The Five Points Of Calvinism

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1 An Introduction to “The Five Points of Calvinism”

o It will be tragic if those who claim to be Reformed do not know of “The Five Points of Calvinism”.

1 What we are dealing with.
– One characteristic of the Reformed Faith is belief in the system of salvation called Calvinism, believed to be taught in the Bible.
– The summary of this system has been called “the Five Points of Calvinism”. It is also called “the Doctrines of Grace.” Some argue that it should be “Doctrine” (singular).
– How did this term arise? What are the Five Points? Why are they important?

2 The rise of Pelagianism.
– Due to the corrupting influence of pagan philosophy, many of the early church fathers of the 3rd and 4th centuries departed from the biblical doctrine of salvation.
: Examples, Tertullian of Carthage (d ~220AD), Hilary of Poitiers (d 368 AD), Ambrose of Milan (d 397 AD). (Carthage is now a suburb of Tunis, Tunisia. Poitiers is in France. Milan in Italy.)
– Little is know of Pelagius “Bretto” Morgan (~360-418). He was a British monk who stayed a long while in Rome. He lived an ascetic life and had great power of speech.
– The doctrine peculiar to him became known as Pelagianism.
: (i) At the Fall, Adam harmed only himself, not his posterity. No such thing as original sin.
: (ii) Man’s will is free. It is up to man to do good or evil.
: (iii) God’s grace is given to those who show that the deserve it. The grace of God can be resisted.
: (iv) God’s decree of election and reprobation is based on foreknowledge. Christ died for all men. By Christ’s instruction and example, a person can be led to higher perfection.

3 Augustine against Pelagianism.
– Augustine was bishop of Hippo in Northern Africa from A. D. 395 to A. D. 430.
: He is famous for his books “The Confessions of Saint Augustine” and “The City of God”.
– Augustine opposed the teaching of Pelagius. His teaching became known as Augustinianism.
: (i) At the Fall, all mankind sinned in Adam. Human nature became totally corrupt.
: (ii) By Adam’s sin, human free will was totally lost. Man can will only evil.
: (iii) If man does any good, it is because of God’s work of grace. Since man can do nothing without grace, so he can do nothing against it. It is irresistible.
: (iv) From eternity, God made a free and unconditional decree to save some. Christ came into the world and died for the elect only.
– Pelagianism was condemned by the Councils of Carthage (418 AD) and of Ephesus (431 AD). The “ecumenical councils” of those times were gatherings of church leaders to deal with challenges to the teaching of the church.

4 The Reformation.
– The Reformation began in 1517 when Martin Luther nailed his “Ninety-five Theses” to the door of the Wittenberg Church.
– John Calvin escaped from France to Geneva where he taught powerfully for many years. He wrote his ‘magnum opus’ called “Institutes of the Christian Religion”. The final version appeared in 1559.
– The Reformation spread throughout Europe. Characteristics of the Reformation, not to be confused with “The Five Points of Calvinism”, include: Sola Scriptura, Sola Fide, Sola Gratia, Solus Christus, Soli Deo Gloria.

5 Calvinism & Arminianism.
– In 1609, a Dutch seminary professor called James Arminius died.
: In 1610, the followers of Arminius drew up five articles of faith in “The Remonstrance” and presented it to the State Church of Holland, demanding that the Belgic Confession of Faith and the Heidelberg Catechism be changed.
– In 1618, a national synod (84 delegates, including 26 from 8 foreign countries) found Arminius’ teaching heretical.
: The true scriptural teaching was drawn up which became known as “The Canons of Dort”, published in 1619. It is often summarised as “the Five Points of Calvinism”. These “Five Points” are often rearranged under the acronym “TULIP” for easy remembrance.

= Since “The Five Points of Calvinism” concern a crucial doctrine of the Bible, we may not treat it as irrelevant to us today.

Review Questions
1. What system of salvation is held in Reformed Theology?
2. What is the alternative name of “The Five Points of Calvinism”?
3. Who was the British man who caused a stir in Europe by his teaching on salvation?
4. What was his teaching called?
5. Which bishop in Northern Africa countered Pelagianism ?
6. At what councils was Pelagianism condemned?
7. How did the Reformation of the 16th century begin?
8. What are the five principles that characterise the Reformation?
9. In what year was “The Remonstrance” put forward by the students of James Arminius?
10. In what year was “The Canons of Dort” published?

