Calvinism

a library of old books superimposed with the word pseudo

by GAT 02/15/2023 updated 05/01/2026

A form of gnosticism has found its way into the Church through Calvinism; a mysteriously secretive and cleverly deceptive body of false doctrine superimposed upon the Scriptures. Calvinism redefines man, renames God and reformulates the gospel. Calvinism is parasitic to the Body of Christ, as it could not exist in its form separate from traditional Christianity.

Calvinism emphasizes an outward display of God's attributes at the expense of His heart, way of thinking and accomplishments through Jesus Christ. The doctrine accuses God of divinely determining all things for His glory, including arbitrary justification and condemnation, the origin of sin and its continued practise. Calvinism confounds the simplicity, prerequisite and sustenance of salvation. It necessitates conflation of common words by misinterpreting Scripture, taking texts out of context and shifting the goalposts when advocating Calvinism. The Calvinist has one definition in his mind and another in his discourse. Calvinism presents a strange gospel from a strange god, and should be confronted and rejected in total by all.

TULIP

Calvinism is described by the acronym TULIP; which stands for Total depravity, Unconditional election, Limited atonement, Irrestible grace and Perseverance of the saints. An explanation of these points follow, concluding with Scriptures that invalidate each point of Calvinism.

Total depravity

According to Calvinism man is depraved of being able to acknowledge his sin and repent of it. He is unable to choose between life and death, good and evil, between God's righteousness accounted to him or standing on his own. He is incapable of exercising faith in God without having been arbitrarily chosen to do so, without having been regenerated by God's Spirit prior to believing in Jesus Christ. This doctrine necessitates claiming that man does not have a free will to exercise faith in God; in everything else, yes, but not in relation to answering God's call to salvation in Jesus Christ. Calvinism stands or falls on this one point, and total depravity does fall.

According to the scriptures, however, man is not depraved of acknowledging his sin and repenting of it, from choosing life and good things, from recognizing God's righteousness accounted by grace and not because of works. Who doubts that a man can't save himself? God saves; and if anyone believes in Him and acknowledges His Son, then he may enter into His salvation. The following examples show how Calvinism is contrary to the Scriptures regarding the depravity of man:

God asks men to decide between life and death, to serve God or not. "See, I have set before you life and prosperity, and death and adversity" (Deu 30:15), and "choose for yourselves today whom you will serve ... but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD" (Jos 24:15). God would not expect someone to choose if he were not given the ability to do so. Man is responsible and accountable for his own actions, whether he believes in God or not. Everyone will be judged for what they do and say, for believing in God or not. But not because God determined all things including our every word and deed, but because we have a will to do and speak. If it were the case that God determines all things and then judges that a soul has sinned and so imputes guilt and punishment, wouldn't God be deflecting His own responsibility and guilt for causing someone to sin? Yes, if that were the case; but God does not determine that someone will sin.
People decide to believe God or refuse Him. Jesus explained that some men are "unwilling" to believe as He wept and lamented over Jerusalem (Mat 23:37). Why would Jesus weep over someone's lack of faith if He Himself determined the unbeliever could not do otherwise?
Man is able to discern the Scriptures and believe in Jesus Christ according to what he reads. The Bereans were "... examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so. Therefore many of them believed," (Acts 17:11-12), as faith comes from hearing God's word about Christ (Rom 10:17).
God would not predestine someone to commit sin and then expect Him to not sin. He is not double-minded, but always true to His character. He cannot deny Himself, neither His being or character; so God would not predetermine someone to sin and then punish man for sinning. God would not predetermine someone to deny Him if He can't deny Himself. That simply does not follow. However, man is able to resist temptation: "and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it" (1Cor 10:13).
God is not the originator of sin, determining some to depravity so as to cause them to sin. God does not He predetermine transgression: "They built the high places of Baal that are in the valley of Ben-hinnom to cause their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire to Molech, which I had not commanded them nor had it entered My mind that they should do this abomination, to cause Judah to sin" (Jer 32:35). Which is true: God determined some to depravity and to commit sin or it hadn't entered His mind that they should do abominations?
It is a misconception that all men inherited a sin nature from Adam, what is referred to as a doctrine of original sin. Original sin is a Catholic doctrine and found nowhere in the Scriptures. It is true that Adam was the first to sin leading to death, and all men sin. But one man is not guilty for another's sin unless he caused or participated in it. One man may suffer temporal consequences of another's sin, but not eternal condemnation for another's sin. The truth is that all men are less than God, Who Himself cannot sin. Likewise, we did not inherit death or 'sin nature' from Adam; although death came about because of the first man, we all die a death in the flesh because all sin, "and so death spread to all men, because all sinned" (Rom 5:12). Adam was deprived from eating of the tree of life in order that he wouldn't live eternally without an everlasting atonement in place (Gen 3:22, Rev 2:7, 14). Thankfully, all men as of now are deprived from eating of that tree until death is swallowed up in victory.
The Spirit of God helps men to believe, but His witness does not guarantee that someone will believe. And it not as though the Holy Spirit refrains from convicting some men of sin and of their need for Jesus, as the Spirit of God also so loves the world. The Holy Spirit convicts all men in the world that they might repent of their sins and unbelief, that their own righteousness and goodness is an inadequate defence before God. "And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment" (John 16:8). Would the Holy Spirit be grieved by someone sinning or not believing, if it were true that God determined some to sin and some not to believe? No, that would be absurd. Could the Holy Spirit be insulted by someone who refused to believe unless that someone were given the opportunity to believe? No, that also would be absurd, as the Spirit would not be insulted by unbelief if God determined the unbeliever could not do otherwise. God is not divided against Himself. See Heb 10:29 and insulting the Spirit of grace. One might say Hebrews regards Gods dealings with the Jews, but the same Spirit of grace and supplication that was poured out at Pentecost on the Jews (Act 2:33) is the same Spirit of grace and supplication poured out on the gentiles (Act 10:45).

