The Five Points of Calvinism
The Five Points of Calvinism
David N. Steele & Curtis C. Thomas
The Five Points of Calvinism
Total Depravity
Because of the fall, man is unable of himself to savingly believe the gospel. The sinner is dead, blind, and deaf to the things of God; his heart is deceitful and desperately corrupt. His will is not free, it is in bondage to his evil nature; therefore, he will not--indeed he cannot--choose good over evil in the spiritual realm. Consequently, it takes much more than the Spirit's assistance to bring a sinner to Christ--it takes regeneration by which the Spirit makes the sinner alive and gives him a new nature. Faith is not something man contributes to salvation but is itself a part of God's gift of salvation--it is God's gift to the sinner, not the sinner’s gift to God.
(Genesis 2:15-17, Romans 5:12, Psalm 51:5, 1 Corinthians 2:14, Romans 3:10-18, Jeremiah 17:9, John 6:44, Ephesians 2:1-10)
Unconditional Election
God's choice of certain individuals unto salvation before the foundation of the world rested solely in His own sovereign will. His choice of particular sinners was not based on any foreseen response or obedience on their part, such as faith, repentance, etc. On the contrary, God gives faith and repentance to each individual whom He selected. These acts are the result, not the cause of God's choice. Election therefore was not determined by or conditioned upon any virtuous quality or act foreseen in man. Those whom God sovereignly elected He brings through the power of the Spirit to a willing acceptance of Christ. Thus God's choice of the sinner, not the sinner’s choice of Christ, is the ultimate cause of salvation.
(Romans 9:10-21, Ephesians 1:4-11, Ephesians 2:4-10, Romans 8:29-30, Acts 11:18, Acts 13:48)
Limited Atonement
Christ's redeeming work was intended to save the elect only and actually secured salvation for them. His death was a substitutionary endurance of the penalty of sin in the place of certain specified sinners. In addition to putting away the sins of His people, Christ's redemption secured everything necessary for their salvation, including faith which united them to Him. The gift of faith is infallibly applied by the Spirit to all for whom Christ died, thereby guaranteeing their salvation.
(Matthew 1:21, Romans 5:12-21, Romans 3:21-26, Ephesians 2:8-10, Titus 3:5-6, Philippians 1:6, John 10:11-30, John 17:6-12, Romans 8:28-30, John 6:44, Acts 20:28)
Irresistible Grace
In addition to the outward general call to salvation which is made to everyone who hears the gospel, the Holy Spirit extends to the elect a special inward call that inevitably brings them to salvation. The external call (which is made to all without distinction) can be, and often is, rejected; whereas the internal call (which is made only to the elect) cannot be rejected, it always results in conversion. By means of this special call the Spirit irresistibly draws sinners to Christ. He is not limited in His work of applying salvation by man's will, nor is He dependent upon man's cooperation for success. The Spirit graciously causes the elect sinner to cooperate, to believe, to repent, to come freely and willingly to Christ. God's grace, therefore, is invincible; it never fails to result in the salvation of those to whom it is extended.
(John 3:16, Matthew 22:14, Acts 17:29-31, Matthew 23:37-39, John 6:44, Romans 8:28-30, John 1:12-13, John 3:1-8, Ephesians 2:8-10)
Perseverance of the Saints
All who were chosen by God, redeemed by Christ, and given faith by the Spirit are eternally saved. They are kept in faith by the power of Almighty God and thus persevere to the end.
(John 3:16, John 6:35-40, John 6:44, Philippians 1:6, Philippians 2:12-13, Jude 24-25, Ephesians 1:13-14, Romans 8:28-30, Romans 8:35-39)
Comments
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There is no such thing in the Bible as all humans being totally depraved.
*The Bible speaks of their being good people, righteous people. If all are totally depraved, then what does God search our hearts and minds for?
There is no such thing in the Bible as salvation being unconditional.
*Salvation is conditional. Jesus says you are blessed as a disciple, a family member and friend if you obey him. Jesus says no one can enter unless and if.
There is no such thing as limited atonement.
*The Bible says that Jesus died for the sins of the world.
There is no such thing as irresistible grace.
*God does not make anyone obey Him.
There is no such thing as perseverance of the Saints.
*We are warned for a reason.
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God does NOT save unbelievers.
We must believe and obey to be saved.
