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Five-point Calvinism


This post was published on Friday 19 October 2007.

I once got into an argument with a leader of a Christian organisation about various things, one of which was five-point Calvinism. The five points helpfully make up the word TULIP:

Total depravity
Unconditional election
Limited atonement
Irresistible grace
Perseverance of the saints

(T) The definition of the five can go to extremes. For example, my definition of ‘T’ is that every area of our lives is tainted by sin - in that sense, we are totally depraved. The cariacature of ‘T’ is that every area of our lives is totally tainted by sin.

(U) Unconditional election - no problem, I think the Bible is absolutely clear that we are (and can be) saved only by God’s grace, so that when he chooses us it is not based on merit, but on his grace. And election is a concept that runs throughout the Bible.

(I) Irresistible grace - an interesting one, it doesn’t spring to mind immediately from my own knowledge of Scripture. It is effectively another safeguard for ‘grace not works’, like ‘U’. If we can resist God’s grace, that means we have some measure of power over him, and that in some way we must be responsible for our salvation, by not resisting his grace. Besides, in my own life I’m not sure I have a choice when it comes to believing in God - there have been times when I have wanted to stop, but I haven’t been able to.

(P) Perseverance of the sains - true, but a difficult one in churches, because you can never be sure who the saints really are! We should always assume that people who appear committed to Jesus and his church actually are, but of course they may not be. Those that are, have been unconditionally elected by God, the recipients of his irresistible grace, and so must persevere.

(L) As you have probably noticed I missed out ‘L’. Limited atonement is, for me, the one I don’t quite agree with. ‘L’ states that Jesus died only for the sins of the elect. However, 1 John 2.2 makes it perfectly clear that Christ died for the sins of the whole world. However, his death is only efficacious - that is, it only has salvific effect - for those who believe. Christ died for all, and welcomes all - but only those who receive him by faith receive the benefits of his passion (to use the traditional language of BCP).

That is why I am not a five-point Calvinist, but a four-and-a-half-point Calvinist.