Question: What is Calvinism?

Answer: Two great periods in religious history were the reformation (ca. AD 1517-1648) and the restoration (ca. AD 1785-) periods. The goal of the Reformation Movement was to reform the Catholic Church. People realized, though, that instead of reforming the Catholic Church, they should restore New Testament Christianity; hence, the Restoration Movement.

Germany, England, and Switzerland were the countries that experienced the greatest reformation efforts. Two major reformers emerged in Switzerland. They were Ulrich Zwingli and John Calvin. John Calvin is the often-recognized founder of the five-point doctrinal system known as Calvinism (John Calvin also founded the Presbyterian religion). Calvin's system was actually based on the philosophic principles advocated by Augustine of Hippo (4th Century). The five point system, popularly known as Calvinism, is suggested by the acrostic "TULIP," using the generally accepted titles of the five major tenets. They are: Total Inherited Depravity, Unconditional Election, Limited Atonement, Irresistible Grace, and Perseverance of the saints. Let us now briefly consider each of these tenets, in light of the scriptures. If this teaching is from God, surely we can find it written in the pages of His word!

Total Inherited Depravity.
The teaching is simply that all men (babies) have inherited Adam's sin. Not only has everyone inherited Adam's sin, but we all enter the world totally depraved (with Adam's sinful nature). Conversely, the Bible teaches "The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not bear the guilt of the father, nor the father bear the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself." (Ezekiel 18:20) Furthermore, "The soul that sinneth, it shall die" (Ibid.). All have sinned, but we sin because we choose to go astray (Psalm 58:3, Romans 3:23). The Bible does not present babies as depraved; rather, they are pure and models of those who enter the Kingdom of heaven (Matthew 18:3-5).

Unconditional Election.
Calvinism teaches that since man is so totally depraved when he is born, it is impossible for him to choose to serve God. Therefore, God must arbitrarily choose who will be saved. This teaching is sometimes referred to as predestination. The Bible teaches predestination, but not as taught by Augustine and Calvin. God is no respecter of persons, and all who choose to be saved will experience God's forgiveness and blessings (Acts 10: 34-35; John. 3:16).

Limited Atonement.
Limited Atonement is the position that since God arbitrarily chose those who would be saved, Jesus died for only those individuals. However, the scriptures teach that Jesus tasted death for "every man" (Hebrews 2:9). God would have all men to be saved, but only a few desire to be saved (I Timothy 2: 3-6; Matthew 7:13,14). "And he is the propitiation for our sins," John wrote, "and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world" (John 2:2).

Irresistible Grace.
The teaching of irresistible grace is based on belief in the direct operation of the Holy Spirit on the hearts of men. The chosen have no choice, nor do they participate in their salvation. The Spirit overwhelms them, even against their own will, according to Augustine's teaching. Calvinism teaches that man, any man, who has not experienced the irresistible working and transformation effected by the Spirit, cannot understand the gospel {Romans 1:16; Ephesians 3:3}. Hence, without this special working, man cannot be saved.

Perseverance of the Saints.
Since man initially has no say or participation in procuring his salvation, so it is during the remainder of his life. If salvation is all of God, man cannot lose his salvation, says Calvinism. As a result, the doctrine of once-saved, always-saved had to be introduced. Notwithstanding, the scriptures plainly teach that the Christian can fall. "Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall." (I Corinthians 10:12) In fact, the one who does not grow in Christ will fall. "But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." (2 Peter I:5-11). In Galatians 5:4, the exact phraseology "you have fallen from grace" is in the past tense . Man's continued salvation is contingent on whether or not he remains with God (Jude 21,24; 2 Chronicles 15:2).

You have probably observed that each of the foregoing five points depends on the others; each is made necessary by the tenet that precedes it. Hence, they are sequential and constitute a unit. Since I grew up in the Primitive Baptist religion and later attended Baptist Seminary, I am both intellectually and experimentally familiar with Calvinism. Calvinism has permeated more religions than any other false system (Premillennialism is a competitor). Many religions that have embraced "Calvinism" pick and choose which tenets they want. Many of their members object to Total Inherited Depravity (they do not want to believe their babies are lost if they die in infancy). Therefore, some religions attempt to omit Total Inherited Depravity. As we've seen, though, you cannot consistently have one without the other four. Calvinism is a package system. Each point, alas, is false and contrary to the Bible, making the entire system fallacious and heretical. Instead of God arbitrarily choosing some to be saved and some to be eternally damned, with both classes being fixed and unalterable, he is "not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance" (2 Peter. 3:9).

Brother Martin has given an excellent answer to the question regarding Calvinism. Many religions teach parts of this doctrine. How can any man who understands the character of our Father in heaven accept Calvinism? Because He loved His creation, God provided a remedy for our sin problem; He sent His Son into the world. How can we conclude that God "selected" certain ones to be lost, even though they might wish to be saved. Who can believe it? The God of heaven is not the god of Calvinism! (KMG)