III - CALVINISM

The five points of Calvinism simply set forth the work of the Triune God in the salvation of sinners - election by the Father, redemption by the Son, regeneration by the Spirit. These great truths are flanked by the need of salvation, the total depravity and inability of man, and the result of God's work in the soul of man i.e., perseverance in the faith. Thus they deal with the very heart of the gospel and the Christian faith. Calvinism sets forth the sovereignty of God in man's salvation, without detracting from man's responsibility. Armininianism presents man's will as sovereign, and divides the credit for salvation between God and man.

Dr. J.I. Packer states:

"The difference between them (Calvinism and Arminianism) is not primarily one of emphasis, but of content. One proclaims a God who saves: the other speaks of a God who enables man to save himself. One view (Calvinism) presents the three great acts of the Holy Trinity for the recovering of lost mankind - election by the Father. redemption by the Son, calling by the Spirit - as directed towards the same persons, and as securing their salvation infallibly. The other view (Arminianism) gives each act a different reference (the objects of redemption being all mankind, of calling those who hear the gospel, and of electing those hearers who respond), and denies that any man's salvation is secured by any of them. The two theologies thus conceive the plan of salvation in quite different terms. One makes salvation depend on the work of God, the other on a work of man; one regards faith as part of God's gift of salvation, the other as man's own contribution to salvation; one gives all the glory for saving believers to God, the other divides the praise between God, who, so to speak, built the machinery of salvation, and man, who by believing, operated it." (Introductory essay to "The Death of Death" by J. Owen)

It is not the purpose of this booklet to attempt to prove the scripturalness and the truth of Calvinism. This has been done ably by preachers and scholars down through the years.

"Calvinism", then, is simply a "nickname" for the Biblical teaching of the Reformation, and especially the "five points" already referred to. Because it is simply a setting forth of the teaching of the Reformers, Calvinism is also known as "Reformed Theology". Arminianism, however, is a reaction against that teaching, and a denial of the five points."

It is simply a fact of history that "Calvinism" has been the heart and marrow of the teaching of the great Protestant denominations in Christendom, with the exception of the Wesleyan Methodists. The Lutheran denomination might also prefer to be included in the exception, but it should be realized that in following Melancthon in his "synergistic" theology they departed from Luther's conviction, as his writing and their earliest creed reveal. The great historic doctrinal confessions of the churches, such as the Presbyterian Westminster Confession, and the Baptist Second London Confession give clear testimony to the truths of "Calvinism". Even the 39 articles of the Anglican church have a definite "Calvinistic" emphasis. The majority of the greatest evangelists, preachers, and theologians who have graced the Christian church have all rejoiced in a clearly preached Calvinism.

Apart from the Reformers already mentioned, we think of such men as Hugh Latimer, John Owen, Joseph Alleine, John Bunyan, Jonathan Edwards, George Whitefield, David Brainerd, William Carey, Charles Spurgeon, Horatius Bonar, Robert Murray McCheynne, and a host of others. These men, on fire for God, and mightily used of God had grasped the glorious Biblical truths nicknamed Calvinism.

We are reminded of a statement by Spurgeon, when he once said:

"It is no novelty, then, that I am preaching; no new doctrine. I love to proclaim these strong old doctrines, that are called by nickname Calvinism; but which are surely and verily the revealed truth of God as it is in Christ Jesus. By this truth I make a pilgrimage into the past, and as I go, I see father after father, confessor after confessor, martyr after martyr, standing up to shake hands with me. Were I a Pelagian, or a believer in the doctrine of free-will. I should have to walk for centuries all alone. Here and there a heretic, of no very honorable character, might rise up and call me brother. But taking these things to be the standard of my faith, I see the land of the ancients peopled with my brethren, I behold multitudes who confess the same as I do, and acknowledge that this is the religion of God's own church". (Sermon on Election from the text 2 Thessalonians 2:13, 14)

The only group of any consequence who historically were not Calvinists were the Wesleyan Methodists, and they adopted a modified form of Arminianism.

Sad to say, however, it has often been the case that men have let slip their grasp on truth with the passing of generations. This is true as we consider the last few centuries. Arminianism is much more palatable to the natural mind; it is not as crushing to human pride; it is much nicer and easier medicine to take from man's viewpoint!

In the 18th and 19th century the Christian church received great onslaughts from rationalism and humanism and in grappling with the new challenges from these foes, foolishly let slip the strong old doctrines of the church. Arminianism gained the ascendancy in many of the great denominations, and the old faith was well nigh abandoned except for a "remnant". For the past 100 years the great truths of "Calvinism" have been virtually forgotten by the evangelical world, though with some notable exceptions, but there are hopeful signs that God is reviving His truth again, and bringing many to realize that the man-centred teachings of Arminius are no substitute for the truth which our forefathers so gloriously declared.

As we have already stated, because Calvinism was the teaching of the Reformation it is often called "Reformed Theology", and because of its emphasis on the grace of God it is often called the Doctrines of Grace. Calvinism, Reformed Theology, and the Doctrines of Grace, are all the same thing, and present the truth of God's sovereignty in every sphere, and particularly in the sphere of salvation.

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