CALVINISM - SCRIPTURAL OR NOT?
The term “Calvinism” is a loosely used term by some people who do not hold Calvin’s teaching on predestination and do not understand exactly what Calvin taught.
Dr. Loraine Boettner in his book, “The Reformed Doctrine of Predestination” , says, “The Calvinistic system especially emphasizes five different doctrines, these are technically know as: ‘The Five Points of Calvinism’ and they are the main pillows upon which the superstructure rest.” [Presbyterian & Reformed Publishing Co., 1932].
Dr. Boettner says: “The five points may be more easily remembered if they are associated with the word TULIP. T-Total Inability; U-Unconditional Election; L-Limited Atonement; I-Irresistible (efficacious) Grace; and P-Perseverance of the Saints.”
These are the five points of Calvinism. I have heard preachers say, “I am a one point Calvinist.” I have heard them say, “I am a two or three point Calvinist.” I want us to look at the five points of Calvinism taught by John Calvin, and see what the Bible has to say on each point.
TOTAL INABILITY
By total inability Calvin meant that a lost sinner cannot come to Jesus Christ and trust Him as Saviour, unless he is foreordained to come to Christ. By total inability he meant that no man has the ability to come to Christ, and unless God over powers him and give him that ability, he will never come to Christ.
The Bible does teach total depravity, but it’s not the same as “total inability”. Total depravity simply mean: “there is nothing good in man, he is incapable of earning; and does not even deserve salvation.” The Bible says in Jer. 17:9 “The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked.”
A preacher brought a wonderful sermon on the depravity of the human heart. When he was finished his message, someone came to him and said, “I want you to know that I can’t swallow that ‘depraved heart’ that you just spoke about.” The preacher smiled and said, “You don’t have to swallow it, it’s already in you!”
While the Bible teaches the depravity of the human race, it nowhere teaches his total inability. The Bible never hints that people are lost because they have no ability to come to Christ. The language of Jesus was, “Ye will not come to me that ye might have life” (John 5:40).
Jesus looked over Jerusalem and wept and said, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem…how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!” (Matt. 23:37). Here again notice, He did not say, “How often would I have gathered you and ‘you could not’. No. He said “you would not!” It was not a matter of whether or not they could, it was whether or not they would.
The last invitation of the Bible: Rev 22:17
17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
If it is true that no person has the ability to come to Christ, then why would Jesus make statements like that He made in: John 5:40
40 And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.
Why didn’t He simply say, “ye cannot come to me ”?
The only thing that stands between the sinner and salvation is the sinner’s will. God made every man a free moral agent, and God never burglarizes the human will.
D. L. Moody addressed a large group of skeptics. He said, “I want to talk about the word believe and the word take.” When Mr. Moody had finished his sermon, he asked, “now who will come and take Christ as their Saviour?” One man stood and said, “I can’t.”
The term “Calvinism” is a loosely used term by some people who do not hold Calvin’s teaching on predestination and do not understand exactly what Calvin taught.
Dr. Loraine Boettner in his book, “The Reformed Doctrine of Predestination” , says, “The Calvinistic system especially emphasizes five different doctrines, these are technically know as: ‘The Five Points of Calvinism’ and they are the main pillows upon which the superstructure rest.” [Presbyterian & Reformed Publishing Co., 1932].
Dr. Boettner says: “The five points may be more easily remembered if they are associated with the word TULIP. T-Total Inability; U-Unconditional Election; L-Limited Atonement; I-Irresistible (efficacious) Grace; and P-Perseverance of the Saints.”
These are the five points of Calvinism. I have heard preachers say, “I am a one point Calvinist.” I have heard them say, “I am a two or three point Calvinist.” I want us to look at the five points of Calvinism taught by John Calvin, and see what the Bible has to say on each point.
TOTAL INABILITY
By total inability Calvin meant that a lost sinner cannot come to Jesus Christ and trust Him as Saviour, unless he is foreordained to come to Christ. By total inability he meant that no man has the ability to come to Christ, and unless God over powers him and give him that ability, he will never come to Christ.
