Calvinism (3)

Back to the Basics:

Calvinism

We’re Not Going Back to the Basics of Calvinism…

But Back to the Basics of What the Scriptures Say…

On the Topics that Calvinism Addresses

I’m No Expert on Calvinism

I’ve Never Studied it Deeply

But, I’ve Listening to Several Calvinists Explain Their Positions/Beliefs…

And I Think We’ll Be Able to Discuss this Topic…

Without Doing Too Much Straw-Manning it’s Teachings

So We’re Going to Try to Approach this with Grace & Humility

Calvinism is All about the Sovereignty of God…

And How His Sovereignty Relates to Our Salvation

Essentially, is God Completely in Control of All Things?

And How Does that Effect Our Salvation?

The 5 Main Teachings of Calvinism are Often Summed Up with the Acronym:

T.U.L.I.P.

Total Depravity

Unconditional Election

Limited Atonement

Irresistible Grace

Perseverance of the Saints

Unconditional Election

LearnReligions.com:

“This Calvinist view says God chooses who will be saved. Because people are dead in their sins, they are unable to initiate a response to God. In eternity past God elected certain people to be saved. The saved people are called the Elect. God picks them based not on their personal character or merit, but out of his kindness and sovereign will. It also means that election for salvation is not based on God's foreknowledge of who would come to faith in the future. Since some are chosen for salvation, others are not. Those not chosen are the damned, destined for an eternity in hell.”

Allen Parr:

“God elected some people to be saved before the foundation of the world. God’s choosing of the elect was not based on a condition.”

Passages “in Favor” of Unconditional Election:

Ephesians 1:3–6 (NASB95)

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love 5 He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.

This is a Favorite Passage Used to Prove Unconditional Election

It States that God Chose & Predestined Us in His Love & Kindness…

And Freely Bestowed His Grace Upon Us

Before the Foundation of the World

It Doesn’t Get Any More Clear than that, Does it?

God Chose/Predetermined Before Creation…

Which Individuals would Be Saved…

And Which Individuals would Be Condemned

It’s Very Easy to Come Away with that Interpretation if You aren’t Careful

Notice First of All:

When Paul Refers to God’s Elect…

He Refers to Them in the Plural

Never in the Scriptures Does Election/Predestination…

Refer to Individuals

But Always to a Group

And Throughout this Entire Context (v. 3-14)…

Paul Continues to Repeat a Variation of this Phrase:

“In Christ”

Throughout this Context…

Paul Says All the Blessings of the Elect are “in Christ”

God Didn’t Predetermine Which Individuals will Be the Elect in Christ

God Predetermined What Group of People that will Be the Elect:

Those Who are in Christ

God Predetermined that Those Who Place Their Faith “In Christ”…

And Become Members of His Church & Citizens of His Kingdom…

Will Be Those Who Inherit All the Blessings of the Elect

Example:

Let’s Say I Vow that in 20 Years…

I Will Give Every Member of the Livingston Church of Christ $1,000

20 Years from Now When Every Member Receives Their Money…

They could Rightly Say:

“Jon Predestined for Us to Receive this Money”

But No One could Rightly Say:

“Jon Predestined for Me to Receive this Money”

I Didn’t Predestine Any Individual Person to Receive the Money

I Predestined Those Who Make Up the Group to Receive the Money

Some of the People Who are Members of the Livingston Church Right Now…

Might Not Receive the Money in 20 Years…

Because They May Move or Pass Away

Some People Who aren’t Currently Members of the Livingston Church Right Now…

Will Receive the Money in 20 Years…

Because They will Be Converted or Move Here

When I Predestine to Give “Those in the Livingston Church of Christ” $1,000…

I Don’t have Any Individuals in Mind

I’m Not Choosing or Excluding Any Individuals

It’s Each Individual’s Choice Whether They Want to Receive the $1,000 or Not

They can Choose to Be a Member of the Group that will Receive the Money or Not

That’s How God Predestines/Predetermines…

Who will Receive All the Blessings of the Spirit:

He Predestined/Predetermined that the Blessings would Belong…

To Those Who Place Their Faith in Jesus

So, it’s Up to Each Individual as to Whether They will Be a Blessed Elect or Not

We Understand this Concept from the OT

God Chose Israel to Be His Elect/Chosen/Blessed People

If You Wanted to Be of God’s Chosen/Holy People…

You had to Submit to the Law of Moses

Now He’s Chosen Those “in Christ” (Those Whose Faith is in Christ)…

To Be His Elect/Chosen/Blessed People Under the New Covenant

This is a Favorite Text to Teach Unconditional Election…

But Careful Study Shows that it Teaches the Exact Opposite

Revelation 13:8 (NASB95)

8 All who dwell on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slain.

This Verse Makes it Sound Like…

Names were Either Written or Not Written in the Book of Life…

Since Before Creation Ever Began

Finding the Answer to this One is Fairly Simple

It Just Depends on the Translation You’re Using

The NASB is Usually One of the Best…

But the Way the Translators Chose to Word this Verse is Problematic

The KJV, NKJV, NIV, NLT Get it Closer to What the Original Greek Shows Us:

Revelation 13:8 (NKJV)

8 All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

When You Look at the Word Order of the Original Greek…

You Find that “From the Foundation of the World”…

Come After “the Lamb that has Been Slain”…

Not After “Whose Names have Not Been Written”

Jesus was Predestined Since Before Creation to Be Humanity’s Sacrificial Lamb…

Not the Individuals Who will or Will Not have Their Names in the Book of Life

Acts 13:48 (NASB95)

48 When the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord; and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed.

