The Five Basic Tenets of Calvinism

The five basic doctrines of Calvinism are represented by the acronym T-U-L-I-P. As you read through these, weigh them against the whole of Holy Scripture to test their validity. Here are John Calvin’s doctrines:

• T = TOTAL DEPRAVITY: At birth all men are depraved wholly and totally. They are in this sinful condition because they have inherited it from their parents and in this condition they have no ability to choose to do right or to obey God by repenting and placing their faith in Jesus Christ as God has specifically commanded them to. In other words, according to the Calvinist, the LORD has instructed man to do something he can’t do and yet will punish them if they don’t do what He said. According to the Calvinist, man has no say in the matter of salvation since he has no free will. Calvinism teaches that salvation is only possible if God wills it and causes it through the work of the Holy Spirit and that man has no say in the matter. The Bible tells us that “God … commandeth all men every where to repent.” (Acts 17:30) Why would God command man to do something he can’t do? Absurd!
• U = UNCONDITIONAL ELECTION: God, before the foundation of the world, arbitrarily chose to save some people and destroy all others and nothing can be done to change God’s sovereign decree.
• L = LIMITED ATONEMENT: Christ died only for the ones God had unconditionally chosen to save. (Isn’t it amazing that all who believe in “limited atonement” just happen to personally be a part of the special, privileged, elite ones to whom God has limited His salvation to? How convenient and amazing!!! How telling! How incriminating!) God’s Word says that Jesus died for the sins of the “WHOLE world.” (1 Jn. 2:2) Jesus Christ died to pay the price for all the sins of every man – In this truth alone Calvinism is found to be completely false.
• I = IRRESISTIBLE GRACE: An unregenerate person cannot voluntarily believe in God. But once God determines to save him, that same individual cannot overcome or resist the power of God no matter what he may desire.
• P = PERSEVERANCE OF THE SAINTS: Since man can do nothing but evil on his own, God’s unconditional election is required to save him. Consequently, one needs to do nothing to remain saved. If one’s salvation depended on himself in any way, the miraculous work of God in saving him would be overthrown.

As I review these profane points, it is almost comical and yet seriously alarming to think that some are so gullible and biblically illiterate as to actually believe these rank heresies. Any time one reads Calvin’s five false points, Scripture upon Scripture should come to mind that plainly refute these diabolical lies. It is an absolute impossibility to believe God’s Word and John Calvin’s doctrines simultaneously.

The one who concocted these doctrinal points and those who embrace them create a god in their own image – a cruel god who would choose one to be saved and another to be damned. The god of these teachings came all the way to earth from the glory and infinite riches of Heaven to die and pardon only some and leave the rest to suffer eternal ruin because he is just for some reason against them. The truth clearly reveals the doctrines of Calvinism/Reformed Theology to be from a false god (1 Tim. 2:4; 2 Pet. 3:9). The false god of this system of theology possesses a “grace” which goes far beyond that of the God of the Bible who requires men to fear and love Him supremely and live in faith and obedience to Him or lose out eternally (Exod. 20:2-4; Matt. 7:21; 10:28; Tit. 2:11-12; James 1:22; 1 Jn. 2:3-6; Rev. 2-3). The false grace system of Calvin’s cultish culture is a belief system that grants license for the special elect to live in the sin Jesus Christ came to earth to die and set men free from.

“Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly (selfish desires/appetites); and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.” Romans 16:17-18

In the Greek the term “fair speeches” here in Romans 16:18 means – fine style of utterance giving the appearance of reasonableness.

Note this phrase – “contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned.” (Rom. 16:17) Paul is saying here that all teaching that does not find its root in the “doctrine” of the LORD Jesus and that of His apostles and prophets (which makes up the canon of Scripture), is to be marked as false and so are those who teach it. False teachings are shown here to be something emanating from the “belly” or carnal minds of men who have (using falsehood) created a god in their own image, after their own likeness and due to their un-crucified sinful nature.

