Grace Not Calvinism
Chad Johnson
April 19, 2012

According as he hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in Love. Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will. Ephesians 1:4-5 KJV

No man can honestly study the Bible with an open mind and not see that the doctrines of grace are taught therein. Predestination and election are Bible doctrines that should be taught and believed by God’s people.

This doctrine is sometimes referred to as Calvinism.

Calvinism is a theology that was developed by John Calvin in the 16th century. He summarized what he believed into five points known as the TULIP.

This stood for total depravity, unconditional election, limited atonement, irresistible grace and perseverance of the saints.

Without a doubt, all of these doctrines are taught in the Bible. These doctrines did not begin with Calvin, but began before the foundation of the world in the mind of a sovereign and righteous God.

I am not a Calvinist, I am a Baptist that believes in the grace of God. When we fully understand grace and that salvation is all of God, we must agree with predestination.

Grace is the unmerited favor of God. God doing for man, what we could never do for ourselves. No man can come to the Father except he is drawn.

Because we are spiritually dead, we cannot believe or repent until God gives us life. Salvation is not in a prayer or any other thing we can do.

It is in Christ alone. Once God does the work of regeneration in a sinner, we will repent and believe. We are saved by grace and not ourselves. When a sinner believes and repents and cries out for mercy, he has already been made anew creature by God’s grace. Amen!