Refromers Series #4

John Calvin

 

 

Somewhere in time, July 10^th 1509, John Calvin was born in Noyon France.  His father wanted him to be a Lawyer, but John had other ideas.  Not wanting to disrespect his father, he did go to law school, but upon his father’s death, he changed to a seminary.

Calvin had a few ideas for making the church better. If you have ever taken a vote in church, that is a Calvin idea.  If your church has a board you can thank Calvin.  He wanted the church to have a series of checks and balances to keep one group from getting too much power.  It was a good idea and it influenced a many Christians that followed.  The Presbyterian denomination can trace its roots back to Calvin.

The belief of Calvin can be summed up in the acronym T.U.L.I.P.

T – Total depravity -  The belief we are all born into sin.

U – Unconditional election – The belief we were chosen by God.

L – Limited atonement – The belief that only those chosen by God have forgiveness of sin.

I – Irresistible Grace – This is the knowledge that our salvation comes from the grace of God and Him alone.

P – Perseverance of the Saints – Who God has saved he is able to keep.

In America, many of our founding fathers were Puritans and some held to the beliefs of Calvin.  I read some writings where they hoped they were one of the elect, one of the chosen.  They weren’t sure if salvation was guaranteed.  The idea that God chose us and only the ones he chose have salvation. This is where I struggle with the idea of predestination and the idea of limited atonement.  

Is salvation only available for the people God choses? I've decided that it doesn’t matter, if God chooses me, or I have chosen Him.  What matters is that a connection was made.  

But this is what I believe.

Romans 10:9 “that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”

OR

John 3:16-17 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.”

 

Rich Mullins - Creed (Credo) from objektivonemusic on GodTube.