Nowhere anywhere in the Bible does it say God saves unbelievers.
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@YourTruthGod There is no such thing in the Bible as all humans being totally depraved.
1 Kings 8:46 (KJV) includes: (for there is no man that sinneth not,)
Ecclesiastes 7:20 (KJV) For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.
Romans 3:23 shows all humans have sinned and come short of the Glory of God.
Sin separates all humans from One Holy, Righteous God. Thankful for One God enabling humans to know The Truth of One God, which allows humans to freely choose their primary love: God or self (sin).
Keep Smiling 😀
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@Keep_Smiling_4_Jesus 1 KiSmiling(KJV) includes: (for there is no man that sinneth not,)
There is no righteous man who has not sinned even once.
*Still does NOT give anyone the right to make the false doctrine of all being totally depraved.
Ecclesiastes 7:20 (KJV) For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.
Again, it is about a righteous person who has not sinned even once.
The Calvinists twist the scriptures into unrecognizable falseness that makes one suspended out of the realm of the truth.
Romans 3:23 shows all humans have sinned and come short of the Glory of God.
Again, we come short, but NOTHING about all being totally depraved.
The Calvinists have doctrines that are not from God and even go against the very way to get saved when Jesus says believe the Calvinists so no.
Sin separates all humans from One Holy, Righteous God. Thankful for One God enabling humans to know The Truth of One God, which allows humans to freely choose their primary love: God or self (sin).
No such thing as God saying people who do not already first believe and obey.
Keep Smiling
The smile is only from God's Truth.
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Sin separates all humans from One Holy, Righteous God. Thankful for One God enabling humans to know The Truth of One God, which allows humans to freely choose their primary love: God or self (sin).
@YourTruthGod No such thing as God saying people who do not already first believe and obey.
According to Ephesians 2:1-10, please describe what precedes gift of grace through faith.
Logos search for {Headword Grace} found many results (in a variety of resources while looking for prevenient), including:
II. Catholic Doctrine on Grace.—The Church teaches, in opposition to the Pelagians, not only that the grace of Christ is absolutely necessary for justification before God, but also that without the prevenient inspiration of the Holy Ghost and his assistance a man “can neither believe, hope, love, or repent, as it is necessary he should do, in order that the grace of justification may be conferred upon him” (Concil. Trid. Sess. vi. De Justif. can. 3). In no case can a man merit the first grace by natural good works. “No man,” says our Blessed Saviour, “can come to me except the Father who hath sent me draw him” (John 6:44); and the Apostle, “It is God who worketh in us to will and to do” (Philipp. 2:13). The very wish to believe or to rise from sin comes, according to the definition of the Council of Orange (can. 3, 4, 5), from the grace of God. Moreover, although we can by our own strength do good actions in the natural order, and although our nature is not wholly depraved and corrupt, even after the fall and before it is healed by the grace of Christ, still so great is the weakness left by original sin, and by the disorder consequent on the very fact that a man destitute of grace is necessarily turned away from his last end—viz. God apprehended by supernatural means—that we need grace in order to resist grievous temptations against natural virtue, nor can we fulfil the whole natural law of God without its help. Hence Scripture constantly attributes triumph over temptation to the grace of God, who with temptation makes a way of escape that we may be able to bear it (1 Cor. 10:13).1 Finally, even a person who is in a state of grace and friendship of God needs a new impulse of actual grace before he can think a good thought or perform a good deed;2 while a special grace, which cannot be merited, is required in order that he may persevere to the end. “In the case of those who are regenerate and holy there is always need to implore God’s help that they may come to a good end or persist in a good work” (Concil. Araus. ii. can. 10). In short, the world of grace is like the world of nature, which is not only created but also sustained at each instant by the hand of God.
