The doctrines of grace, also known as Calvinism or the five points of Calvinism, refer to the theological beliefs emphasized by John Calvin and other Reformed theologians regarding salvation and the sovereignty of God. The five points of Calvinism can be summarized by the acronym TULIP:
Total Depravity
Total depravity teaches that human beings, as a result of the Fall in the Garden of Eden, are enslaved to sin and are morally incapable of choosing God on their own. Every part of human existence – mind, will, emotions – has been corrupted by sin. As a result, humans will always choose sin over God unless God intervenes. Key verses:
Romans 3:10-12 “None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.”
Jeremiah 17:9 “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?”
Ephesians 2:1-3 “And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.”
Unconditional Election
Unconditional election teaches that God, before the foundation of the world, chose certain individuals unconditionally to be saved. This election was not based on any foreseen faith or works, but was based completely on God’s sovereign choice. Those whom God elected will be saved by His grace and perseverance. Key verses:
Ephesians 1:4-6 “Even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.”
Romans 8:29-30 “For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.”
Acts 13:48 “And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed.”
Limited Atonement
Limited atonement teaches that Jesus died specifically for those whom the Father gave Him and intended to save, not for everyone indiscriminately. The atonement accomplishes exactly what God intended, the salvation of the elect. Key verses:
John 10:14-15 “I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.”
John 17:9 “I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours.”
Ephesians 5:25 “Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.”
Irresistible Grace
Irresistible grace teaches that when God calls someone to salvation, they will respond in faith. The internal call of the Holy Spirit cannot be resisted or rejected by those whom God has elected. God overcomes the hardened, resistant heart and circumvents any ignorance or stubbornness in order to draw the person to saving faith in Christ. Key verses:
John 6:37, 44 “All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out…No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.”
Acts 16:14 “The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul.”
Romans 9:16 “So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy.”
Perseverance of the Saints
Perseverance of the saints teaches that all those who were chosen by God, redeemed by Christ, and given faith by the Spirit are eternally secure in their salvation. They will persevere in faith and never fall away or lose their salvation. Key verses:
John 6:39 “And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day.”
John 10:28-29 “I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.”
Philippians 1:6 “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”
Romans 8:38-39 “For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
In summary, the doctrines of grace emphasize God’s sovereignty and initiative in salvation. Humans are morally incapable of choosing God without His effectual call. God unconditionally chose who would be saved before the world began. Christ died specifically to atone for the sins of the elect. The Holy Spirit irresistibly calls the elect to faith in Christ. And God preserves the elect securely in faith until the end. These doctrines exalt God’s glory in salvation, while maintaining human responsibility.