After searching the scriptures, I struggled to understand the five doctrines of grace, i.e. “five points of Calvinism”, which are as follows: total depravity, unconditional election, limited atonement, irresistible grace, and perseverance of the saints.
Total depravity states that humans are morally, spiritually, and socially bankrupt, because of Adam’s (the first man created) sin all of his descendants (us) are born in sin with a sinful nature that affects every area of life(Romans 5:12;14;17-19).
Unconditional Election states that God chose some to salvation before the foundations of the world (Ephesians 1:4-6) not based on any merit or status or special privilege (Romans 9:15-25), but solely upon God’s Sovereign will.
Limited Atonement states that Christ died for all whom the Father gave Him (John 17:9). Christ did not die to save every single person who have ever lived (John 3:18-21). God does not wish that any should perish, but the reality is that some will perish. Not everyone will be saved. Christ died for the church, His bride, His sheep. That’s why we who have the Spirit of Christ can cry out Abba, Father, because we are His adopted brothers and sisters (Romans 8:15-16).
Irresistible Grace states that when the Word of God is preached, the elect will have their ears, eyes, and hearts opened by the Holy Spirit; and consequently they will believe because God has set His love upon them (Ezekiel 36:24-32). Jesus said in John 10:27, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” When Christ calls those whom the Father has given Him, they will answer the call; not by their own strength, but by the power of the Holy Spirit (John 14:15-18; 15:5)
Perseverance of the Saints states that all who are saved and have the Spirit of Christ living within them will not fall away from the faith. They will have eternal life. See John 10:28-30. Philippians 1:6 says, “…being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.”
After understanding the doctrines of grace, I realize that salvation is truly of the Lord. It is God who saves, delivers, keeps, elects, and preserves. It is God who justifies, sanctifies, and glorifies. Many people, like I did, struggle with understanding God’s work in salvation, especially when we add man’s free will. I agree it is hard to understand. It seems as if we are all robots and have no part in our salvation, have no choice in the matter, and have no rights. But that is false. We have allot of work to do as seen in Ephesians 2:10. We are not robots; for we are Christ agents of change on this earth. We each have our own personalities, talents, and skills. And God wants to use them for the building of His kingdom. To put in bluntly, this life is not about us, it’s about God’s glory. The quicker we see this, the less inclined we are to demand our own rights, will, or decisions.
We have the awesome privilege of sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ to all who would believe. We do not know who the elect are, for the secret things belong to the Lord. However, we do know one thing. Paul says in Ephesians 3:3-6, “…how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery…which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets: that Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel…” The purpose of the mystery of the gospel of Jesus Christ being revealed to the Gentiles (anyone who is not a Jew) is this: “…and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ; to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church [his elect people] to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, according to the eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord…” Ephesians 3:9-11.
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