Five Point Calvinism by William S. Dillon.

Introduction: Most of the defenders of this doctrine appeal to the Westminster Confession and creeds of various denominations to 'prove' their points rather than go directly to the Word of God. Many scriptures used are taken out of context. Scriptures to be interpreted to the Kingdom of Heaven or Israel are wrongly interpreted to the Church. Distinctions must be make. The Kingdom of Heaven is the earthly Kingdom which will have saved and unsaved (Matt. 13:41) whereas the Church has only saved! Israel is racial, political and religious while none of these are characteristics of the Church. Many of the writers holding this doctrine quote the works of men who interpret some scriptures on the basis of tradition, not on the basis of God's wonderful Word rightly divided (2Tim2:15). In many instances, we list only Bible references, so it will be necessary to read each particular scripture from the Bible.

These are the Five Points which we examine here: 1) Total Depravity 2) Irresistible Grace 3) Unconditional Election 4) Limited Atonement 5) Perseverance of the Saints

TOTAL DEPRAVITY, meaning the complete corruptness of the sinful nature of all human beings, saved and unsaved. This is scriptural. (Rom. 3:9-20; Rom 7:18; Psa 58:3; Jer 17:9), but the will of man is not totally corrupt. The will has to do with the human spirit, mind or intellect (1Cor 2:11-15) by which decisions are made. A totally corrupt will would never respond to an invitation to trust Christ Jesus as Saviour (John 1:12; 3:18; 16:8,9). Such a will would never obey the command of Ephesians 5:18. It could never respond to Romans 6:13 & 12:1. See also 2Cor 8:12. The corruption (1Cor15:42) and the corruptible (1Cor15:53,54) have to do with the dead physical body, not the sinful nature, nor the will of man.

When a person is born from above, his spirit, soul and body becomes God's property (1Cor 6:19,20), but these do not change at that time, nor does the sinful nature of man change (Gal 5:16,17). The difference between the saved and the unsaved is the new nature. When Adam and Eve sinned, the innocent nature became the sinful nature. When Adam and Eve sinned they lost their identity with God and became identified with Satan to whose temptation they yielded. This is the basis on which unsaved people are referred to as having Satan as their father (Jn8:44; 1Jn3:10; 5:19).

Adam and Eve died spiritually, i.e. were separated from God (Gen 2:17), but body, soul and spirit did not change. Physical death came later (Gen5:5, cp. Rom5:12). Cain and Abel born with a sinful nature made different decisions (Gen 4:2-8, cp. Heb 11:4; 1Jn3:12). If the human will were totally corrupt, John 5:40 and John 7:17 would have no meaning! The door to the truth is the will, not the intellect. See again John 7:17 and also Matt 13:14-16.

People who hold to the doctrine of the total depravity of the human say that a dead man can make no decisions. This is true as to a physically dead person, but not true as to spiritually dead people. Physical death is not cessation of existence, but the person (soul & spirit) being separated from the body. Spiritual death is not a cessation of existence, but separation of the person (soul & spirit) from God.

Every unsaved person now physically alive is spiritually dead (separated from God) and can and does make decisions by acts of the will. Such people can become spiritually alive via the new birth (1Peter1:23; John 5:24; Rom 10:17; 1Jn5:10-12). The physically alive, but spiritually dead people can try to do works for salvation; but all to no avail (Rom 4:5; Eph 2:8,9; cp. Isa 64:6).

Of course, people who have died physically without faith in Christ are eternally spiritually dead, i.e. separated from God forever. Such people have forever passed the opportunities of making any decisions. These people will experience the second death (Rev. 20:15) which death is not a cessation of existence (Rev 20:10).

IRRESISTIBLE GRACE is another Five-point doctrine which their teachers claim to mean that the Holy Spirit expresses the Grace of God in such a way that no human being can resist accepting salvation. What shall we do with John 5:40?? "And ye will come to me, that ye might have life."

