What is Calvinism and is it biblical?

Response

The five points of Calvinism can be summarized by the acronym TULIP. T stands for total depravity, U for unconditional election, L for limited atonement, I for irresistible grace, and P for perseverance of the saints. Here are the definitions and Scripture references Calvinists use to support their beliefs:

Total Depravity – As a result of Adam’s fall, the entire human race is affected; all humanity is dead in trespasses and sins. Man is unable to save himself (Genesis 6:5; Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 3:10-18).

Unconditional Election – Because man is dead in sin, he is unable to initiate a response to God; therefore, in eternity past God elected certain people to salvation. Election and predestination are unconditional; they are not based on man’s response (Romans 8:29-30; 9:11; Ephesians 1:4-6, 11-12) because man is unable to respond, nor does he want to.

Limited Atonement – Because God determined that certain ones should be saved as a result of God’s unconditional election, He determined that Christ should die for the elect alone. All whom God has elected and for whom Christ died will be saved (Matthew 1:21; John 10:11; John 17:9; Acts 20:28; Romans 8:32; Ephesians 5:25).

Irresistible Grace – Those whom God elected He draws to Himself through irresistible grace. God makes man willing to come to Him. When God calls, man responds.

ds (John 6:37,44;10:16).

Perseverance of the Saints – The specific individuals God has chosen and drawn to Himself through the Holy Spirit will endure in faith. None of those whom God has chosen will be lost; they are securely saved (John 10:27-29;Romans 8:29-30;Ephesians 1:3-14).

While these doctrines are rooted in the Bible, many individuals reject some or all of them. “Four-point Calvinists” acknowledge Total Depravity, Unconditional Election, Irresistible Grace, and Perseverance of the Saints as biblical teachings. Humanity is inherently sinful and unable to have faith in God independently. God chooses individuals solely based on His will – selection is not dependent on any merit in the chosen person. All those whom God has selected will come to faith. Those who are genuinely reborn will persist in their faith. However, concerning Limited Atonement, four-point Calvinists believe that atonement is boundless, contending that Jesus died for the sins of the entire world, not exclusively for the sins of the chosen. “And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world” «and he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. », (1 John 2:2). Other verses contradicting limited atonement include John 1:29; 3:16; 1 Timothy 2:6; and 2 Peter 2:1.

However, five-point Calvinists identify issues with four-point Calvinism. Firstly, they argue that if Total Depravity is accurate, then Unlimited Atonement cannot be valid because if Jesus died for the sins of every individual, then whether His death applies to a person depends on whether that individual “accepts” Christ. Yet, as explained in the description of Total Depravity above, m

An individual in their natural state has no capacity whatsoever to choose God, nor do they want to. Furthermore, if Unlimited Atonement is true, then hell is populated by individuals for whom Christ died. He shed His blood in vain for them. To the five-point Calvinist, this is inconceivable. Please note: this article provides only a brief summary of the five points of Calvinism. For a more detailed examination, please visit the following pages:
Total Depravity,
Unconditional Election,
Limited Atonement,
Irresistible Grace, and
Perseverance of the Saints.