What Do Calvinists Believe?

The Five Points of Calvinism

Many people wonder what is a Calvinist?  Or what is meant when we use the term Sovereign Grace?  The following is a short summary of what a Calvinist believes.  The Doctrines of Sovereign Grace are much deeper than the following and I would encourage you study further into the matter, but for those who would like a brief overview without getting into deep theological quagmire, the following should help.

First, some ask why are the Doctrines of Grace referred to ask Calvinism?  The answer is in the reformation a man named John Calvin wrote volumes on this subject matter.  The Doctrines of Grace preceded John Calvin, but he is credited with putting them in a much more systematic framework.  The Doctrines of Grace date back to time of Jesus Christ.  All John Calvin did was to implement a systematic theology.   John Calvin is also credited with founding the Presbyterian church.  Baptists held to the Doctrines of Grace prior to John Calvin systematizing them.  So to make a long answer short, the Doctrines of Grace are referred to as Calvinism, because John Calvin systematized the theology.

To remember what a Calvinist believes just remember the word TULIP.  Each letter represents a point of Calvinism. 

T Total Depravity.  Before we are saved we are totally dead in our trespasses and sins.  Romans 3:10,11,23;6:20; I Corinthians 15:22  Dead people cannot do anything, because they are dead.  There is nothing they can do to raise themselves to life. The same is true of the unbeliever, there is nothing he can do to save himself.  Only the Jesus Christ who was perfect was able to raise Himself to life, and it was because of His perfection and deity that He was able to do so. He alone is able to raise anyone to spiritual life.  Without Christ no one can raise themselves to life.  John 3:16; Romans 6:23

U Unconditional Election.  Since, a dead person is unable do anything on their own, they are unable to choose God.  So God out love chooses those who are dead in their trespasses and sins.  Ephesians 2:1  God chose us before the foundation of the world.  Since, none of us were there before the foundation of the world, we did not have a role in our election.  Ephesians 1:4-7, Matthew 25:34, I Corinthians 2:6-8, II Timothy 1:9, Titus 1:2, Revelation 13:8  Since, our election took place before the foundation of the earth, there are no conditions placed on us for our election.  Thus, we are unconditionally elected.

The plan of salvation that God created was created out of love.  John 3:16, 17.  I John 2:1,2  Jesus the Son of God is the propitiation for sin.  God sent His Son to die for us out of love.  I John 4:9-11,  I John 4:19, I John 3:16, Ephesians 2:4,5  Love is the reason behind the plan of salvation.  

L Limited Redemption. When Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sins, His Blood was sufficient for all, but is only efficient for those who believe on Him.  John 3:16,17  Even though Jesus died for the sins of the whole world, not everyone is saved.  Luke 16:23  The rich man wouldn't have been burning in hell if everyone were saved.  In order to be saved, we must accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior prior to death.  In hell, everyone believes that Jesus Christ is the Lord, but they believed too late. 

When Jesus died on the cross He secured our salvation.  I Timothy 1:15  Jesus entire purpose for coming to earth from heaven was to save us sinners.  He came out of love for you and I.  Galations 1:3,4 Jesus gave Himself to pay for our sins!  His death on the cross secured our salvation!  Isaiah 53:4,5, I Peter 3:18, Romans 5:8,9  "While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us"  That is love! Hebrews 9:12  The purpose of Jesus death on the  cross was to secure salvation from sin, so that He could bring us to God. Titus 2:14, Hebrews 13:12, Galations 3:13, I Peter 2:24.

The Blood of Christ is only effective for those who believe.  Acts 16: 30, 31, Ephesians 2:8,9  Faith is a necessary component of Salvation.   Albert Barnes says of the Acts passage, “the direct meaning of this is, that salvation, was offered to his family as well as himself; implying that if they believed, they should also be saved.”    Believing on the Lord Jesus, turning from sin and accepting His offer of Salvation through faith is what make His blood effective.  Without faith it is impossible to please God.  Hebrews 11:6

Limited Redemption means that even though the Blood of Jesus Christ is sufficient for all it is only efficient for those who believe on His Name.

