By: Brother Craig Moss
(Evangelist C.J.Moss & Backyard Ministries)
Dated 10-23-99
(All scripture reference is from the King James Version of the Holy Bible)
"TULIP", the main pillar of Calvinism, is a misuse of scripture to prove a heretic viewpoint. With that said, lets disect this heretic teaching.
Give me a T
They say that the "T" means "Total Depravity". This is Backed up by Romans 3:10-12:
As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
And Romans 3:23:
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
We know that man is depraved. We know the wages of sin:
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23)
We know that it is by Grace that we are saved:
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)
Grace, it is the gift of God.
A Calvinist believes that "Total depravity" means total inability to seek God. They believe that as a sinner, a man is unable to repent and believe. This means that man is not able to do as Jesus Christ commanded:
And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel. (Mark 1:15)
Nor as God the Father commanded:
And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: (Acts 17:30)
Therefore the God that Calvinists believe in would be an unreasonable God, and sends men to hell for not doing what they are unable to do. Ask a Calvinist to explain John 1:9
That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
Which rufutes this point all-the-more.
Give me a U
The "U" stands for "Unconditional Election". This means that God chooses who He will save and who He will send to Hell. This heresy does not come from the Bible, rather from some warped logic. This can easily be refuted by scripture. John 3:16 says that "God so loved the world" and "whosoever believeth" , Romans 10:13 says "whosoever shall", this doesn't sound like God making the decision for man, rather man choosing God or Hell.
Give me an L
The "L" stands for "Limited atonement". This, much like the "U" claims that Christ only died for certain people, the rest will go to Hell. Again this heresy is only based on warped logic. This point is easily refuted by scripture:
And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.(John 12:32)
Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. (1 Timothy 2:6)
But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. (Hebrews 2:9)
The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9)
And
And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. (1 John 2:2)
Give me an I
The "I" stands for "Irresistible Grace". This is based on the same type of logic as the others, not the Bible. This is to say that God forces a man to accept Him, and salvation. This can be refuted obviously by how many people resist Gods grace as well as by many of the same verses refuting these other heretic points.
Give me a P
Finally we arrive at "P". This represents the "Perseverance of the Saints". This is the same as saying that salvation is not eternal, rather that it can be lost if you don't persevere to the end.
Wrong again!
And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. (2 Timothy 4:18)
This clearly states that our Lord preserves us unto his heavenly kingdom. Perseverance has to do with works or deeds. If Gods grace is what has saved us (Ephesians 2:8-9 again!), and we are sealed to the day of redemption:
And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.(Ephesians 4:30)
How then can we lose our salvation.
Question: Is God's grace then not sufficient?
Answer: And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. (2 Corinthians 12:9)
T+U+L+I+P...Put it all together and what do we have? .....Heresy!
