A Zero Point Calvinist

Calvinism believes that once one has eternal life, it can not be lost.  A “zero point Calvinist” is someone who believes that eternal life can not be lost but does not hold to any of the "five points" of Calvinism (named after the Reformer John Calvin who gets credit for these points); the five points are represented in the acronym of “TULIP."   Not all Calvinists understand all the points the same way, nor do they all hold to all the five points.   Here are my extremely brief responses to each point represented in the five letters of the TULIP.  I’m not going to list a bunch of Bible references—everyone has  proof-texts.

The “T” stands for “total depravity.”  Calvinism believes that the depravity of man is such that he needs to be “born again” first (or receive something like it) before he can respond positively to God.  I believe in the depravity of man which means that everyone is a sinner before God and needs to receive eternal life. I don’t believe in the “total” depravity of man which suggests that he cannot respond to God apart from regeneration or something like it (but see my comments on “Irresistible Grace” below). I do not believe that spiritual death (that is, the condition of the person who does not have eternal life, being alienated from God ) should be compared to a physically dead person who can not respond to someone talking to them (obviously!).

The “U” is for “Unconditional Election.”  In Calvinism, the idea is that God determines to whom He will give eternal life which is not based on a response from the individual—its entirely God’s choice (election).   I believe eternal life is conditional.   I believe the condition is faith in Christ as Savior from sin--because of what he accomplished by His death for sins.  I believe the distinction in Scripture is between faith in Christ for salvation and one’s own righteousness (such as trying to be good enough)—which can saved no one…ever. 

The “L” stands for “Limited Atonement.” “Limited atonement” says that Christ died only for a limited number of people being the “elect.”     This is one point on which Calvinists will disagree about among themselves.  There may be disagreement over whether this third point speaks of the extent (for everyone or the elect only) or the intent (for everyone or the elect only) of Christ’s death.

I would prefer the words “propitiation” or “satisfaction” for “atonement.”  I believe Christ’s death was a propitiation or satisfaction for all sins for all people for all time.  I believe Jesus provided by His death satisfaction to God for what all our sins required—He bore the penalty (consequence, requirement, etc.) of sin while on the cross.  The reason not everyone is then saved is because this propitiation is not salvation in and of itself, but allows God to justify (declare righteous) and regenerate (born again) all who believe in Christ for salvation. The condition is faith in Christ as Savior. 

The “I” stands for “Irresistible Grace.”   This view is that God will irresistibly draw by grace ( Divine enablement) to faith in Christ for salvation those that God has unconditionally elected.  Reformed folks believe this is the work of “regeneration.”  The moderate Calvinist will say its not regeneration but something like it.  I don’t believe regeneration precedes the faith by which we are justified.  I believe the Bible teaches we are born again when we believe the Gospel, not before we believe.  I believe there is a drawing through the word of God and the corresponding work of the Holy Spirit, but I believe it is according to a Divine principle of “to whomever has, more will be given.”  There is a progressiveness in the responding to certain Divine revelation, because the unsaved person (and even a carnal Christian) isn’t ready to receive certain truth that they are not conditioned to received—but an unsaved person can understand things like the 10 commandments, and that he/ she is a sinner and condemned before God.  A person may respond positively or negatively to Divine revelation.  It depends on many factors in a person life—life’s various hardships and the testimony of faithful Christians are often influential factors.

The “P” stands for “Perseverance of the Saints.”  This point isn’t just about “Once saved Always saved,” but about the perseverance of the believer in the faith and good works.  Though I believe a person can not lose eternal life, I do believe one can fail to persevere in faith and good works.  One may fall away from believing in justification by faith alone—they may be deceived into believing at a later time that one must do more than just believe to be saved, and so fall from grace.   One may not persevere in good works or faith.  There is always the question as to whether someone who falls away was really saved to begin with--maybe they were originally the victims of a works based salvation message or did those decisional-method things that are commonly propagated by Christians like “asking Jesus into their heart" or a repeat-after-me-prayer—which doesn’t really bring salvation, and so they may become disillusioned with this “religion” and abandon it.   Yet there have been Bible scholars and theologians who were effective evangelists and impacted many with the truth and yet later fell away to some degree or another.  These are very troubling to be sure.   But I am not convinced of the indefectibility of faith.   The consequences of failure are great, being disapproved--not being useful for the Lord and the loss of rewards.  God is able to keep you from falling, but take heed lest you fall!