Transcript • T • P Calvinism’s Terrible Tulip otal Hereditary Depravity

Calvinism’s Terrible Tulip
• Total Hereditary Depravity
• Perseverance of the Saints
• “A man is not saved because he believes in
Christ; he believes in Christ because he is
saved” (L. Boettner; The Reformed Doctrine Of Predestination).
• “This effectual call is of God’s free & special
grace alone, not from anything at all foreseen
in man, who is altogether passive therein,
until, being quickened & renewed by the Holy
Spirit, he is thereby enabled to answer this
call, & to embrace the grace offered &
conveyed in it” (Presbyterian Confession of Faith).
• “…when God undertakes to save a person by
his grace or unmerited favor, that grace is
invincible. Even in making every effort, a
person could not refuse it. Therefore no credit
should be due for accepting it” (Presbyterians, Their History
& Beliefs by Walter Lingle).
• “Although the general outward call of the
gospel can be, & often is, rejected, the special
inward call of the Spirit never fails to result in
the conversion of those to whom it is made.
This special call is not made to all sinners but
is issued to the elect only. The Spirit is in no
way dependent upon their help or
cooperation for success in His work of
bringing them to Christ.
• “It is for this reason that Calvinists speak of
the Spirit’s call & of God’s grace in saving
sinners as being ‘efficacious,’ ‘invincible,’ or
‘irresistible.’ For the grace which the Holy
Spirit extends to the elect cannot be
thwarted or refused, it never fails to bring
them to true faith in Christ” (The Five Points of Calvinism,
Defined, Defended, Documented by David N. Steele, Curtis C. Thomas).
Lydia was NOT a subject of
Irresistible Grace.
– Lydia was already a worshipper (13-14).
– Her heart opened after the preaching (14).
– She, of her own volition, responded
obediently to the message (15).
– To be sealed with the H.S. means to be
authenticated as a child of God by the
influence of the Spirit’s teaching in one’s life,
which takes place following one’s obedient
response to the gospel (Acts 19:1ff; Rom 8:14-16).
– It is God’s prerogative to show favor to one
& to harden another, but He does that on
the basis of how they respond to His will.
– To be carnally minded or spiritually minded
is determined by how a person chooses to
set his mind (8:5).
• The apostles did receive a direct operation of
the Holy Spirit; a baptism (Acts 1:5; 2:1-4).
– A promise not a command (Acts 1:4, 8; 2:14).
– To qualify witnesses (John 14:26; 15:26-27; 16:13).
– Instruments of the Holy Spirit (John 16:8).
• John 12:32 – And I, if I am lifted up from the
earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.
• John 6:44 – No one can come to Me unless the
Father who sent Me draws him; & I will raise
him up at the last day.
• John 6:45 – It is written in the prophets, ‘And
they shall all be taught by God.’ Therefore
everyone who has heard & learned from the
Father comes to Me.
• 1 Cor 1:18-21 – For since, in the wisdom of
God, the world through wisdom did not know
God, it pleased God through the foolishness of
the message preached to save those who
believe.
• John 20:30-31 – And truly Jesus did many other
signs in the presence of His disciples, which are
not written in this book; 31 but these are
written that you may believe that Jesus is the
Christ, the Son of God, & that believing you
may have life in His name.
• Can It Be Resisted By The Elect?
• Acts 7:51 –Stephen rebuked his fellow Jews for
rejecting the gospel by saying, “You always
resist the H.S.; as your fathers did, so do you.”
– Isa 45:4 – The “fathers” WERE among God’s
“elect”.
• The Holy Spirit is not The Word of God:
– Eph 6:17 – The Word of God is the Spirit’s Sword
– John 16:8 – The H.S. works with the revealed
(written) Word of God to accomplish His work.
• Like a carpenter works with a saw & hammer, &
a painter with paint & brush.
• Convicts:
– John 16:8 – And when He has come, He will
convict the world of sin, & of righteousness, & of
judgment:
– Titus 1:9 – holding fast the faithful word as he has
been taught, that he may be able, by sound
doctrine, both to exhort & convict those who
contradict.
• Teaches:
– 1 Cor 2:13 – These things we also speak, not in
words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the
Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with
spiritual.
– 2 Tim 3:16 – All Scripture is given by inspiration of
God, & is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for
correction, for instruction in righteousness,
• Comforts:
– Acts 9:31 – Then the churches throughout all
Judea, Galilee, & Samaria had peace & were
edified. And walking in the fear of the Lord & in the
comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied.
– Psa 119:50 – This is my comfort in my affliction, for
Your word has given me life. 1 Thess 4:18 –
Therefore comfort one another with these words.
• Purifies / Cleanses:
– 1 Pet 1:22 – Since you have purified your souls in
obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love
of the brethren, love one another fervently with a
pure heart,
– John 15:3 – You are already clean because of the
word which I have spoken to you.
• Generates New Birth:
– John 3:5 – Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say
to you, unless one is born of water & the Spirit, he
cannot enter the kingdom of God.
– 1 Pet 1:23 – having been born again, not of
corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the
word of God which lives & abides forever,
• Exerts Power:
– Rom 15:13 – Now may the God of hope fill you
with all joy & peace in believing, that you may
abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
– Rom1:16 – For I am not ashamed of the gospel of
Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for
everyone who believes, for the Jew first & also for
the Greek.
• Saves:
– Titus 3:5 – not by works of righteousness which we
have done, but according to His mercy He saved
us, through the washing of regeneration &
renewing of the Holy Spirit,
– Jas 1:21 – Therefore lay aside all filthiness &
overflow of wickedness, & receive with meekness
the implanted word, which is able to save your
souls
Sanctifies:
– 1 Peter 1:2 – elect according to the fore-knowledge
of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit,
for obedience & sprinkling of the blood of Jesus
Christ: Grace to you & peace be multiplied.
– John 17:17 – Sanctify them by Your truth. Your
word is truth.
• To be filled with One is to possess the Other:
– Eph 5:18 – …but be filled with the Spirit, 19
speaking to one another in psalms & hymns &
spiritual songs, singing & making melody in your
heart to the Lord,
– Col 3:16 – Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly
in all wisdom, teaching & admonishing one another
in psalms & hymns & spiritual songs, singing with
grace in your hearts to the Lord.
• Makes God responsible for the lost.
• Denies God’s gift of free moral agency (Titus 2:11;
John 12:47-48).
– We are personally accountable to His word.
• Mistakenly portrays how sinners are called to
salvation (2 Thess 2:14; Rom 10:14).
– We are called by the preaching of the gospel.
• Changes God’s plan of salvation (John 3:16; Mark
16:16; Acts 16:31; Heb 11:6).
– Belief comes before salvation.
Rebuttal:
We are saved by the grace of God.
We access His grace through personal obedient
faith after hearing & learning the gospel of Christ
(
).