John Calvin - TULIP

TULIP vs. PULPIT

The following is my response to TULIP, originally posted in March of 2007. I have revised "Immutable Grace" through some discussions I have recently had. Let me know what you think :).........

P Preservation of the Saints

The believer in Jesus Christ does not necessarily persevere in fellowship with God but is preserved unto salvation from the lake of fire.

U Unconditional Election of Believers (the Church)

God chose to save “Whoever believes in (Jesus Christ)” from the lake of fire. This was not based on Him foreknowing who would respond to the gospel but was based on His foreknowing the cross of Christ and His gift, eternal life, to all who would receive it.

L Limitless Atonement

The atonement - won by the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ, His subsequent resurrection and His victory over death - is applied to whoever believes in Him without limits.

P Personal Election of the Believer

The individual who believes in Jesus Christ, is placed “in Christ”. Those in Christ are chosen of God and thereby have a personal, individual aspect to their election derived from the corporate election of all believers.

I Immutable Grace

The grace of God does not change - it is a rock - it is immutable. Eternal life is the oxygen of God given air, given by His immutable Grace, which we inhale through the breath of belief. It is not forced on anyone and is not withheld from anyone. Once you believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, you once and for all receive God's gracious gift of eternal life - that can never change - the believer is eternally secure. If one fails to believe, he fails to breathe in that which God has graciously provided for all men - eternal life. If one comes out of the womb and never takes a breath - he will surely die physically. If one never believes in Lord Jesus the Christ - he will surely suffer the second death, eternal separation from God and all that is perfect.

T Total Depravity of the Able

Man is born in a state of total depravation into an environment that, while fallen, is not totally depraved. God is at work in this world through His Word, the testimony of Jesus Christ and the convicting ministry of the Holy Spirit – without the intervention by God - no one would come to Him. God has given man the ability to have faith but does not gift faith to the individual.