I’ll Admit, this is a Tough One

Luke Seems to Be Saying that:

Those Who were “Appointed” (Designated/Determined) for Eternal Life…

Believed the Gospel Message

In Other Words:

They Only Believed the Gospel & Received Eternal Life…

Because They were Appointed or Predestined By God to Do So

I Think We Find the Most Sensible Interpretation to this Passage…

In the Same Way We Found it with the Last Passage:

By Looking at the Word-Order of the Original Language

There’s 2 Ways to Structure the Sentence that’s Closer to the Original Greek Rendering:

“The Gentiles were Rejoicing & Glorifying the Word of the Lord & Believed as Many as were Appointed to Life Eternal.”

“The Gentiles were Rejoicing & Glorifying the Word of the Lord & as Many as Believed were Appointed to Life Eternal.”

I Think that 2nd Option Fits Best with the Rest of NT Teaching

It’s Not the Appointed/Elected Who Believe

It’s Those Who Believe Who are Appointed/Elected

Romans 8:28–30 (NASB95)

28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. 29 For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; 30 and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.

This is Another Favorite Passage to Prove Unconditional Election

A Casual Reading Makes it Sound Like Paul is Saying:

God Foreknew Those Who would Be Saved

God Predestined Them to Be Saved

God Called Them to Be Saved

God Justified Them

God Glorified Them

Salvation is Based Upon God’s Predestined, Unconditional Election

But that’s Not What the Passage Says

Who are the Ones Whom God “Foreknew” (Knew Beforehand)?

Those Who Love Him & are Called According to His Purpose

Individuals are Called By God Through the Gospel

Those Who Love Him will Respond to that Call with Faith/Allegiance

So God Foreknew Those that would Love & Obey Him

Is God Capable of Such a Thing?

Absolutely!

He’s Omniscient

He’s Knows All Past, Present, & Future Things

Of Course He Knows Who will Love/Obey Him

That Doesn’t Mean He Forces Anyone to Do or Not Do So

God Predestined Them to Be Conformed to the Image of Jesus

I Believe that’s Referring to the Glorious Resurrection Body…

That Jesus Now has & We’ll have Whenever He Returns

So God Determined Beforehand that Those Who Love & Obey Him…

Will Receive Glorified, Immortal Resurrection Bodies

God Called Those Whom He Predestined for Glorification

That is, He Called Them Through the Gospel Message to Faithful Obedience

And Those Who Responded to the Call with Faithful Obedience…

God Justified = Made Innocent/Righteous

And Those Whom God Justified…

God Glorified with Adoption & Resurrection Bodies

This Passage Doesn’t Teach Unconditional Election

God Elects Those Who Meet the Conditions (Love & Faithful Obedience)

A Couple Passages that I Believe Strongly Push Against Unconditional Election are:

1 Timothy 2:3–4 (NASB95)

3 This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

2 Peter 3:9 (NASB95)

9 The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.

Calvinism is All about the Sovereignty of God

He is Completely in Control of Everything

Well, if is All Powerful…

And He Wants Everyone to Be Saved & No One to Perish…

Then Why Doesn’t He Simply Save Everyone?

The Only Solution to that Problem that I can Fathom is:

That God Allows People to Choose…

Whether They Love & Faithfully Obey Him or Not

Therefore, Unconditional Election is Not True to Scripture

Limited Atonement

LearnReligions.com:

“Limited atonement is the view that Jesus Christ died only for the sins of the Elect.”

Allen Parr:

“The saving work of Jesus to atone for our sins was limited to, or sufficient for, only the elect.”

GotQuestions.Org

“Had God so willed, Christ’s death could have saved every member of the human race. Christ would not have had to suffer any more or do anything different to save every human who ever lived than He did in securing the salvation of the elect. But that was not God’s purpose in sending Christ to the cross. God’s purpose in the atonement was that Jesus would secure forever the salvation of those the Father had given to Him.”

Essentially, the Idea is:

God Sent Jesus to Die, Not for the Entire World…

But Only for Those Whom God Unconditionally Elected

Like I’ve Said:

Each Point of the TULIP Builds Off the Last

Limited Atonement is the Most Controversial Point of the TULIP

There are a Lot of “4-Point Calvinists”…

That Don’t Hold to Limited Atonement

But, in My Opinion, it’s Inconsistent…

To Believe in Total Depravity & Unconditional Election…

But Disagree with Limited Atonement

They All Stand or Fall Together

If You Believe We’re All Totally Depraved & Unable to Choose Faith in God…

And God Chooses You to Be Saved Despite Any Faith or Obedience on Your Part…

Then of Course Jesus’ Atoning Sacrifice is Limited

Why would Jesus Die for Those Whom God hasn’t Chosen to Save?

