Five Points of Calvinism
Ligonier’s “Simply Put” weekly audio teaching is fantastic. In less than 8 minutes, host Barry Cooper breaks down important ideas into simple langauge.
This week he tackled the Five Points of Calvinism, as found in the Canon’s of Dordt.
Total Depravity: Although people are not as bad as they could possibly be, nevertheless our depravity affects every part of us to some extent.
Unconditional Election: God predestines people to salvation based purely and unconditionally on His own sovereign choice. Nothing that people do and nothing in them makes God choose them.
Limited Atonement: While Christ’s death is of limitless value, He actually atoned only for His elect people. He died only for specific individuals and only for their specific transgressions, not for everyone without exception. This death is effective for all those whom Christ intended to save by it. Consequently, all those for whom Christ died will certainly believe and inherit eternal life.
Irresistible Grace: God’s saving grace alone enables and brings about a person’s faith, and the renewal of a person’s heart. And although some of God’s chosen people may for a time resist the call to faith and repentance, God never fails to save those He wants to save.
Perseverance of the Saints: No one who is truly born of God can ever be lost. As Paul says in Philippians, “He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”
Why does this matter?
Because the glory of God is at stake. If the ultimate decisive factor in salvation is not God but us—even if it’s 99 percent God and 1 percent us—then it makes God contingent on His creatures. It elevates us and demeans Him. On the other hand, the doctrines summarized in the five points of Calvinism magnify God’s glory. You and I—if we are believers in Christ—have that belief because God put it there and not because we put it there ourselves. Salvation isn’t a 99 percent/1 percent split. It is 100 percent the work of God.
And actually, I wouldn’t have it any other way. If ultimately it’s down to me, then how can I have any confidence I’ll persevere to the end? If I’m the one who takes Christ’s hand, I can just as easily untake it.
Similarly, as I pray for those I love who don’t know Christ, what good is it for me to ask God to save them if He will not ultimately overcome their resistance to Him—if, in the final analysis, a person’s own whim can thwart the overtures of God Himself?
The more I’ve come to understand these doctrines, the more comfort and joy I find in my salvation. We are truly saved by grace alone through faith. We can’t lose it. We can’t earn it. We just receive it!
With You;
Pastor Tim
You can listen to the recording here: https://www.ligonier.org/podcasts/simply-put/five-points-of-calvinism
