John Calvin was born on July 10, 1509 in France. His mother died when he was still young. His father was able, through his well-known town connections, to provide a good education for his son. His father believed that sin was not to be tolerated and was to be punished.
At 14, his father sent him to live in Paris with a wealthy family. He entered university and studied speech, philosophy, and Latin. Later, he attended college to study philosophy and theology and then law.
He was very diligent in his studies, and very disciplined in his life. Through his studies of the Scripture, he came to believe that salvation came by grace through faith, and not through service to the church as was being taught. The king of France had ordered that any who taught that salvation is by grace through faith were to be killed.
John Calvin gave up his future as a lawyer and went to Germany to study under Christian leaders. After his time of studies, he went back to France for 6 months and then moved on to Switzerland, where a church leader asked him to stay and teach the Bible. Intime, the preachers were forced to leave the city of Geneva and so they returned to Germany. After 3 years, the leaders in Geneva sent word to Germany asking the preachers to return.
He worked for 23 years in Geneva where he was given a house, money, food, and clothing. He introduced new forms of church government during this time, although the grace he preached was not always extended. John Calvin used his interpretation of the Bible to justify the murder of his theological opponents.
When Jacques Gruet, a theologian with differing views, placed a letter in Calvin’s pulpit calling him a hypocrite, he was arrested, tortured for a month and beheaded on July 26, 1547.
A man named Michael Servetus, a theologian, physician, and cartographer, was known for rejecting the doctrine of the trinity. After fleeing France, he was condemned to death by Calvin. On October 27, 1553, green wood was used for the fire so Servetus would be slowly baked alive from the feet upward. For 30 minutes he screamed for mercy and prayed to Jesus as the fire worked its way up his body to burn the theology book strapped to his chest as a symbol of his heresy.
In November 1552 the Geneva Council declared Calvin's Institutes of the Christian Religion to be a "holy doctrine which no man might speak against." Disagreeing with Calvin’s view of God was a violation warranting the death penalty. His influence over Genevan judicial system actually caused around 58 people to be murdered.
Calvin's authority was practically uncontested during his final years. But his health began to decline. In late 1558, Calvin became ill with a fever. Later that year, he strained his voice while preaching, and burst a blood-vessel in his lungs during a coughing fit.
He died on May 27, 1564 and was buried in an unmarked grave in the Cimetière des Rois.
Calvin taught many beliefs that are today called Calvinism. He believed that God Himself would produce the change and force a subdued obedience in those who were chosen to be saved- it came to be called the "doctrine of grace".
Here are the main 5 points along with a discussion:
1) Total Depravity- Due to sin all of mankind is completely sinful, or depraved. Every part of fallen man is corrupted by sin. He is a creature that incapable of obeying the law of God therefore, a person cannot choose to be saved.
Calvinists argue that you are giving yourself credit for accepting. All are going to hell. It's really not our choice. It's what we justly deserve. The only way we are saved is through grace forced upon us, not by our choice in the matter.
However, Christ told the disciples that IF the Jews had accepted Him then John the Baptist would have fulfilled the prophecy of Elijah- Matthew 11:11-15. So, it was their choice to reject Him. God won’t force His will on anyone.
To say that He does is to say it’s His divine will that children are raped and tortured, that it’s His divine will that babies are shredded in the womb, or that it’s His divine will that we commit sin. It’s not. It’s done because we choose to.
2) Unconditional Election- Also known as “sovereign election,” this is the teaching that God’s rescuing of sinners is entirely due to His own will and good pleasure and is not brought about in any way by our actions or decisions. Meaning that God chooses who will be saved and who will be damned and the person has no choice in the matter.
They will argue Christ was foreordained BEFORE the foundation of the world to pay for our sins so Adam was forced by God to eat the fruit. But let's look at it this way- having an EpiPen on hand in case someone goes into anaphylactic shock from eating something is very different from forcing someone to eat something they’re allergic to so that I can use my EpiPen.
One is being prepared and wise and the other is aggravated assault. What was foreordained was the fact that Christ could die to pay for Adam's mistake, not that Adam would eat the fruit so that Christ would have to die.
God had a plan in place for both outcomes- if Adam sins then I foreordain death, hell, and a need for a Savior. If Adam doesn’t sin then I foreordain that he populated earth and outer space.
He foreordained that everyone who rejects Christ will go to hell and everyone who accepts Christ will go to heaven.
Romans 10:13- For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
The punishment for taking the mark of the beast was foreordained. But it’s each person’s choice whether they will take it. God doesn’t force them to get it.
Revelation 14:11- And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.
Whoever accepts Christ will get their name written in the book of life. They have a choice whether to accept or reject. However, if they reject the punishment for their rejection has been foreordained.
Revelation 20:15- And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
3) Limited Atonement- Jesus’ death on the cross did not merely make salvation possible for those who choose to receive it, but that it made salvation definite for those who have been elected by God. Hence, when God says "whosoever" he actually means "those who I have chosen" and when He uses the words "any" or "all" he is actually only referencing those who He considers to be the "elect".
To back up their sentiment, they change the meaning of “whosever” and “any” and “all" to refer to Christ dying for a select few, and say He's justified in showing mercy only to the elect (of which they, of course, believe they are a part).
God gives everyone a choice. Until their final rejection when His mercy and long-suffering run out. I believe I should witness because maybe this time will be the one where they decide to accept Christ’s gift of salvation.
They choose to believe that a God wills people into heaven or hell, and if that’s the case there’s no reason to witness because they can’t make a decision so just sit back and enjoy being one of God’s chosen while the rest are damned.