The Bible does teach total depravity, but it’s not the same as “total inability”. Total depravity simply mean: “there is nothing good in man, he is incapable of earning; and does not even deserve salvation.” The Bible says in Jer. 17:9 “The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked.”
A preacher brought a wonderful sermon on the depravity of the human heart. When he was finished his message, someone came to him and said, “I want you to know that I can’t swallow that ‘depraved heart’ that you just spoke about.” The preacher smiled and said, “You don’t have to swallow it, it’s already in you!”
While the Bible teaches the depravity of the human race, it nowhere teaches his total inability. The Bible never hints that people are lost because they have no ability to come to Christ. The language of Jesus was, “Ye will not come to me that ye might have life” (John 5:40).
Jesus looked over Jerusalem and wept and said, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem…how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!” (Matt. 23:37). Here again notice, He did not say, “How often would I have gathered you and ‘you could not’. No. He said “you would not!” It was not a matter of whether or not they could, it was whether or not they would.
The last invitation of the Bible: Rev 22:17
17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
If it is true that no person has the ability to come to Christ, then why would Jesus make statements like that He made in: John 5:40
40 And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.
Why didn’t He simply say, “ye cannot come to me ”?
The only thing that stands between the sinner and salvation is the sinner’s will. God made every man a free moral agent, and God never burglarizes the human will.
D. L. Moody addressed a large group of skeptics. He said, “I want to talk about the word believe and the word take.” When Mr. Moody had finished his sermon, he asked, “now who will come and take Christ as their Saviour?” One man stood and said, “I can’t.”
Mr. Moody wept and said, “don’t say I can’t.” Say, “I won’t!” And the man said, “then I won’t .” Another man said, “I will!” And another and another until scores came to trust Christ as Saviour.
Some Calvinist use John 6:44 in an effort to prove total inability.
John 6:44
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.
But the Bible makes it plain in John 12:32 that Christ will draw all men unto Himself: John 12:32
32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.
All men are drawn to Christ, but not all men will trust Christ as Saviour. Every man will make his own decision to trust Christ or to reject Him. The Bible makes it clear that all men have light: John 1:10
9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
Romans 1:19, 20 indicates that man was created for this specific purpose. Rom 1:19-20
19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
Romans 2:11-16 indicates that sinners are called through their consciences, even when they have not heard the Word of God. Rom 2:11-16
11 For there is no respect of persons with God.
12 For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;
13(For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.
14 For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:
15 Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)
16 In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.
In the final analysis, man goes to Hell, not because of their inability to come to Christ; but because they will not come to Christ. John 5:40
40 And ye will not come to me , that ye might have life.
The teaching that man, woman, and children are totally unable to come to Christ and trust Him as Saviour is not a Biblical doctrine, the language itself is not scriptural.
Some Calvinist use John 6:44 in an effort to prove total inability.
John 6:44
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.
But the Bible makes it plain in John 12:32 that Christ will draw all men unto Himself: John 12:32
32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.
All men are drawn to Christ, but not all men will trust Christ as Saviour. Every man will make his own decision to trust Christ or to reject Him. The Bible makes it clear that all men have light: John 1:10
9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
Romans 1:19, 20 indicates that man was created for this specific purpose. Rom 1:19-20
19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
Romans 2:11-16 indicates that sinners are called through their consciences, even when they have not heard the Word of God. Rom 2:11-16
11 For there is no respect of persons with God.
12 For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;
13(For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.
14 For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:
15 Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)
16 In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.
In the final analysis, man goes to Hell, not because of their inability to come to Christ; but because they will not come to Christ. John 5:40
40 And ye will not come to me , that ye might have life.
The teaching that man, woman, and children are totally unable to come to Christ and trust Him as Saviour is not a Biblical doctrine, the language itself is not scriptural.
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