If one is not able to exercise faith in God, to desire to be saved, to realize transgression and turn from it, to choose doing good things according to their will, then he might be depraved and predestination might be necessary. But God did not create puppets nor did man become a marionette with strings after the Fall in the garden in Eden.

Unconditional election

According to Calvinism God mysteriously if not arbitrarily determined to save some and to condemn others; this act of predestination by His divine will before creation. God determined some to reprobation and then passes over saving them because of their reprobation. According to this doctrine of election some will be saved while others will not, none being able to do otherwise. Calvinism by necessity incorrectly defines election, often adding adjectives to substantiate the claim; unconditional election, divine election, sovereign decision, etc etc. This point of doctrine is necessary for Calvinism because of 'total depravity' and 'limited atonement.' The doctrine of unconditional election has no basis within the Scriptures and so also fails miserably.

According to the scriptures, however, God does not appoint some to salvation while others to condemnation apart from their own believing or disbelieving in Him.

If you believe then you will be saved, not because you were first elected and predestined to do so. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16). God loves everyone in the world; whosoever and the world being without distinction or qualification. "God is love," not just towards a few for some mysterious reason. Calvinism concludes that God loves some differently, and the whosoever refers to those chosen to believe. But this notion is superimposed upon the text, as nowhere in Scripture in regards to salvation does He elude to loving some with a different kind of love. A Calvinist according to his own standard is not able to tell someone that God loves them so as to save them; because he simply does not know if God has elected him. And this is not the Gospel message, that God may or may not desire for an individual to be saved; because God is willing that none perish.
Salvation is available to everyone who hears the Gospel and believes. "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek" (Rom 1:16).
God would not arbitrarily determine some for condemnation if He desired to exercise compassion towards all; "For God has shut up all in disobedience so that He may show mercy to all" (Rom 11:32).
God wants to save all, even those who persecuted Jesus, "But the testimony which I receive is not from man, but I say these things so that you may be saved" (John 5:34). The reason some might not be saved is for their unbelief, "and you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life" (John 5:40), their own lack of loving God (John 5:42) and rejection of Jesus whom God sent for them (John 5:43). God is a Savior "who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth" (1Tim 2:4).
"Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent, because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead" (Act 17:30-31). 'All people' and 'all men' are without distinction in context. Why would God not elect some and still say they should repent? To what end should they repent? It doesn't follow, it makes no sense.
"The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance" (2Pet 3:9). 'Any' is without distinction in context.
Jesus died for the sins of all men, "All of us like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; but the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him" (Isa 53:6; see Ps 69:4, Isa 53:5, 1Pet 3:18). 'Of us all' and 'each of us' in Isa 53 is without distinction in context; refering to both Israel (Isa 52:14) and the nations (Isa 52:15).
Calvinism misunderstands election. God chose Christ's lineage in order to send His Son into the world, in order to save both OT and NT believers (Rom 4:11-12); as opposed to choosing individuals for salvation. God chose believers regarding their conformity to image of Christ, "Because whom He came to know before also He marked out before conformed ones of the image of His Son, for His being Firstborm among many brothers" (Rom 8:29). God chose believers to be in Christ that we may be holy and blameless in His presence (Eph 1:4); not because He predestined some to believe, but because "he predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ" (Eph 1:5) - our resurrection being conformed to Christ's Resurrection (Rom 8:23).

