Introduction to Calvinism
Originally Taught: Fall 2007 & Winter 2008
Introduction and Class Overview
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In this introductory class, we look at extremes we want to avoid and
reveal the assumptions and demands we will place on ourselves as we
undertake this study. We also provide a very brief (too brief)
introduction to the Five Point of Calvinism and explain why it is wrong
to believe that "John Calvin invented Calvinism."
The Sovereignty of God
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Sovereignty is not a belief central to Calvinism or even Christanity.
It is an essential belief to theism - the belief in a God. However, if
your god is not sovereign, then your god is no god at all. Tbe Bible
spells out in overwhelming proof that the God of Abraham, Isaac, and
Jacob is indeed sovereign over the cosmos, the natural order, history,
the kingdoms of this earth, coincidences, angels, Satan, and life and
death.
The Sovereignty of God over Man
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Many object that if God is sovereign over man, then man is not
responsible for his actions. Also, it is widely held that God values
free will so much that He would never impinge upon that most precious
of His gifts to us. However, the Bible presents numerous episodes that
dispel the second objection and the Bible clearly teaches the opposite
of the first objection.
Original Sin
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To fail to fully realize the extent and state of fallen man is to fall
into a dangerously incorrect understanding of God, man, and God’s grace
towards man. You cannot grasp a full understanding and appreciation for
the amazing grace of God unless you first grasp a full understanding
and appreciation of the true spiritual condition of man. You cannot
grasp a full understanding and appreciation of your salvation unless
you first grasp a full understanding and appreciation of what you have
been saved from.
Total Depravity
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The Calvinistic understanding of man's spiritual state is often
caricatured as the destruction of the image of God in man. That is not
accurate. The Bible plainly says that man is dead in his sin yet he is
still very active in his willful rebellion against the holiness of God.
However, many still insist on saying that man is not dead but merely
"sick" or "dying." In this chapter, we will look at common
misconceptions, a proper understanding, and the certain implications of
this biblical doctrine of total depravity. We will never fully value to
amazing grace of God until we fully understand the depths to which we
have fallen in sin.
Free Will
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If we are as desperately lost as the Bible indicates, then we must
acknowledge and hold to what the Bible teaches about our condition. We
cannot come to God, choose God, or believe in Jesus Christ on our own.
This is a matter of ability as well as desire
- which speaks of our will. Many people are troubled by the Calvinistic
understanding of man's free will because it does not seem consistent
with what they know of their natural and usual ability to choose what
they want to choose and reject what they want to reject. We can just
examine our own lives and the lives we see lived around us and see
clearly that man enjoys a very real measure of freedom of choice. Is it
possible for man to be free and God to be sovereign? One position makes
the best sense of that seeming contradictory position.
Election - A Survey of the Bible
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A survey of the BIble reveals that God is a choosing God. God has
pleasure in the doctrine of election and election brings glory to God.
If that is so, why do we not focus on this vital doctrine more often?
From the beginning, God had a plan to redeem mankind. This plan was
made certain “before the foundation of the world” (Eph 1:4). From the
beginning, God set apart a people for Himself and His infinite glory –
a people we now see includes both Jews and Gentiles. It is this setting
of His divine love and choice on a certain people that we know as
“election.” In election, God saves men and women in accordance with a
plan formulated in eternity past. The events we see unfolding in time
are not chaotic but the divinely ordained means that God uses to bring
His plan to fruition. In fact, “this world and all that is in it exist
primarily as the means to the fulfillment of a divine purpose, ‘to
unite [or, consummate] all things in him [Christ]’” (Eph 1:9-10).
Unconditional Election
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Election is a controversial topic yet the church cannot avoid
discussing it. Election is a biblical term, a biblical concept, and the
Bible discusses it frequently. Indeed, the topic appears multiple
times in almost all of Paul’s letters. He even begins his letter to the
Ephesians, a group of recently converted pagans, with this very topic
that most Christians today believe should never be discussed at all.