Assignment/Discussion
There are those who would regard themselves as “Reformed” simply because they hold to “The Five Points of Calvinism”. What are the characteristics of Reformed Theology? What are the practical implications of being “Reformed” in personal and church life?

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2 Total Depravity (Eph. 2:1-10)

o Fallen man’s sinful nature affects every part of his being.

1 Man’s nature is totality depraved.
– It is morally and spiritually corrupt, making man perverse, sinful, twisted in his entire being.
: The “total” is that of extent, not of degree. No part spared from pollution of sin.
: In degree, meaning that he is capable of being more sinful than what he is.
– This arose from Adam’s fall, and is transmitted down his descendants (Rom. 5:12; Eph. 2:1-3; Psalm 51:5; 58:3). Sin is passed down by propagation, not by imitation.
: We are guilty in the sin of Adam as he was the representative head of the human race.
: We are also guilty because of the sins we have committed – in thoughts, words & deeds.
– Due to total depravity, man is not willing nor able to return to God.
: He has no ability to make himself better, nor make up for the sins he has committed against God.
: Neither the light of nature nor the law of God can save him (Rom. 1:18-21; 3:20).

2 The bondage of the will (an expression used by Martin Luther).
– Since the human will is part of his nature, the human will is also sinful.
: The human will is “free” only in the sense that a person is capable of making a decision and acting without external compulsion.
– In reality, all the person’s decisions and actions are affected by sin because his will is sinful.
: This does not mean that the person is incapable of doing any good. He is not as bad as he
could be, and he is not as good as he should be (Rom. 3:10; James 2:10).
– Why is man still able to do some good?
: (i) God’s common grace is at work in the world, to man’s good (Matt. 5:45).
: (ii) God’s image in man was not totally erased by the Fall (Gen. 9:6; Rom. 2:14-15; 13:5).
: (iii) God restrains evil by providence (Prov. 21:1), by conscience (Rom. 14-16), and by governments (Rom. 13:4).

3 The need for God’s grace.
– Man is not righteous (Rom. 3:10) in two basic sense: (i) he has not kept God’s law perfectly; (ii) he has a sinful nature which he has not power to change.
: His sins must be atoned for, which Christ came to do (Heb. 9:22, 27-28).
: He needs perfect righteousness to stand before God, which Christ came to give (2 Cor 5:21).
– Double imputation is a teaching of the Bible.
: This was the truth that liberated Martin Luther from his struggle for righteousness.
: Conviction of sin often precedes conversion (repentance & faith), e.g. John Bunyan.
– Salvation has to come from God, who provides righteousness in Jesus Christ (Rom. 5:15-17).
: If saved, it is by the grace of God. When saved, all glory belongs to God.

4 The means of salvation.
– Man is “dead in trespasses and sins” (Eph. 1-3).
: A dead man cannot rise by his own power, for he has none. God must regenerate him by the power of the Holy Spirit (John 3:3, 5; 11:43-44; 1 Pet. 1:23).
– God has ordained the means of hearing the word to save (Rom. 10:17).
: Christians have a responsibility to preach the gospel (Rom. 10:14-15; Matt. 28:18-20).
: Hearers have a responsibility to repent and believe (Ezek. 3:18-19).
– Repentance (Acts 11:18; 2 Tim. 2:25), and faith (Eph. 2:8-9; Phil. 1:29) are gifts of God.
: Salvation is by grace, through faith, in Christ alone.

= We are guilty before God. We have no righteousness of our own. We need Christ’s righteousness.
= Sinners must hear the gospel. Preach the gospel, with dependence upon God to save.

Review Questions
1. In what sense is man “depraved” in nature?
2. In what sense is his depravity “total”?
3. What is the effect of total depravity upon man in relation to God?
4. In what sense is the human will “free”?
5. Why is man still able to do some good?
6. In what sense is man not righteous?
7. What is “double imputation” when a person comes to faith in Christ?
8. How may a spiritually dead person be made alive?
9. What is the means used by God to save?
10. How should we look upon repentance and faith in salvation?