Limited atonement

According to Calvinism God has provided atonement only for His elect, and that Jesus Christ shed His blood and died for the forgiveness of some people's sins. Calvinism maintains that all men are not saved because God did not provide atonement for all men. In other words Christ shed His blood and died for many but not all; His atonement is sufficient for all while not availible to or on behalf of all. The doctrine of limited atonement is necessary if unconditional election is true. Some Calvinists think the term limited atonement to be distasteful and choose to call it definite redemption or definite atonement. Limited atonement is contrary to the Scriptures despite attempts to rename it.

According to the scriptures, however, God has made atonement for all in that Christ Himself is the Propitiation, the One whom God set before Himself. Nowhere in the Scriptures do any texts refer to atonement as limited, for some and not others.

God has made atonement for the sins of all men, while it is not Christ's atonement that saves. That atonement applies to the individual believer when he is saved, when he becomes a member of Christ's body. "and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world" (1Jn 2:2).
Jesus did not die in a different way for His 'elect' as opposed to for those whom God condemned before creation. God has provided atonement for as many as will believe in Jesus Christ, "whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith" (Rom 3:25; see John 3:14-15).

Irresistible grace

According to Calvinism God's grace is irresistible so as to guarantee a response, overpowering His elect so that they come to Him when God calls. If it were true that man is totally depraved, then the necessity for irresistible grace would follow. Calvinists refer to God's effectual grace, effectual calling or divine calling that is heard inwardly only by His elect; that will penetrate the hearts of those God predestined to respond to His calling. Sinners may hear the Gospel message outwardly but lack the internal ability and facility to respond to God's invitation. Irresistible grace is by a sovereign work of God supposedly necessary to ensure God's unconditional election for men who are totally depraved. Ignoring God's love and mercy, Calvinism by necessity misrepresents the true nature of God's grace.

According to the scriptures, however, grace is resistable. Who questions God's sovereignty? But under His jurisdiction He has given us a choice to believe or not.

Salvation is by grace through faith (Eph 2:5,8). Grace is not some force but rather a state of being - God's graciousness and joy because of the love, faith, obedience and righteousness of His Son Jesus Christ; regarding the work that God has done through Him as opposed to any work a man may do for salvation. God's grace is another reason to love God and believe in Him, not the cause of believing in Him.
God invites everyone to believe without imposing their choice. Whoever calls upon the LORD will be saved, whether alive before or after Christ's resurrection (Joel 2:32, Rom 10:13).
Calvinism defines two types of calls, one a general call to all and the other an effectual call to the chosen. This distinction of types of calls regarding salvation is found nowhere in the Scriptures, not in context, nor without bringing this erroneous doctrine into a simple reading of the Bible.
Men refuse to listen to God and choose to turn away from Him (Heb 12:25). Men can insult the Spirit of grace (Heb 10:29), the Holy Spirit who, "when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment" (John 16:8); not some in the world but all in the world.

Perseverance of the saints

According to Calvinism apostacy is impossible for the elect of God, that 'once saved always saved' because the elect cannot fall away from grace. While it is true that believers have eternal life, Calvinism claims that a man's faith endures as a result of God's doing rather than God's salvation endures because of His doing. This claim is made not because of the Scriptural nature of salvation and the work of God, but because unconditional election demands it and efficacious grace can't be countermanded. Calvinism defends the security of the believer for reasons outside of the Scripture.

According to the scriptures, however, believers have eternal life because of the nature of salvation.

Eternal life is guaranteed by the indwelling of the Spirit. God seals believers by the indwelling of His Spirit as a pledge, a guarantee of His promise to resurrect those who believe in Jesus Christ (Eph 1:13-14, 4:30; 2Cor 1:22).
It is not that a man's enduring faith keeps him saved, because the nature of salvation through Jesus Christ is that it is permanent. The kind of life that God gives is eternal life (John 3:15, Rom 6:22, 1Jn 2:25), "and they will never perish" (John 10:28). Eternal life is given because it is by grace through faith, a gift given by One whose word endures, by One who keeps believers. A professing believer who begins and continues to practice faithlessness is another issue altogether.
Calvinists speak of the golden chain of redemption, claiming that those whom God foreknew He then predestined according to His purpose (Rom 8:28-30). But this is an erroneous assumption based upon a misreading and mistranslation of the Scriptures. God does not predestine some to salvation, but rather God predestines anyone who believes to conformity "to the image of His Son." That is to say that both Old and New Testaments saints, those who love God by believing in Him, will be justified and recognized and resurrected by Christ. That is God's purpose, not to mysteriously predestine some to salvation. And its not that "for those whom He foreknew" (a mistranslation), but rather "those whom He came-to-know-before" speaking about OT saints, for Jesus Christ to be "Firstborn among many brothers."

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