Where is the love of God in Calvinism?
Let’s look at the words of John Calvin himself:
In this series of articles, our goals are to examine the beliefs of John Calvin and each part of the beliefs of Calvinism and to provide a Biblical answer to all part of Calvinism’s T-U-L-I-P. In this article, we will examine the beliefs of John Calvin and compare them to what the Bible teaches us.
The term “Calvinism” has been disguised by many modern-day proponents because of the negative stigmatism revolving around the term Calvinism. Today you may hear the terms Doctrines of Grace or the term Monergism. These terms all mean generally the same thing but as you will discover it will be difficult to find any two Calvinists who will agree with what Calvinism is.
“Calvinism” is loosely used by people to describe John Calvin’s teaching concerning predestination. A popular Calvinist author describes Calvinism as a system the especially emphasizes five distinct doctrines. These are technically known as “The Five Points of Calvinism.” The five points are associated with the word T-U-L-I-P, T represents Total Inability, U represents unconditional Election, L represents limited atonement, I represents Irresistible (efficacious) Grace, and P represents perseverance of the Saints.
God – arranges all things – He has decreed that they are so to happen – All events take place by His sovereign appointment. Would this include sin? Does God “will” man to sin? Calvin answers “yes!”
Scripture clearly proves that God by His eternal and immutable counsel determined once for all those whom it was His pleasure one day to admit to salvation, and those whom, on the other hand, it was His pleasure to doom to destruction. [Does this contradict the clear statement of Scripture, “The Lord…is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance (II Pet. 3:9)?]
MAY
2018