I Irresistible Grace.  God's grace is irresistible.  To understand this point we must remember the first point which is that prior to salvation we are Totally Depraved or more simply put Totally Dead.  A dead person cannot and will not do anything on their own.  John 6:44 "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."  No one can come to God except they are drawn.  The word in Greek is the word helkuo, which means “to draw, to draw out or towards” literally to drag.  Side note the same word is used in Acts 16:19, the same word is translated “dragged” in the NKJV, Amplified Version, NASV and the NIV.   When the Holy Spirit draws us He literally drags us.  We do not go willingly.

When I have illustrated this idea in sermons and lessons, I use the following example:  If you have a dead corpse and you wish to move him across the room do you tell him all the reasons why he should move across the room and then expect that the corpse will make a rational decision to get up and do so?  No.  Why?  Because the corpse is dead and powerless to move.  The corpse is dead and cannot hear.  The corpse is dead and cannot think.  Prior to salvation, we are that corpse we have our ears blocked to the truth of God's Word, our heart's are hardened, our mind's can not comprehend the truth of God's Word, all because we are dead in sin prior to salvation.  A corpse is unable to move on his own.  In order to move the corpse, the corpse must be dragged across the room.  The corpse doesn't help in their moving, because they are dead.  The corpse is dragged not base on their will, but based on the will of the one who does the dragging.  The same is true of our salvation.  When we come to Christ, we come not based on our will, but based on the will of the One Who does the dragging.  We are unable to resist, since we are dead in sin.  Ephesians 2:8,9  Salvation is a gift of God and not based on our works. 

P Perseverance of the Saints.  Another term used for Perseverance of the Saint is Eternal Security.  Ephesians 2:8,9  Even as we do earn our salvation by works, we do not keep our salvation through works.  Faith produces works, but works never produces faith.  Even as our initial salvation hinges on the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, so does our retention of salvation.  John 3:16  Notice "everlasting life"  Everlasting lasts forever.   Ephesians 1:13  We are sealed by the Holy Spirit.  We cannot fall or apostatize, because the Holy Spirit won't allow us to.  We can quench the Holy Spirit, which is something that we shouldn't do.  But we cannot lose our salvation.  Be very careful to make sure you are truly saved though.  "Make your calling and election sure."  If you can sin and stay in sin without the Holy Spirit convicting you, then check your salvation.  The indwelling of the Holy Spirit is a way we can know that we are saved.  "If any man hath not the Spirit of Christ he is none of His." The Holy Spirit seals us in Christ.  We must have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit to be saved.  At salvation, the Holy Spirit comes in and seals us in Christ.  The Holy Spirit keeps us saved.

The next proof is that the Covenant of Grace is a unilateral contract.  If it was Bilateral, then we would have to work for our salvation. Ephesians 2:8,9 says Salvation is a gift and not of works.  If the covenant of Grace was Bilateral we would have to shed our own blood too.  The Bible says “without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sin”  So if it was bilateral we would have to shed our own blood.  But the covenant is a new testament of God.  It is a new covenant in the blood of Christ.  I Corinthians 11:23-25.  The Covenant is unilateral!  Only Jesus blood can take away sin.  Only the Father can foreordain from before the foundation of the world.  Only the Holy Spirit can draw us to Salvation.  And only the Holy Spirit can seal us unto the day of redemption.  The entire Trinity takes part in our salvation.  Salvation hinges on God.  Man is just the recipient of God’s gift.  Jeremiah 32:40.  The covenant is everlasting!  John 15:16  The Fruit remains or is not temporary, but permanent. 

True saints will persevere to the end.  I John 5:4-7  Whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world.  I John 4:13 We know we dwell in Him, because He has given us the Holy Spirit.  We are sealed by the Holy Spirit and He produces fruit in our lives.  I John 5:11 How long is eternal?  Forever.  Ephesians 4:30  The Holy Spirit is the one who keeps us.  Many other verses back this up.  Matthew 18:12-14, John 3:36, 5:24, 6:35-40, 47, 10:27-30, 17:11-15, Romans 5:8-10, 8: 1, 29, 30, 35-39, I Corinthians 1:7-9, 10:13, Ephesians 1:5-13, Hebrews 9:12, 15, 10:14, 12:28, I Peter 1:3-5, Jude 1, 24, 25. .

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