Comments on: Orthodoxy For Calvinists: Is TULIP an “Essential?”

By: Collum’s Column » Blog Archive » links for 2006-10-26

Collum’s Column » Blog Archive » links for 2006-10-26 — Thu, 26 Oct 2006 12:30:57 +0000

[...] Colossians Three Sixteen � Orthodoxy For Calvinists: Is TULIP an �Essential?� (tags: predestination) [...]

By: Stan

Stan — Tue, 24 Oct 2006 22:17:16 +0000

What I find interesting in all this is the origin of these five points we call “Calvinism”. Calvin didn’t make them. Nor are they the primary point. While many see them as a major point of division, interestingly they were actually only 5 points of disagreement in among all the rest of theology. Five points! If there are hundreds of topics on theology, and only 5 are in question, it would seem to me that rather than “major division” this would be major agreement. Just 5 points.

I wouldn’t be very happy without them now that I’ve arrived at them, but when folks wield their swords over these issues, it just seems like an overkill. We’re in much more agreement than these five points appear to suggest.

By: Gunny Hartman

Gunny Hartman — Tue, 24 Oct 2006 01:52:06 +0000

We just started a Sunday night series at Providence Church on the T.U.L.I.P. last night.

We’re putting the outlines and audio (including Q&A) on our sermons page for those interested. It looks to be a pretty good series and done by various teachers in our church (two seminary students (DTS & SWBTS), a seminary grad, a deacon, and mybadself … all studs, the last one being excepted).

One of the questions last night was whether or not one could truly/fully understand the Gospel apart from understanding “Total Depravity,” which was a great question and a great answered followed.

Critical doctrines I would say, and perhaps essential to complete understanding of the faith, but not essential to being in the faith.

Great post, Brent, and good discussion generated. However, and I don’t want to appear to nit pick, but I have to differ just a tad with the first comment: “Faith in Jesus Christ is what saves you.”

Faith doesn’t save, not even faith in Jesus Christ. It is God who saves, by grace through faith. Perhaps semantics and what was intended, but particularly relevant in Calvinism vs. Arminianism discussions where the Arminian sees faith as self-generated.

By: Jim I

Jim I — Mon, 23 Oct 2006 20:01:34 +0000

Essential for what? Sometimes the discussion isn’t clear because “essential” isn’t defined. God was and is clearly pleased to save people outside of the Reformed doctrines. These doctrines, although sweet, are not essential for salvation.

In the context of my own life, I do find them to be essential for:

1) Understanding my sin and need for Christ
2) Assurance of my salvation
3) The fullness of my joy in Christ and worship of Him
4) Peace in suffering or situations I would never choose for myself
5) Sharing the gospel without fear or compromise to the praise of His glory

1 Peter 2:9 (ESV)
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

By: mike

mike — Mon, 23 Oct 2006 16:32:21 +0000

If you were in the majors you would be making BIG bucks because your team would still be in the playoffs. You hit one home run after another in this post.
You hit a grand slam when you stated, “I love studying doctrine…it�s end result must be both humility and love.”

Back back back back back back … GONE!:)

By: Chris Hubbs

Chris Hubbs — Mon, 23 Oct 2006 13:43:43 +0000

After a long discussion on this topic, an older and wiser man reminded me this: having an exact correct doctrine of salvation isn’t what saves you. Faith in Jesus Christ is what saves you.

Yeah, it’s still worth discussing and debating and all that (else, what would we blog about?), but at the end of the day, you’re right: it must produce humility and love.