5 Points of Calvinism

I don't want to pick a fight, but I want to talk about Calvinism and Arminianism.  

John Calvin lived in the early 1500s. Jacob Arminius lived in  the late 1500s. 

I'd rather not be known as either one.  I just want to be known as a Christian. 

I want to talk about the 5 points of Calvinism. 

The very fact that it makes some of us angry reveals something is wrong.  

We want to be an outreach centered Church, and I want to talk about certain beliefs that may get in the way. 

First, I want to explain the difference between doctrine and dogma.  

Has your doctrine changed some over the years since you've been a Christian?

Doctrine by it's literal definition never changes.  

It is from the Greek language which means the Master's teaching. 

Our understanding of the Master's teaching changes, but His teaching does not change.  

Actually what we're talking about is dogma which is belief not doctrine.  

Dogma is where we get the word dogmatic.

I'm about to tell you what I believe about the Master's teaching.  

I'm not a student of a student of the Master who both John Calvin and Jacob Arminius were.  

I am a student of the master Jesus.

There are 5 points to Calvinism. 

We'll use the acronym tulip to discuss them. 

The first letters of Calvin's points below will spell the word t.u.l.i.p., and will help us to remember them. 

The first point is...  

1. Total Depravity - 

Many believe that Calvin meant that we are so depraved that we cannot even chose Christ. 

I believe that we all have a sin nature, but God still gives us the ability to chose.  

I truly believe that you choose where you spend eternity. 

God is a merciful and just God and gives every one a chance to accept Christ.  

Whatever belief that you have has to be consistent with the nature and character of God.  

God who loves everyone in the world so much that He gives everyone an opportunity.

I do believe that we are all born with a sin nature. (Read Romans 3:23) 

If you want to determine if you have a sin nature, ask..did you have to teach your children to be bad?   

2. Unconditional election.  

In Calvinism, this is a belief that God chooses some people to go to heaven, and God chooses some people to go to hell. I don't believe that about God. 

I believe that God wants everyone to be saved.  

These passages support my belief that God wants everyone to be saved...   

Read Matthew 24:14, Mark 16:15, John 1:21, John 3:17, 2 Corinthians 5:19-20. 

What kind of God would allow for the Gospel to be preached to the world while refusing them the opportunity to be saved? 

These scriptures say that we are preaching the Gospel to the world, and not just to the elect.

For everyone in the world, Jesus has already paid for their sins.  

People don't go to hell because of sin.  They go to hell because of unbelief. 

Jesus did not say that the people who don't sin go to heaven, and the ones who do sin go to hell. 

Jesus said...

John 3:36 (NKJV)  He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”  

People go to hell because they don't believe in Jesus.  

Even after He has paid for their sins. 

That's why it's so easy to witness because there is a check that Jesus has already written to cover all of their sins. 

It's just up to them whether they endorse it and deposit it. 

When you deposit it, all your sins are paid in full, and the righteousness of God is deposited into your account. 

That's what happens when we all got saved, but it was still up to us to believe in Christ's payment.  

God made you in His image with a choice.  

3. Limited atonement. 

In Calvinism, it means that Jesus died only for the elect. 

I don't believe this.  

The two passages below in Hebrews support my belief.  

I have highlighted the words for all for my support.   

Hebrews 7:27 (NKJV)  Who does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the people’s, for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself.

Hebrews said that Jesus died for us all, and not just for the elect.  

Hebrews 9:12 (NKJV)  Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.

I'm not wanting to argue.  I'm wanting us to witness to all. 

If we believed that only the elect will be saved, and that they will be saved no matter what.  

Why would we witness?

Go and Go now!  

Jesus says. 

You can hear the urgency in Jesus' voice!

My desire is that every time we meet someone. 

We're thinking about how to tell them about Jesus.

I talk to people everywhere I go, and I have an ulterior motive.  

I'm trying to get them into heaven.

4. Irresistible Grace. 

In Calvinism, it means that those who are chosen cannot refuse the grace of God. 

I disagree with that. 

I believe that God gave you a will, and you can refuse.  

This teaching believes that God created robots without a will. 

I believe that your belief in Jesus determines where you'll spend eternity, but your behavior determines how you'll spend eternity. 

Read these scriptures below.  

Acts 7:51  (NKJV) “You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! 

You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you.

Matthew 7:24, 26  (NKJV)  “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: 

But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand:

You have a choice, but your choice will doom you or save you.                                                    

Matthew 10:32-33 (NKJV) 32 “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. 

33 But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.

Jesus said that if you'll confess me I'll confess you, or if you'll deny me I'll deny you.  

He's saying that it's up to you. 

5. Perseverance of the saints. 

In Calvinism, it means that if you're one of the chosen then you'll persevere to the end.

This takes responsibility out of it even after we get saved.
  

I believe in the preservation of the saints.  

In other words, I believe that God preserves those whom He loves.

Read Psalm 31:23 (NKJV) Oh, love the Lord, all you His saints! 

For the Lord preserves the faithful... 

Psalm 37:28 (NKJV)  For the Lord loves justice, And does not forsake His saints; They are preserved forever...

Psalm 97:10  (NKJV) You who love the Lord, hate evil!  

He preserves the souls of His saints...

2 Timothy 1:12 (NKJV)

For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.

This does not focus on my strength, but His.
  

Anyone can be saved.  

Matthew 16:25  (KJV)  For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. 

Mark 8:34  (KJV)  And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

Acts 2:21 (KJV)  And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Acts 10:43  (KJV)  To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.

Romans 10:13  (KJV)  For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Revelation 22:17 (KJV)  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...

John 3:16 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.

You determine where you go. You can't blame God. 

If you put your faith in Jesus, you go to heaven.  

If you don't, you go to hell.  

You can go to heaven if you want to. 

Romans 10:9-10  (KJV)  That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.  

For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Dear God, please forgive me for all of my sin.  

I receive Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior.  

Thank you for forgiving me today.