Calvinism in a Nut Shell

This is Calvinism in a nut shell. A theological systems that I do not agree with! One of the primary areas of systematic theology is the doctrines and theological system of Calvinism.  Calvinism is a theological system of thought that proceeded the teaching of John Calvin (1509-1564) and all who followed him.  The result was five major theological points or commonly called T.U.L.I.P theology:  T (Total depravity), U (Unconditional Election), L (Limited atonement), I (Irresistible grace), P (Perseverance of the saints).  In brief T.U.L.I.P theology is as follows: 

 

Total depravity maintains that as a result of Adam's fall, the entire human race is affected;  all humanity is dead in trespasses and sin.  Man is unable to save himself.  God's decree includes everything that comes to pass, whether good or evil (Rom. 11:36;  cp. Acts 2:23;  3:18;  4:27-28) which means He actively chose sin to be a part of His decree and thus made it certain.  As a result mankind is born into sin and, thus, condemned to hell from birth.  Consequently, total depravity maintains that the infants damnation of babies from birth is not only the logical conclusion but is perfectly acceptable.  Furthermore, man can only choose in keeping with one's character and since man is fallen he does not have the capacity to choose against his sinful nature and therefore he must always choose against God.  To illustrate this more explicitly, one could assert that a dog (man) only has the power to bark (or sin).  It cannot meow (not sin).  It can only choose when or at whom it wishes to bark, but it will indeed bark.

 

Unconditional Election states that since God has absolute foreknowledge He has predestined what will happen, including free choices based on the "eternal now" insight. Nothing happens that God's will has not ordained.  Whatever God has determined will happen, and nothing can thwart or hinder God's sovereignty created plan.  Every event that takes place plays a role in His grand design, including the eternal destination of individual souls.  Man is dead in sin, he is unable to initiate response to God; therefore, in eternity past God elected certain people to salvation.  Election and predestination are unconditional;  yet at the same time they are based on man's response.  Essentially based on God foreknowledge God has unconditional elected certain individual's to be saved and predetermined them to eternal life with Him and has elected certain individual's to be dammed and sent to eternal death.

 

The "Limited atonement" doctrine states that because God determined that certain ones should be saved as a result of God's unconditional election, he determined that Christ should die for the elect.  All whom God has elected and Christ died for will be saved;  and since Christ died for only the elect His atonement on Calvary is limited to only those whom God has elected from eternity past to spend the rest of everlasting existence with Him. 

 

Irresistible grace states that "those whom God elected and Christ died for, God draws to Himself through irresistible grace.  God makes man willing to come to him.  When God calls, man responds.  Due to God's absolute foreknowledge and His divine decree that some would be predestined God will not loss any of those who He has chosen for eternal life.  They will indeed respond to Him through His irresistible grace.  Again, to illustrate this more explicitly, if one could assert that a dog (man) only has the power to bark (or sin) and it can only choose when or at whom it wishes to bark, but it will indeed bark.  Irresistible grace states that it will meow and not bark because it has been decreed that it can and will meow and have eternal life as a result of it.  The elect cannot chose against this irresistible grace or the grace would be render inoperative and therefore could not be called irresistible. 

 

Last but not least, there is perseverance of the saints.  According to this idea, the precise ones God has elected and drawn to Himself through the Holy Spirit will persevere in faith.  None whom God has elected will be lost;  they are eternally secure.  Essentially based on God foreknowledge God has unconditional elected certain individual's to be saved through irresistible grace and predetermined them to eternal life with Him and has elected and none of those whom God has decreed to be saved will be loosed.  The elect will perseverance as saints.  Or to put it another way they will always meow.  They either want or cannot choose to bark.

 

Again, a theological systems that I do not agree with! Personally, I believe that any theology and or philosophy that leads to any form of fatalism/Determinism is a religion that ends in hopelessness and pointless arbitrary devotion. "God rules in such a way as to uphold the created structures and, and because He gives liberty to His creatures, is happy to accept the future as open, not closed, and a relationship with the world that is dynamic, not static." Clark Pinnock