Therefore, the question is not “Does the Bible teach election?” but
“What exactly does the Bible teach about election?” Unconditional
election to salvation may be defined as God’s gracious choice, made in
eternity past, of those whom He would save by faith through the atoning
death of His Son. This choice was based not upon anything that those so
chose would do, or any choice they would make, or on how good or bad
they might be, or on anything else specifically true about them in
contrast to others. Instead, this choice is based solely on God’s own
good pleasure and will. In light of this understanding, we will see
that unconditional election specifically denies that God elects persons
based upon His advanced knowledge, in eternity past, of their future
decision of whether to accept God’s gift of Jesus Christ when they hear
or read the gospel. Instead, we must say that salvation, which includes
election, is all of God. We see this doctrine most plainly taught in
two primary passages: Ephesians 1 and Romans 9.
Limited Atonement
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The question we seek to answer in this chapter is this: When Christ
died on the cross, who did He intend to save? Did Jesus come to earth
to die for every single person who ever has lived or ever will live? Or
did Jesus die in order to save those chosen by the Father and given to
the Son in eternity past? What was God’s intent in Christ’s work on
the cross? The simplest way to ask the question is to ask, “For whom
did Christ die?” The answer to this question lies in the discussion of
the extent of Christ’s atonement. The person who coined the term
“limited atonement” might have been a theological genius, but he was a
disaster when it comes to public relations. The very term “limited
atonement” is often enough for some to close the discussion. However,
suppose we alter the language just a bit and speak of “definite
atonement.” To disagree with a definite atonement is to put forth an
“indefinite atonement.” Some use the term “particular redemption.” To
disagree with this position, you must hold to an “unparticular
redemption.” This may be mere semantics but it is easy to see how easy
it is to “poison the well” in theological discussions and sidetrack the
discussion before it even begins. It is also important to state at the
very beginning that this doctrine should never be used as a litmus test
for orthodoxy or fellowship. Scripture never singles out this doctrine
as one of major importance not is it the center of attention in any
major biblical passage. Our knowledge and acceptance of this doctrine
stems from exegetical and logical inferences made from passages of some
other theological issue. A balanced perspective would say that this
doctrine seems to be true based on honest and sincere exegesis and
study in biblical and systematic theology.
Irresistible Grace
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The doctrine of irresistible grace is easily understood and it all
flows from the first tenet of the Calvinistic understanding of how man
is saved. The Bible teaches that man is dead in sin and enslaved to a
corrupt nature that does not want or seek God. Man is incapable of
doing anything that is pleasing to God. Even though man is dead in his
sins, he is, of course, still alive and very active in his or her
rebellion. Therefore, being dead is not equivalent with inaction or
passivity. Because he is dead in his sins and dead towards God, man
must be raised to spiritual life (made alive by God, born again). This
is all that irresistible grace means – man must be given life in order
that He might (and will) choose Christ. Without this life-giving work
by God, man remains dead and enslaved to sin. To be as plainly simple
as possible, irresistible grace is about regeneration.
Perseverance of the Saints
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Can
a Christian lose his salvation? The Bible seems to say that a true
Christian will never suffer that loss. Is there a difference between
this doctrine and "once saved, always saved"?
For a more detailed look at this particular subject, please go here for the Spring 2009 course on "Eternal Security."
Frequently Asked Questions and Answers
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The
study of election always raises as many questions as it answers. In
this chapter, we will look at the strongest and most popular questions
asked about the reformed doctrine of salvation.
Equal Time
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Verses
used to denounce Calvinism have been discussed in the previous
chapters. In this chapter, readers will look at verses that present
some level of difficulty for the non-Calvinist.
Calvinism is NOT Hypercalvinism! by Phil Johnson
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The most common tactic to "defeat" Calvinism is to confuse the issue
with the sub-Christian heresy known as "hyper-Calvinism." They are not
the same thing. Discover the differences between the two polar
positions.
Calvinism in the SBC
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Most
in the church today have no idea that the Southern Baptist
Convention was founded by Calvinists. Read the quotes on the subject
from such founding fathers as Boyce and Mell and Furman.
Calvinism & Effective Evangelism by Ernest Reisinger
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It is said again and again that evangelism is unnecessary and even
futile if Calvinism is true. Is that accurate? See why Calvinism does
not destroy evangelism but actually gives power to the evangelist.
Charles Finney & the Decline of Calvinism by Phil Johnson
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Charles Finney is often presented as the "poster boy" of evangelism and
revivalism. Does he deserve this esteem in light of his true beliefs?
In an answer, "no."