4) Irresistible Grace- No one can be saved unless they are first drawn by God. This means that any resistance on the part of the chosen will eventually be overcome by God's grace resulting in the chosen one being saved. Basically, God’s determinations will have their intended effect on a person’s life. We cannot thwart the will of God to save us.
They will claim that the religious leaders rejected Christ because they were not of his sheep. But the Bible shows that when you make the choice to accept Him as Savior you become part of His flock through adoption. He has foreordained what those who are His children will receive after they are adopted, but not which select few will be lucky enough to receive the gift of adoption.
Adam chose to eat the fruit.
Jonah chose to flee on the ship.
The prodigal chose to go to the far country.
In none of those cases did God force them into making that decision.
In Jonah’s case, he obeyed after the Lord sent a fish to swallow him, but he still chose to sit bitterly outside the city and ask for death.
In contrast, when Paul was knocked off his high horse, he chose to submit to the thing that had been bothering him and which was now confronting him. God didn't knock him off that horse to compel him into salvation. God chooses the consequences for the actions you take, but He will never force you to make a certain decision. That choice is all yours!
A Calvinist once said to Harold McKay, “I would like to explain why I believe as I do. Suppose a man went to an orphanage. He had predetermined by his grace that he would adopt a certain boy and certain girl and take them into his family. Can anyone reasonably accuse the man of being unjust or unfair because he chose those two and left the others?”
The preacher replied to the Calvinist, “Certainly not! As you have explained the situation, I would find no problem of any kind with the man’s purpose and his choice.” Then the preacher said, “But suppose the man went to the orphanage and sent word to all the children saying, ‘WHOSOEVER WILL may come!’ and then refused to take any but the two he had originally intended to take. With that I have a problem which Calvinism cannot resolve.”
5) Perseverance of the Saints- If you have been justified before God you cannot lose your salvation. Once a person is truly saved, this salvation is eternally secure. Since we all struggle with sin, we can take comfort in this doctrine. As John MacArthur has stated, “If you could lose your salvation, you would.” Those appear to permanently fall away from the faith were never true believers.
Carnal Christians put an end to calvinism's idea of perseverance of the Saints. There is a reason Paul had to write his letters to the Corinthians. I Corinthians 3:1- And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.
The Corinthians had many problems in their church, yet Paul never hesitated to refer to them as his brothers and sisters- he never questioned their salvation. Not all Christians are going to persevere, however those people are still saved if they believed on Christ.
Calvin taught that once someone is saved, they are always saved and nothing can change that. In fact Calvinism teaches that if someone does fall from grace or lose salvation then they were never saved to begin with and therefore not truly Christian or part of the "elect".
To say that a person that falls away must never have been a believer makes no sense. How can someone lose what they never had? A non-believer cannot lose faith because they never had it to begin with, therefore could never have had the promise of salvation.
Does this mean a christian can't or won't sin? Of course not! We are still living in a sinful body of flesh. However, if someone returns to the life of sin they once lived, it doesn't change their standing as an adopted child of God. The prodigal son went to the far country and when he returned decided to ask to be a servant, but the father never saw him as anything other than his son!
What is the danger of believing this way?
There would be no reason to pray or witness. If God is sovereign, and everything that has happened, is happening, or will happen has been foreordained, then what's the use of prayer or witnessing? Seems like it would be a colossal waste of time to ask God for an answer or witness to a lost soul hoping for their salvation when He had the whole thing already planned out!
It is stating that God is not extending a chance of salvation to everyone. That before time began He worked out a way to make Adam sin and condemn all of humanity, but when Christ died it was only for a specific portion of humanity, thus bringing under question the goodness of God. Their argument is that God can do with His stuff as He pleases. No wonder many lost souls have a disdain for God and His word; they see themselves as more merciful and compassionate than a God who would damn everyone and then only save a few chosen without giving everyone a chance.
If God from before the foundation of the world, elects some for eternal suffering in hell regardless of how hard they try, how can He be just, merciful or compassionate? How can Christ's death on the cross be a great show of God's love for the human race and their redemption if it was only intended for a select few? The idea that humans are fallen and helpless, and don't seem to want saving, is spitting in the face of those who find themselves at the end of their rope crying out to God for help and guidance. Telling them, sorry but you're damned to hell despite what you do is not glorious justice but predetermined prejudice.
John 3:16-17- For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
Whosoever means anyone! He came not to condemn the world but that THE WORLD through Him might be saved. That doesn't say just the elect.
Could you really love a person who could save everyone in a burning building but chose not to? Could you call that person a hero for only getting one or two people out and then standing there to listen to the rest scream and beg for help? How could any lost sinner want to listen about this kind of God?
Romans 5:12,18- Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.
Adam's sin plunged the entire human race under condemnation; Christ's death has opened the door of justification to ALL who accept is as payment for their sin.
We can love God fully when we see His love for ALL mankind. He was willing to die for EVERYONE while knowing that there would be many who rejected Him- that is the goodness of God!
Galatians 3:22- But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.
Do you see that wording? Them that believe. Not them that are chosen.
II Peter 3:9- The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
If God is not willing that ANY should perish but that ALL should come to repentance. Should He actually decide only to save an elected few this verse is a lie. Do not charge God foolishly.
The pull of Calvinism is in the fact that people can feel good about themselves as being one of God's chosen. They claim that you are being "self-righteous" in your belief that you had any part in the decision while they bask in the glory that they were one of the "elected".
The truth of the matter is that you DO have a choice in where you spend eternity. You can humble yourself and come to Christ as you are and ask Him to save your soul and He will do it!
