A quick tutorial on Calvinism's five points and why I'm only a 'three-and-a-quarter pointer'
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Christian Post) — So what is this theology most popularly known as "Calvinism" or Reformed Theology? This extremely influential theology has been, and remains, a powerful force in Protestant theology and western Christianity in general. A very similar theology was espoused by the great early church theologian St. Augustine (354 AD-430 AD).
In the Reformation Era and beyond this theology has been inextricably identified with John Calvin (1509 AD-1564 AD), thus the label Calvinism, and has exercised great influence in the English speaking world through the conduit of the British and American Puritan Movement. The Pilgrim and Puritan fathers were Calvinists.
The shorthand summary of this extremely influential theology is expressed in the acrostic T.U.L.I.P. (T = Total Depravity, U=Unconditional Election, L=Limited Atonement, I=Irresistible Grace, and P=Perseverance of the Saints).
Calvin's theology, embodied in his Institutes, was synthesized and systematized in the Synod of Dort (or Dordrecht) in 1618-1619 and in the Westminster Confession of Faith in 1646.
The over-arching theological truth driving the Calvinist world-view is the complete and utter sovereignty of God. The so-called five-points are derived from the dominant theme of God's sovereignty and control. In Calvinism God decrees before the foundation of the world to save some men (unconditional election) and not to save others and Jesus' death on the cross only applies to the elect (limited atonement).
Those who are the elect are the objects of irresistible grace, because fallen man who is totally depraved must be the object of an irresistible call or Jesus' sacrifice on the cross would be in vain and no one would be saved. The elect, having been the object of an irresistible call, will persevere to the end and thus they cannot lose their salvation. (Baptists call this "eternal security.")
The Calvinists understanding of God's sovereignty is that everything that has happened, is happening, or ever will happen has already been pre-determined (as a result of His omnipotence), not merely foreknown as a function of His omniscience.
If you have been around many seminarians you have probably heard some version of this joke: "Did you hear about the Calvinist who fell down three flights of stairs? He picked himself up and said 'man, I am glad that is over!'"
The point is, nothing can happen other than what God has foreordained to happen.
This is an oversimplification of an impressively thought out, extraordinarily well-articulated Christian theological tradition. However, to summarize is to generalize and to categorize is to simplify — so be it!
It should also be said that for Calvin himself the over-arching, controlling vision was the total and utter sovereignty of God and the 5 points flowed from, and were derivatives of, that primary vision and truth.
In the interest of full disclosure I am not a Calvinist of either the 4- or 5-point variety (the contested point being "limited atonement," did Jesus die on the cross only for the elect or potentially for everyone?). I have always felt that the difference between a 4-pointer and a 5-pointer is a distinction without a difference, because you are still left with a humanity divided between those who must believe in Jesus (the elect) and those can't believe in Jesus (the non-elect).
Again, in the interest of full disclosure, I am a 3 ¼ point Calvinist if you evaluate my theology utilizing the template of 5 point Calvinism. I believe in about ¾ of T (Total Depravity), ¾ of U (Unconditional Election), and ¾ of I (Irresistible Grace), none of L (Limited Atonement) and all of P (Perseverance of the Saints). See my "Another View of the Biblical Doctrine of Election," Christian Post , Jan. 14, 2014 for a brief summary of my 3 ¼ point model.
Unlike the 4- and 5-point Calvinists, I can say not only that salvation is by faith alone in Christ alone, I can say honestly with deep conviction to everyone I meet, "God loves you and He has a wonderful plan for your life. And, if you accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior then you can discover who you really are, and why God made you the unique, never to be duplicated human being that each of us is."
Dr. Richard Land is president of Southern Evangelical Seminary and executive editor of The Christian Post.
This article was published by Christian Post.