WHY I DISAGREE WITH ALL FIVE POINTS OF
CALVINISM
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.
CALVINISM
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.
UNCONDITIONAL ELECTION
By unconditional election, Calvin meant that some are elected to Heaven, while others are elected to Hell, and that this election is unconditional. It is wholly on God’s part and without condition. By unconditional election Calvin meant that God has already decided who will be saved and who will be lost, and the individual has absolutely nothing to do with it. He can only hope that God has elected him to Heaven and not to Hell.
This teaching so obviously disagrees with the oft-repeated invitation in the Bible to sinners to come to Christ and be saved that some readers will think that I have overstated the doctrine. So I will quote from John Calvin in his institutes, Book 111, chapter 23:
…..Not all men are created with similar destiny but eternal life is foreordained for some, and eternal damnation for others. Everyman, therefore, being created for one or the other of these ends, we say, he is predestined either to life or to death.
Calvin teaches that it is God’s own choice that some people are to be damned forever, and He never intended to save them. He foreordained them to go to Hell, and when He offers salvation in the Bible, He does not offer it to those that are foreordained to go to Hell. It is offered only to those that are foreordained to be saved.
This teaching insists that we need not try to win men to Christ because men cannot be saved unless God has planned for them to be saved. Therefore, if God’s plan for them is that they be eternally lost, there is no way that they will be saved.
There is the Bible doctrine of God’s foreknowledge, predestination, and election. Most knowledgeable Christians agree that God has His controlling hands in the affairs of man. They agree that according to the Bible, He selects individuals like Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and David as instruments to do certain things He has planned. Most Christians agree that God may choose a nation – particularly that He did choose Israel, through which He gave the law, the prophets, and eventually through whom the Saviour Himself would come – and there is a Biblical doctrine that God foreknows everything (Deut. 7:6-11).
I have often said, “did it ever occur to you that nothing ever occurs to God?” God in His foreknowledge knows all who will trust Christ and He has predestined to see that they are justified and glorified. He will keep all those who trust Him and see to their glorification. But the doctrine that God elected some to Hell, they were born to be damned by God’s own choice, is a radical heresy, not taught anywhere in the Scriptures.
I have a booklet entitled, TULIP written by Vic Lockman. In this booklet Mr. Lockman attempts to prove the five points of Calvinism. Under the point, Unconditional Election, he quotes Eph. 1:4, but he only quote the first part of the verse. “He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world.” However that is not the end of the verse. Mr. Lockman like most other Calvinists; stopped in the middle of the verse. The entire verse reads: “According as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love.” The verse says nothing about being chosen for Heaven or Hell. It says that we are chosen that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love. The verse is actually addressing believers.
Under the same point, Unconditional Election, Mr. Lockman quote John 15:16; “You have not chosen me, but I have chosen you and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, He may give it to you.”
The verse says nothing about being chosen for Heaven or Hell. But it says we are to go out and bring forth fruit (believers again). Fruit bearing has to do with the doctrine of the kingdom, and how one seeks after the salvation of his soul. Prov 11:30
30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.
Nowhere does the Bible teach that God wills for some to go to Hell and others to Heaven. Instead, the Bible teaches that God would have all men to be saved: 2 Peter 3:9
9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
1 Tim 2:4
4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
Those who teach that God would only have some to be saved, while He would have others to be lost, are misrepresenting God and His Word. Does God really predestinate some people to be saved and predestinate others to be damned so that they have no free choice? Absolutely not! Nobody is predestined to be saved, except as he chooses of his own free will to come to Christ and trust Him for salvation. And nobody is predestined to Hell, except as he chooses on his own free will to reject Christ and refuses to trust Him as Saviour: John 3:36
36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
Nothing could be plainer. The man who goes to Heaven, goes because he comes to Jesus Christ and trust His as his Saviour. The man that goes to Hell does so because he refuses to come to Jesus Christ and trust Him.
