What is Calvinism and its beliefs?

Michie · Tuesday at 11:16 PM

Understanding how salvation relates to divine sovereignty and human responsibility has been a source of tension and struggles for many centuries. Calvinism is one of the most influential theological systems in church history, shaping how many Christians understand the gospel, grace, and God’s purposes. But what is Calvinism, what do Calvinists believe, and how does the Bible speak to these issues?

Historical roots

Calvinism is a branch of Protestant theology that emphasizes the sovereignty of God in salvation. It is named after the 16th-century Reformer John Calvin (1509–1564), whose writings helped shape the Protestant Reformation alongside Martin Luther and others. While Calvin himself didn’t invent all of its ideas, his teaching systematized doctrines of grace that became central to Reformed theology.

Calvinism teaches that salvation is entirely a work of God—planned by the Father, accomplished by Christ, and applied by the Holy Spirit. Calvinists believe that left to themselves, people would never choose God, but through His sovereign grace, God calls and saves His people.

Strictly speaking, Calvinism is synonymous with the broader Reformed tradition, with specific teachings on the sacraments and other doctrines, but on the popular level, Calvinism has been summarized into the Five Points of Calvinism, or TULIP.

The Five Points of Calvinism (TULIP)

Continued below.

https://www.christianpost.com/voices/what-is-calvinism-and-its-beliefs.html

Mark Quayle · Wednesday at 12:43 AM

Michie said:
Understanding how salvation relates to divine sovereignty and human responsibility has been a source of tension and struggles for many centuries. Calvinism is one of the most influential theological systems in church history, shaping how many Christians understand the gospel, grace, and God’s purposes. But what is Calvinism, what do Calvinists believe, and how does the Bible speak to these issues?

Historical roots
Calvinism is a branch of Protestant theology that emphasizes the sovereignty of God in salvation. It is named after the 16th-century Reformer John Calvin (1509–1564), whose writings helped shape the Protestant Reformation alongside Martin Luther and others. While Calvin himself didn’t invent all of its ideas, his teaching systematized doctrines of grace that became central to Reformed theology.

Calvinism teaches that salvation is entirely a work of God—planned by the Father, accomplished by Christ, and applied by the Holy Spirit. Calvinists believe that left to themselves, people would never choose God, but through His sovereign grace, God calls and saves His people.

Strictly speaking, Calvinism is synonymous with the broader Reformed tradition, with specific teachings on the sacraments and other doctrines, but on the popular level, Calvinism has been summarized into the Five Points of Calvinism, or TULIP.

The Five Points of Calvinism (TULIP)

Continued below.

https://www.christianpost.com/voices/what-is-calvinism-and-its-beliefs.html

Do you, Mitchie, hold to any certain position on TULIP, or on divine sovereignty / human responsibility? Maybe I should ask it like this: how much of this depends on what one means by these terms? For example, do you think God's sovereignty denies human responsibility? Or do you see a 'tension' between them, but not necessarily mutually exclusive?

Michie · Wednesday at 12:49 AM

I believe Calvinism is in error. I only posted this for those that are interested in the topic. I’m definitely not interested in getting into a fruitless debate.

NewLifeInChristJesus · Wednesday at 10:28 AM

Michie said:
I believe Calvinism is in error. I only posted this for those that are interested in the topic. I’m definitely not interested in getting into a fruitless debate.

I don't quite understand the purpose. There must be a million pages on the internet explaining Calvinism.

Michie · Wednesday at 10:54 AM

NewLifeInChristJesus said:
I don't quite understand the purpose. There must be a million pages on the internet explaining Calvinism.

Just to spur discussion about faith topics rather than politics. Lord knows it’s needed.

NewLifeInChristJesus · Wednesday at 10:57 AM

Michie said:
Just to spur discussion about faith topics rather than politics. Lord knows it’s needed.

But you don't want to discuss it because it's fruitless debate?

Michie · Wednesday at 10:59 AM

NewLifeInChristJesus said:
But you don't want to discuss it because it's fruitless debate?

I posted for people interested. Get it now? I’m Catholic. It would be fruitless.

Mark Quayle · Wednesday at 11:09 AM

Michie said:
I believe Calvinism is in error. I only posted this for those that are interested in the topic. I’m definitely not interested in getting into a fruitless debate.

So why bring it up? Just wondering...

Michie · Wednesday at 11:09 AM

Mark Quayle said:
So why bring it up? Just wondering...

