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Hope1960
Guest
What exactly is a Calvinist? I looked it up but don’t really understand.
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MatthaiosX
Guest
Think T.U.L.I.P.
T- Total Depravity (total inability to do good, man is corrupt and guilty from birth)
U- Unconditional Election (predestinarianism)
L- Limited Atonement (only the elect are atoned for)
I- Irresistible Grace (the elect can’t resist God’s grace)
P- Perseverance of the Saints (once saved, always saved)
These 5 points do not necessarily comprise the whole of Calvinism but they give a good general outline.
T- Total Depravity (total inability to do good, man is corrupt and guilty from birth)
U- Unconditional Election (predestinarianism)
L- Limited Atonement (only the elect are atoned for)
I- Irresistible Grace (the elect can’t resist God’s grace)
P- Perseverance of the Saints (once saved, always saved)
These 5 points do not necessarily comprise the whole of Calvinism but they give a good general outline.
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lanman87
Guest
I’ve been studying Calvinism some over the past few months. I was raised Southern Baptist, while there are SB who are Calvinist, by and large Southern Baptist are not Calvinist and doesn’t teach Calvinism.
To expound on the TULIP.
Total Depravity doesn’t mean that someone has the inability to do good. It means that we are spiritually dead and unable to save ourselves. As a result of being spiritually dead even the good we do is " are as filthy rags". We have the ability in our power to be a good and moral person due to cultural or even religious teachings. But until we are regenerated by the Holy Spirit we are spiritually dead. Because we are spiritually dead we don’t have the ability to choose God, dead people can’t make a choice.
Unconditional Election means that because we are spiritually dead God chooses those He will save. He chooses to regenerate his “elect” and bring life in them (spiritually). Those he bring to life spiritually he gives Spiritual gifts. All who has been regenerated get the gift of faith… Faith is not a choice we make, it is the Gift of God through which the elect have been saved (justified), are being saved (sanctified) and will be saved (glorified). The evidence of faith is a changed heart, obedience to God and good works. Other spiritual gifts are more specific including preaching, teaching, mercy, and a whole host of things that enable and call some to serve in specific ways. Evangelism is the means by which God uses us to call and reveal His elect.
Limited Atonement is the part most American Evangelicals have a hard time with, including myself. This means that Christ sacrifice on the cross was for only the elect and not for everyone. The thought is that if Christ died for everyone then everyone would be saved.
Irresistible Grace means that the Elect cannot resist the grace of God. However, it is not God holding a gun to our head and making us believe. It is God showing us His beauty and Glory and us being overwhelmed by God. It is like us seeing the most beautiful thing imaginable and instinctively reaching out for it to touch it.
Perseverance of the Saints means that those who are truly elect, who have truly been regenerated and truly have faith, will not fall away from the faith. They may go through times of sin but the truly “born again” will always repent and always “live by faith”. If someone renounces their faith it means they aren’t part of the elect. They may have had an emotional experience or intellectual understanding or religious activity but the falling away means they didn’t have a genuine faith and therefore aren’t part of the elect.
I am by no means an expert on Calvinism but from my reading those are my understandings. If someone else can clarify or correct then I will by no means be offended.
To expound on the TULIP.
Total Depravity doesn’t mean that someone has the inability to do good. It means that we are spiritually dead and unable to save ourselves. As a result of being spiritually dead even the good we do is " are as filthy rags". We have the ability in our power to be a good and moral person due to cultural or even religious teachings. But until we are regenerated by the Holy Spirit we are spiritually dead. Because we are spiritually dead we don’t have the ability to choose God, dead people can’t make a choice.
Unconditional Election means that because we are spiritually dead God chooses those He will save. He chooses to regenerate his “elect” and bring life in them (spiritually). Those he bring to life spiritually he gives Spiritual gifts. All who has been regenerated get the gift of faith… Faith is not a choice we make, it is the Gift of God through which the elect have been saved (justified), are being saved (sanctified) and will be saved (glorified). The evidence of faith is a changed heart, obedience to God and good works. Other spiritual gifts are more specific including preaching, teaching, mercy, and a whole host of things that enable and call some to serve in specific ways. Evangelism is the means by which God uses us to call and reveal His elect.