LIMITED ATONEMENT
By limited atonement, Calvin meant that Christ died only for the elect, for those He planned and ordained to go to Heaven: He did not die for those He planned and ordained to go to Hell. Again I say, such language is not in the Bible, and the doctrine wholly contradicts many, many, plain Scriptures.
For instance, the Bible says in 1 John 2:2
2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
The teaching of Calvinism on limited atonement contradicts the expressed statement of Scripture. 1 Tim. 2:5, 6 says, “The man Christ Jesus who gave Himself a ransom for all…..”
The Bible teaches that Jesus is the Saviour of the world. John 4:42
42 And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.
1 John 4:14
14 And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.
The Bible makes it plain that Jesus came to save the world: John 3:17
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
No man will ever look at Jesus Christ and say, you didn’t want to be my Saviour. No! No! Jesus wants to be the Saviour of all men. As a matter of fact; Timothy says:
1 Tim 4:10
10 For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.
The Bible teaches that Christ bore the sins of all people. Isa 53:6
6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
There are two “alls” in the verse. The first “all” deals with the universal fact of sin. “All we like sheep have gone astray…” And the second “all” deals with the universal atonement – “….and the Lord has laid the iniquity of us all.” The “all” in the first part of Isaiah 53:6, covers the same crowd that the “all” in the last part covers.
Not only did He bear the sins of us all, but the Bible plainly teaches that He died for the whole world. 1 John 2:2
2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
If that isn’t plain enough, the Bible says, His death was for every man.
Heb 2:9
9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.
Nothing could be plainer than the fact that Jesus Christ died for every man. 1 Tim 2:5-6
5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.
Rom 8:32
32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
Look at the statements – statement after statement; “that He by the grace of God should taste death for every man”; “who gave Himself a ransom for all”; “delivered Him up for all.”
John 3:16 has often been called “the heart of the Bible.” It has been called “the Bible in miniature.” “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on Him, should not perish but have everlasting life.” Jesus died for the whole world. He suffered Hell for every man that ever lived and who will ever live. No man will ever look out of Hell and say, “I wanted to be saved, but Jesus didn’t die for me.”
Some argue that if Jesus died for the whole world, the whole world would be saved. No! The death of Jesus Christ on the cross was sufficient for all, but it was efficient only for those who believe. The death of Jesus Christ on the cross made it possible for every man every where to be saved. But only those who believe that He died to pay their sin debt and who trusted Him completely for salvation will be saved.
Again I quote John 3:36
36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
Everybody is potentially saved, but everybody is not actually saved until he recognizes that he is a sinner, believe that Christ died on the cross to pay his sin debt, and trust Him completely for salvation.
The atonement is not limited; it is as universal as sin. Rom 5:20
20 Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:
Isa 53:6
6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
A famous English preacher spoke in an English town, then rushed to catch a train for London. A sinner who heard him preach felt that he must immediately settle the matter of salvation, so he followed the preacher on the train. Just as the train pulled into the station, he took hold of the preacher’s lapel and said, “I need to be saved! Tell me how!”
The preacher said, “I must catch the last train to London. Do you have a Bible?” Look at Isaiah 53:6 and it has it all.
Well he thought to himself, I can certainly go in at the first all. I have gone astray. I am a poor, lost sinner. Then he read the last part of the verse, “and the Lord had laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” He said to himself, “if I come out at the last all, I must believe that all my sins were laid on Christ, that He took my place and paid for my sins. And if I rely upon that, I will be saved. That’s what the preacher meant".
He then trusted Christ and was saved. He believed that he was a sinner, and that all his sins were laid on Christ.
IRRESISTIBLE GRACE
The forth point of Calvinism is irresistible grace. By irresistible grace, John Calvin meant that God simply forces people to be saved. God elected some people to be saved, and it is for this elect group that Jesus died. Now by irresistible, He forces those elected and those for whom Christ died to be saved.
