Beth-El Baptist Church

05/06/2012

Greg Tomlinson


What is a Calvinist?


While there is some debate about whether John Calvin would proclaim the same arguments that are today considered the cornerstone of “Calvinism”, what is of interest today is what is meant when someone refers to another person today as a Calvinist.


  1. What are the basic tenants of modern Calvinism?

Ephesians 2:1-3 – Total Depravity

Romans 8:32-35 – Unconditional Election

Romans 5:10-11 – Limited Atonement

John 6:44 – Irresistible Grace

John 10:27-29 – Perseverance of the Saints


These five basic tenants of modern Calvinism is known by the acronym “TULIP”. Each of these points of Calvinism is highly debated amongst other Christians. The validity in general of these basic tenants will be considered in future studies.


Even amongst those who identify themselves as Calvinists disagree on the degree or limit of some of these tenants. For example, there are those who are known as “Four point Calvinists”. This group generally removes the “Limited Atonement” point of Calvinists. There is another group of Calvinists who some submit to “Double Predestination” as part of the “Unconditional Election” point of Calvinists.


  1. Why are there variations of “Limited Atonement”?

Christ Died for All. Therefore not truly “limited”

John 3:16-17 1 Timothy 2:3-4

1 John 2:2 2 Peter 2:1


The implication is that Christ's death truly paid the price for the sins of every human being. If Christ's death did in reality pay the price for every human being, then it follows that the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ is unlimited in that it is freely available to all.


Christ only died for the elect. Therefore truly “limited”.

Matthew 1:20-21 Romans 3:24-26

John 10:15-16 Ephesians 5:25


The implication is that Christ's death only paid the price for the sins of His people, His sheep, His church. If Christ died for those that are His, then His death was only for the elect.


This is a question of who did Christ die for. In its worth and theoretical availability, it is true that Christ's atoning sacrifice is in some sense available to all, but it can only be said to be effective for the elect. Since only those who have faith in Christ will be saved, it follows that only those who have faith truly had their sins paid for. Anything beyond that is debating for the sake of debating.


  1. Why are there variations of “Unconditional Election”?

Only those who are saved are elected for salvation, the rest are not elected for any purpose.

Romans 9:10-16 Romans 3:10-19

Romans 8:28-30 Hebrews 4:2-3

Ephesians 1:5-6


Those who are elected for salvation will be saved, the rest have been elected for condemnation.

Romans 9:17-23 Exodus 9:12

Deuteronomy 2:30


The debate amongst Calvinists regarding “Unconditional Election” is whether or not God predestines people for heaven as well as hell. The challenge is to consider whether God sent people to hell or whether they were already destined to go there but God through Christ rescued some out of hell to dwell with Him for all eternity.