Assignment/Discussion
If we preach “the need to repent and believe” and “the inability of man to repent and believe” at one and the same time, would we not be contradicting ourselves? How should we understand the cry of the hearers, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” (Acts 2:37) and “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” (Acts 16:30)?

Memory Passage (John 6:35-40)

³⁵And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst. ³⁶But I said to you that you have seen Me and yet do not believe. ³⁷All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out. ³⁸For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. ³⁹This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day. ⁴⁰And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.”

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3 Unconditional Election (Eph. 1:3-14)

o God has chosen from eternity a fixed number of people to be saved, based solely on His own will.

1 Man deserves eternal damnation.
– God is the Creator. Man has been given dominion over all (Gen. 1:26-28; Rom. 8:20-21).
: God owes man nothing. Man owes God everything. Yet, man fails to obey God, from the Fall.
: Man deserves eternal damnation (Rom. 3:19, 23; 6:23). God is not obligated to save anyone.
– In his fallen state, man has no desire for fellowship with God (Gen. 3:8).
: With time, man departed farther and farther away from God’s law.
: There was the flood (Gen. 7), Babel (Gen. 11), and idolatry (Gen. 31:34; Rom. 1:23).

2 Predestination is a teaching of the Bible.
– God chose, from before creation, a fixed number of people to be saved (Eph. 1:4-6).
: (i) Note that this is not a small number (Rev. 7:9).
: (ii) This is a fixed number, represented symbolically by the 144,000 (Rev. 7:4);
: (iii) Called “the elect, or chosen ones” (Matt. 24:24, 31; Rom. 8:33; 11:7; etc.);
: (iv) Who will never be lost (Rom. 8:38-39);
: (iv) Whose names are written in heaven (Luke 10:20) or the Book of Life (Rev. 13:8; 17:8).
– Predestination is not the same as fatalism, where an impersonal “fate” determines all events.
: Fatalism erases human responsibility. Avoid saying, “I am lucky…”, “It is fated…”, etc.

3 God chose according to His good pleasure and sovereign will (Eph. 1:5).
– Although omniscient, God’s choice was not based on foreseen faith or good works of the elect (Rom. 9:11-13, 16; 2 Tim. 1:9), as claimed by the Arminians.
: We have seen that total depravity causes: (i) the sinner to turn away from God; (ii) his good works to be not good enough for salvation.
– Faith and good works are the results, not the cause, of God’s choice (Eph. 2:10; John 15:16; James 2:5). Election shows forth God’s mercy, to the praise of His glorious grace (Eph. 1:4-6).
: Be careful about passages like John 3:16 (similarly 1 Tim. 1:16; 2:4 cf 2 Tim. 1:9; 2:10) and Rom. 8:29, where “foreknew” means “loved beforehand” (cf. Gen 4:1; 2 Tim. 2:19). Furthermore, it is a reference to the persons, not their actions.
– God has the right to pass by others who are not saved (Rom. 9:14-16, 21-24). They will perish in the fires of eternal hell. This is known as “reprobation”.
: Those lost deserve their punishment. Reprobation and election are the two sides of the same coin.

4 The “covenant of grace” is the only reason for, and the means of, salvation.
– Election is based on “the eternal covenant” (also known in theology as “the covenant of redemption” or “the covenant of peace”) made between members of the Godhead (2 Tim. 1:9; Tit. 1:2).
: The Father has chosen a fixed number of people for salvation and given them to the Son (John 6:39; 10:14-16; 17:24).
– The eternal covenant operates in history as the covenant of grace, which was promised to Adam, Abraham, Moses and David (Eph. 2:12; Jer. 31:31 cf. Heb. 8:6-13). It was progressively revealed in the OT period and concluded in the new covenant (Gal. 4:21-31; Luke 22:20).
: There are not many administrations of the covenant of grace, as claimed by the paedobaptists.
– We do not know who are elect until sinners repent and believe in Christ.
: Our duty is to preach to all alike (Rom. 10:17). Who hears, and when, is determined by
– God (Rom. 10:14-15; Acts 17:27, 30). Beware of Hyper-Calvinism!
: It is not for sinners to know whether they are elect or not. Their duty is to repent & believe.

