1 Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness! 2 Why should the nations say, “Where is their God?” 3 Our God is in the heavens; He does all that He pleases. 4 Their idols are silver and gold, the work of human hands. 5 They have mouths, but do not speak; eyes, but do not see. 6 They have ears, but do not hear; noses, but do not smell. 7 They have hands, but do not feel; feet, but do not walk; and they do not make a sound in their throat. 8 Those who make them become like them; so do all who trust in them.
As we begin our new series on what has become known as the 5 points of Calvinism, we need to try and define just what we mean by the word Calvinism.
Charles Spurgeon summarised it well when he wrote, “We only use the term ‘Calvinism’ for shortness. That doctrine which is called ‘Calvinism’ did not spring from Calvin; we believe that it sprang from the great founder of all truth. Perhaps Calvin himself derived it mainly from the writings of Augustine. Augustine obtained his views, without doubt, through the Holy Spirit of God, from diligent study of the writings of Paul, and Paul received them from the Holy Ghost and from Jesus Christ, the great founder of the Christian church. We use the term then, not because we impute an extraordinary importance to Calvin’s having taught these doctrines. We should be just as willing to call them by any other name, if we could find one which would be better understood, and which on the whole would be as consistent with fact. The old truth that Calvin preached, that Augustine preached, is the truth that I must preach today, or else be false to my conscience and my God.”
Most Reformed theologians agree that John Calvin would not want an entire doctrine named after him, as he merely preached and taught the truth as revealed in the Word of God, so as we begin our study, we need to be clear that when Protestant Christians talk about the doctrines of what is known as Calvinism, we are not worshipping or lifting up the name of John Calvin. We worship and lift up the name of Jesus Christ.
Today we will look very briefly at the 5 points of Calvinism before going into greater detail in the weeks to come. Today, as an introduction we will consider the sovereignty of God, because it is this Biblical truth as our foundation upon which we build our understanding of and faith in God.
The basic question of theology is, who rules the universe - God or man? The system of theology known as Calvinism proclaims that God is King. As we will see in the coming weeks, this is central to what we believe and proclaim, because there are other systems of theology who say they agree, but there are times when they place man on the throne with God, so what is different about Calvinism?
Calvinism is a branch of Evangelical Christianity, which holds to all the essentials of the faith, such as the full authority of Scripture and the deity of Christ.
A term you’ll often hear in Calvinist circles is sovereign grace or the doctrines of grace. These are usually summed up as the Five Points of Calvinism by the popular acronym TULIP, which stands for Total depravity, Unconditional election, Limited atonement, Irresistible grace, and Perseverance of the saints.
As we begin, we go back to eternity past to when God alone existed. The opening words of the Bible are, “In the beginning, God.” (Genesis 1:1)
God has always existed and is self-existent. He is therefore totally independent of everything else. He alone is totally free and self-sufficient. He does not need us or anything in all of Creation. He is perfect, and so far above the comprehension of human intellect, that we cannot even begin to comprehend Him of ourselves. As He said to Moses in Exodus 3:3, “I am who I am.” God is God, and there is no other.
We know that God created all things, but have you ever wondered why? Why did He create the universe, and why does God do what He does? God Himself tells us in Psalm 115:3, “Our God is in the Heavens. He does all that He pleases.”
The Bible talks often about God’s eternal purpose. He does nothing without a preordained purpose behind it. Ephesians 1:11 says that God “works all things according to the counsel of His will.” It is important for us to understand that in His absolute sovereignty, God as foreordained everything that will come to pass. He predestined everything that will ever happen, down to the smallest detail, as Romans 11:36 teaches us. “From Him and through Him and to Him are all things.”
Not only that, but God will never change His mind on this eternal plan. The theological term for this is the immutability of God. His purpose will stand forever because God never changes, and His purpose was preordained with no outside influence. Isaiah 40:13-14 asks some important questions, the answers to which are no-one. “Who has measured the Spirit of the Lord, or what man shows Him His counsel? Whom did He consult, and who made Him understand? Who taught Him the path of justice, and taught Him knowledge, and showed Him the way of understanding?”
