Post by Deleted on Oct 11, 2022 17:30:57 GMT -8
T.U.L.I.P.
The soteriological set of positions asserted by Calvinism known by the acronym T.U.L.I.P., isn’t particularly complicated but there nonetheless exists a large degree of confusion because these positions are often misrepresented. Here’s a correct and concise description of each position and what it does not asserts.
T = Total Depravity. This doctrine simply states the depraving effects of sin are “total” or so effective they preclude the sinfully dead and enslaved person from ever coming to God in his or her own sinfully compromised, fleshly state of being, and therefore that person needs God to act if s/he is to be saved from sin and wrath. God is able. Sinful unregenerate man is not able.
Total Depravity does NOT mean is humans are so totally depraved that they cannot do good in any way. Calvinists believe anyone, even the unregenerate sinfully dead and enslaved person can do good or evil, but the good an unregenerate sinfully dead and enslaved person does absent the Holy Spirit is not salvifically meritorious. Arminius was an adherent to this position we now call Total Depravity. This is not a position exclusive solely to Calvinism.
U = Unconditional Election. This doctrine simply states God elected those He saves based on His will and His purpose. Nor does it mean God willfully selected some people specifically for destruction.
Unconditional Election does not mean is God chooses people based on any condition of the sinful creature being saved, or that He randomly selected some for sinful damnation and some for salvation, or because of some other attribute of the unregenerate sinner. The only condition for God’s electing anyone is God’s will and purpose.
L = Limited Atonement. This simply means some people will be saved and some will not be saved. In terms of “atonement,” the Calvinist view is that the work of Christ is sufficient or powerful enough to cover everyone, but it is not applicable to everyone. This is sometimes phrased in terms of sufficiency and efficiency, or the work of Christ on the cross is sufficient to cover any and all, but it is effective or efficient only in the lives of those being saved.
Limited Atonement does NOT mean God wantonly limited His atonement of sinners. Nor does it mean a person’s choice is irrelevant.
I = Irresistible Grace. This position simply asserts God will accomplish the purpose for which He intends His grace. God effects what God intends God's grace to effect.
Irresistible Grace does NOT mean God coercively forces salvation on those who do not want it. Nor does it mean God’s grace is incapable of being resisted.
P = Perseverance of the Saints. This simply asserts God will finish the work He began when He saved a person. A person who God saves can have assurance God will do God’s work in the person God is saving.
Perseverance of the Saints does NOT mean every person claiming to be saved is saved or will be saved, or that a person can undo a salvation s/he never actually had. Neither does it mean a person’s salvation occurs regardless of the person’s will or actions. Technically, the doctrine of Perseverance doesn't even claim a person can't lose his salvation because the doctrine of Perseverance says nothing about the ability or in ability of the human. The doctrine of Perseverance is all about God, not humans.
Every single letter in the acronym is about God. Not a single letter of the acronym is about the sinful human creature being saved. Calvinism is thoroughly couched first and foremost with God as the center and not the sinful human. TULIP is Theo-centric, not sinner-centric. Many of the claims made about TULIP have absolutely nothing to do with TULIP. Sadly, and perhaps the biggest problem is that many Calvinists do not correctly understand TULIP. The result is they teach something they may believe but what they believe and what they teach has nothing to do with soteriology as Calvin taught it or as TULIP asserts it. Monergists and synergists disagree on the why and wherefore of these five doctrines but, as to the position themselves, anyone acknowledging God’s sovereignty can and should agree with all five. They are firmly rooted in the omni-attributes of God and not in the finite nature of sin or the finite nature of the sinner.
Therefore....
Synergists seeking to criticize Calvin can now avoid the problem of the straw man. If what you think TULIP is does not match the above then you are wrong and any argument against that wrong position will be a straw man argument that does not require a response from anyone (other than to note it for what it is: a straw man). If I see a Cal-contempter posting a false version of TULIP I'll point out the error, provide a correct alternative, and link everyone to this op. If you want to discuss any of these five points with me, then post an op and message me. I'll be happy to provide the scriptural basis for each point. The rest of you can have weigh in as you see fit but discussing all five points in one thread will prove disorganized and I'm not doing that.
This op is intended for the purpose of reference.