I just told you.

Mark Quayle · Wednesday at 11:10 AM

Michie said:
Just to spur discussion about faith topics rather than politics. Lord knows it’s needed.

You've got a point there! Talk about fruitless debate!

NewLifeInChristJesus · Wednesday at 11:31 AM

Michie said:
I posted for people interested.

So you only want to discuss the history of it, and not the substance of it?

Michie said:
Get it now?

No, I'm still confused as to what you want to discuss.

Michie said:
I’m Catholic.

Why does you being Catholic have any bearing on that?

Michie said:
It would be fruitless.

Bringing up the topic in the first place is fruitless because both sides are entrenched.

Michie · Wednesday at 1:05 PM

NewLifeInChristJesus said:
So you only want to discuss the history of it, and not the substance of it?

No, I'm still confused as to what you want to discuss.

Why does you being Catholic have any bearing on that?

Bringing up the topic in the first place is fruitless because both sides are entrenched.

If you want to derail, go for it. Your questions have been answered.

Hawkins · Thursday at 8:49 AM

To me, Calvinism is just an attempt to interpret the biblical term "pre-destination", but in an incorrect way. It's not something new, rather it's an extent of the Jewish schools of though more than 2000 years ago.
The Sadducees don't believe in any predestination. They believe that free will is absolute.
The Essenes believe that predestination is absolute and free will is a delusion. (more or less resembles Calvinism)
The Pharisees believe that God's predestination can harmonize with free will, they lack a literal explanation though. (which leaves room on debating the term spoken by Paul the Pharisee)

That is to say, Calvinism re-picks up the Essenes' point of view, however the term is actually from Paul the Pharisee.

NewLifeInChristJesus · Thursday at 9:36 AM

Michie said:
If you want to derail, go for it. Your questions have been answered.

Just wondering what you wanted to discuss, that's all. It doesn't make sense to me.

BobRyan · Friday at 2:13 AM

Michie said:
Understanding how salvation relates to divine sovereignty and human responsibility has been a source of tension and struggles for many centuries. Calvinism is one of the most influential theological systems in church history, shaping how many Christians understand the gospel, grace, and God’s purposes. But what is Calvinism, what do Calvinists believe, and how does the Bible speak to these issues?

Historical roots
Calvinism is a branch of Protestant theology that emphasizes the sovereignty of God in salvation. It is named after the 16th-century Reformer John Calvin (1509–1564), whose writings helped shape the Protestant Reformation alongside Martin Luther and others. While Calvin himself didn’t invent all of its ideas, his teaching systematized doctrines of grace that became central to Reformed theology.

Calvinism teaches that salvation is entirely a work of God—planned by the Father, accomplished by Christ, and applied by the Holy Spirit. Calvinists believe that left to themselves, people would never choose God, but through His sovereign grace, God calls and saves His people.

Strictly speaking, Calvinism is synonymous with the broader Reformed tradition, with specific teachings on the sacraments and other doctrines, but on the popular level, Calvinism has been summarized into the Five Points of Calvinism, or TULIP.

The Five Points of Calvinism (TULIP)

Continued below.

https://www.christianpost.com/voices/what-is-calvinism-and-its-beliefs.html

A great many Christians that are not Presbyterians are "not Calvinist", but Calvin did bring in a number of much-needed reformation teachings.

One problem with 4 and 5 point Calvinism is that it has difficulty avoiding the problem of "arbitrary selection". Where God sends the majority of the Matt 7 folks to the wide road of hell and the few of Matt 7 get "zapped" into accepting the Gospel. Some will say that all deserve hell so then this is an acceptable image of God.

But God makes claims totally inconsistent with the Arbitrary Selection model in places like
2 Pet 3 "God is not willing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance"
Matt 23 "How I WANTED to spare your children, but you would not"
John 1:11 "He came to HIS OWN and his own received Him not"
Matt 18 "I forgave you all that debt just because you asked, you should have forgiven others as you were forgiven but you did not... return all the debt to him"

What is Calvinism and its beliefs?

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Historical roots​

The Five Points of Calvinism (TULIP)​

Monergist; and by reputation, Reformed Calvinist

Historical roots​

The Five Points of Calvinism (TULIP)​

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Well-Known Member

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Well-Known Member

Monergist; and by reputation, Reformed Calvinist

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Monergist; and by reputation, Reformed Calvinist

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Historical roots​

The Five Points of Calvinism (TULIP)​

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