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termin8d
Advanced Member
Username: termin8d
Post Number: 632
Registered: 7-2005
Posted From: 60.234.129.189
| | Posted on Sunday, September 30, 2007 - 4:24 am: | 
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As requested by the_apostolic_truth_ministries, I have made this thread to explain what Calvinism is.
Calvinism is a system of reformed theology, named after a Swiss Christian by the name of John Calvin.
Without getting into church history, I will jump straight to a brief overview of what Calvinism is.
Although there may be many secondary issues believed and taught by Calvin, His main teaching was based upon 5 Points which form the acronym TULIP.
This acronym stands for:
T otal Depravity.
U nconditional Election.
L imited Atonement.
I rresistable Grace.
P erseverence of the Saints.
Total Depravity is the doctrine that unregenerate man is incapable of pleasing God or coming forward to Him in an act of faith. The doctrine draws upon the fact that the bible describes the unbeliever as being dead in sin. As such, he is utterly unable to believe into God apart from the grace of God. Only when God endows man with His grace, does man become regenerate and subsequently believes into Him.
Unconditional Election means that God chose His elect before the foundation of the world. His choice was completely independant of man's actions or characteristics. As such, noone chosen by God has any reason to boast in themselves for their being saved whilst another man is reprobate. It is not man's piety, humilty, or self righteousness that causes God to choose them. Just as God chose Jacob over Esau before the two had been born, before they had done anything good or bad, so that ultimately God alone could be glorified.
Limited Atonement is the doctrine that Jesus Christ died only for the elect. That is to say that everyone who Christ died for is effectively saved by God. It is limited only in the sense that the Atonement was for a limited group of people (the elect). This is not to say that they were more worthy to receive the atonement than any other, since God's election is unconditional. The atonement therefore, while limited in the quantity of persons for which it is made, is not limited in its efficacy, because it actually saves everyone it is intended for. This is contrary to the teaching that Jesus died for ever single person. If this were so, then one would have to say that either Christ's death was ineffective to save those for which it was intended, or that everybody is saved. Since the bible makes a clear distinction between the saved and unsaved, we must conclude that it would leave us with an atonement that did not effectively save anybody but only allowed for the possibility, making it man's responsibility to cooperate with it in order to effectuate it. In such a case, again we have cause for man to boast, whether it be his "soft heart", "theological understanding", "privaleged background" or whatever the case may be.
Irresistable Grace is the doctrine that the objects of God's grace receive it without resistance because it is not something which requires man's effort but God's mercy. Since fallen man's heart continually rejects God and hates the things of God, only God by His grace is able to save the fallen sinner. Since the action fully depends on God Himself, it is effectual 100% of the time.
Perseverence of the Saints is the Doctrine that the elect of God, the born again children of God are kept by the grace of God received through regeneration. Just as a man's good works cannot earn him salvation, neither can man's evil works revoke his salvation. Because it is God's grace alone that saves us, man remains saved or unsaved because of God's grace alone.
Probably other people can explain this a lot better and more accurately than I have, but I hope it at least serves as an insight to what Calvinism is.
(Message edited by termin8d on September 30, 2007) |
the_apostolic_truth_ministries
Advanced Member
Username: the_apostolic_truth_ministries
Post Number: 650
Registered: 10-2005
Posted From: 12.217.145.168
| | Posted on Sunday, September 30, 2007 - 7:28 am: |
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Mr. termin8d:
Thank you for the comment, I see where the confusion came from. Poor dummy me, I thought you said "Calvinism". In the future, please use the correct termanology, if possible. Can I explain that? Yes.
In a word, John Calvin has no cue what "TULIP' means. Sorry, for the confusion. John Calvin was quiet dead when "TULIP" was invented. It gets deeper if you want to go there.
Guess what else? John Wesley has a nice sermon out in which he claims to be an Arminian. I would venture to say that, in fact, Wesley was an Arminian. However, there is not a living soul who holds to Arminianism.
Look up "Lilac" sometime. L imited depravity I elect God L imitless Atonement A resisitable Grace C arnal Security. Just for the sake of discussion, 'Free Will' was invented by the Roman church, not Arminius. The only difference, in John Wesley's belief system and that of the Roman churh, is the name of the pope.
"TULIP," as a belief system, would more correctly be laid at the feet of Saint Augustine. Much later it was picked up by John Wycliffe, then one-hundred-years or so later by Martin Luther. By the time John Calvin came along, "TULIP," though unwritten or recognized as such, was exstablished church doctrine.
By the by, in case you have never noticed it, spelling of names is not an exact science. The anmes I mentioned are spelled in many ways. Just for the record, there never was a real person named Arminius. Worst yet, is the excuses made for the name. John Calvin or Calvinism is more closely related to separation of church and state than "TULIP." I will be happy to discuss either with you or anyone else. |
termin8d
Advanced Member
Username: termin8d
Post Number: 634
Registered: 7-2005
Posted From: 60.234.129.189
| | Posted on Sunday, September 30, 2007 - 8:39 am: |
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The_apostolic_truth_ministries : Please call me Oliver. It is quite apparent then that you do know what I was talking about. To be honest I do not really have the time to split hairs over names. I was discussing the system of theology referred to as Calvinism. Whether one agrees with the use of the name "Calvin" to attribute to this system of theology is another matter altogether.
I find it a little disappointing that you would trick me into starting a thread, giving the impression that you had never heard of Calvinism before, and instead turn it in a platform for yourself to re-educate me.
I find your approach to be somewhat condescending. I have also observed the way you interact with other people who do not agree with your point of view and it does tend to deter me from engaging in extensive dialogue with you.
At this point in time, I will decline your invitation to discuss this matter as I have a number of university assignments which are very pressing right now. Good day to you and God's grace. |
the_apostolic_truth_ministries
Advanced Member
Username: the_apostolic_truth_ministries
Post Number: 655
Registered: 10-2005
Posted From: 12.217.145.168
| | Posted on Sunday, September 30, 2007 - 9:32 am: |
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Mr. Oliver, sorry for the confusion. I do not know what you mean by Calvinism. Yes, I know who, what John Calvin stood for. I also know what "TULIP" means. Unfortunately, the two are not associated. You may want to go back and examine my discussion of charism. My look at Acts 8 & 19 supports 'TULIP'. Under the title "Lies the Roman church tells" you will find an indepth discussion of free will.
WWJD . . . ever hear that before? Did Jesus throw the money-changers out of the temple or did he make friends with them? WWJD
AH! The good old days in cemetery. Those were some awful long days, but nothing compared to the last engineering school I attended. Ever hear of a Kaypro computer? I carried one for a blue million miles in three months. During that period I had to consume 600 plus tech manuals that made the New York phone book look like a cheap ten cent comic book. Worst, I had to be able to pull a citation from any manual in a moment's notice. In my spare time, I had to certify as a boiler inspector, diesel inspector and fire chief (both aviation & structural) with a lot of hazmat thrown in for good measure. That is why you attend school when young, unless you are dumb like myself. I was retired when I started attending school. |
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