= The cry of the tax collector in Luke 18:13 takes on new significance, “God, be merciful to me a sinner!” Those saved can only adore and praise God (Rom. 11:33-36).
= This doctrine encourages us to preach because the Lord said “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me (John 10:27).”

Review Questions
1. Why does man deserve eternal damnation?
2. What happened to man in his fallen state, in relation to God and His law?
3. What is “predestination”?
4. In what ways is “predestination” different from “fatalism”?
5. What do Arminians wrongly teach about election?
6. What are faith and good works when seen in relation to election?
7. What does “foreknew” mean in passages like Rom. 8:29?
8. What is “the eternal covenant” also known as?
9. How was the covenant of grace revealed in history?
10. What is the duty of Christians, and of hearers, with regard to the gospel?

Assignment/Discussion
Believing in Unconditional Election has not hampered missions and the preaching of the gospel. Examples of great preachers and soul-winners are George Whitfield and C H Spurgeon. Examples of great missionaries are William Carey, Adoniram Judson, and David Brainerd. What could have motivated these men in their work?

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4 Limited Atonement (Particular Redemption) (Rom. 5:6-11)

o Christ’s death made atonement for the sins of His people only.

1 Atonement for sin is needed because God is not only merciful but also just.
– The consequences of sins need to be atoned for, i.e. to be neutralised, or made up for.
: Expiation (hilaskomai, Rom. 2:17; Heb. 1:3), making up for the offence of sin, by substitution. Looking from man’s point of view.
: Propitiation (hilasterion, Rom. 3:25), enabling God to receive sinners, by His wrath turned away. Looking from God’s point of view.
– We need to be redeemed, i.e. to be set free by payment of a ransom, to God, not Satan.
: Redemption is accomplished by Christ dying in the place of His people (Rom. 3:24; Gal. 3:13).
: Also referred to as Christ’s blood, i.e. His death (Heb. 9;13-14, 27-28; 10:28-29).
– Reconciliation/peace with God is accomplished (Rom. 5:10-11; 2 Cor. 5:18-19).
: William Tyndale coined the word “at-one-ment”.
: “Double imputation” is a teaching of the Bible (2 Cor. 5:21; Rom. 4:22-25).

2 Christ’s death was to atone for the sins of His people only.
– The Father has given the Son a fixed number of people (John 6:39; 17:24).
– Only those who belong to Christ will listen and follow Him (John 10:26-27).
– Salvation is for the elect only (Rom. 5:15, 19; 2 Tim 1:9-10 cf 2:10).
– Christ’s death was not for everyone (Matt. 1:21; 20:28; Luke 19:10).
– Atonement for sins was limited to Christ’s people. Christ’s death was particularly for them.
– Even logic shows inconsistency if Christ died for all, but not all are saved. Did God failed?

3 Differences and difficulties.
– Amyraldism (or Amyraldianism) is also known as the School of Saumur, post redemptionism, moderate Calvinism, four-point Calvinism. Named after Moses Amyraut (1596-1664).
: Teaches that God foreordained a universal salvation, which is offered to all on condition of faith.
: Man has the power to believe, but lacks the willingness to believe because of inherent depravity.
– Summarised as “Christ’s atoning death was sufficient for all and efficient for some (the elect)”.
: However, in question is not the efficacy of Christ’s death, but the intent or purpose of His death.
– Amyraldism held by Richard Baxter, Andrew Fuller, JC Ryle, Sovereign Grace preachers (e.g. John Piper), many Bible Presbyterian churches.
: BB Warfield calls it “an inconsistent and therefore unstable form of Calvinism” (BB Warfield, “The Plan of Salvation”, Eerdmans (1973)).
– Wrong understanding of certain passages of Scripture.
: Some Bible passages speak of Christ dying for “all” men (Rom. 5:18; 2 Cor. 5:14-15; 1 Tim. 2:4-6; Heb. 2:9; 2 Pet. 3:9; 1 John 2:1-2). However, a careful examinations shows that they do not mean every individual in the world will be saved, e.g. Heb. 2:9 cf vv 10-13; 1 John 2:1-2 cf. vv 15-17.
: Other passages speak of Christ dying for “the world” (John 1:9, 29; 3:16-17; 4:42; 2 Cor. 5:19; 1 John 2:1-2; 4:14 etc.). One reason was to correct the idea that salvation was for the Jews only (cf. Rom. 3:29-30; Gal. 3:26-29).