The truth of the matter is, there is no such thing as irresistible grace. Nowhere in the Bible does the word “irresistible” appear before “grace.” That terminology is just not in the Bible. It is a philosophy of John Calvin, not a Bible doctrine. The word “irresistible” does not even sound right in front of the word “grace.”
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.
UNCONDITIONAL ELECTION
By unconditional election, Calvin meant that some are elected to Heaven, while others are elected to Hell, and that this election is unconditional. It is wholly on God’s part and without condition. By unconditional election Calvin meant that God has already decided who will be saved and who will be lost, and the individual has absolutely nothing to do with it. He can only hope that God has elected him to Heaven and not to Hell.
This teaching so obviously disagrees with the oft-repeated invitation in the Bible to sinners to come to Christ and be saved that some readers will think that I have overstated the doctrine. So I will quote from John Calvin in his institutes, Book 111, chapter 23:
…..Not all men are created with similar destiny but eternal life is foreordained for some, and eternal damnation for others. Everyman, therefore, being created for one or the other of these ends, we say, he is predestined either to life or to death.
Calvin teaches that it is God’s own choice that some people are to be damned forever, and He never intended to save them. He foreordained them to go to Hell, and when He offers salvation in the Bible, He does not offer it to those that are foreordained to go to Hell. It is offered only to those that are foreordained to be saved.
This teaching insists that we need not try to win men to Christ because men cannot be saved unless God has planned for them to be saved. Therefore, if God’s plan for them is that they be eternally lost, there is no way that they will be saved.
There is the Bible doctrine of God’s foreknowledge, predestination, and election. Most knowledgeable Christians agree that God has His controlling hands in the affairs of man. They agree that according to the Bible, He selects individuals like Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and David as instruments to do certain things He has planned. Most Christians agree that God may choose a nation – particularly that He did choose Israel, through which He gave the law, the prophets, and eventually through whom the Saviour Himself would come – and there is a Biblical doctrine that God foreknows everything (Deut. 7:6-11).
I have often said, “did it ever occur to you that nothing ever occurs to God?” God in His foreknowledge knows all who will trust Christ and He has predestined to see that they are justified and glorified. He will keep all those who trust Him and see to their glorification. But the doctrine that God elected some to Hell, they were born to be damned by God’s own choice, is a radical heresy, not taught anywhere in the Scriptures.
I have a booklet entitled, TULIP written by Vic Lockman. In this booklet Mr. Lockman attempts to prove the five points of Calvinism. Under the point, Unconditional Election, he quotes Eph. 1:4, but he only quote the first part of the verse. “He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world.” However that is not the end of the verse. Mr. Lockman like most other Calvinists; stopped in the middle of the verse. The entire verse reads: “According as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love.” The verse says nothing about being chosen for Heaven or Hell. It says that we are chosen that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love. The verse is actually addressing believers.
Under the same point, Unconditional Election, Mr. Lockman quote John 15:16; “You have not chosen me, but I have chosen you and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, He may give it to you.”
The verse says nothing about being chosen for Heaven or Hell. But it says we are to go out and bring forth fruit (believers again). Fruit bearing has to do with the doctrine of the kingdom, and how one seeks after the salvation of his soul. Prov 11:30
30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.
Nowhere does the Bible teach that God wills for some to go to Hell and others to Heaven. Instead, the Bible teaches that God would have all men to be saved: 2 Peter 3:9
9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
1 Tim 2:4
4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
Those who teach that God would only have some to be saved, while He would have others to be lost, are misrepresenting God and His Word. Does God really predestinate some people to be saved and predestinate others to be damned so that they have no free choice? Absolutely not! Nobody is predestined to be saved, except as he chooses of his own free will to come to Christ and trust Him for salvation. And nobody is predestined to Hell, except as he chooses on his own free will to reject Christ and refuses to trust Him as Saviour: John 3:36
36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
Nothing could be plainer. The man who goes to Heaven, goes because he comes to Jesus Christ and trust His as his Saviour. The man that goes to Hell does so because he refuses to come to Jesus Christ and trust Him.