As the Pelagians and Semipelagians erred in the estimate they formed of man’s natural powers, so the Calvinists fell into another and much more pernicious error by denying the freedom of the will altogether and making grace irresistible; and the Jansenist doctrine on these points is substantially identical with that of the Calvinists. The Council of Trent (Sess. vi. De Justif.) condemns under anathema those who maintain that the will of man is merely passive under the action of grace, and has not the power of resisting it. It also defines that a state of grace is not, as the Calvinists supposed, the mere external favour of God, but that it is a gift inherent in the soul, in virtue of which the sinner is not only accounted just, but really becomes so, and that the gift of sanctifying grace is forfeited by any single mortal sin. We discuss these points more fully under the articles Calvinism, Final Perseverance, Justification, Merit, only remarking here that the very essence, not only of Christianity, but of natural religion, is at issue in the dispute between Catholics and Calvinists. That God will accept no man as just except he really be so; that nothing else, neither ritual nor sacrifice, nor imputed merit can be taken as a substitute for personal holiness—that is the central truth of all religion; it is the very truth which the prophets of God maintained against the priests of Baal or Moloch. We are of course well aware that there are many excellent Christians who profess Calvinism, and do not dream of holding the consequences which may fairly be deduced from their tenets. But this should not blind us to the fact that the Calvinistic theories on imputation, irresistible grace, the impossibility of falling from a state of grace, are in themselves not only irreligious but immoral.
1 On this part of the subject, see the Second Council of Orange, anno 529, confirmed by Pope Boniface II.
2 I.e., of course, a thought or deed profitable to eternal salvation.
William E. Addis and Thomas Arnold, A Catholic Dictionary (New York: The Catholic Publication Society Co., 1887), 382–383.
Keep Smiling 😀
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@Keep_Smiling_4_Jesus According to Ephesians 2:1-10, please describe what precedes gift of grace through faith.
You have so many scriptures that you were taught wrong to believe.
I want to show you all of them the real way.
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Let's start with the first one you posted, Ephesians 2:1-10.
That is about the GENTILES who were dead in their sins. They were dead in their sins because they didn't get circumcised in the flesh and do all the other purification works like the Jews did. The Gentiles didn't atone for their souls. They were dead in their sins and without God.
Jesus saved them while they were dead in their sins and didn't make them get circumcised first.
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The next scripture you posted and don't misunderstand is John 6:44.
See, when Jesus came to earth, God had cut off some Jews who didn't already first have faith in Him before Jesus came.
God only let the Jews come to Jesus if they already had faith in God the Father.
They were God's, and He was now giving them, those ones to Jesus.
They now had to go through Jesus to remain God's.
They were drawn to Jesus because they recognized what Jesus was saying as the words of God the Father.
John 6:45 It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.
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The next scripture you posted and don't understand that I would love to explain to you is Philippians 2:13.
That scripture is about after we are saved; after we receive the Holy Spirit.
After we have faith that is alive; which is faith with right action.
That scripture is about God willing us by His Spirit inside us, His love, and that is what wills us to do what He wants us to do.
People can still mess up though and do wrong; which isn't good.
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@Keep_Smiling_4_Jesus According to Ephesians 2:1-10, please describe what precedes gift of grace through faith.
@YourTruthGod You have so many scriptures that you were taught wrong to believe.
Observation is using "You" in a sentence, especially as the subject, greatly increases opportunity for personal comments instead of discussing ideas, which can include civilized contradictory opinions.
@YourTruthGod Let's start with the first one you posted, Ephesians 2:1-10.
@YourTruthGod That is about the GENTILES who were dead in their sins. They were dead in their sins because they didn't get circumcised in the flesh and do all the other purification works like the Jews did. The Gentiles didn't atone for their souls. They were dead in their sins and without God.
@YourTruthGod Jesus saved them while they were dead in their sins and didn't make them get circumcised first.
Greek word ἔθνη (GENTILES) first appears in Ephesians 2:11 while letter is addressed to the holy and faithful in Christ Jesus.
By the way, EarlyBible.com has a picture of papyrus 46 showing προς εφεσιους (To Ephesians) above letter text while not having Ephesians in the text (so this letter could be sent to holy believers in Christ Jesus who reside in other places).
Note: Jewish purification rituals do not provide automatic salvation (while remembering Jesus lovingly telling some pharisees of many woes since righteous appearance is not the same as a righteous heart seeking One God).
My previous post included one description request: "According to Ephesians 2:1-10, please describe what precedes gift of grace through faith." and a partial quote (section II) of a public domain Grace dictionary entry, which included prevenient.
@Keep_Smiling_4_Jesus Sin separates all humans from One Holy, Righteous God. Thankful for One God enabling humans to know The Truth of One God, which allows humans to freely choose their primary love: God or self (sin).
@YourTruthGod No such thing as God saying people who do not already first believe and obey.