4 Practical Implications of Limited Atonement.
– Misunderstanding of Hyper-Calvinists against free-offer of the gospel & organised evangelism since we hold to the doctrine.
– Misunderstanding of Arminians that evangelism will be hampered if we hold to the doctrine.
: True Calvinism is strongly evangelistic and mission-minded, e.g. the 17th century Particular Baptists, William Carey, David Brainerd, CH Spurgeon.
– Do not fear preaching Limited Atonement, for all “Five Points” belong together as a system.

= The “warrant of faith” is not that Christ died for me, but Christ died to save sinners.
= The certainty that the sheep will hear His voice encourages us to preach “Christ crucified”.

Review Questions
1. What does Limited Atonement teach?
2. What do “expiation” and “propitiation” mean?
3. What is “redemption” and how is it accomplished?
4. What does the atonement for sin accomplish for the sinner in his relation to God?
5. How may Amyraldism be summarised?
6. Name some well-known men who had held to Amyraldism.
7. How did B B Warfield describe Amyraldism?
8. How should we understand Bible passages that speak of Christ dying for “all” men and for “the world”?
9. How do Hyper-Calvinists react to the doctrine of Limited Atonement?
10. How do Arminians react to the doctrine of Limited Atonement?

Assignment/Discussion
The “warrant of faith” has been a contention in history. Do we need to know that Christ died for me before we come to Him? Do we need to feel our need of Christ before we come to Him? Do we have to have accomplish sufficient change in life before coming to Christ? Need something be achieved within the person – in mind, heart, or will – before he comes to Christ? Or is the warrant outside himself, and found only in the word of God – the command to come to Christ (John 3:16; Acts 2:38; 16:31; 1 John 3:23)? Discuss how Hyper-Calvinism and Arminianism would have different opinions on this.

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5 Irresistible Grace (John 6:35-40)

o The Holy Spirit’s work of regenerating the elect unto salvation is incapable of failing.

1 The Holy Spirit is involved in salvation.
– All three persons of the Trinity are involved in our salvation (Rom. 8:14; 1 Cor. 6:11; 1 Pet. 1:2).
: The Holy Spirit is the agent who applies the work of Christ to the elect (1 Pet. 1:22-23; Isa. 44:3).
: He does so by the instrument of the hearing of word of God (Rom. 6:17; 10:17) and, in particular, the gospel of “Christ crucified” (1 Cor. 2:2; Gal. 1:6-9).
– The Holy Spirit is irresistible, or invincible (cannot be overcome) in His work (Eph. 1:19-20; Rom. 8:11).
: Irresistible Grace is considered under the chapter on Effectual Calling in the 1689 Confession (Ch.
10).

2 It is good to be clear about the order of salvation (“Ordo solutis”).
– The 1689 Confession (3:6) gives the order of salvation as: Election (from eternity), Redemption (in Christ’s death), Effectual Calling “to faith in Christ by His Spirit working in due season”, Justification (God declaring the person not guilty), Adoption, Sanctification (the process of growing in holiness), Glorification (preservation unto salvation). This is based on Rom. 8:29-30.
: Together with 1689:10:1, it is clear that Effectual Calling includes the doctrine of Irresistible Grace.
: Logically speaking, the three important steps of salvation are: (i) the work of the Spirit in Conception; (ii) the effect of this in the person in Conversion; (iii) the result of this in the person’s Reconciliation. Each of these stages consists of two elements.
– We receive the Spirit “by the hearing of faith” (Gal. 3:2 cf. Rom. 8:9). By the hearing of the word (Internal Calling) and the indwelling of the Spirit, or Initial Regeneration, takes place in which new life is planted in the soul (1 Pet. 1:23; 1 John 3:9).
: Internal Calling together with Initial Regeneration may be called Conception.
– The elect responds to the call of the gospel in Repentance and Faith, which together constitute Conversion (Rom. 6:17; 10:17; 1 Pet. 1:22-23).
: However, there is a period of Awakening and Conviction before there is Conversion (Luke 15:17-19; Acts 2:37; 9:5-9; 16:29), which might be prolonged or short. Awakening and Conviction together may be called Gestation.
– Reconciliation with God is accomplished when He justifies us upon faith in Christ, and adopts us as His children (Rom. 3:28; 8:15; 2 Cor 5:18-21). Justification and Adoption constitute Reconciliation.
: Also, there follows Assurance of forgiveness, leading to the experience of love, joy, and peace after
conversion, distinct from growing in holiness, which is Sanctification (Rom. 8:15-17; Gal. 5:22).