LIMITED ATONEMENT
By limited atonement, Calvin meant that Christ died only for the elect, for those He planned and ordained to go to Heaven: He did not die for those He planned and ordained to go to Hell. Again I say, such language is not in the Bible, and the doctrine wholly contradicts many, many, plain Scriptures.
For instance, the Bible says in 1 John 2:2
2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
The teaching of Calvinism on limited atonement contradicts the expressed statement of Scripture. 1 Tim. 2:5, 6 says, “The man Christ Jesus who gave Himself a ransom for all…..”
The Bible teaches that Jesus is the Saviour of the world. John 4:42
42 And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.
1 John 4:14
14 And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.
The Bible makes it plain that Jesus came to save the world: John 3:17
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
No man will ever look at Jesus Christ and say, you didn’t want to be my Saviour. No! No! Jesus wants to be the Saviour of all men. As a matter of fact; Timothy says:
1 Tim 4:10
10 For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.
The Bible teaches that Christ bore the sins of all people. Isa 53:6
6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
There are two “alls” in the verse. The first “all” deals with the universal fact of sin. “All we like sheep have gone astray…” And the second “all” deals with the universal atonement – “….and the Lord has laid the iniquity of us all.” The “all” in the first part of Isaiah 53:6, covers the same crowd that the “all” in the last part covers.
Not only did He bear the sins of us all, but the Bible plainly teaches that He died for the whole world. 1 John 2:2
2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
If that isn’t plain enough, the Bible says, His death was for every man.
Heb 2:9
9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.
Nothing could be plainer than the fact that Jesus Christ died for every man. 1 Tim 2:5-6
5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.
Rom 8:32
32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
Look at the statements – statement after statement; “that He by the grace of God should taste death for every man”; “who gave Himself a ransom for all”; “delivered Him up for all.”
John 3:16 has often been called “the heart of the Bible.” It has been called “the Bible in miniature.” “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on Him, should not perish but have everlasting life.” Jesus died for the whole world. He suffered Hell for every man that ever lived and who will ever live. No man will ever look out of Hell and say, “I wanted to be saved, but Jesus didn’t die for me.”
Some argue that if Jesus died for the whole world, the whole world would be saved. No! The death of Jesus Christ on the cross was sufficient for all, but it was efficient only for those who believe. The death of Jesus Christ on the cross made it possible for every man every where to be saved. But only those who believe that He died to pay their sin debt and who trusted Him completely for salvation will be saved.
Again I quote John 3:36
36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
Everybody is potentially saved, but everybody is not actually saved until he recognizes that he is a sinner, believe that Christ died on the cross to pay his sin debt, and trust Him completely for salvation.
The atonement is not limited; it is as universal as sin. Rom 5:20
20 Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:
Isa 53:6
6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
A famous English preacher spoke in an English town, then rushed to catch a train for London. A sinner who heard him preach felt that he must immediately settle the matter of salvation, so he followed the preacher on the train. Just as the train pulled into the station, he took hold of the preacher’s lapel and said, “I need to be saved! Tell me how!”
The preacher said, “I must catch the last train to London. Do you have a Bible?” Look at Isaiah 53:6 and it has it all.
Well he thought to himself, I can certainly go in at the first all. I have gone astray. I am a poor, lost sinner. Then he read the last part of the verse, “and the Lord had laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” He said to himself, “if I come out at the last all, I must believe that all my sins were laid on Christ, that He took my place and paid for my sins. And if I rely upon that, I will be saved. That’s what the preacher meant".
He then trusted Christ and was saved. He believed that he was a sinner, and that all his sins were laid on Christ.
