An Overview of Calvinism

A presentation delivered July 18, 2010 at Hebron Baptist Church,
Denham Springs, Louisiana by Pastor Joe Alain.

READ THIS FIRST – IMPORTANT!!!
What follows is most of the text from my presentation last Sunday evening. I plan to pick up our discussion where we left off on Sunday, August 1st at 6:00 p.m. Let me just preface my thoughts and our discussions with a few statements.

1. Keep in mind that there are many fine Christians including Baptists on both sides of the issues. Furthermore, at Hebron you will discover people that have strong views leaning toward Calvinism and equally people with strong views that might be characterized as leaning toward Arminianism. Our differences do not have to divide us. Many times we will find ourselves in the middle of the discussion. After all, who can fully comprehend the mystery of the sovereignty of God and man’s freewill? Remember, believers have been discussing these issues for thousands of years and we are not likely to have the last word on the subject.

2. I would not call myself a Calvinist; however, it’s not because I don’t find myself in agreement with many Calvinistic teachings, I just do not prefer to be placed in one theological camp. I find myself stuck in the middle of the mystery of God’s sovereignty and our freewill. Maybe I’m a “Calminian.” I think that most Baptists today will find themselves agreeing with Calvinism at points and probably disagreeing with Calvinists at other points. Again, this need not be a cause for division among believers. Our theological tent at Hebron is big enough for all of us.

3. In dealing with the entire subject we need to keep an open mind and exercise humility toward one another. My prayer and hope is that our discussions will be instructive, edifying and will help us clarify what we do believe concerning our “great salvation” (Heb. 2:3).

Introduction
There has been a lively debate over the last few years concerning the relationship between divine sovereignty and human responsibility. Many sincere students of Scripture find themselves on opposing sides. Just what is Calvinism? Calvinism grew out of the Reformation of the 16th Century and its emphasis on the great solas: Scripture alone, Christ alone, grace alone, faith alone, for the glory of God alone. John Calvin (1509-64) was a pastor and an outstanding theologian and biblical scholar who placed a great emphasis on the teachings of Paul and the writings of Augustine (354-430). Calvin emphasized the sovereignty of God, the sinfulness of man, and the necessity of grace for salvation.

Later in the 17th century, followers of Calvin would systematize his theology and go beyond what Calvin himself taught. This system would ultimately come down to us through the now famous acrostic TULIP. Throughout Baptist history, some have embraced many of these five points of doctrine while others have rejected most of them. Southern Baptists have always been diverse; however, most Southern Baptists would fall somewhere in between the extremes. The issue of Calvinism itself is not addressed in the Baptist Faith and Message, yet you can no doubt see similarities at some points with Calvinism. This is not surprising as Baptists have always been people of the Book and the Bible definitely does address issues like divine sovereignty and
human sinfulness.

A Closer Look at the TULIP
Total Depravity
Total depravity means that man is born with a sin nature and an inclination toward sin. Every aspect of his being is infected with sin and he cannot do anything to save himself. Furthermore, he cannot even move toward God unless God first draws him to do so. God’s enabling grace allows us to move towards Him. Most Baptists would agree at least in part that man is depraved. We draw on Scriptures such as Romans 3:9-20 and Ephesians 2:1-3 for support of our view.

Where many Southern Baptists might part company with the Calvinists is that some Calvinists believe that a person is so dead in their sins and depraved that they have to be born again or regenerated before they can respond to God. The thinking here is that if you can repent and have faith, then you are in effect contributing to your salvation. Most believe that people cannot save themselves; however, most Southern Baptist do not interpret the texts that deal with depravity to mean that people cannot repent and have faith in Christ. Repentance and faith do not contribute to salvation; they are the way one who is enslaved by sin receives the salvation from sin that God has provided.

Baptist Faith & Message: “By his free choice man sinned against God and brought sin into the human race. Through the temptation of Satan man transgressed the command of God, and fell from his original innocence whereby his posterity inherit a nature and an environment inclined toward sin.” (10)

Unconditional Election
God in His grace and mercy has chosen certain persons for salvation. This decision is not based on anything in the person, any human merit, but is based in the goodness and providence of God’s own will and purposes. The question arises, “Does this destroy the possibility of man exercising his free will and responsibility?” Some would say no but there is an admitted tension present here.