That Makes No Sense

So if You Believe in the 1st 2 Points…

Then, it Seems to Me, You have to Believe in the 3rd Point as Well

Passages “in Favor” of Limited Atonement:

Matthew 1:21 NASB95

21 “She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”

John 10:15 NASB95

15 even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep.

Matthew 20:28 NASB95

28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

Hebrews 9:28 NASB95

28 so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him.

I cannot possibly believe that this idea could be reached by simply reading Scripture. It could only have been reached by the necessity of needing to support other man-made doctrines. Here is what Scripture says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). And, “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God…” (1 Peter 3:18). And, “He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world” (1 John 2:2).

“Those who teach "Four Point Calvinism" believe Christ died not for just the Elect but for the entire world. They cite these verses, among others: John 3:16, Acts 2:21,1 Timothy 2:3-4, and 1 John 2:2.

https://www.gotquestions.org/limited-atonement.html

Irresistible Grace

LearnReligions.com:

“Irresistible grace is the belief that God brings his Elect to salvation through an internal call, which they are powerless to resist. The Holy Spirit supplies grace to them until they repent and are born again.”

Allen Parr:

“God’s gift of grace and salvation is irresistible for those who are elect. At some point, if you are of the chosen elect, you will eventually submit to that grace and salvation, no matter what.”

Passages “in Favor” of Irresistible Grace:

Calvinists back this doctrine with such verses as Romans 9:16, Philippians 2:12-13, and John 6:28-29.

https://www.gotquestions.org/irresistible-grace.html

Perseverance of the Saints

LearnReligions.com:

“Calvinism teaches that the Elect cannot lose their salvation. Because salvation is the work of God the Father; Jesus Christ, the Savior; and the Holy Spirit, it cannot be thwarted. None whom God has called will be lost, they are eternally secure. Technically, however, it is God who perseveres, not the saints themselves.”

Allen Parr:

“Those who are truly elect, and thus saved, will persevere in following God for the rest of their lives. The proof of election and salvation is if you persevere until the end. Some refer to this ‘P’ as the ‘Preservation of the Saints’ instead of ‘Perseverance’ because it is God who keeps us from falling”

Passages “in Favor” of Perseverance of the Saints:

Jude 24 NASB95

24 Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy,

John 10:27-28, Romans 8:1, 1 Corinthians 10:13, and Philippians 1:6.

https://www.gotquestions.org/perseverance-saints.html

The TULIP acronym arranges the five points of Calvinism logically and progressively, with each point contingent on the other. If humans are totally depraved, then they are unable to make an initial response to God. God must call people to salvation through unconditional election. God must also provide the way of salvation by the death of Jesus Christ. He makes salvation secure by the effectual call of the Holy Spirit. He keeps his saved ones secure so they will inherit the eternal life he has promised them.

7 Reasons Why I’m Not a Calvinist

5. Grace is Resistible – The Calvinist teaches that grace is irresistible. They insist that if God predestines an individual, then God will save him; there is nothing that individual can do to resist God’s grace. However, numerous passages refute this doctrine. First, is it easy enough to see that people like King Agrippa resisted the grace of God. Even though he believed the Scriptures, he would not allow himself to be convinced to receive God’s grace and put on Christ (Acts 26:27-29).

Second, if grace were “irresistible” it would making evangelism unnecessary. Why would missionaries need to go into all the world and preach the gospel (Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:15-16), if it was God who irresistibly and miraculously converted men? Why would Paul say, “I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some” (1 Corinthians 9:22). If Paul’s preaching and example had nothing to do with the conversion of souls, someone ought to have told Paul that!

6. Christians Can Fall From Grace – The Calvinists teach the doctrine of “Once Saved Always Saved.” The idea that if someone truly becomes a Christian, it is impossible for him to fall from grace. If you were to ask as Calvinist, “Can a person fall from grace?” Surely, the Calvinist would answer with a resounding, “No! There is no way a person can fall from grace.” Which baffles me, in light of Galatians 5:4, “You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace.” Surely that answers this question for all time, doesn’t it?!

Jesus Himself taught that one could fall from grace, “If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned” (John 15:6). If you need more convincing on this point, you can read my previous post on “Once Saved Always Saved.”

7. The Bible is My Standard – I believe in a simple gospel (2 Corinthians 11:3 NASB). I believe that God has revealed everything to us, through Scripture, that we need to know to be saved (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Salvation is not a great mystery, that only great theologians can decipher. Salvation is simple, easy to understand, and available to all through Jesus Christ.

This is what Jesus told the apostles, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:-15-16). The words of Jesus, and the words of the rest of the New Testament, could not be any further from Calvinism. Therefore, I want nothing to do with it!

I love you and the God, who wants all men to be saved, loves you,