First Baptist Church

What are the "Doctrines of Grace"?

The Doctrines of Grace

a.k.a.

The Five Points of Calvinism

 

The system of belief known as the doctrines of grace is the best way to present and to preserve the truth that God saves sinners. By this we mean that the Triune God — Father, Son and Holy Spirit — works together to pursue one plan to do everything necessary to rescue rebellious people, who are unable and unwilling to save themselves and who are chosen by his grace, from eternal wrath for the riches of eternal glory.

 

In order to help people remember these doctrines, the acrostic TULIP (the “flower” of grace) has been used for many years. However, I prefer to use a new acrostic, RIDES (Christ “rides” victoriously in salvation), to teach the same truths in a fresh, positive way.

 

Name of the Doctrine	Brief Statement of Doctrine	Area of Discussion
Radical Corruption a.k.a. Total Depravity	Every part of the unsaved sinner — mind, emotions, and will — is ruined by sin and in need of Christ	The need of grace
Independent Election a.k.a. Unconditional Election	The Father chose in Christ for salvation whomever he would apart from human merit or decision	The plan of grace
Definite Atonement a.k.a. Limited Atonement	Christ died for those whom the Father chose and purchased all that was necessary for their salvation	The purchase of grace
Effective Grace a.k.a. Irresistible Grace	The Spirit certainly draws and unites to Christ all whom the Father chose and the Son redeemed to salvation	The application of grace
Security of the Saints a.k.a. Perseverance of the Saints	All those chosen, purchased and redeemed will surely persevere in Christ in repentance and faith to glory	The triumph of grace

 

Various approaches to these doctrines:

·         “Five-point Calvinists” — those who hold to the above doctrines.

·         “Arminians” — those who reject the above doctrines.

·         “Hypercalvinists” — those who hold to the first four doctrines as stated, the fifth in a modified way, and who do not believe in missions or evangelism.

·         “Hyperarminians” — those who reject the above doctrines in an extreme way, sometimes to the point of denying God’s knowledge, human corruption by sin or election in any form.

·         “Boot-leg Calvinists” — those who reject the first four above doctrines and only hold to the fifth, usually in a modified way; this is actually an Arminian position.

·         “Four-point Calvinists” — those who hold to all the above doctrines, except the third. Also known as Amyraldians or General Redemptionists.

·         “Calminians” — those who imagine the truth is somewhere in the middle between Calvinism and Arminianism.

·         “Biblicists” — those who think they don’t hold to either a Calvinist or an Arminian position, or who don’t want to state what their position is.

·         “Universalists” — those who think all people will be saved.

 

Other names for this teaching

Some people do not like the term "Calvinism" because it makes them seem like followers of a man instead of the Lord Christ. We can understand this concern, since our goal in life is to please and glorify God.

Some people call this "Reformed Theology" or "Sovereign Grace". We are not zealous for any name, but for God's truth as revealed in the Holy Scriptures.