3 A possible complete order of salvation.
– Predestination, Redemption, Conception, Gestation, Conversion, Reconciliation, Assurance, Sanctification, Glorification.
: Effectual Calling covers the work of the Spirit, by the instrumentality of the word, in giving new life in Christ. It includes Conception, Gestation, and Conversion. This is to be “born again” (John 3:3, 5). As noted already, the Gestation period may be short or drawn out. (See 1689:10:1 cf. para. 4.)
– Some Reformed people (e.g. Prof. John Murray) leaves out Gestation, or places it before Conception, therefore treating Gestation as the work of the Spirit that is not yet saving, as happens in some non-elect.
: “Regeneration”, i.e. to be “born again” (John 3:3, 5; Tit. 3:5), may be used in the broader sense to
refer to the work of the Spirit in the elect throughout the whole process of Effectual Calling (1689:15:1 & 10:1, 2).

4 Relationship between Effectual Calling & Irresistible Grace.
– Irresistible Grace looks more closely at the work of the Spirit in applying the word to the elect.
: In Conception, the word is heard as the Spirit comes to dwell in the person (John 5:25; Gal. 3:2).
: In Gestation, the sinner is awakened to his spiritual condition and convicted of his guilt before God (1 Cor. 1:23-24; Acts 2:37; 16:29).
: In Conversion, the convicted sinner is enabled to come to Christ in repentance and faith (John 6:37; 10:27; Acts 11:18; Eph. 2:8-9).
– There might be resistance against the truth along the way, but the elect will finally be saved. God’s grace is irresistible/invincible (Isa. 55:11; Jer. 31:18, 33).
: Throughout, as the word is proclaimed and applied by the preacher, the Spirit is at work.

= In the church, trust the Spirit to save by preaching the word in season and out of season (2 Tim. 4:2).
= In outreach, preach until they are converted, or you unwanted (Luke 10:10-11; Acts 18:4-11; 19:8-10).

Review Questions
1. What is meant by Irresistible Grace?
2. State the role of the Holy Spirit in salvation and the instrument used.
3. State the two elements in each of this stages of salvation: (i) Conception; (ii) Conversion; (iii) Reconciliation.
4. What stage lies before conversion and what elements are included in it?
5. What stages follow Reconciliation?
6. What stages are covered under Effectual Calling, where the Holy Spirit works by the instrumentality of the word?
7. What is the broader sense of the word “regeneration”?
8. How is Irresistible Grace related to Effectual Calling?
9. Why will the elect be saved despite resisting the work of the Holy Spirit in him?
10. What is the role of the preacher throughout the work of the Spirit in regeneration?

Assignment/Discussion
The idea of instantaneous regeneration as taught by Professor John Murray in his book “Redemption Accomplished and Applied” has been challenged by Dr. Peter Masters in his book “Physician of Souls”, who advocate an elongated view of regeneration. What are the merits and demerits of each view? Could it be that the differences are relatively minor if the terms used are properly understood?

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6 Perseverance Of The Saints (John 10:22-30)

o The elect will continue in the life of faith to the end of their lives despite trials and
temptations.

1 Who are the saints?
– “Saints” or “holy ones” refer to all true believers (Rom. 1:7). Made clean by the blood of Christ, accepted as God’s children. This differ from the wrong teaching of the RC.
– Despite trials and temptations, will not totally or finally fall away from faith (John 10:28-29).
– God preserves, they persevere. As we work, God is at work (Phil. 1:6; 2:12-13; Rom. 8:38-39).