IRRESISTIBLE GRACE
The forth point of Calvinism is irresistible grace. By irresistible grace, John Calvin meant that God simply forces people to be saved. God elected some people to be saved, and it is for this elect group that Jesus died. Now by irresistible, He forces those elected and those for whom Christ died to be saved.
The truth of the matter is, there is no such thing as irresistible grace. Nowhere in the Bible does the word “irresistible” appear before “grace.” That terminology is just not in the Bible. It is a philosophy of John Calvin, not a Bible doctrine. The word “irresistible” does not even sound right in front of the word “grace.”
Grace means “God unmerited favour”. Somebody said G-R-A-C-E- is God’s riches at Christ’s expense. Grace is an attitude, not a power. If Calvin had talked about the irresistible drawing power of God, it would have made more sense. Instead, he represents grace as the irresistible act of God, compelling a man to be saved, who doesn’t want to be saved, so that a man has no choice in the matter at all; except as God forcibly put an action in his heart. Calvinism teaches that man has no part in salvation, and cannot possibly cooperate with God in the matter. - In no sense of the word and at no stage of the work does salvation depend upon the will or work of man or wait for the determination of his will.
Does the Bible say anything about irresistible grace? Absolutely not! The Scripture shows that man does resist and reject God. Prov 29:1
29:1 He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.
Notice the word “often” in this verse. Then how could it be that God only gives one opportunity to be saved? The Bible says, “He that being often reproved….” This means the man had been reproved over and over again. Not only is he reproved many times, but he was reproved often. The Bible also says, “He hardeneth his neck” and “shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy". That certainly doesn’t sound like irresistible grace. The Bible teaches that a man can be reproved over and over again, and that he can harden his neck against God, and as a result will be destroyed without remedy.
Prov 1:24-26
24 Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded;
25 But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof:
26 I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh;
Here the Bible plainly says, “I have called you and you refused, I have stretched out my hand and no man regard; but ye hath set at naught all my counsel, and would none of my reproof.” That doesn’t sound like irresistible grace to me. God calls, and man refuses, is that irresistible? God stretches out His hands, and no man regards it. Is that irresistible grace? The Bible makes it plain that some men do reject Christ, and refuse His call. John 5:40
40 And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.
This like many other verses plainly teaches that man can and do resist God and refuse to come to Him.
In Acts, chapter 7, we find Stephen preaching. He says in verse 51, “Ye stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.” To the Jewish leaders Stephen said, “Ye do always resist the Holy Ghost.”
Notice the words of Stephen in verse 51, “Ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did so do ye.” So it’s not only the Jewish leaders that were resisting the Holy Ghost, but their fathers did before them as well. Stephen said that all the way from Abraham, through the history of the Jewish nation, down to the time of Christ, unconverted Jews have rejected the Holy Spirit.
There is absolutely no such thing as “cant-help-it” religion. God doesn’t just force man to be saved with a so-called Irresistible Grace.
God offers salvation to all men. Titus 2:11
11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
But man must make his own choice and either receive or reject Christ.
John 1:12
12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
When Jesus wept over Jerusalem He said: Matt 23:37
37 O Jerusalem , Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!
Here the Bible clearly indicates that God would have gathered them together, but they would not. They certainly show that they could reject and resist Christ.
“I would, but I could not” does not fit the teaching of irresistible grace. People do resist the Holy Ghost, they do refuse to come to Christ; they do harden their necks and refuse God’s call.
That means, those who are not saved could have been saved. Those who reject Christ, could have accepted Him and that God offers salvation to those who will have it; but does not force it upon anyone who doesn’t want it.
PERSEVERANCE OF THE SAINTS
The Bible teaches, and I believe in the eternal security of the believer. The man who trusts Jesus Christ as his Saviour, has everlasting life and will never perish. The spirit that is saved, is a gift from God; in other words, God did it and only He could undo it. Therefore, the believer does not depend upon his perseverance to keep this gift that is given to him by God.