What all of this means is that there is no such thing as chance, luck or accidents. There are no coincidences, because everything has been predestined, even to the tiniest detail. He is the King of everything that is, was or ever will be.
This is what we mean by the sovereignty of God. He has complete and absolute authority over everything. The universe is not a democracy. It is a kingdom ruled by God.
At the heart of the Christian faith lies the doctrine of God’s sovereignty. Sovereignty is the divine attribute that asserts God’s supreme and absolute authority over all creation. It is the understanding that God, in His infinite wisdom and power, governs all things according to His will and for His glory.
The Bible teaches that God is the Creator of the heavens and the earth. He spoke, and all things came into being by the power of His word. As the Creator, God exercises sovereign control over the entire universe. Every star in the sky, every creature on earth, and every atom in existence exists by His divine decree. Psalm 103:19 says, “The Lord has established His throne in the heavens, and His kingdom rules over all.”
When we begin to understand and embrace the sovereignty of God, it has profound implications for our lives as Christians. His sovereignty humbles us and reminds us of our dependence on Him. We are finite creatures standing before an infinite and all-powerful God. This means we can trust Him and His purposes for our lives, particularly when we can’t make sense of whatever may be happening in our lives at any given time. Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths.”
One of the greatest comforts of the doctrine of sovereignty is the assurance of salvation it provides.
Paul writes in Ephesians 1:3-10, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 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. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace, which He lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of His will, according to His purpose, which He set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in Him, things in heaven and things on earth.”
Our salvation is not dependent on our own merits or efforts but is the result of God's sovereign grace and election. His sovereignty gives our lives purpose and meaning, because we can trust that every circumstance, whether joyful or challenging, has been ordained by God for His glory and our ultimate good. Our lives find their ultimate fulfilment when they are lived for the glory of God, who reigns sovereign over all.
So how should we respond to the sovereignty of our God?
Firstly, with worship and adoration. Psalm 95:6-7 says, “Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker! For He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture, and the sheep of His hand.”
As we contemplate the majesty and sovereignty of God, our hearts should respond with worship to and adoration of God.
Secondly, we are to respond in obedience and submission to Him and His will. We are to align our lives with His Word and yield to His guidance and direction. This is what James teaches us in 4:7-8. “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” It is only when we learn obedience and submission to God that we find true freedom and peace in Christ.
And our third response to the sovereignty of God in our lives is our proclamation and witness of the Gospel to a world in desperate need of hope and truth. As ambassadors of Christ, we have been entrusted with the message of salvation and reconciliation.
Again, as we begin our journey on the 5 points of Calvinism, the absolute sovereignty of God should be at the forefront of our minds. That all being said, we will look briefly at each of them today as a kind of framework for the weeks ahead. Each of these points needs to be studied in detail, but they also complement each other, which is our purpose today.
Total Depravity
In the study of Christian theology, few doctrines create as much discussion as the concept of total depravity, because it stands directly opposed to this mistaken idea that we are inherently good people. Total depravity is a foundational principle that shapes our understanding of the human condition in relation to God. It is the doctrine that explains the pervasive and profound effects of sin on every aspect of human nature. Contrary to the idea that we possess some inherent goodness or moral virtue, total depravity shows us that as a result of the Fall, every aspect of our being - our intellect, emotions, will, and desires - are tainted by sin. Now this does not mean that human beings are as wicked as they possibly could be, but rather that sin has corrupted every part of our existence, which means that we are unable to save ourselves or to come to God apart from His grace.
The Biblical basis for total depravity can be found throughout the Bible, beginning with the account of the Fall in Genesis 3. When Adam and Eve disobeyed God’s command, sin entered the world, and man’s relationship with God was severed. Romans 5:12 confirms this truth. “Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned.”