God’s true representatives are known by their purity of doctrine and character and will not use their words as tools to manipulate others for their own selfish purposes, but rather have circumcised hearts and utter things consistent only with God’s precious Word of truth (2 Cor. 2:17; 4:2; 2 Tim. 3:16-4:4; Titus 2:1, 7, 8, 10-14; 1 Pet. 4:11). These men genuinely honor the LORD. They exhibit meticulous attendance and diligence to know and communicate His truth (Titus 2:1). This is the fruit of their love for Him (Job 23:12; Ps. 119; Jer. 15:16; Mk. 8:38). Beware of the “many” who are perverting the Word of God for their own purposes:

Beware of the “many” who are perverting the Word of God for their own purposes:

“For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.” 2 Corinthians 2:17

Specifically speaking of “false prophets” and “false teachers among the people,” Peter writes that “While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption.” (2 Pet. 2:19)

“These are wells without water (void of truth), clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever (eternal damnation). For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure (seduce) through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error. While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage. For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.” 2 Peter 2:17-21

Beware that people like Paul Washer, John MacArthur, Arthur Pink, and Charles Spurgeon are calvinists. Though they may have some good quotes, their doctrinal pond is poisonous.

In response to an article we posted on the topic of eternal security, a former Calvinist writes:

“Amen, Amen, Amen! I believe that the OSAS doctrine is what is spoken about in Jude 1:4 – That there will be those who change the grace of God into lasciviousness. In every institution I attended that taught this doctrine of devils, the people lived like heathens. John Calvin died an unrepentant murderer….enough said! Now all you proud Calvinist keep all your well trained arguments I don’t buy it anymore. Signed former Calvinst.”

Using the ministry as a means to personal gain is the menacing curse of the modern church. Ministry positions across the western front have been hi-jacked by seminary-trained, professional, self-serving marketers who do not possess the heart or mind of Christ as is clear when comparing their lives to His and those of His holy apostles (2 Cor. 2:17; Phil. 3:17-19; 2 Tim. 3:10). These men who occupy positions of influence possess little or no passion for the relational holiness of God which flows out of the broken-hearted who fear God and trust fully in Jesus Christ. Many in leadership today are in the professional ministry industry (a business to them – hirelings) attempting to perpetuate their own career and build their own dynasty and local church business.

The unbiblical unconditional eternal security teaching is a central and profitable doctrine among the hoards of deceivers who plague the church world in this late hour. It defines sin and righteousness on its own terms, instead of honestly and soberly taking what God said it is in His holy Word. This no-responsibility teaching attracts the masses and  draws people with the lifestyles of modern Laodicean “Christians.” Such people are never shown the essential nature of the crucified life in modern church houses. So many who do not authentically follow Christ, migrate to teachers who tell them what they wish to hear, that which feeds the carnal nature (2 Tim. 4:2-4). The false shepherd reciprocates by tickling ears in order to help him build up his local ministry business. A “Christian” life of ease and “once saved always saved” is a big and lucrative lure.

“But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily (secretly; stealthily) shall bring in damnable heresies (lies that damn souls), even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious (destructive) ways; by reason of whom the way of truth (God’s Word) shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness (greed for self-gain) shall they with feigned (fictitious) words make merchandise of you (exploit you for your money)…For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error. While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage. For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.” 2 Peter 2:1-3; 18-21

Wow! There are so many things to discover in this passage in 2 Peter!  Make this a matter of personal study. Dig into the treasure chest of God’s precious Word. Here is one nugget in this passage in 2 Peter: “…by reason of whom the way of truth (God’s Word) shall be evil spoken of.” The testimony of Jesus Christ is being poisoned in the minds of many of the unsaved masses due to the “damnable heresies” of those who are “denying the LORD” with false teachings such as ‘once in grace, always in grace’ which teaches people to live in sin. This teaching removes the fear of God from the hearts of those who embrace it and makes holiness of life optional and not a necessity. Look at what Paul says concerning our preserving of the good testimony of the Gospel of Jesus and those who know Him:

“Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed: But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses…” 2 Corinthians 6:3-4

Always remember that a doctrine is not true because of how smoothly it is presented, but rather by what the Bible says from Genesis to Revelation. There are many educated, convincing and charismatic speakers today who “by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.” This they do by teaching an unbiblical view of salvation (unconditional security). These deceivers would include numerous mainstream media personalities, pastors of large congregations, and authors of books. God’s Word is the final authority for all matters of true Christian doctrine and practice and any person’s doctrines which do not align are to be identified and marked as heresy by the true church of Jesus (Rom. 16:17-18; Gal. 1:6-9).

“Once saved always saved,” “irresistible grace,” and every other aspect of an unconditional eternal security is “contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned.” If you have studied and embraced the Word of God you know this to be completely false. We must then obey the divine mandate here to “mark them” who teach such.