2 How will they persevere?
– The certainty of perseverance does not lie in the believers, but in God. God, who saves by grace continues: (i) to provide strength by the Holy Spirit in His people (Rom. 8:13-14; Phil. 2:12-13; Col. 1:28-29), (ii) to use the means of grace to strengthen His people (Heb. 10:24-25; 1 Pet. 2:1-3), and (iii) to exercise special providence over His people (Rom. 8:28; Heb. 13:5-6).
– God will certainly preserve them because: (a) His decree of election cannot be changed (Rom. 11:29; 1 Cor. 1:8-9); (b) Christ’s death and intercession are sufficient and effective (Heb. 10: 14; 7:25; Luke 22:32; ); (c) the Holy Spirit in believers ensures that the seed of life endures (1 John 3:9); (d) the covenant of grace cannot be broken (Heb. 6:17-18; Jer. 32:40).
– Trials test our faith, and temptations draw us away from holy living (James 1:2; 12 where the same Greek word is used). The elect will persevere in faith and in holy living because the Holy Spirit in them gives: (i) the desire to live a godly life (Rom. 8:5); (ii) the ability to obey the word of God (Rom. 8:10); (iii) a love for the Lord who first love them (John 14:21, 24; 1 John 3:9); (iv) a quickened (lively) conscience to do right (1 Tim. 1:5, 19).

3 Will the elect fall into sin?
– Even true believers may fall into grievous sins because of: (a) the attacks of Satan (Luke 22:31; 1 Pet. 5:8); (b) the temptations of the world (James 1:2, 12); (c) the remaining corruptions in their own nature (1 John 2:16); and (d) neglect of the means of grace (Heb. 10:24-25).
– If they harden their hearts and continue in sin: (a) God will be displeased and the Spirit grieved (Eph. 4:30); (b) God’s blessing will be withdrawn and their conscience will be hurt (1 Tim. 1:5, 19) ; (c) others will be stumbled (Rom. 14:13; 1 Cor. 8:9).
– God will chastise them to bring them to repentance. They will be forgiven, but may have to bear the consequences of their sins (James 1:13-15; 1 John 1:9; 2 Sam. 12:14; Heb. 12:7-8).

4 What about professing believers who fall away?
– They were never true believers (Heb. 6:4-11 cf. 12:7).
– Then why should there be warnings about eternal damnation? They are use by God to keep the elect persevering, while hardening the unbelievers (Heb. 12:3-11).
– Note that this doctrine is different from the Antinomian teaching of “once saved, always saved”, regardless of how you live. God demands holy living in His people (Matt. 7:21-23; 2 Tim. 2:19).

5 What is the value of this doctrine?
-“Perseverance of the saints” ministers great comfort in times of trials, & assurance in life of faith.
-Assurance comes not from any special feelings but from: (i) faith in the promises of God (Rom. 8:32-35; Heb. 13:5); (ii) witness of the Holy Spirit in the believers (Rom. 8:16-17; 1 John 5:13); (iii) pursuit of clear conscience and good works (Heb. 10:12-23; Eph. 2:10).
-Assurance may be weak in some, but all true believers will be kept persevering (1 Cor. 1:8).

= Have you backslidden? Repent an seek forgiveness from God.
= Are you tempted to give up the faith? Persevere on, and God will preserve you!

Review Questions
1. What is meant by the perseverance of the saints?
2. Why will the elect certainly persevere in the faith?
3. Why will God certainly preserve the elect?
4. How does the Holy Spirit enable the elect to persevere?
5. Why do true believers fall into grievous sins?
6. What happens when God’s children harden their hearts and continue in sin?
7. What happens to God’s children who repent of sin?
8. Why are warnings of eternal damnation given in the Bible?
9. What is the value of the doctrine of the Perseverance of the Saints?
10. How do believers gain assurance of salvation?

Assignment/ Discussion
The lack of assurance is a problem in some believers, while there are people who feel sure of their salvation when they do not have a credible profession of faith. How should we address problems like this?

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7 Practical Implications (1 Cor. 14:6-12)

o The understanding the Five Points of Calvinism helps us to live faithfully before God in an age of rapid changes, confusion, and muted call to spiritual battle.

