The Doctrines of Grace (aka, “The 5 Points of Calvinism” or TULIP)

“Salvation belongeth unto the Lord.” (Psalm 3:8)

Total Depravity (or, Total Inability) – By nature, human beings are corrupt through and through (corrupt mind, heart, will, desires, etc.). As a result, we are unable, in and of ourselves, to do or choose anything good.

• Spiritually dead – Genesis 2:16-17, Romans 5:12, Ephesians 2:1-3, Colossians 2:13
• Born in sin – Psalm 51:5, Psalm 58:3, John 3:5-7
• Dark-minded and corrupt – Genesis 6:5, Genesis 8:21, Ecclesiastes 9:3, Jeremiah 17:9, Mark 7:21-23, John 3:19, Romans 8:7-8, 1 Corinthians 2:14, Ephesians 4:17-19, Ephesians 5:8, Titus 1:15
• Enslaved to sin and Satan – 1 Kings 8:46, 2 Chronicles 6:36, Job 15:14-16, Psalm 130:3, Psalm 143:2, Proverbs 20:9, Ecclesiastes 7:20 and 29, Isaiah 53:6, Isaiah 64:6, John 8:34 & 44, Romans 3:9-12, Romans 6:16 & 20, Ephesians 2:1-2, 2 Timothy 2:25-26, Titus 3:3, James 3:2 and 8, 2 Peter 2:19, 1 John 1:8 & 10, 1 John 3:10, 1 John 5:19.
• Unable to change or do anything good – Job 14:4, Jeremiah 13:23, Matthew 7:16-18, Matthew 12:33, John 6:44 & 65, Romans 3:9-12, Romans 8:7-8, Romans 11:35-36, 1 Corinthians 2:14, 1 Corinthians 4:7, 2 Corinthians 3:5.

Unconditional election – Before the foundation of the world, God chose certain people (His elect) to be objects of His grace. This choice was based entirely on the good pleasure and will of God, and not on anything having to do with the person being elected. Only these people who were elected will be saved.

• God has an elect people – Deuteronomy 10:14-15, Psalm 33:12, Psalm 65:4, Psalm 106:5, Haggai 2:23, Matthew 11:27, Matthew 22:14, Matthew 24:22, 24 & 31, Luke 18:7, Romans 8:28-30 & 33, Romans 11:28, Colossians 3:12, 1 Thessalonians 5:9, Titus 1:1, 1 Peter 1:1-2, 1 Peter 2:8-9, Revelation 17:14
• Election is based solely on God’s will and mercy, not on foreseen faith or good works – Exodus 33:19, Deuteronomy 7:6-7, 1 Kings 19:10 & 18, Matthew 20:15, Mark 13:20, Romans 9:10-24, Romans 10:20, Romans 11:4-6 & 33-36, 1 Corinthians 1:27-29, Ephesians 1:4-5, 1 Thessalonians 1:4, 2 Thessalonians 2:13, 2 Timothy 1:9, Revelation 13:8, Revelation 17:8
• Faith and good works are the result, not the cause, of God’s election –John 15:16, Acts 13:48, Acts 18:27, Romans 8:29, Ephesians 2:10, Philippians 1:29, Philippians 2:12-13, 1 Thessalonians 1:4-5, 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14, James 2:5, 2 Peter 1:5-11

Limited Atonement (or, Particular Redemption) – The atonement of Christ was designed to secure salvation only for God’s elect, and it accomplished exactly that.

• Jesus actually saves sinners and secures spiritual blessings for them (He doesn’t just make it possible for them to be saved) – Matthew 1:21, Luke 19:10, Acts 5:31, Romans 3:24-25, Romans 5:8-10, 1 Corinthians 1:30, 2 Corinthians 5:18-19 & 21, Galatians 1:3-4, Galatians 3:13, Ephesians 1:3-4, Ephesians 2:15-16, Ephesians 5:25-26, Philippians 1:29, Colossians 1:13-14 & 21-22, 1 Timothy 1:15, Titus 2:14, Titus 3:5-6, Hebrews 9:12 & 14, Hebrews 13:12, 1 Peter 2:24, 1 Peter 3:18, 1 John 1:7
• Jesus fulfills the eternal covenant made between the Persons of the Godhead to save certain individuals, and therefore cannot fail – John 6:35-40, John 10:11, 14-18 & 24-29, John 17:1-11, 20 & 24-26, Romans 5:12 & 17-19, Ephesians 1:3-12
• Jesus died for “all” and the “world” without distinction, but not without exception – Compare Revelation 5:9 with John 1:9 & 29, John 3:16-17, John 4:42, Romans 5:18, 2 Corinthians 5:14-15 & 19, 1 Timothy 2:4-6, Hebrews 2:9, 1 John 2:1-2 & 1 John 4:14
• Jesus saved His people (elect, sheep, church, children), not every human – Matthew 1:21, Matthew 20:28, Matthew 26:28, John 11:50-53, Acts 20:28, Romans 8:32-34, Ephesians 5:25-27, Hebrews 2:17, Hebrews 3:1, Hebrews 9:15 & 28, Revelation 5:9

Irresistible Grace – At some point in each of the lives of God’s elect, God will call them with an internal calling, regenerating them and giving them a new heart to desire God. This call is always efficacious and results in conversion.

