The term Calvinism certainly evokes some very strong feelings among the christian community; ranging from almost cultish fervor toward the five points of Calvinism, to the demonic denouncement of it. However, the more I study the Bible, the more I am beginning to see that the five points that are regarded as the backbone of Calvinism and the Reformation are indeed true; admittedly difficult to reconcile, but still true.

The various points of Calvinism have come up very often in my life recently, in various Bible studies, personal conversations, online discussion, and even in my daily sermon studies and devotions. In all of these seemingly random encounters with the five points, I began to notice that of all the gospels, the Gospel of John seems to lay a heavy emphasis on the five points mostly from Jesus’ own words; hard sayings of his that led many to abandon him.

So, I wanted to simply revisit the five points here in the light of the Gospel of John. I’m not sure who originally came up with the TULIP acronym to represent the five-points of Calvinism. I’m not even sure that I like the phrases that have been used in the acrostic to summarize the essential doctrinal points laid out by Calvin. But I’m reusing them here for the sake of continuity in this age-old discussion.

Total Depravity

No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him
John 6:44

This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.
John 6:65

The effect of the fall of man is so complete, that there is no inclination in his heart to draw to God without God first beginning the process. Therefore, God is responsible for even the beginnings of the inclination to godly things. For man to draw to God, God must draw man first.

Unconditional Election

You do not believe because you are not among my sheep. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.
John 10:26, 27

Therefore they could not believe. For again Isaiah said, ‘He has blinded their eyes and hardened their heart, lest they see with their eyes, and understand with their heart, and turn, and I would heal them.
John12:39-40

The flock was known and picked from the foundations of the earth before their actions could lay any claim on God’s choice. Any action that is credited to them for righteousness is because they are already part of the flock. The actions of those who are not of the flock, however moral we may think it, do not count toward righteousness.

Limited Atonement

I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours.
John 17:9

The high priestly prayer, where Jesus prays regarding his coming passion, death, atonement, and future glorification, specifically excludes those who are not among the elect.

Irresistible Grace

All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.
John 6:37

Those who are among the elect, will all eventually come. But at the same time, whoever comes to God will not be refused. So it is not as if the elect is such an exclusive club that those who earnestly come to God are going to be cast out because they are not part of the club. It is an both/and; if someone comes to Jesus, they are among those whom the Father has given to Jesus; and all those whom the Father has given the Son will come.

Perseverance of the saints

I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.
John 10:28

The sheep (the elect) are given eternal life and they cannot lose it (cannot be snatched out of Jesus hand).

I will freely admit I struggle with these truths, with reconciling them with what I naturally feel is unfair or contradictory about these doctrines (more on that later). I believe with regard to knowledge and understanding, all spiritual truths fall into three categories:

  1. That which cannot be known (and therefore not understood)
  2. That which can be known but not understood completely (I believe the doctrines of Calvinism fall under this category)
  3. That which can be known and fully understood (there are actually very few things in the Bible that I think would truly fit in this category).

Will continue to explore these themes and others (haven’t forgotten the pending topics I started out on earlier, this is just a little diversion in the path, which will I think eventually lead back into those other topics as well =).

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