Take note again of this phrase in Romans 16:17 – “contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned.” The doctrine the Holy Ghost is speaking of here is that doctrine which came through Jesus Christ, His apostles and prophets and is recorded in the Bible. Anything that doesn’t align is “contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned” or can learn in God’s Word and is to be marked and exposed as false. This begs the question as to where Jesus or His holy apostles ever even hinted that the truly saved person is automatically (whether he wants to or not) going to Heaven even if he walks away from God. Is this a doctrine of the Holy Word? After all, there are 27 books which comprise the New Testament canon, so if God wanted us to believe we are “once saved always saved,” why didn’t He just come out and tell us so?

If Christ didn’t simply and plainly tell us we are unconditionally (no matter what we choose to do) bound for His holy Heaven, then how in the world can people teach this as if it were divinely authoritative? How brazen!

One has to be taught by men an unconditional eternal security because it is nowhere to be found in Holy Scripture as a doctrine of the Christian faith. It is the job of the false teacher to “prove” his false teaching and he is only able to deceive those who are not founded in the truth (God’s Word). And he will even use Scripture to “prove” such. In over two decades of ministry to people who have been taught this unconditional eternal security lie, I have found not one who personally discovered this doctrine in the Word of God. Rather they have been taught by men, without sound and contextually true Bible revelation, that unconditional eternal security is a doctrine of the Christian faith. Any honest student of the Word who diligently searches the Scriptures, can testify that such a doctrine does not exist in the Bible other than as a teaching that is an abomination to the LORD in that it leads His people to violate His holiness and become separated from Him who is holy.

“There never was or ever can be a born Securist. You reader, or any other truly born again Christian, cannot read Eternal Security verses and get Eternal Security ‘out of’ them. The only way that Eternal Security can be attached to these verses is to ‘read it into’  them. This proves that Eternal Security is an extra-Biblical, external philosophy, seeking Biblical sanction. People are ‘educated into’ Eternal Security, just as truly as atheists are ‘educated into’ atheism.” Henry Schilling

Beware that people like Paul Washer, John MacArthur, Arthur Pink, and CHARLES SPURGEON are calvinists. Though they may have some good quotes, their doctrinal pond is poisonous.

Concerning the matter of being tarnished with the lies of Satan and Calvin, in his book entitled The Disciple-Making Minister, David Kirkwood writes:

“Near the end of his booklet, Piper quotes legendary Baptist preacher Charles Spurgeon, who said that he began as an Arminian (Arminians disagree with all five points of Calvinism), like everyone else. This is a telling remark because it is so true. No one begins as a Calvinist. They only become Calvinists as they are taught Calvinism. Piper’s own testimony is no different. He admits ‘many years of struggle’ (p. 1, prgh. 4) before he was able to accept Calvinism. Perhaps even more difficult than the struggle to accept Calvinism is the struggle to reject it after one has struggled so hard to accept it. But it can, and has, been done.”

Earnestly contending for the faith once delivered to the saints is a divine mandate – especially against those who are turning the saving grace of God into a license for sin and that’s exactly what the heresies of calvinism do (Jude 3-4). Paul says that “a little leaveneth the whole lump” and so while Spurgeon taught some biblical truth, he poisoned the pond with calvinism’s cancerous doctrine of devils. Here’s the roots of calvinism, rooted in catholicism. Calvinism by Ken Rieske 

Though commanded by God and recorded in His Word, today the whole notion conveyed by some is that obedience is optional to anyone who has genuinely been made a new creature through the divinely granted miracle of being born again. Wow, what unabashed mockery! What a travesty these men are perpetrating against the Most High! The LORD told us to “mark” these men, “For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly (selfish desires); and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.” (Rom. 16:17-18)

The apostle Peter warned sternly of going back into sin and of the end being worse than it would have been if that person had never known the way of righteousness (2 Pet. 2:20-21). Under the Spirit’s direction, Peter also commanded: “Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul.” (1 Pet. 2:11) Note the resolute and potent divinely-inspired words of Peter here. There leaves no room to wonder when we read these precious and divinely-breathed words of Holy Writ. In this late hour so many who have been elevated to the status of Christian celebrity, “deceive the hearts of the simple” with their flowery and deceptive doctrines and language. No such evil persuasion came from the mouths or pens of the apostles of Christ.