• The Holy Spirit saves – Romans 8:14, 1 Corinthians 2:10-13, 1 Corinthians 6:11, 1 Corinthians 12:3, 2 Corinthians 3:6 & 17-18, 1 Peter 1:1-2
• God regenerates us – John 1:12-13, John 3:3-8, Titus 3:5, James 1:18, 1 Peter 1:3 & 23, 1 John 5:4
• God gives us a new heart – Deuteronomy 30:6, Ezekiel 11:19, Ezekiel 36:26-27, 2 Corinthians 5:17-18, Galatians 6:15, Ephesians 2:10
• God raises us from spiritual death – John 5:21, Ephesians 2:1 & 5, Colossians 2:13
• God effectually calls us – Romans 1:6-7, Romans 8:30, Romans 9:23-24, 1 Corinthians 1:1-2, 9 & 23-31, Galatians 1:15-16, Ephesians 4:4, 2 Timothy 1:9, Hebrews 9:15, 1 Peter 1:15, 1 Peter 2:9, 1 Peter 5:10, 2 Peter 1:3, Jude 1, Revelation 17:14
• God reveals the things of God to our hearts – Matthew 11:25-27, Matthew 13:10-11 & 16, Matthew 16:15-17, Luke 8:10, Luke 10:21, John 6:37, 44-45 & 64-65, John 10:3-6, 16 & 26-29, 1 Corinthians 2:14, Ephesians 1:17-18
• God gives faith and repentance as gifts – Acts 5:31, Acts 11:18, Acts 13:48, Acts 16:14, Acts 18:27, Ephesians 2:8- 9, Philippians 1:29, 2 Timothy 2:25-26 
• God sovereignly gives salvation – Isaiah 55:11, John 3:27, John 8:36, John 17:2, Romans 9:16, 1 Corinthians 3:6-7, 1 Corinthians 4:7, Philippians 2:12-13, James 1:18, 1 John 5:20

Perseverance (or, Preservation) of the Saints – God’s elect are kept by the power of God and can never finally fall from His grace.

• God has given us eternal life – John 3:36, John 5:24, John 6:47, John 10:27-30, Romans 8:29-30, 2 Corinthians 4:14 & 17, Colossians 3:3-4, Hebrews 9:12 & 15, Hebrews 12:28, 1 Peter 1:3-5, 1 John 2:19 & 25, 1 John 5:4, 11-13 & 20
• God wills that none of His people will perish – Matthew 18:12-14, John 3:16, John 6:35-40, Romans 8:1, Hebrews 10:14 
• God will keep us – Isaiah 43:1-3, Jeremiah 32:40, John 17:11-12 & 15, 1 Corinthians 1:7-9, 1 Corinthians 10:13, 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24, 2 Timothy 4:18, Jude 1 & 24-25
• Nothing can separate us from God’s love – Isaiah 54:10, Romans 5:8-10, Romans 8:35-39 
• We have been sealed by the Holy Spirit – Ephesians 1:5 & 13-14, Ephesians 4:30

The usefulness of these doctrines

Humility – if we aren’t careful, knowledge of these doctrines can puff us up. The flesh will tell us, “if God has chosen me, there must have been some good thing in me that caused me to differ from those who weren’t chosen.” But we have no reason to boast or glory other than in the Lord (1 Corinthians 1:31, 1 Corinthians 4:7). Further, with a knowledge of these doctrines lurks the danger of focusing on the sovereignty of God to the exclusion of the responsibility of man. Both are taught side by side in the Bible, so we must humble ourselves, and believe and preach both.

Loving God – we love Him because we understand that He first loved us (1 John 4:19), and that not because we were lovable; quite the contrary. He loved us in spite of our depravity and rebellion. We praise Him, and worship Him for His sovereignty, His power and His amazing grace. We are full of gratitude.

Comfort, patience and submission to God – we know that God began a good work in us and He will finish it, and we know that everything that happens to us along the way is for our own good and the good of His elect. We see that His sovereign hand directs all things (Genesis 45:8, Genesis 50:20, 1 Samuel 3:18, 2 Samuel 15:26, Psalm 115:3, Romans 8:28, Philippians 1:6, 2 Timothy 2:10, Hebrews 12:2).

Seeing the gospel for what it is – Good News! He actually saved us! He actually redeemed us! Otherwise, it’s not good news.