The first account in the Bible of resisting the Holy Spirit and God's message of Grace is Genesis 6:3: "And the Lord said, My Spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years." In this instance all but eight people (Heb11:7) resisted for 120 years!! Notice also in Acts 7:51, 57 where it is written how Israel resisted God's message, spending 40 years in the wilderness (Num. 14:32-34), except for Caleb (Num 14:24), and Joshua (Deut. 1:2).

A scripture used out of context by 5-pointers is Matthew 20:16 which has to do with service in the kingdom of heaven, not salvation in this church age. Notice in Matthew 13:15,16 where choices were made. "For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I would heal them. But blessed is your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear."

Another of the 5-point doctrines is UNCONDITIONAL ELECTION. There definition is that no individual can make a choice in either accepting or rejecting salvation. They claim God has already made the choice for everyone. If this be true, Christ died only for a select group of people, but see 1Jn2:2, "And He is the propitiation for our sins: and not for our's only, but also for the sins of the whole world." Here it is stated Christ was the propitiation (a sacrifice satisfactory to the Holy God) for the sins of the whole world. What about John 1:29 and Colossians 1:6? What about "faith cometh by hearing [listening]" (Romans 10:17; Jn 5:24)?? Is not man's will involved?

Of course, God knows all things, but keep in mind that the foreknowledge of God is an attribute, not an act! If it were merely an act, it would indicate God's interference with man's decision as to salvation.

Notice 2Thess.2:13 "...chosen you [an individual] to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth," (by an act of the will). See also 1Peter 1:2: "Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience [by an act of the will] and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ." The above scriptures refer to God's choice of people, not the method of choosing. God's choice or election does not save anyone. A choice by an individual must also be made.

In both of the above scriptures, man's will is involved in making decisions. God's choice is not merely because people believe, but that they believe (Matt.23:37; John 3:17). God gives freedom of choice, but not freedom from choice.

As to the word 'elect' the meaning is to be determined by context. Note the word and its varied meanings in the following:

1) The 'elect' referring to Israel is found in Isaiah 45:4; 65:9; Matt 24:22,24,31; Mark 13:20,22,27; Luke 18:7

2) The 'elect' in Romans 11:5,7,28 refers to a percentage of Israel to be saved in this church age, other Israelites are blinded (Rom 11:25; cp. Matt13:15,16)

3) The 'elect' referring only to members of the church is mentioned in Romans 8:33; Col.3:12; 1Thess.1:4; 2Tim2:10; Titus 1:1, etc.

4) The 'elect' angels are mentioned in 1Tim5:21

5) The 'elect' of 1Peter 2:6, 7 is none other that Jesus who gave Himself for all sinners as is indicated in 1Tim2:6, because He wills (desires) that all men be saved, 1Tim2:4. When the salvation of souls is concerned we have God's approach to sinful man, but man is responsible for making a personal decision. No human being is elected to be lost or predestinated to the lake of fire (Jn.3:17; 8:24; 12:47; 1Jn2:2; 4:14). There is no scripture mentioning the book of death.

Compare the following:

God's approach to sinful man

** John 1:12b, He gave the right to become the children of God.

** John 3:16a, God so loved, He gave.

** John 3:18b Is not condemned.

** John 6:37c, I will in no wise (for no reason) cast out.

** Romans 1:16, gives salvation

**Romans 5:1, peace with God

Man's responsibility to respond

** John 1:12a, As many as received Him (Jesus).

** John 3:16b, Whosoever believeth in Him (1Cor 1:21b)

** John 3:18a, He that believeth on me (Jesus).

** John 6:37b, Him that cometh unto me (Jesus).

** Romans 1:16 Every one who believes.

** Romans 5:1, Faith brings justification.

As to Judas; he was chosen for service by Jesus (Mark 3:19; John 6:70, 71; Acts 1:17) who knew Judas would not stay with Him (Acts 1:20; Psa 69:25), that Judas would be replaced (Psa 109:8; Acts 1:25) and that Judas would betray Him (Matt. 26:24,25; Jn 13:10,11). Although Jesus knew all about Judas even before he was born, the acts and decisions of Judas were his own (Matt 26:14-16) having willingly sinned (Acts 1:25b), not having been influenced by the foreknowledge of Jesus.