I do not know a single Bible verse that says anything about the saints’ persevering, but there are several Bible verses that mention the fact that the saints have been preserved. Perseverance is one thing, but preservation is another. The saint does not persevere to maintain a saved spirit, that is the gift of God. He perseveres in realizing his soul’s salvation – the purpose for which he was created. Matt. 10:22; 24:13; Mark 13:13, are all in reference to soul’s salvation and not spirit’s salvation. The salvation of the soul relates to the realization of the purpose for which man was made; (to have dominion) to be co-heirs with Christ in the kingdom.
Jude 1
1:1 Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called:
1 Thess 5:23
23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Recently, I opened a jar of peach preserves. I don’t know how long the peaches have been in this jar. But the jar was sealed some time ago, and the peaches were preserved. When I took the peaches out and ate them, they were as good as they were the day they were placed into the jar.
But wait a minute! The peaches had nothing to do with it, they were not fresh and good because they had persevered, but because they were preserved. The Bible makes it plain that the believer is kept, and does not or can not keep himself.
1 Peter 1:4-5
4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,
5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
The Bible says in, John 10:27-29
27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.
That doesn’t sound like the perseverance of the sheep or saints. Here the sheep are in the Father’s hand, and they are safe, not because they persevere; but because of whose hands they are in.
Charles Spurgeon once said, “I don’t believe in the perseverance of the saints, I believe in the perseverance of the Saviour.”
There is the belief that if one does not teach universal salvation, he must either be a Calvinist or an Arminian. In his book, The Reformed Doctrine of Predestination, Dr. Loraine Boettner says on page 47, “there are only three systems which claim to set forth the way salvation through Christ [and names them].”
(1) Universalism, that all will be saved. (2) Armininanism, which holds that Christ died equally and indiscriminately for every individual…, that saving grace is not necessarily permanent, but that those who are loved of God, ransomed by God, and born of the Holy Spirit may (let God wish and strive ever so much to the contrary) throw away all and perish eternally; and (3) Calvinism.
He continues:
Only two are held by Christians, the Calvinist position and the Arminian position.
Calvinists would like to make people believe that if one does not teach universal salvation, he must either be a Calvinist or an Arminian. Since the Arminian position does such violence to the grace of God, many prefer to call themselves Calvinists. But a person doesn’t have to take either position.
I am neither Arminian nor Calvinist. I believe in salvation by grace through faith in the finished work of Christ. I believe in the eternal security of the believer. I believe that Jesus Christ died for all men, and I believe what the Bible says, “That whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
But I disagree with the five points of Calvinism as John Calvin taught it.
In conclusion, let me say that Calvin and those who follow him claim to believe and follow the Bible. They claim to find at least a germ of the Calvinist doctrine in the Scriptures. But a careful student will find that again and again they go beyond the Scriptures, and that Calvinism is a philosophy developed by man and depending on fallible logic and frail, human reasoning, with the perversion of some Scriptures, the misuse of others and the total ignoring of many clear teachings of the Word. Calvin did teach many wonderful, true doctrines of Scripture, but this is not one.
It is true that God foreknows everything that will happen in the world. As a matter of fact He has permitted many with the intention of using them to teach other important lessons, (they are there as examples). Therefore, God definitely ordained and determined some things ahead of time and selected some individuals for His purposes. It is certain that people are saved by grace, and kept by the power of God. That far Calvinist may well prove their doctrine by Scripture. But beyond that Calvinism goes into the realm of human philosophy.
It is not a Biblical doctrine, but a system of human philosophy, especially appealing to the scholarly intelligent, the self-sufficient and proud minds. Brilliant, philosophical, scholarly, preachers are apt to be misled on this matter more than humble hearted, Bible believing ones.
Let us prayerfully consider the position we take and ensure that we are “rightly dividing the Word of truth.”