1 Concerning “the Doctrines of Grace”.
– This is a summary of the doctrine of salvation, not the whole doctrine of salvation.
: They, nevertheless, stand or fall together. Hence, some say “doctrine” instead of
“doctrines”.
: We still find people and churches that hold to only four points, leaving out Limited
– Atonement/Particular Redemption”, claiming the Christ’s death is “sufficient for all,
efficient to some”.
– Today, there many evangelical Christians are Arminians, or hold to modified Arminianism.
: Be clear, make a stand, which is the true doctrine of salvation? Cf. Gal. 1:6-9.
: Many are unclear what “free will” in man means, and troubled about how to reconcile
divine sovereignty with human responsibility.

2 These doctrines must not be used as a “five-pointed club” to bash others.
– For truth to be established, error must be exposed and removed (Jer. 1:10).
: Many true believers do not have opportunity of exposure to the truth.
: It has taken us that long to understand these truths. There is much we still need to learn (1
Cor. 10:12).
– This “multi-coloured lamp” must not be hidden (Mark 4:21). Truth must be communicated.
: If not taught and corrected, the next Apollos will not be helped? Cf. Acts 18:24-26.

3 The Doctrines of Grace has changed many lives.
– Some were never truly converted because they have never heard the true gospel.
: When confronted by the true gospel in the Doctrines of Grace, they were broken & saved.
– Some have never been weaned of self despite having trusted in Christ for salvation.
: They have been humbled by the experience of truth and become more useful in God’s service.
: Old hymns tend to express these doctrines better than modern gospel songs.

4 Avoid the Arminian practice of the altar call.
– It is contrary to Calvinism and produces adverse effects.
: (i) It gives the impression that Christ’s death is not quite sufficient;
: (ii) It makes the hearers think that their action contributes in some way to their salvation.
: (iii) It tends to produce many false converts;
: (iv) It makes evangelism to such people more difficult as they think they are already saved;
: (v) It fills the church with professing believers who are not truly born again.
– Sadly, there are those who profess to be Reformed but adopt the altar call.
: The use of “The Four Spiritual Laws” of the Campus Crusade for Christ is Arminian.
Intellectual assent and the act of saying “the sinner’s prayer” cannot save.

5 Avoid the High-Calvinist believe in “providential evangelism”.
– It fails to see that human responsibility is subsumed under divine sovereignty.
– It does not interested in organised evangelism and missions.
– It has difficulty with the free offer of the gospel.

6 Avoid the Antinomian idea of “once saved, always saved” regardless of how one lives.
-It fails to see that holy living is a characteristic of true conversion.
-It gives assurance of salvation to those who are not concerned to live holy lives.
-It does not see importance of the law of God in sanctification.
-The “New Calvinism” (the Young, Restless, and Reformed Movement, YRRM) of John Piper, Mark Driscoll, Tim Keller, Joshua Harris, etc. encourages a worldly attitude & behaviour. It is basically Antinomian, while holding intellectually to the Five Points.

= Let us be consistently Reformed, in personal life and in our churches, by showing the Reformation characteristics of Sola Scriptura, Sola Fide, Sola Gratia, Solus Christus, and Soli Deo Gloria.

Review Questions
1. Why do some people suggest that the singular “doctrine” should be used to describe the Five Points of Calvinism instead of “the Doctrines of Grace”?
2. Which point of doctrine is left out by some who would call themselves Reformed?
3. If these doctrines must not be used as “a five-pointed club”, how should we use it?
4. In what ways have the Doctrines of Grace changed lives?
5. State the adverse effects of the altar call as practised by the Arminians.
6. Why do Calvinists avoid the use of “The Four Spiritual Laws” of the Campus Crusade for Christ?
7. Why must we avoid the idea of “providential evangelism” taught by High-Calvinists?
8. What is wrong with the Antinomian idea of “once saved, always saved”?
9. What is wrong with the New Calvinism movement?
10. How should we be consistently Reformed?

Assignment/Discussion
To be Reformed in the right sense, there must be adherence to the totality of the Bible’s teaching and not merely to the Five Points of Calvinism. Also, it means the need to reform the doctrine, worship, and government of the church. In other words, we need to be subject to Christ, the Head of the church, in His offices as prophet, priest, and king. Will there ever be full agreement on these matters?

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