This verse speaks about the universal nature of sin’s consequences and its impact on every person. Psalm 51:5 goes even further, as David wrote, “Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.” This is the inherent sinful nature with which we are born. Even from birth, we are under the dominion of sin, and incapable of living up to God’s perfect standard of righteousness.
The doctrine of total depravity though, is not meant to diminish the dignity of humanity. We are image-bearers of God, remember. It’s a sin-tainted image, but an image nonetheless. The point in trying to understand total depravity is for us to see our desperate need for salvation. Apart from the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit, we are spiritually dead, enslaved to sin, and unable to come to God on our own.
The total depravity of the human condition humbles us, because the logical conclusion is that our salvation is entirely a work of God’s grace from beginning to end. Ephesians 2:8-9 reinforces this truth. “By grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” We are entirely dependent on God’s mercy and kindness for our redemption.
The doctrine of total depravity gives us a sobering but necessary perspective on the human condition. It reminds us of the pervasive effects of sin on every aspect of our being and underlines our utter dependence on God’s grace for salvation.
Unconditional Election
The doctrine of unconditional election is a cornerstone of understanding God’s sovereign grace. God’s choice to save individuals is not based on any foreseen merit or action on their part, but is solely determined by His own will and purpose. It affirms that God, in His infinite wisdom and sovereignty, has chosen certain individuals for salvation before the foundation of the world, apart from any merit of their own. This divine choice is rooted solely in God’s grace and is not dependent on human effort, works, or faith. We read from Ephesians 1 earlier, which emphasises that God’s election is grounded in His love and sovereign will, rather than any human initiative or merit.
Romans 9:11-16 gives us a further insight into the nature of unconditional election, where Paul used the example of Jacob and Esau. “Though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad - in order that God’s purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of Him who calls - she was told, ‘The older will serve the younger.’ As it is written, ‘Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.’ What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God’s part? By no means! For He says to Moses, ‘I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.’ So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy.”
God’s choice of Jacob over Esau was not based on their actions or character but on His sovereign will and purpose, and His absolute authority and control over all things.
As recipients of God’s grace, we are humbled by the realisation that our salvation is entirely a work of His sovereign will and not our own doing.
Also, knowing that our salvation is grounded in God’s unchanging love and purpose, brings us comfort and peace, especially in times of uncertainty and trials.
Limited Atonement
The doctrine of limited atonement teaches that the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ on the cross was specifically intended to save the elect, those whom God has chosen for salvation. This doctrine has of course created much debate because it opposes the idea of universal atonement, which teaches that Jesus’ death was intended to provide potential salvation for every person without exception.
The belief in Calvinism is that Jesus’ death was effective and sufficient to save those whom God had predestined for salvation before the foundation of the world, and was not intended to secure the salvation of the entire human race.
That is a bold statement to make, so we need to go to the Word of God to back it up. When the angel appeared to Joseph he said, “She will bear a son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21)
Notice that Jesus came with the specific purpose of saving a particular people, and who are they? Those whom the Father has given to Him. “All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of Him who sent me. 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 6:37-39)
Jesus also speaks about laying down His life for His sheep in John 10:11. “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.” He was speaking specifically here about the intentional and sacrificial nature of His atoning work on behalf of His chosen ones on the cross.
Limited atonement is a highly contentious doctrine within Christian theology. Critics often raise objections based on their understanding of the character of God, the universal scope of His love and grace, and God’s desire that all would come to Him. One of the common objections to this Biblical doctrine is that it undermines the sincerity of God’s offer of salvation to all and reduces the urgency of evangelism and mission. They say that if Christ’s atonement is limited in scope, then the message of the Gospel loses its universal appeal and significance, so we will have much to unpack when we look at limited atonement in more detail in a few weeks.
Irresistible Grace
Irresistible grace, also known as efficacious grace, is the understanding that God’s grace, when extended to an individual, is irresistible as we are drawn to Him. When God extends His saving grace to a person, it is impossible for that person to resist or reject it. This divine grace operates powerfully and effectively, because it overcomes the hardness of the human heart and draws the elect irresistibly to faith and repentance. Ephesians 2:4-5 says, “But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ - by grace you have been saved.”