The passage in Romans 9,that is often used to support Calvinism; a proper exegesis of this text will show that the names Jacob and Esau were not in reference to individuals, but to the nations that they represented. [You may have a further study on the issue of Rom. 9 on request].
This was not intended to cause controversy, but to genuinely seek after truth. I do appreciate your criticism and correction, because being a believer and promoter of the doctrine of the kingdom; (the Doctrine of Accountability), I don’t afford to be wrong, because to whom much is given, much is required.
Much of this work was taken from a work done by Dr. Curtis Hutson, a well known fundamentalist preacher and Bible scholar. I have done some additions, derived from my personal experiences and belief.
Does the Bible say anything about irresistible grace? Absolutely not! The Scripture shows that man does resist and reject God. Prov 29:1
29:1 He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.
Notice the word “often” in this verse. Then how could it be that God only gives one opportunity to be saved? The Bible says, “He that being often reproved….” This means the man had been reproved over and over again. Not only is he reproved many times, but he was reproved often. The Bible also says, “He hardeneth his neck” and “shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy". That certainly doesn’t sound like irresistible grace. The Bible teaches that a man can be reproved over and over again, and that he can harden his neck against God, and as a result will be destroyed without remedy.
Prov 1:24-26
24 Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded;
25 But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof:
26 I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh;
Here the Bible plainly says, “I have called you and you refused, I have stretched out my hand and no man regard; but ye hath set at naught all my counsel, and would none of my reproof.” That doesn’t sound like irresistible grace to me. God calls, and man refuses, is that irresistible? God stretches out His hands, and no man regards it. Is that irresistible grace? The Bible makes it plain that some men do reject Christ, and refuse His call. John 5:40
40 And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.
This like many other verses plainly teaches that man can and do resist God and refuse to come to Him.
In Acts, chapter 7, we find Stephen preaching. He says in verse 51, “Ye stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.” To the Jewish leaders Stephen said, “Ye do always resist the Holy Ghost.”
Notice the words of Stephen in verse 51, “Ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did so do ye.” So it’s not only the Jewish leaders that were resisting the Holy Ghost, but their fathers did before them as well. Stephen said that all the way from Abraham, through the history of the Jewish nation, down to the time of Christ, unconverted Jews have rejected the Holy Spirit.
There is absolutely no such thing as “cant-help-it” religion. God doesn’t just force man to be saved with a so-called Irresistible Grace.
God offers salvation to all men. Titus 2:11
11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
But man must make his own choice and either receive or reject Christ.
John 1:12
12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
When Jesus wept over Jerusalem He said: Matt 23:37
37 O Jerusalem , Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!
Here the Bible clearly indicates that God would have gathered them together, but they would not. They certainly show that they could reject and resist Christ.
“I would, but I could not” does not fit the teaching of irresistible grace. People do resist the Holy Ghost, they do refuse to come to Christ; they do harden their necks and refuse God’s call.
That means, those who are not saved could have been saved. Those who reject Christ, could have accepted Him and that God offers salvation to those who will have it; but does not force it upon anyone who doesn’t want it.
PERSEVERANCE OF THE SAINTS
The Bible teaches, and I believe in the eternal security of the believer. The man who trusts Jesus Christ as his Saviour, has everlasting life and will never perish. The spirit that is saved, is a gift from God; in other words, God did it and only He could undo it. Therefore, the believer does not depend upon his perseverance to keep this gift that is given to him by God.
I do not know a single Bible verse that says anything about the saints’ persevering, but there are several Bible verses that mention the fact that the saints have been preserved. Perseverance is one thing, but preservation is another. The saint does not persevere to maintain a saved spirit, that is the gift of God. He perseveres in realizing his soul’s salvation – the purpose for which he was created. Matt. 10:22; 24:13; Mark 13:13, are all in reference to soul’s salvation and not spirit’s salvation. The salvation of the soul relates to the realization of the purpose for which man was made; (to have dominion) to be co-heirs with Christ in the kingdom.
