Picking A Different TULIP
On many occasions I encounter staunch Calvinists, who hold to a system of doctrine that uses the acrostic of T.U.LI.P. These letters stand for:
Total Depravity
Unconditional Election
Limited Atonement
Irresistible Grace, and
Perseverance of the Saints.
As with many doctrinal systems, there is an element of truth in each of these doctrines if one defines their own terms. Well, I have decided to pick a different TULIP, using my own titles to make the acrostic work. Plus, finding away to make anything memorable out of chrysanthemum was just too hard.
Total Natural Inability – Apart from an encounter with the Word of God, and the Spirit which makes that Word living and active, the natural man is incapable of, and unwilling to, find salvation and regeneration. Only when the Word of God is heard and understood can there be faith (Romans 10:17) and without faith it is impossible to please God. Left to his own devices, a natural man is totally unable to find salvation.
Unconditional Corporate Election – God has predestined that all who are “in Christ” will be justified, sanctified and glorified. This election is one of the group, or corporate, vice individual in nature. The gift of salvation is free to “whosoever will” appropriate it. At that moment, one is in Christ and has access to everything else that is in Christ, such as redemption and justification.
Limited Efficacy of Atonement – The atonement, purchased for the elect at the cost of the blood of Christ and through His finished work on the cross, is only beneficial (or efficacious) for those who are saved. It’s value is sufficient for all mankind, but only efficacious who believe and obey the Gospel.
Irresistible Love and Grace – Once a sinner whose heart is prepared (i.e. good soil) hears the Word of God preached and truly comprehends the love that God has shown him in his lost state through the sacrifice of His Son, he or she will repent and run to Jesus Christ for salvation. Those who reject this invitation either do not comprehend, or have hearts which have been hardened to the point of inability to receive the seed of the Word.
Perseverance of the Saints – Those who are saved and are faithful to the end, or at least by the end, have persevered and receive the crown of life. The saints should continually be encouraged to persevere, so as not to grow weary and quit the race. In the vast majority of cases, salvation is not lost; it is left. The secret to final victory is this – don’t quit!
I know there will be points of agreement and disagreement, and there is probably some verbiage that could be tweaked to make what I am trying to say more easily understood. But the purpose is to provoke to discussion and to individual searching of the scriptures like the Bereans in Acts 17:11.
June 26, 2012
trailreeves
3 responses to “Picking A Different TULIP”
Bob
July 17th, 2012 at 08:50
With respect, I don’t see how you’ve helped further a discussion pertaining to Reformed Theology doctrines. The standard TULIP wording is at least consistent. However, on the one hand you say (in TNI) that “a natural man is totally unable to find salvation” and on the other hand (in UCE – if I’m understanding it correctly) you state that “the gift of salvation is free to “whosoever will” appropriate it”. Many staunch Calvinists will ardently defend that John 3:16 does NOT mean what those simple words imply. Here’s one example and my response if you’re so interested.
As you can perhaps tell, I do not have or favor Calvinistic leanings. As one who came to understand Christian faith later in life, I find myself bothered that there is so much variance of thought as it pertains to Christian doctrine – and not just the Calvinism-Arminianism debate although I do spend most of my time in this realm. Chemists have a periodic table from which to understand the interactions of various elements. Christians have the Bible. And yet, look at the books on my shelf i.e. “Across the Spectrum”, “Divine Foreknowledge: Four Views”, “Debating Calvinism”, “Four Views on Divine Providence”, and other books that seem to argue against each other i.e. “Is God To Blame?” and “Trusting God” – well, you probably get the picture – I’m clueless and not sure just how it is that I can experience what Jesus promised in John 8:32 that the truth will set me free.
trailreeves
July 17th, 2012 at 10:48
Bob, thank you for your thoughtful response. What I was trying to get across, however clumsily, was that a natural man, apart from an encounter with the Word of God, is totally unable to come to salvation. The key here is not personal election, but the unique power of the Word of God to generate faith in a sinner. Romans 10:17 says faith comes by hearing the Word of God, not by election. This is why it is so essential that we do as Paul instructed Timothy and “preach the Word” rather than the teachings of men. I was attempting to show through my post that while there are elements of truth in some of Calvinism, it does not harmonize with all of scripture.
I, too, spent many years in search of truth that would set me free. I found it in starting out by dumping anything and everything that was not essential. If the New Testament didn’t command it, I cast it aside as unnecessary. It got rid of so many things that kept me busy, but distracted. Bob, I would encourage you to read my second post, A Return To Simplicity, as it more fully discusses this.
Bob
July 18th, 2012 at 06:48
I appreciate your gentle clarification and I like your thought of dumping anything not commanded in the New Testament. Honestly, the Apostle’s Creed is my basic framework of faith – but find myself lacking any semblance of an abundant life. I can’t get a grip on dissimilar entities (i.e. James White vs Dave Hunt or John Piper vs Greg Boyd) using the same scriptural references. Romans nine and Ephesians one immediately come to mind. Clearly, I’m more comfortable as a non-Calvinist. However, I’ve never thought of comfort as a virtue of Christian faith. I sense many others have similar struggles but it’s not clear to me how to determine just what is the truth. Perhaps your post on A Return To Simplicity will provide some insight and I look forward to reading it.