Five points of Calvinism

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John Calvin

Background Christianity St. Augustine The Reformation Five Solas Synod of Dort

Distinctives Five Points (TULIP) Covenant Theology Regulative principle

Documents Calvin's Institutes Confessions of faith Geneva Bible

Influences Theodore Beza John Knox Jonathan Edwards Princeton theologians

Churches Reformed Presbyterian Congregationalist Reformed Baptist

Peoples Afrikaner Calvinists Huguenots Pilgrims Puritans Scots This box: view • talk • edit

The Five points of Calvinism, sometimes called the doctrines of grace and remembered in the English-speaking world with the mnemonic TULIP, are a summary of the judgments (or canons) rendered by the Synod of Dordt reflecting the Calvinist understanding of the nature of divine grace and predestination as it relates to salvation. The central assertion of the five points is that God is able to save every one of those upon whom he has mercy and that his efforts are not frustrated by the unrighteousness or the inability of humans.

The points were published during the Quinquarticular Controversy as a point-by-point response to the five points of the Arminian Remonstrants, and although Calvinism is sometimes identified with the five points, they more properly function as a summary of the differences between Calvinism and Arminianism on the doctrines of grace and predestination, not as a general summary of John Calvin's writings, of Calvinism as a theological system, or of the theology of the Reformed churches (indeed, Calvin never fully discussed doctrines such as limited atonement in his writings, but only hinted at his opinion).

Contents 1 Summaries of the points 1.1 Total depravity 1.2 Unconditional election 1.3 Limited atonement 1.4 Irresistible grace 1.5 Perseverance of the saints 2 See also 3 External links

[edit] Summaries of the points

The five points of Calvinism are:

[edit] Total depravity

Main article: Total depravity

Also called "radical depravity" and "total inability", this point means that every person is corrupt and sinful throughout in all of his or her faculties, including the mind and will. Thus, no person is able to do what is truly good in God's eyes, but rather, everyone does evil all the time. As a result of this corruption, man is enslaved to sin, rebellious and hostile toward God, blind to truth, and unable to save himself or even prepare himself for salvation.

[edit] Unconditional election

Main article: Unconditional election

Election means "choice." God's choice from eternity past, of whom he will bring to himself, is not based on foreseen virtue, merit, or faith in the persons he chooses but rather is unconditionally grounded in his own sovereign decision.

[edit] Limited atonement

Main article: Limited atonement

Also called "particular redemption" or "definite atonement", the doctrine of the limited atonement is the teaching that Jesus' atonement was definite and certain in its design and accomplishment. It teaches that the atonement was intended to render complete satisfaction for those and only those whom the Father had chosen before the foundation of the world. Calvinists do not believe that the atonement is limited in its value or power (if the Father had willed it, all the people of all generations could be saved), but rather they believe that the atonement is limited in that it is designed for some and not all.

[edit] Irresistible grace

Main article: Irresistible grace

Also known as "effectual grace", this doctrine does not hold that every influence of God's Holy Spirit cannot be resisted but that the Holy Spirit is able to overcome all resistance and make his influence irresistible and effective. Thus, when God sovereignly purposes to save someone, that individual certainly will be saved.

[edit] Perseverance of the saints

Main article: Perseverance of the saints

Also called the "preservation of the saints" or "eternal security," the fifth point teaches that those whom God has called into communion with himself will continue in faith until the end. Those who apparently fall away either never had true faith to begin with or will return. This is slightly different from the "once saved, always saved" view prevalent in some evangelical churches in which, despite apostasy or unrepentant and habitual sin, the individual is truly saved if he or she had truly accepted Christ in the past; in traditional Calvinist teaching, apostasy by such a person may be proof that they never were saved.

[edit] See also

• Calvinism
• Arminianism, the theological system opposing Calvinism on these points:
  • Conditional election versus Unconditional election
  • Prevenient Grace versus Irresistible grace
  • Unlimited atonement versus Limited atonement
  • Conditional Preservation of the Saints versus Perseverance of the saints
• History of Calvinist-Arminian Debate

[edit] External links

• The Reformed Doctrine of Predestination, a book containing a detailed explanation and defense of the five points by Loraine Boettner
• Articles on the doctrines of grace, an extensive collection of online articles and resources on the five points of Calvinism
• An Examination of 'TULIP', a critical review by Robert Sumner with a Calvinist response
• What We Believe About the Five Points of Calvinism by John Piper
• An Examination of the Five Points of Calvinism by Brian Schwertley (Calvinist perspective)
• The Five Points of Calvinism by W.J. Seaton (Calvinist perspective)
• The Calvinism Index By Colin Maxwell
• Theopedia: TULIP (conservative Calvinist perspective)
• Discussions on the Five Points of Calvinism by pastors in the United Reformed Church (MP3 format)