Jude 1
1:1 Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called:
1 Thess 5:23
23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Recently, I opened a jar of peach preserves. I don’t know how long the peaches have been in this jar. But the jar was sealed some time ago, and the peaches were preserved. When I took the peaches out and ate them, they were as good as they were the day they were placed into the jar.
But wait a minute! The peaches had nothing to do with it, they were not fresh and good because they had persevered, but because they were preserved. The Bible makes it plain that the believer is kept, and does not or can not keep himself.
1 Peter 1:4-5
4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,
5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
The Bible says in, John 10:27-29
27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.
That doesn’t sound like the perseverance of the sheep or saints. Here the sheep are in the Father’s hand, and they are safe, not because they persevere; but because of whose hands they are in.
Charles Spurgeon once said, “I don’t believe in the perseverance of the saints, I believe in the perseverance of the Saviour.”
There is the belief that if one does not teach universal salvation, he must either be a Calvinist or an Arminian. In his book, The Reformed Doctrine of Predestination, Dr. Loraine Boettner says on page 47, “there are only three systems which claim to set forth the way salvation through Christ [and names them].”
(1) Universalism, that all will be saved. (2) Armininanism, which holds that Christ died equally and indiscriminately for every individual…, that saving grace is not necessarily permanent, but that those who are loved of God, ransomed by God, and born of the Holy Spirit may (let God wish and strive ever so much to the contrary) throw away all and perish eternally; and (3) Calvinism.
He continues:
Only two are held by Christians, the Calvinist position and the Arminian position.
Calvinists would like to make people believe that if one does not teach universal salvation, he must either be a Calvinist or an Arminian. Since the Arminian position does such violence to the grace of God, many prefer to call themselves Calvinists. But a person doesn’t have to take either position.
I am neither Arminian nor Calvinist. I believe in salvation by grace through faith in the finished work of Christ. I believe in the eternal security of the believer. I believe that Jesus Christ died for all men, and I believe what the Bible says, “That whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
But I disagree with the five points of Calvinism as John Calvin taught it.
In conclusion, let me say that Calvin and those who follow him claim to believe and follow the Bible. They claim to find at least a germ of the Calvinist doctrine in the Scriptures. But a careful student will find that again and again they go beyond the Scriptures, and that Calvinism is a philosophy developed by man and depending on fallible logic and frail, human reasoning, with the perversion of some Scriptures, the misuse of others and the total ignoring of many clear teachings of the Word. Calvin did teach many wonderful, true doctrines of Scripture, but this is not one.
It is true that God foreknows everything that will happen in the world. As a matter of fact He has permitted many with the intention of using them to teach other important lessons, (they are there as examples). Therefore, God definitely ordained and determined some things ahead of time and selected some individuals for His purposes. It is certain that people are saved by grace, and kept by the power of God. That far Calvinist may well prove their doctrine by Scripture. But beyond that Calvinism goes into the realm of human philosophy.
It is not a Biblical doctrine, but a system of human philosophy, especially appealing to the scholarly intelligent, the self-sufficient and proud minds. Brilliant, philosophical, scholarly, preachers are apt to be misled on this matter more than humble hearted, Bible believing ones.
Let us prayerfully consider the position we take and ensure that we are “rightly dividing the Word of truth.”
The passage in Romans 9,that is often used to support Calvinism; a proper exegesis of this text will show that the names Jacob and Esau were not in reference to individuals, but to the nations that they represented. [You may have a further study on the issue of Rom. 9 on request].
This was not intended to cause controversy, but to genuinely seek after truth. I do appreciate your criticism and correction, because being a believer and promoter of the doctrine of the kingdom; (the Doctrine of Accountability), I don’t afford to be wrong, because to whom much is given, much is required.
Much of this work was taken from a work done by Dr. Curtis Hutson, a well known fundamentalist preacher and Bible scholar. I have done some additions, derived from my personal experiences and belief.
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