In other words, this op isn't intended for discussion.
The soteriological set of positions asserted by Calvinism known by the acronym T.U.L.I.P., isn’t particularly complicated but there nonetheless exists a large degree of confusion because these positions are often misrepresented. Here’s a correct and concise description of each position and what it does not asserts.
T = Total Depravity. This doctrine simply states the depraving effects of sin are “total” or so effective they preclude the sinfully dead and enslaved person from ever coming to God in his or her own sinfully compromised, fleshly state of being, and therefore that person needs God to act if s/he is to be saved from sin and wrath. God is able. Sinful unregenerate man is not able.
Total Depravity does NOT mean is humans are so totally depraved that they cannot do good in any way. Calvinists believe anyone, even the unregenerate sinfully dead and enslaved person can do good or evil, but the good an unregenerate sinfully dead and enslaved person does absent the Holy Spirit is not salvifically meritorious. Arminius was an adherent to this position we now call Total Depravity. This is not a position exclusive solely to Calvinism.
U = Unconditional Election. This doctrine simply states God elected those He saves based on His will and His purpose. Nor does it mean God willfully selected some people specifically for destruction.
Unconditional Election does not mean is God chooses people based on any condition of the sinful creature being saved, or that He randomly selected some for sinful damnation and some for salvation, or because of some other attribute of the unregenerate sinner. The only condition for God’s electing anyone is God’s will and purpose.
L = Limited Atonement. This simply means some people will be saved and some will not be saved. In terms of “atonement,” the Calvinist view is that the work of Christ is sufficient or powerful enough to cover everyone, but it is not applicable to everyone. This is sometimes phrased in terms of sufficiency and efficiency, or the work of Christ on the cross is sufficient to cover any and all, but it is effective or efficient only in the lives of those being saved.
Limited Atonement does NOT mean God wantonly limited His atonement of sinners. Nor does it mean a person’s choice is irrelevant.
I = Irresistible Grace. This position simply asserts God will accomplish the purpose for which He intends His grace. God effects what God intends God's grace to effect.
Irresistible Grace does NOT mean God coercively forces salvation on those who do not want it. Nor does it mean God’s grace is incapable of being resisted.
P = Perseverance of the Saints. This simply asserts God will finish the work He began when He saved a person. A person who God saves can have assurance God will do God’s work in the person God is saving.
Perseverance of the Saints does NOT mean every person claiming to be saved is saved or will be saved, or that a person can undo a salvation s/he never actually had. Neither does it mean a person’s salvation occurs regardless of the person’s will or actions. Technically, the doctrine of Perseverance doesn't even claim a person can't lose his salvation because the doctrine of Perseverance says nothing about the ability or in ability of the human. The doctrine of Perseverance is all about God, not humans.
Every single letter in the acronym is about God. Not a single letter of the acronym is about the sinful human creature being saved. Calvinism is thoroughly couched first and foremost with God as the center and not the sinful human. TULIP is Theo-centric, not sinner-centric. Many of the claims made about TULIP have absolutely nothing to do with TULIP. Sadly, and perhaps the biggest problem is that many Calvinists do not correctly understand TULIP. The result is they teach something they may believe but what they believe and what they teach has nothing to do with soteriology as Calvin taught it or as TULIP asserts it. Monergists and synergists disagree on the why and wherefore of these five doctrines but, as to the position themselves, anyone acknowledging God’s sovereignty can and should agree with all five. They are firmly rooted in the omni-attributes of God and not in the finite nature of sin or the finite nature of the sinner.
Therefore....
Synergists seeking to criticize Calvin can now avoid the problem of the straw man. If what you think TULIP is does not match the above then you are wrong and any argument against that wrong position will be a straw man argument that does not require a response from anyone (other than to note it for what it is: a straw man). If I see a Cal-contempter posting a false version of TULIP I'll point out the error, provide a correct alternative, and link everyone to this op. If you want to discuss any of these five points with me, then post an op and message me. I'll be happy to provide the scriptural basis for each point. The rest of you can have weigh in as you see fit but discussing all five points in one thread will prove disorganized and I'm not doing that.
This op is intended for the purpose of reference.
In other words, this op isn't intended for discussion.
