Today we start a 6-week series on one of the most heated theological debates of the last 500 years: Calvinism vs. Arminianism. In this episode we’ll talk about the nature of salvation and the interplay between God’s sovereignty and human free will. We’ll give some background on the key players in the debate: John Calvin, Jacob Arminius, and even St. Augustine. And we’ll of course introduce TULIP - the acronym that will provide a framework for the rest of this series.
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TULIP
https://www.pursuegod.org/what-is-calvinism/
- Total Depravity. Humans without Christ are completely lost in their sins to the point that they can do no good. Sin affects every part of humanity: our will, emotions, actions, and attitudes. Romans 3:10-12 (NLT) As the Scriptures say, “No one is righteous—not even one. No one is truly wise; no one is seeking God. All have turned away; all have become useless. No one does good, not a single one.”
- Unconditional Election. God chose Christians based on nothing about them. Election is not based on any foreseen faith in humans and it certainly isn’t based on anything they do. It’s simply based on God’s will and choice. Romans 8:29-30 (NLT) For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And having chosen them, he called them to come to him. And having called them, he gave them right standing with himself. And having given them right standing, he gave them his glory. Ephesians 1:4-5 (NLT) Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.
- Limited Atonement. Christ’s death only paid for the sins of the elect. In other words, the death of Christ paid for the sins of God’s true people who respond to Christ in faith and repentance, but not for the whole world. John 10:11 (NLT) “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep.
- Irresistible Grace. God effectively calls you because his call cannot be resisted, nor would you want to resist it. In the moment when God calls you he also regenerates you. This is the work of the Holy Spirit coming into your life and giving you a new heart. John 6:37 (NLT) However, those the Father has given me will come to me, and I will never reject them.
- Perseverance of the Saints. If you are truly elected and regenerated by God then you will continue on in a life of faith until the end. You aren’t going to be perfect, but you will continue to pursue God until...