It is the transformative power of God’s grace that brings new life and spiritual regeneration in the Christian.
Jesus taught about the irresistible nature of God’s grace when He said in John 6:44, “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him.” This is the divine initiative in salvation, because it is God who draws people to Himself through His irresistible grace.
He said to His people through the prophet Ezekiel, “I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.” (Ezekiel 36:26-27)
As with the other key points of Calvinism, the irresistible grace of God affirms His sovereignty in salvation, and His absolute authority and control over the process of regeneration and renewal.
Perseverance of the Saints
This doctrine teaches that those who are truly born again by the Spirit of God will continue in faith until the end, ultimately being preserved by God’s grace to eternal life. The perseverance of the saints, also known as “once saved, always saved,” emphasises the unshakable assurance of salvation for those who belong to Jesus Christ, and it contradicts the teaching that believers can lose their salvation through willful sin or apostasy. God’s grace is sufficient to keep His children secure to the end. Paul wrote at the end of Romans 8, “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.” (Romans 8:38-39)
There is an unbreakable bond between believers and God, assuring us of His unfailing love and faithfulness.
Jesus said in John 10:27-29, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 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.”
But what about those who do walk away from the faith. How are we to understand the perseverance of the saints when so many fall away? 1 John 2:19 has the answer. “They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us.” This verse highlights the distinction between true believers, who persevere in faith, and those who may outwardly profess faith, but ultimately fall away.
The perseverance of the saints calls us to live lives of gratitude and obedience, knowing that our salvation is a gift of God’s grace. We have received His unmerited favour, so we are to respond with lives of faithful discipleship and service, bearing witness to the transforming power of God’s love in our lives.
So these are, in a nutshell the 5 points of Calvinism which we will look at in more detail in the weeks to come: Total Depravity, Unconditional Election, Limited Atonement, Irresistible Grace, and Perseverance of the Saints.
The reason we need to study these 5 points more closely is because there are many objections to the doctrines of Calvinism. Most of them boil down to two.
The first is that these doctrines are not true, for the reason that God is not totally sovereign. This objection is without foundation though, because the Bible repeatedly states that God is sovereign.
The second objection is founded on the mistaken idea of what is known as man’s “free will”.
As we will see, we are responsible but we are not free. We are slaves to sin until we are freed by Christ. Scripture teaches free grace, not free will.
These two objections can be best summarised by a comment we often hear: “That’s not fair!” This is nothing more than a direct accusation against God and His sovereignty, because it presupposes that man has rights, when he has none. Man is a guilty, totally depraved enemy of God Almighty. We are guilty of cosmic treason against the holy God who created us, and this is why we need a Saviour. God said in Ezekiel 18:25, “You say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ Hear now, O house of Israel: Is my way not just? Is it not your ways that are not just?”
The doctrines of grace have a twofold effect. Firstly, they humble the sinner and encourage the saint. They put man in his true place, while at the same time they encourage Christians, who know that if a sovereign God is for us, who can be against us, as Paul writes in Romans 8:31.
The second effect is that the doctrines of grace give glory to God. God is God, and He will not give His glory to another.
Calvinism recognises that man is man and God is God. We exist for God’s glory, which is why our cry is, “To God alone be the glory.”
Homegroup Study Notes
Read Psalm 115:1-8
How does the concept of God's sovereignty influence our understanding of ourselves and responsibility?
What do you understand by the sovereignty of God?
How do we reconcile His sovereignty with the existence of evil and suffering in the world?
How should a Biblical understanding of God’s sovereignty shape our approach to prayer?
How have you witnessed or experienced the sovereignty of God in your life or the lives of others?
Read Ephesians 1:3-10
Discuss the many references to God’s absolute sovereignty in this passage, and how we can take encouragement in these words.
Today’s Hymns:
At The Name of Jesus
O Jesus, I Have Promised
To God Be The Glory
Carry Your Candle