What Does The Bible Say?

Question – What do Calvinists believe?

Answer –They believe what John Calvin taught. John Calvin was a significant figure in the Protestant Reformation. He was born in France and became a leader of what was called the Reformed Church. His core beliefs are these: TOTAL DEPRAVITY – Infants are sinners from the time they enter the world and possess no innocence but inherit the sin of Adam. Man is helpless and incapable of healing himself from this condition and is doomed to hell if he dies in this state. From this idea came the practice of infant baptism.

UNCONDITIONAL ELECTION – God’s choice of who will and can be saved is based solely on what He has willed and not on any action of an individual. God has pre-decided who will be saved and who will be lost and no one can change that. This leads to the doctrine that prohibits anyone from exercising free will in choosing to serve or not to serve.

LIMITED ATONEMENT – The sacrifice of Jesus on the cross was intended only to save the elect (those pre-chosen by God for this future). IRRESISTABLE GRACE – God’s grace cannot be resisted by those whom he has chosen. If God chose you to be saved, you are, and you can do nothing about it, for or against. Again, this leads to a lack of free will.

PERSEVERANCE OF THE SAINTS – The elect will persevere in their faith, and there is nothing that is so evil that it can change their salvation. This is often referred to as “once saved always saved” or “once in grace always in grace.” The result of his teaching is that God predestines everything, and God does not require man to do anything to receive the salvation of his soul. Calvin denied that humans have free will. Sadly, this teaching has permeated many denominations and keeps many from coming to Christ, since there is nothing they have to do with their salvation in accepting what Jesus did or not. According to Calvin, one comes into the world damned and God has pre-programmed them for salvation or damnation eternally. It is impossible for them to do anything else. The direction of their lives, for good or evil, is what God intended for them, and they have no way to change their behavior for better or worse.

THE BIBLE DOES NOT TEACH THIS. Please open your Bible and read these passages to see how foreign this teaching is to God’s word. Read Acts 2:37,38; Mark 16:16; Matthew 7:21; Rom. 10:9,10; Acts 16-30,31; Heb. 11:6. See the conversion of Saul of Tarsus (Acts 9;22;26); and we finish with these passages; 1 Cor. 15:1-4; Matthew 25:40,45; Rev. 21:8.

Please address all questions and comments to What does the Bible Say> C/O Maple St. Church of Christ, PO Box 3086, Liberty, TX 77575 and visit our website, maplestreetliberty.org