Limited Atonement is the part most American Evangelicals have a hard time with, including myself. This means that Christ sacrifice on the cross was for only the elect and not for everyone. The thought is that if Christ died for everyone then everyone would be saved.
Irresistible Grace means that the Elect cannot resist the grace of God. However, it is not God holding a gun to our head and making us believe. It is God showing us His beauty and Glory and us being overwhelmed by God. It is like us seeing the most beautiful thing imaginable and instinctively reaching out for it to touch it.
Perseverance of the Saints means that those who are truly elect, who have truly been regenerated and truly have faith, will not fall away from the faith. They may go through times of sin but the truly “born again” will always repent and always “live by faith”. If someone renounces their faith it means they aren’t part of the elect. They may have had an emotional experience or intellectual understanding or religious activity but the falling away means they didn’t have a genuine faith and therefore aren’t part of the elect.
I am by no means an expert on Calvinism but from my reading those are my understandings. If someone else can clarify or correct then I will by no means be offended.
Tis_Bearself
Patron
Calvinism was originally heavily based in predestination, meaning that God chooses some “elect” who He will save and if you’re not in the group of elect then you can’t do anything about it.
If you live your life as a good person, following the teachings of Christ and doing good works and being a good member of the Calvinist congregation, it shows you’re one of the elect.
If you live your life as a good person, following the teachings of Christ and doing good works and being a good member of the Calvinist congregation, it shows you’re one of the elect.
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Kei
Guest
They believe some are predestined for Heaven. The addition to this is that some are predestined for Hell.
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Curious11
Guest
And did they really believe that if you’re rich and productive it’s a sign of being elected?
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Hope1960
Guest
If they believe this, what would the point of them doing good?
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SojournerOnEarth
Guest
No. Absolutely not. There are a lot of wild rumors born of malice or ignorance about Calvinism.
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Curious11
Guest
So the Protestant work ethic of Calvinism is a misconception?
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Vonsalza
Guest
Prosperity gospel is more of a 20th century evangelical spin.
I’d be slow to include Calvinists under that umbrella.
I’d be slow to include Calvinists under that umbrella.
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Vonsalza
Guest
It’s a fair critique. When I was a Calvinist, the best I had for that was was dismissives and redirects.
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SojournerOnEarth
Guest
No. Calvinists tend to be hardworking.
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SojournerOnEarth
Guest
Well, no. Predestination is secondary, if that. The primary object is to give God the glory He deserves and not to let anything else rob Him of that Glory.
Regarding predestination, we all chose, freely, to reject God. God chooses to regenerate some, who with their regenerated free will, freely choose to follow Him. No robots.
And you don’t have to be a Calvinist to be one of the elect.
Regarding predestination, we all chose, freely, to reject God. God chooses to regenerate some, who with their regenerated free will, freely choose to follow Him. No robots.
And you don’t have to be a Calvinist to be one of the elect.
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SojournerOnEarth
Guest
That makes me wonder about whether you had any understanding at all about it.
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Vonsalza
Guest
Respectfully, denial is the first and most predictable of defenses.
I was a believer in that theology for most of my 20s. Sproul and Spurgeon (oh, and can’t forget MacArthur - closet Calvinist he be!) were some of my favorite writers. And, yes, I still have my Calvin’s Commentaries, even though they’re in the basement.
It’s an incomplete theology.
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Vonsalza
Guest
If we can’t choose to follow God unless he first regenerates our will to do so then we do not “choose, freely, to reject God” - as a statement of logical fact.
Choice requires that another option be available. In this case, It is not until God grants it - per your Calvinist view.
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SojournerOnEarth
Guest
We REALLY NEED the ignore button.
You have no idea what you are talking about.
I made a comment over in Feedback about the Ignore button.
You have no idea what you are talking about.
I made a comment over in Feedback about the Ignore button.
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Vonsalza
Guest
I think we’ve addressed this.
Tis_Bearself
Patron
Not so much “rich and productive”, just good, upright, church-goer, doing good deeds, etc.
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