TULIP: Who, Why, and How People are Saved
A few hours ago, I attended a life group to keep my heart on fire. Up to now, I still can't get over with my reconnection with God during the family camp I attended.
As we were studying the Bible, my life group leader mentioned about TULIP. And it got me very interested to learn about it.
A Quick Overview
TULIP is an acronym for Total Depravity, Unconditional Election, Limited Atonement, Irresistible Grace, and Perseverance of the Saints.
These are five of some of the main points of Calvinism. These are the understanding of who, why, and how people are saved.
- Total Depravity - This is knowing that we are all sinners in nature.
- Unconditional Election - This is how God chooses who will be saved.
- Limited Atonement - Jesus' sacrifice is not for everybody. It is only for a limited few.
- Irresistible Grace - Everyone is given a chance to hear His word. If God wants you to be saved, you will be saved even if it's your last minute.
- Perseverance of the Saints - If you truly accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, you will never lose your salvation.
When I first learned about TULIP, it was hard to grasp at first. I have questions like How can the God of Love choose who will be saved?
But when I learned in Romans 6:23, "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord," we all deserve to go to hell because we are sinful. But God bless us that He chooses some of us who will be saved through Jesus Christ.
TULIP is a complicated matter. I'll be praying for God's guidance to help me understand it more.
Ultamanlty, you have to go back to the good news of the Gospel. First, however, there is bad news. All have fallen and fall short ... a sin problem. God loved ALL with so much magnitude that he gave a gift - his Son. Who stood in our place as a substitutionary sacrifice, once and for all. A gift has to be accepted. In a world of fallen people, there God offered redemption.
A thought I had was, that both Calvinism (TULIP) and Arminianism do not realize full explanation of what is ultimately humanly unexplainable. I simply think that we, being in a fallen state, are not capable of grasping such a concept. While both God is sovereign AND we are called to make a decision of faith in Christ unto salvation is true; it also seems these two points are contradictory. 2 Corinthians 4:4 tells me that the 'god of this world' has 'blinded the minds of the unbelieving' and they cannot see the gospel light. John 3:19-20 defines the judgment that men 'loved the darkness rather than the Light.' (read also John 12:39-40; as well as Ephesians 4:17-19) That is to say, in the Bible, there seems to be the idea of a human making a choice of faith.
...my thoughts - offered humbly. Also, something I found a while back an article from 2009 that offers history of TULIP as well
Thanks @baritonejp! I appreciate it. :) I will study the verses you gave. :)
I have sent you a little gift for helping me out. :)
I don't believe in irresistible grace. It means we're just robots with no free will.
(John 6:63-65 NIV) The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life. {64} Yet there are some of you who do not believe." For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him. {65} He went on to say, "This is why
I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled him."
and
(John 6:44 NIV) "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day.
But people still have free will. They can hear the gospel, be drawn to God, yet refuse to accept Jesus as Savior and Lord. Or they can choose to follow for a little while and then abandon God.
I believe that God gives some people a heart to follow Him but even then some choose not to follow because they love sin more.
I like your posts! I sent you some SBD in your wallet! I want to be friends!
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