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Calvinist Religion
The Calvinist religion is also referred to as the Reformed tradition, Reformed faith or the Reformed theology. It originated in the 16th century and was advanced by several theologians of which the French reformer John Calvin is best known. The World Alliance of Reformed Churches has 75 million believers throughout the world. This term refers to the doctrines and practices of Reformed churches of which Calvin was an early leader or it may refer to the individual teachings of Calvin. The Calvinist Religion is best known for its doctrines of predestination and total depravity, stressing the absolute depravity of man. Calvinists believe people are sinners and must be saved from themselves.
Calvin’s influence occurred within the Reformed churches during the second phase of the Protestant Reformation after Martin Luther was excommunicated from the Catholic Church. Calvin’s religious direction took a different path than did Martin Luther and his Lutheran Church. Today’s Calvinist theology may be summarized in the five points of Calvinism, also called the doctrines of grace. Calvin however played no part in the formation of this doctrines of grace. Total Depravity The doctrine of total depravity states that as a consequence of the fall of humanity into sin, every person born into the world is enslaved to the service of sin. People arenoby nature inclined to love God with their whole heart, mind or strength but rather are inclined to serve their own interests over those of their neighbor and to reject the rule of God.
Unconditional Election The doctrine of unconditional election asserts that God’s choice from eternity of those whom he will bring to himself is not based on foreseen virtue, merit, or faith in those people. Rather, it is unconditionally grounded in God’s mercy alone. Limited Atonement This doctrine teaches that Jesus’ suffering was definite and certain in it’s design and accomplishment and is driven by the concept of the sovereignty of God in salvation and the Calvinistic understanding of the nature of atonement. All sinners that Jesus atoned for must necessarily be saved. Irresistible Grace This doctrine assets that the saving grace of God is applied to those whom he has chosen to save (the elect) and in God’s timing, overcomes their resistance to obeying the call of the gospel, bringing them to a saving faith. Perseverance of the Saints This is also known as eternal security as the word saints is used in the biblical sense to refer to all who are set apart by God. The doctrine asserts that, since God is sovereign and his will cannot be frustrated by humans or anything else, those whom God has called into communion with himself will continue in faith to the end. Those who fall away never had true faith to begin with or will return.
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