God's election for service or national position is based on His sovereignty or right to choose any creature or nation for His purposes, the people having no choice in the matter (Eph 2:10; Rom 9:11-17; Num 11:16-29). God's election for salvation is based on His foreknowledge of decisions people are going to make without interfering with their power of choice (2Thess.2:13b; 1Peter1:2). We repeat that election refers to choosing individuals, not the method of electing. To be saved, all unbelieving individuals must by an act of the will receive (John 1:12), believe (John 3:16; Acts 16:31), come (John 6:37) faith (Gal 3:2; Eph2:8), receiving the Word (1Thess 1:6).

Romans 9:14-21. Read this passage carefully. The subject or context has nothing to do with salvation and deals only with service. The mercy, grace, and compassion (vv.14,15,18) have to do with privileges of service. The illustration of the potter and the clay (vv.21-23) has to do with the sovereignty of God in assigning and using for service - not salvation. The "raising up" of Pharaoh (Rom 9:17) was placing on his throne (cp.Rom13:1). Where salvation of both Jew and Gentile is mentioned in the 9th chapter of Romans, it is on the basis of personal faith, i.e. making a decision, not by service or keeping the law (Rom 9:30-33).

LIMITED ATONEMENT, meaning Christ died only for the elect or a limited number of people is one of the 5 points taught. The word atonement is not a New Testament word and should be translated (Rom5:11 KJV) as reconciliation, seeing that it is simply the noun form (katallaga) of the verb "reconcile" in verse 10. cp. 2Cor 5:18,19. The word atonement is found 19 times in the Old Testament, the meaning of the word to be interpreted in context. The Bible does not teach a limited atonement, i.e. that only an elect group of people may be cleansed by the Blood of Christ. What about John 1:29; 3:16,17; 4:42; 6:33; 12:47 ???? Notice in Romans 1:23,32; 2Thess2:10,12 where unsaved people make a personal choice and let us again refer to 1Tim2:4: "Who (Christ) will have all men to be saved, and come to the knowledge of truth." See also Acts 26:18. Human beings limit the sacrifice of Christ for themselves by rejecting the Saviour. Notice in the above scriptures what the will of some people is, and what the will of God is, the latter not overruling the former.

The fifth point of the 5-Point doctrine is THE PERSEVERANCE OF THE SAINTS. We do not understand why this term is used, for the 5-point people believe that God's people are forever secure as to the believer's position in Christ (Rom.8:1,38,39; Eph1:13; 4:30). Once a person is born from above, he can do nothing to maintain his position - not even persevere. See Philippians 1:6 "Being confident of this very thing, that He who hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ." See also 1Thess.5:23,24.

Question: How does the 5-point teaching affect the cause of world missions?

Why should we go to the uttermost part (singular) of the world (Acts 1:8), if it has been determined that a percentage of the heathen are already lost forever?? Without a vision people perish (Prov.29:18).

5-point doctrine limits and/or destroys any vision of world missions. Note the following positive statements as to word evangelization: Acts 1:8,9; 9:15; 26:19; Romans 15:19,20; 1Cor15:34; 2Cor10:15,16; 1Tim2:3-6. How do these scriptures fit the negative statements of the 5-pointers??

What about Acts 15:14 and Romans 11:25,26 and the yet to come heavenly scene of Revelation 5:9, with human beings from every people (ethnic group), nation (political group), kindred (tribal group), and tongue (language group)???

What about the earthly scene of Rev 7:9; where people from the above mentioned four segments of the earth's population will be saved for the kingdom (Matt.24:14) through the blood of the Lamb (Rev.7:14)?

Jesus died, shedding His blood for all people of all dispensations; Israel (Isa53:1-12; Matt 1:21), the Church (1Peter 1:18-21; 1John2:2) and for Tribulation saints (Rev 7:14).

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