Most Baptist believe that God chooses to save those who chose to put their faith in Christ. The elect are those who are “in Christ.” Most Baptists have rejected a strong Calvinistic view of election because of the following cherished beliefs:
1. The belief that God loves everyone in the world.
2. The belief that God wants everyone to be saved.
3. The believe that every person who hears the Gospel can put his or her trust in the Lord and be saved.
4. The belief that Christians make it possible for people to be saved by preaching the Gospel to them.

Baptist Faith & Message: “Election . . . is consistent with the free agency of man.” (12)

Limited Atonement
Many Calvinists prefer the term “Particular Redemption” instead. The idea here is that the atoning work of Christ applies only to those who are the elected. So, the work of Jesus in His atonement would be limited to the elect. The other view is that of a “General Atonement.” It seems that there is biblical support for both. 1 Corinthians 15:3 says “Christ died for our sins” which can be understood in a limited sense. John wrote that Christ “is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world” (1 Jn. 2:2) which supports general atonement. Limited atonement fits nicely with the Calvinistic understanding of election because there seems to be no point in Christ dying for people who are predestined for judgement.

All Bible believers limit the atonement in some respects. To not do so would lead to universalism, the view that eventually all people will be saved. Most Baptists would say that the atonement is limited in its application, but not in its provision. In other words, in his death on the cross Jesus Christ died for the sins of the world (Jn. 3:16; 1 Tim. 2:4-6; 4:10; 2 Pe. 2:1; 1 Jn. 2:1-2; 4:9-10) making universal provision. However, the application is limited to those who receive the free gift of salvation offered to them by their personal faith in Christ.

Irresistible Grace
Many Calvinists prefer the term “effectual calling” instead. This teaching says that those who are predestined to be saved are called to salvation (Rom. 8:30) effectually or effectively. They are not forced to come but are set free to come and the do so willingly.

While most Southern Baptists would affirm the fact that God calls and draws us to salvation, most would allow for a person to resist God and not be saved. They would still believe that God is sovereign; however, he has given us the free will to respond to him or not respond to him. He respects our human decision. This is the way that he created us and how He relates to us.

Baptist Faith & Message: “He [i.e., the Holy Spirit] calls men to the Savior, and effects regeneration.” (9)

Perseverance of the Saints
Those God saves, He protects and preserves in their salvation. Baptists have often used the terminology of “eternal security” or “once saved, always saved.” This may be the one point in Calvinism that all Baptists affirm. This doesn’t mean that people are free to live any kind of way that they chose. Instead, because of God’s grace, we are grieved by sin and we want to pursue the God who keeps us secure in His hands (Jn. 10:27-29). Scriptures abound that teach the eternal security of the believer. This teaching is biblical, theological, and logical.

Baptist Faith & Message: “All true believers endure to the end. Those whom God has accepted in Christ and sanctified by His Spirit, will never fall away from the state of grace, but shall persevere to the end.”

Conclusion
All of these five doctrines, sometimes referred to “The Doctrines of Grace,” relate to our understanding about salvation. Because of the way that Calvinism is able to logically systematize Christianity, Calvinism is an attractive theological system to many. Some opponents cite that Calvinism is anti-missionary which is only true in extreme instances – “hyper Calvinism.” There have been many Calvinists in our past who were mission’s-minded and evangelistic Baptists including men like William Carey, Andrew Fuller, Luther Rice, Adoniram Judson, and Charles Spurgeon. Several of our current seminary presidents hold to Calvinistic views including Al Mohler and Danny Akin.

Although not Baptists, George Whitefield and Jonathan Edwards were strong Calvinists who led in the First Great Awakening. Other popular preachers and pastors (non-Baptists) today are John Piper, John MacArthur and R.C. Sproul.

My next article will include some thoughts that I hope will strike a biblical balance on the subject, some things that I believe we can all agree on. Finally, I will share what I believe are the positive contributions of Calvinism today and some areas of caution in embracing any one theological system.

For His Glory!
Pastor Joe