Good Little Calviminians

I've been involved in some good discussions lately about theology. The conclusion that has been reached in most of those discussions is that there are very few "pure" Calvinists or Arminians.

Most of us are "Calviminians" - with beliefs that reflect some of both and all of neither.

Not too long ago I put together the 5 Points of Calviminianism to serve as a starting point for discussing what I believe. I offer it here, with no claim to originality of thought...

The 5 Points of "Calviminianism"

1. Total Depravity...and Free Will
Man is totally depraved, spiritually dead and blind, and unable to find his way to God by his own efforts. God must initiate the work of repentance. Man is a sinner who has the free will to either cooperate with God's Spirit and be regenerated, or resist God's grace and perish. God wants everyone to be saved, but will only save those who call out to Him.

Romans 3:10-11 "There is none righteous, not even one. There is none who understands, there is none who seeks for God."

2 Peter 3:9 "The Lord is . . . not wishing for any to perish, but for all to come to repentance."

Romans 10:13 "Whoever will call upon the name of the Lord will be saved."

2. Conditional Election
God's election is based on His foreknowledge. He chooses everyone whom He knew would, of their own free will, respond to the gospel and choose Christ. God knows ahead of time who will want to be saved, so he chooses them based on that foreknowledge

1 Peter 1:1-2 ". . . who are chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father . . ."

3. Unlimited Atonement
When Christ died on the cross, He shed His blood for everyone. He paid a provisional price for all but guaranteed it for none. Jesus died for everyone, but only those who come to Him in faith will receive His salvation.

1 John 2:2 "He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for the whole world."

4. Resistible Grace
Saving grace can be resisted because God won't overrule man's free will. Man is born again when he believes and receives God's grace. Although God offers His grace to everyone, many people will refuse it.

John 3:18 "He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already . . ."

Matthew 22:14 "For many are called, but few are chosen."

5. Perseverance of the Saints
God preserves the elect so they persevere to the end, so no chosen person will ever be lost.

John 10:28 "And I give eternal life to them, and they shall never perish, and no one shall snatch them out of My hand."

("Eternal" and "never perish" means than no genuine child of God can lose his salvation.)