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The Five Points spell "TULIP"TOTAL DEPRAVITY: Man is so utterly depraved as to be helpless to believe without first being regenerated by the Spirit of God. He is like a dead man, a zombie, who must first be brought to life before he can believe. As such, he has no free will to believe. COMMENT: Is this not to say we must be saved before we can be saved? Scripture indicates we have a free will; we certainly are free enough to reject God and, based on Rom. 10:13, free enough to accept Him, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Certainly this is not to say anyone can believe apart from the working of God’s Spirit as His Word is heard. See Rom. 10:17 “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Truly, just as God calls, so we must decide to respond. Love does not coerce. UNCONDITIONAL ELECTION: Before the foundation of the world, God elected to save some people but not others who He designated to hell. Although He could have saved them if He wished, as sovereign God He was under no obligation to do so. COMMENT: In stressing the sovereignty of God, Calvinists reason that the sinner is saved by God’s grace and not by the sinner’s efforts or merit. As true as that is, it fails to give the whole picture. It might be said that under such a view God’s sovereignty is actually lessened. How much more glorious is His sovereignty when by His love He wins over His enemies who are free to reject Him. Certainly God’s grace is made effectual by our decision to trust Christ. Unconditional election makes God a tyrant, actually responsible for sin, offering hope only for “the elect." God never predestines anyone to hell; only those who trust Him are ever "predestined," that is, to be conformed to the image of Christ according to His promise. LIMITED ATONEMENT: Christ died only for the elect, that is, for specific sinners, not for the sins of the whole world. COMMENT: Even many Calvinists do not accept this tenant. It leaves one to wonder if he is of the elect or not. How shall he know? It is repugnant to John 3:16 and other scriptures expressing His desire for all to be saved. IRRESISTIBLE GRACE: The Holy Spirit extends to the elect a special inward call that cannot be resisted. Any not so called are damned. COMMENT: Here again, the concept of free will and God’s mercy offered to all through the free gift extended through Christ is totally ignored. In defending God's sovereignty Calvinism emphasizes it to the point of overkill. PERSEVERANCE OF THE SAINTS: The elect cannot fall from grace but will persevere to the end, not because of anything they do but because of the immutability of election. COMMENT: Certainly a multitude of scriptures give the believer the assurance of his salvation; however, that we have a part in it is obvious from the doctrine of rewards for honoring Christ. We are told to "work out our salvation." Certainly, if we are to live as Christ did, we must daily acknowledge him, a lifestyle that God equates with righteousness. I hope I have not offended anyone, but I calls ‘em the way I sees ‘em, as I understand the scriptures. Calvinism, I believe, is a good example of approaching the Bible peace meal, not taking into account the whole word of God. Admittedly, in my being so concise, there is the possibility for misunderstanding. My intent here is not to be comprehensive but to merely present an introduction. For a complete discussion read Hunt’s book or other pertinent literature. Better still, search the scriptures, and in that event, let me share a helpful discovery that can clear up a lot of questions. We need to understand that Election is not Selection. That is, election as it is used in scripture refers to God's people as a whole, not to specific individuals. We who God foreknew from the beginning, He also called, justified, and glorified (See Rom. 8:29,30). Yes, each of us have been saved individually as we trusted Christ. However, so far as our being elect we are spoken of collectively as the people of God. Study Rom. 9:6-16 in relation to Gen. 25:33. But it is not that the word of God has taken no effect. For they are not all Israel who are of Israel, nor are they all children because they are the seed of Abraham; but, "In Isaac your seed shall be called." That is, those who are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God; but the children of the promise are counted as the seed. For this is the word of promise: "At this time I will come and Sarah shall have a son." And not only this, but when Rebecca also had conceived by one man, even by our father Isaac (for the children not yet being born, nor having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works but of Him who calls), it was said to her, "The older shall serve the younger." As it is written, "Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated." What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? Certainly not! For He says to Moses, "I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion." So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy. Note the two sons in Rebecca's womb in Gen. 25:23: Paul explains that the true Israel was not the natural born descendents of Abraham but the "children of promise" born to Rebecca. Esau and Jacob, whose future was prophesied before they ever were born, are a picture of how God's election would not be by human merit but by His grace. Note especially "the older shall serve the younger." This did not refer to Esau and Jacob as individuals but as types of two peoples. Never is it written that Esau served Jacob in their lifetimes. Only by Gen. 25:23 does it become clear that the twins represented two nations, that is, two peoples, the older of which would serve the younger, one people of faith, the other of unbelief. " "Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated." We worship the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob whose people we are and upon whom, because of faith, He can show mercy, while hardening the hearts of those such as Pharaoh who first reject Him. A careful study of the above passages and related scriptures can clear up untold confusion over the matter of God's election.
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