is damned not because God predestined them to be so but because they preferred the consequences of sin which is death than to live for righteousness which leads to life.
Calvinists also often use the following Scripture in defense of unconditional election and predestination. They quote Jesus’ words, “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day” (Jn 6:44). They state along the lines that the Father has chosen specific people to draw near to the Son while they neglect His other words, “and I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me” (Jn 12:32) and “all that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out” (Jn 6:37). Again, if the Father is seeking that none should perish but that all should come to the knowledge of the truth (1 Tim 2:3-4), and Jesus Himself stated that He will by no means turn away anyone who comes to Him, why would God again create some people to be saved and others to perish. This idea actually corrupts God’s character. It places the responsibility of man’s character on God, and if that be the case, why didn’t God just create obedient people to serve Him?
Limited Atonement
This states that the work of Christ (the shedding of his blood) is applicable only to the elect. The principle is misleading and an incomplete assertion. It is true that in the end, those who will be saved are the elect. These elect are again the whosoevers in Jn 3:16-21 who believe and do their deeds in the light and no longer darkness. These are people from every tribe, nation, and tongue (Rev 7:9). The shedding of Christ’s blood was for the reconciliation of man to God. And yes, though made available to all people, it is a reality that not all will believe and obey. To which Jesus Himself tells us: “Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.” (Lk 13:24). But that doesn’t mean that the Son of God came only for a few: “And He is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.” (1 Jn 2:2). To limit the passion of Christ to only a select few is inaccurate. It is a different thing to say that Christ only died to save the elect, and another to realize that those who are saved are those who believe in Christ for the forgiveness of sins and become the elect. Scripture states that there can be no remission of sins without the shedding of blood (Heb. 9:22). The crucifixion of Jesus and the remission of sins that comes by Him served a greater purpose. If those things of the past were a foreshadowing of that which was to come (Heb 10:1), then we see that in all these things, Jesus is indeed the fulfillment. The offering of Christ, whether in regard to atonement or any other thing, is not limited for it is of necessity that in Him all things consist (Col 1:16-20)
Irresistible grace
This doctrine like the others about the elect, teaches that grace is “applied” to those whom God has intended to save and that regardless of one’s resistance to obeying, God overrides this by His grace because He has elected them. The misunderstanding of predestination is what has led to the misapplication of Scripture and thus strange doctrines as such. The Bible states that the grace of God has appeared to all men teaching us to deny ungodliness and to live soberly and righteously (Tit 2:11-14). The sacrifice of Christ is so valuable to be limited to some although that will be the case. That is not the intention of God, although that is the reality. Why? Again, because people neglect their reasonable response and service to the Lord, and this doctrine fosters that. Jesus commanded His disciples to follow Him: “And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me” (Matt 10:38). It was at His command that they followed, and by their obedience that they were counted as His disciples and friends. If humans make choices in every aspect of their lives, why is that choice and response predetermined for them when it comes to eternal life? Those who love God and obey Him are not forced or made to do so but they choose to do so. Grace, again, has appeared to all men. Grace can be resisted if one chooses to do so but that doesn’t make it less available to those who submit themselves to the grace of God, neither does it make grace less powerful or effective.
Preservation/Perseverance of the saints
This teaches that those saved persevere to the end by the grace of God, and not their own strength or works. This is of truth. It however becomes misconstrued and extended to OSAS: ‘once saved always saved’ which teaches that those saved are kept by God regardless of what one does/doesn’t do. Make no mistake! Eternal security is biblical but it is also conditional. It is the hope of the believer (faithful and obedient to the Lord) to be saved for that is the assurance they have been given provided they continue in obedience (their calling). “Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.” (Romans 11:22). The one who professes Christ but does not live in holiness and obedience has no part in the kingdom of God because they are still in darkness. Because God is God of the living and not the dead (Mark 12:27) and those who are alive are those who have awakened to righteousness, and these are those who know Him (1 Cor 15:34). “For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;” (Heb 3:14).
“Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.” (Rev 3:11).