In the complete absence of even one example of the God of the Bible ever forcing any person to serve Him, these false teachers forge ahead with their “good words and fair speeches deceiving the hearts of the simple.” (Rom. 16:17-18) They convey the notion and even blatantly teach that those who are born again will automatically persevere in obedience and fellowship with Christ. But the Word of God always presents the choice to God’s people – to continue to walk with Him or to turn from Him in rebellion. “Choose you this day whom ye will serve.” (Josh. 24:15) Serving God is a blessed and daily decision (Deut. 30:19; Isa. 1:18-20; Lk. 9:23). A cursory look at Israel in the Old Testament Scriptures reveals this as clear as the light shining as the noon day sun. In their own self-will, those who teach this no-personal-responsibility heresy, ignore clearly revealed divine truth, giving preference to their doctrine of devils, and in so doing, serve their own “belly” and carnal desires. See also Philippians 3:17-21.

“And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words…Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.” Colossians 2:4, 8

Beware of the modern day deceiver who works to cleverly articulate his Calvinistic and poisonous points of theology, using myth and human reasoning while violating revealed divine truth in the very Word of God. This is a grave evil being perpetrated from pulpits, books and other media across the world, leading millions to the worship of a false god. These are deceivers. They do not honor God and His Word.

“For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.” 2 Corinthians 2:17

In light of the numerous passages which clearly demonstrate that salvation can and will be forfeited by any born again person not remaining in faithful obedience to Christ, it is clear that many have misunderstood the message of God’s Word on how Christ and His glorious salvation must be abided in (Jn. 15). Some fail to understand that salvation must be maintained by an ongoing faith in Christ alone and that is a choice, never forced. This one fact alone – that God never forces man to do anything – causes the intertwined 5 points of Calvinism to crumble. The notion that one is automatically going to persevere to the end if he is truly saved, is completely unfounded – no where to be found in Holy Scripture. Like much of John Calvin’s heretical teachings, this doctrine of deceit violates volumes of known truth and does not take into account the whole of the LOGOS (written Word). Regrettably, many today hold Calvin’s teachings as their final authority and don’t even realize it. They bend even the Bible to fit Calvin’s heresies, instead of discarding these lethal lies when they realize how they grossly contradict God’s Word. Many a person who is deluded by this ‘irresistible grace’ heresy seems to be inoculated from scriptural truth. Even after being shown numerous Bible texts which clearly reveal Calvin’s teachings to be erroneous, some of these people crassly dismiss the divine truth they read with their very own eyes, vainly believing that somehow God didn’t really mean what He plainly stated. Like all cults, it seems like these lies inoculated them from truth. Yet, when asked, these men claim to follow Christ and honor God’s Word. In reality they are following the doctrines of mere men and devils and in most cases have no clue they are doing so. Should we be surprised in light of what our LORD said concerning this to the religionists of His day? (Mk. 7:6-9)

John Calvin’s 5 points are a masterminded diabolic system to pervert the grace of our God and to defy the holiness of the LORD, justify sin, and bring God’s people into the depth of depravity and ultimately damnation – all the while thinking they are “once saved always saved.” Those who have embraced these blatant and biblically defying lies have no idea who is behind this system of deceit. They think this is the truth of Jesus Christ and yet it is actually the lies of the dark lord of damnation who has come to steal, kill and destroy (Jn. 10:10).

Annihilating one of Calvin’s 5 points, Robert Shank says:

“But we must protest that a god who, while rescuing some, simply ‘passes by’ others in the same lost circumstance is so little like the Good Samaritan in our Lord’s parable and so much like the priest and the Levite that he cannot be the God who desires to have all men saved and none to perish.  Such a god constitutes a total contradiction to the spirit of the words of James, ‘To him who knows to do good and does it not, to him it is sin’ (4:17)…A god so heartless and so arbitrary cannot be the God who so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son to exile, sorrow, suffering, shame and death.  He cannot be the God who cries with sorrowing heart and infinite compassion, ‘Look unto me and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth, for I am God, and there is none other’ (Isa. 45:22).  He cannot be the God whose grace has appeared for the salvation of all men (Tit. 2:11). Such an arbitrary god is not the God we worship and adore, the God in whom we trust.”  (Robert Shank, Elect in the Son, p.193)

Friends, in this writer’s opinion and that of many others, John Calvin was the worst heretic in church history. He picked up and re-launched the very original lie Satan told the woman in the Garden. He grossly corrupted the holy image of the one true God with his evil and blasphemous teachings. Calvin set forth heresies that live on today in the minds of many deceived people, some who are well-meaning. LORD, bless us to love and embrace Thy truth, which establishes who You truly are and reveals the doctrines of men and devils to be evil tools to lure away the righteous to perdition. Amen.