Puzzled by "No such thing ..." assertion. One question is: first believe in what ? (different way of phrasing my request for what precedes gift of grace through faith, which has been described by my pastor as "prevenient grace")
Appears assertion "Jesus saved them while they were dead in their sins and didn't make them get circumcised first." and earlier assertion about "There is no such thing as irresistible grace." => "*God does not make anyone obey Him." need a bit of reconciliation.
Keep Smiling 😀(is my variation of Philippians 4:4 Χαίρετε ἐν κυρίῳ πάντοτε· as Be Rejoicing in the Lord always provides reason to Smile)
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@Keep_Smiling_4_Jesus AccoSmilingEphesians 2:1-10, please describe what precedes gift of grace through faith.Observation is using "You" in a sentence, especially as the subject, greatly increases opportunity for personal comments instead of discussing ideas, which can include civilized contradictory opinions.
Greek word ἔθνη (GENTILES) first appears in Ephesians 2:11 while letter is addressed to the holy and faithful in Christ Jesus.
By the way, EarlyBible.com has a picture of papyrus 46 showing προς εφεσιους (To Ephesians) above letter text while not having Ephesians in the text (so this letter could be sent to holy believers in Christ Jesus who reside in other places).
Note: Jewish purification rituals do not provide automatic salvation (while remembering Jesus lovingly telling some pharisees of many woes since righteous appearance is not the same as a righteous heart seeking One God).
The Old Covenant was based on doing the purification works of the law.
That is the focus that needs to be acknowledged.
My previous post included one description request: "According to Ephesians 2:1-10, please describe what precedes gift of grace through faith." and a partial quote (section II) of a public domain Grace dictionary entry, which included prevenient.
Sin separates all humans from One Holy, Righteous God. Thankful for One God enabling humans to know The Truth of One God, which allows humans to freely choose their primary love: God or self (sin).
Puzzled by "No such thing ..." assertion. One question is: first believe in what ? (different way of phrasing my request for what precedes gift of grace through faith, which has been described by my pastor as "prevenient grace")Appears assertion "Jesus saved them while they were dead in their sins and didn't make them get circumcised first." and earlier assertion about "There is no such thing as irresistible grace." => "*God does not make anyone obey Him." need a bit of reconciliation.
God doesn't save unbelievers. Calvinism has God saving unbelievers.
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@YourTruthGod The Old Covenant was based on doing the purification works of the law.
@YourTruthGod That is the focus that needs to be acknowledged.
When Jewish Torah teachers asked the traveling Jewish Rabbi Jesus: "What is the greatest commandment (mitzvot) in the Torah (law) ?" (Matthew 22:36 & Mark 12:28), what answer was expected ? (hint: Paul twice mentions expected Jewish answer)
@YourTruthGod God doesn't save unbelievers. Calvinism has God saving unbelievers.
Concur God requires belief (Love) in One God (Lord Jesus Christ) for salvation, which is the only way for Gentiles.
Also Gd's covenant with Abraham remains in effect so Jewish people more numerous than grains of sand have a way to One Gd (while not yet knowing Yeshua as HaShem's salvation to complete their Judaism).
Clarification question of "First believe in what ?" from earlier reply @YourTruthGod "No such thing as God saying people who do not already first believe and obey." to my assertion "Sin separates all humans from One Holy, Righteous God. Thankful for One God enabling humans to know The Truth of One God, which allows humans to freely choose their primary love: God or self (sin)." remains unanswered.
Keep Smiling 😀
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@Keep_Smiling_4_Jesus WhenSmilingorah teachers asked the traveling Jewish Rabbi Jesus: "What is the greatest commandment (mitzvot) in the Torah (law) ?" (Matthew 22:36 & Mark 12:28), what answer was expected ? (hint: Paul twice mentions expected Jewish answer)
It is important thought that we stay focused. It seems that you are trying hard to deflect from the fact that the covenant was based on the Jews doing the purification works of the law.
Concur God requires belief (Love) in One God (Lord Jesus Christ) for salvation, which is the only way for Gentiles.
Love is obedience to Jesus' teachings.
Also Gd's covenant with Abraham remains in effect so Jewish people more numerous than grains of sand have a way to One Gd (while not yet knowing Yeshua as HaShem's salvation to complete their Judaism).
God doesn't care anymore about who is blood related to Abraham. God only cares about are coming to Jesus' blood shed on the cross.
