The Doctrines of Grace

The doctrines of grace, also known as the five points of Calvinism (TULIP), are five biblical doctrines associated with reformed theology. Though these are not the only doctrines held by those of the reformed persuasion, they are the main, and I would argue essential reformed doctrines. If someone does not hold to all five of these, I would not regard them as being reformed or a “Calvinist.” However, there may be some confusion as to what people who hold to these doctrines believe. So, I will endeavour to give a brief summary of these five points. I will not attempt to defend each point, which will be done at a later date. Hopefully, some who are outside of the reformed circle who read this article may come to understand the doctrines of grace and the glory of God revealed in them.

TOTAL DEPRAVITY:

Essentially, this doctrine states that natural man (the sons and daughters of Adam) is completely enslaved to sin, “Then Yahweh saw that the evil of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually” (Genesis 6:5). Mankind is completely inclined to sin; every aspect of their being is bound the sin. The only thing keeping man from being as bad as he possibly could be is the restraining grace of God.

UNCONDITIONAL ELECTION:

Amongst the most controversial of doctrines, the doctrine of election is however essential to the gospel. This truth is clearly stated in scripture, “just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him in love, by predestining us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He graciously bestowed on us in the Beloved.” (Ephesians 1:4-6). God chooses who He saves, based completely on His own good pleasure, without any prerequisites required on our part. Why? For His glory, and because we are so bound to sin and are incapable of pleasing God outside of Christ, this is the only way any of us could possibly be saved.

LIMITED ATONEMENT:

This is the most misunderstood doctrine in all theology. Limited atonement does not mean that the blood of Christ is limited to the extend that it can save, it simply means that the people to whom His precious blood is applied is limited to the elect. As Charles Spurgeon once said, “I would rather believe a limited atonement that is efficacious for all men for whom it was intended, than a universal atonement that is not efficacious for anybody, except the will of men be joined with it.” The alternative to limited atonement is honestly insulting to the cleansing power of Christ’s blood and His atoning work on the cross. Christ’s death and resurrection did not only make salvation possible, it guaranteed it for all those given to the King by the Father.

IRRESISTIBLE GRACE (EFFECTUAL CALLING):

Simply put, once the Sovereign Lord of the universe calls those whom He chose in Christ before the foundation of the world, they answer. “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me…” (John 10:27). The saving grace of God is not something offered that can be rejected. Christ blood was not spilled, only to be wasted. All those chosen by God, all those called to belong to Christ Jesus, will hear His voice, and follow Him.

PERSEVERANCE OF THE SAINTS:

“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish-ever; and no one will snatch them out of My hand.” (John 10:27-28). All those of the elect, those you have been called, those who have been cleansed by the blood of Christ, will forever be eternally secure in the grace of Christ Jesus, by the power of the Father. Once a person is truly saved, once they are truly regenerated by the Holy Spirit, they can never fall away. Though they may still stumble, some may even backslide into terrible sins, and for a time live a life unworthy of their calling and so incur temporal punishment from God, when all is said and done they will be glorified in the Son.