In a written response to a Calvinist concerning the belief in an unconditional election, Jeff Paton writes:

“So why do you recoil from God knowing whom He would elect from before the foundation of the world? I don’t, I believe it! God only has one Church, one Bride who is elect before the foundation of the world, not millions of individuals mysteriously elected before the foundation of the world!  Ephesians 1:4, ‘According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:’ – notice who is ‘US’ in the passage…it refers to BELIEVERS, the Church. Who has God chosen? Believers. How? In Christ (the Gospel). That was and has always been God’s plan. No election from eternity here for a single individual to salvation.  Revelation 17:8, ‘The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.’ – Once again, the passage says NOTHING of election to salvation BEFORE or AT the foundation of the world! It says in English ‘FROM’ the foundation of the world. The Greek does not, and cannot mean ‘AT’ or ‘BEFORE’ and therefore gives no support to the notion that God has chosen or elected anyone by anything other than faith in Christ.  You can create difficulties that are just not there. There is not one passage that suggests or states that any individual is elected to salvation from eternity, or any other time.

Lots of questions, but answering one or all of them will not substitute Scripture, and especially your lack of any Scripture that asserts your assumed theology. All too many are willing to be led around by the nose by philosophy and sophistry, but I find it quite unconvincing until I have a reason from Scripture to believe it. The obvious fact is, you have no Scripture, just arguments and leading questions designed to arrive at your presuppositions.”

The Calvinist has been taught a system of theology that is foreign to Holy Writ. To illustrate just how unscriptural and deceptive Calvinistic teachings can be, let’s look at what seems to be the center point belief of the Calvinist – the theology of what they call the “sovereignty of God.” It is disturbing to observe that in the theology of Calvinists they have nearly deified the “sovereignty” of God when the words “sovereign” or “sovereignty” never appear in Holy Scripture. Due to the fact that the word “sovereign” appears no where in His Word, we can unmistakably conclude that the LORD obviously did not want His people being preoccupied with this. These masters of manipulation completely ignore the holiness of the LORD when the word “holy” and “holiness” appear nearly 600 times in the Bible. Numbers don’t lie. Those who will be in relationship with the Almighty are commanded and required to “be ye holy; for I am holy.” (Lev. 20:7; 1 Pet. 1:15-16) Are the people of God commanded to believe that He is sovereign? No. We do know from His Word that experiencing His real holiness is a prerequisite for Heaven (Matt. 5:8; Heb. 12:14; Rev. 21:8, 27). Now this complete over-emphasis of a non-essential and brazen ignoring of an essential truth about the very core nature of the one true God is an evil tragedy which is deluding and damning millions today. This is a classic case of deceivers working within Christendom teaching “perverse things” which are “contrary to the doctrine” of the Bible and are “turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Acts 20:29-31; Rom. 16:17-18; Jude 3-4) In denying His attributes and grossly over-emphasizing a characteristic His Word never does, these false teachers clearly deny the LORD.

There is a cleverly crafted premise and sequential order here. In this system we witness a layered order of beliefs. Each layer is carefully built one upon another. One point has to be embraced before a person can be deluded into believing the next ones. Each of Calvin’s five points are interconnected and interdependent. In order to convince one that he is without condition absolutely eternally secure regardless of any choice he may make, requires that the person believe that God sovereignly saved him and will sovereignly keep him with no responsibility on the recipient’s part. The false god of Calvinism says the individual has no say-so and that he is forced to go to Heaven or hell. His destiny is predetermined according to this diabolical system of lies. In this system of theology the LORD pre-selects some to be saved and some to be lost and no one has a choice. This is an evil set of beliefs that defy the Word of the living God, inevitably deluding those who embrace them.

If a person does not purposely develop “the love of the truth” he will absolutely be turned over to deceiving spirits to be deluded and ultimately damned (2 Thess. 2:10-12).

Surely the LORD is sovereign, yet it is deception to divorce such a divine attribute from the wholeness of His Person and attributes. He who “magnified” His “word…above” His own “name” sovereignly chose to tell His people in His written Counsel that holiness is indigenous of who He is and a requirement for those who will know and be with Him (Lev. 19:2; Ps. 33:11; 138:2; Heb. 12:14).

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