READING TIME: 2-3 MINUTES
August 21, 2019
David, what is TULIP and is it biblical?
I will answer this question in two parts. Today, I will address what TULIP is according to Reformed Theology, and then tomorrow, I will address whether it is biblical (in short, in my opinion, the five points are certainly logical, but not biblical).
T — TOTAL DEPRAVITY
In its first point, Calvinism teaches that every man is “totally depraved” in sin, spiritually dead before God, and therefore incapable of saving himself, which is all true to Scripture. However, Calvinism also interprets mankind’s total depravity to mean “total inability.” This view teaches that a lost person is utterly incapable of positively exercising his will, so he is spiritually incapable of believing in Christ unless the Holy Spirit first regenerates him to give him the gift of faith and make him willing to believe in Christ.
U — UNCONDITIONAL ELECTION
Based on the false conclusion that man is totally incapable of believing in Christ of his own volition before he is born again, the second point of Calvinism then concludes that God must have “unconditionally elected” only certain people to be saved. This unconditional election is made strictly on the basis of God’s sovereign choice, completely apart from any foresight or recognition of man’s volition or choice to believe in Christ.
L–LIMITED ATONEMENT
Traditional Calvinism also teaches that since God determined only a select number of people to be elect and destined for salvation, it would be superfluous for Christ to purchase the salvation of the nonelect when He died for sin on Calvary’s cross. Calvinism believes that Christ died on the cross not only to make salvation available but also to make it effectual so that all whom Christ died for must (and will) be saved. Therefore, Calvinism has traditionally taught that Christ provided a “limited atonement” by dying for the sins of only the elect rather than the whole world of the elect and non-elect.
I–IRRESISTIBLE GRACE
The fourth point of traditional Calvinism is the teaching of “irresistible grace.” This point teaches that since God unconditionally chose certain people to be saved and Christ paid for the sins of only these elect, God will work in their lives in such a way that they will be irresistibly drawn to Christ. God then supposedly draws the elect completely apart from their own volition, regenerates them, and gives them the gift of faith so that thereafter they always believe in Jesus Christ.
P–PERSEVERANCE OF THE SAINTS
Finally, the “perseverance of the saints” teaches that all whom God irresistibly draws to Himself and regenerates apart from their own volition will prove their election by living a predominantly faithful, productive life of holiness and good works. Calvinism teaches that a failure to continue in the faith does not mean a person has lost his salvation; it simply means he never had genuine faith and salvation in the first place. Calvinism concludes that the saint’s perseverance in faith is guaranteed because God not only sovereignly bestows the gift of saving faith on His elect but He also causes it to endure and be productive.
Source Used
Stegall, Thomas L. Must Faith Endure for Salvation to Be Sure?: A Biblical Study of the Perseverance versus Preservation of the Saints. Grace Gospel Press, chapter 3.