Clarification question of "First believe in what ?" from earlier reply @YourTruthGod "No such thing as God saying people who do not already first believe and obey." to my assertion "Sin separates all humans from One Holy, Righteous God. Thankful for One God enabling
We have to believe that we have to obey Jesus.
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Eph 2,8 (AV)
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it [the being saved) is] the gift of God:
Joh 3,16 (AV)
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Simple plain truth ....
Some seem to have a Bible that has
Joh 3,16 (Calvinist version)
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever He decided to give eternal life, can and will believe in him
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A Preface in "The Five Points of Calvinsim: A Study Guide" notes that Calvinism is more than five points plus John Calvin did not author the five points posted to start this thread.
When Jewish Torah teachers asked the traveling Jewish Rabbi Jesus: "What is the greatest commandment (mitzvot) in the Torah (law) ?" (Matthew 22:36 & Mark 12:28), what answer was expected ? (hint: Paul twice mentions expected Jewish answer)
@YourTruthGod It is important thought that we stay focused. It seems that you are trying hard to deflect from the fact that the covenant was based on the Jews doing the purification works of the law.
Torah teachers were expecting answer of Leviticus 19:18 for greatest commandment answer, which is reflected in Romans 13 and Galatians 5 (entire law is fulfilled by loving one another). Jewish daily prayers included "The Shema" in Deuteronomy 6:4-9 that Jesus taught was the greatest commandment: for us to Love God with everything we've got. Ideally outward purification works reflects inward desire to Love & Obey the One True God.
Noticeably missing from The Five Points of Calvinism (David N. Steele & Curtis C. Thomas) that started this thread is Loving God first with everything we are/have plus loving our neighbors as ourselves.
@YourTruthGod Love is obedience to Jesus' teachings.
Many times Jesus quoted/alluded to Old Covenant scriptures: e.g. BeAttitudes in Matthew 5:3-12 have a number of quotes/allusions to Isaiah & Psalms.
Thankful for two eBooks in my Logos library => Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus: How the Jewishness of Jesus Can Transform Your Faith & Walking in the Dust of Rabbi Jesus: How the Jewish Words of Jesus Can Change Your Life
Keep Smiling 😀
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Love is to obey Jesus' teachings.
2 John 1:6 The love of which I am speaking consists in our living in obedience to God's commands. God's command is that you should live in obedience to what you all heard from the very beginning.
1 John 5:3 Love for God means obedience to His commands; and His commands are not irksome.
John 14:15 "If you love me, you will obey my commandments.
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Since Jesus Christ and his appearing, it no longer matters to whom we are blood related, it only matters now if we come to God by the blood of Jesus Christ:
See John 1:13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.
Did you read how the scripture says 'not of natural descent'?
Natural decent is about those to whom we are blood related.
The written Word of God says NOT of natural descent. That means it does not matter if someone is blood related to Abraham anymore.
Now see how the scripture says not of human decision?
That is about a human cannot make the decision to to be saved without God saving them.
See how the scripture says not of a husband's will?
That is about a husband not being able to have his wife become a Jew, or even a Christian, by converting her with certain rituals the Jews used to do.
In the past, a Jew could marry and then the wife performs the practices of Judaism, and so become a Jew and a child of God...this is no more now since Jesus.
Being born of God is how we are now saved. We are born of God by receiving the Holy Spirit. We receive the Holy Spirit by asking Jesus to save us, after we repent of our sins and call on him. When Jesus saves us and gives us his Holy Spirit that is when we are born again.
Jesus is Lord over all and he tells us how to be children of God.
You can no longer be called a child of God just because you are a Jew/blood related to Abraham.
You have to be related to Jesus to be a child of God; you have to take his flesh and blood to be related to him, to be a part of him.
All who are in him are a part of him and are HEIRS.
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Jesus came and gave the rules and regulations for his last will and testament, the New Covenant.
He told us how to be a child of God and so be an heir.
He told us how to be an heir and enter the New Covenant.
Then he died for the last will and testament and new covenant.
We don't go by old covenants.
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Calvin teaches that God saves unbelievers.
It is not true that God saves unbelievers.
One must believe and obey Jesus to get saved.
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All five points are 100% correct.
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I promise you they are not.
Let's reason together from the scriptures.
If you can show one Scripture that says or shows that God saves unbelievers, then you will convert me.
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