A) The
Doctrines of Grace (John Calvin)
1) Total Depravity which says that as the result of the sin of Adam and Eve the entire human race is dead in trespasses and sins. And being spiritually dead, man is unable to save himself from the wrath of God, or even respond favorably to the promptings of the Holy Spirit.
2)Unconditional Election In brief, this Doctrine states that, even before the world existed, God elected (chose) a vast multitude, beyond human ability to count, of people from every nation, tribe, and tongue to be His children, to be justified and sanctified and to be given eternal life through Jesus. According to this Doctrine, it is not possible for a child of God to lose his salvation. [I will use the term “elect” throughout this study so as not to confuse Christians with Jews, God’s “chosen” people.]
3) Limited Atonement states that as God determined certain people would be elected to sanctification, Jesus’ death on the cross only atoned for the sins of the elect.
4) Irresistible Grace says that God draws to Himself the elect, giving them the grace and the faith they need in order to be willing to be saved.
5) Perseverance of the Saints states that the elect will persevere in their faith in Jesus. Note that this does not mean that a Christian is perfect, will never slip, never backslide; rather it means that we will never lose our faith in Jesus and will always repent of slips or backslidings.
[Note: You can remember these by the acronym TULIP: T = Total Depravity; U = Unconditional Election; L = Limited Atonement; I = Irresistible Grace; and P = Perseverance of the Saints. Note also that this Christian Doctrine came to be called Calvinism then later the Doctrines of Grace.]
1) Total Depravity which says that as the result of the sin of Adam and Eve the entire human race is dead in trespasses and sins. And being spiritually dead, man is unable to save himself from the wrath of God, or even respond favorably to the promptings of the Holy Spirit.
2)Unconditional Election In brief, this Doctrine states that, even before the world existed, God elected (chose) a vast multitude, beyond human ability to count, of people from every nation, tribe, and tongue to be His children, to be justified and sanctified and to be given eternal life through Jesus. According to this Doctrine, it is not possible for a child of God to lose his salvation. [I will use the term “elect” throughout this study so as not to confuse Christians with Jews, God’s “chosen” people.]
3) Limited Atonement states that as God determined certain people would be elected to sanctification, Jesus’ death on the cross only atoned for the sins of the elect.
4) Irresistible Grace says that God draws to Himself the elect, giving them the grace and the faith they need in order to be willing to be saved.
5) Perseverance of the Saints states that the elect will persevere in their faith in Jesus. Note that this does not mean that a Christian is perfect, will never slip, never backslide; rather it means that we will never lose our faith in Jesus and will always repent of slips or backslidings.
[Note: You can remember these by the acronym TULIP: T = Total Depravity; U = Unconditional Election; L = Limited Atonement; I = Irresistible Grace; and P = Perseverance of the Saints. Note also that this Christian Doctrine came to be called Calvinism then later the Doctrines of Grace.]
