Calvinism: Examining Calvinism in the light of the Scriptures

By Ptr. Edwin D. Jardinel and Edwin Jardinel

Calvinism has become so widespread and popular not only among protestant churches, but also among Baptists so that many among them take pride to be called "Calvinists". In fact, the Calvinists would often speak that there are only two types of people in this world, that you are either a "Calvinist" or an "Arminian" so that the unawares or ignorant are left without any choice. Their use of Scriptures seem to be convincing until you study well and search out the truth, and find out that they are just wrestling with the Scriptures to fit with man-made doctrines."As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction." -2 Peter 3:16.John Calvin taught the doctrines of unconditional election. He lived AD 1509- 1564. What influenced him and other Christians was the teaching with similar idea brought by Augustine of Hippo. How did the theory of Calvinism come into existence? D.N. Jackson, LL. D said:"Augustine of hippo, who thrived A.D.354-430, was the father of the theory now known as Calvinism, and Calvin himself acknowledge his indebtedness to Augustine for the doctrine."(The Doctrine of Divine Election, p.85).John S. Banks, D. D. (Edinburg) says:"The blessing of the atonement is universal. Although Austin's doctrine was never adopted by the church as a whole, it led to fierce controversy and much division... The schoolmen only adopted portions of Augustine's system... It was Calvin who first worked out Augustine's doctrine to its final issues, and made it the cardinal point of a theological system." (A Manual of Christian Doctrine, pp.188-189).Calvinism doctrine developed to be known as TULIP. It is an acronym which stands for TOTAL INABILITY, UNCONDITIONAL ELECTION, LIMITED ATONEMENT, IRRESISTIBLE GRACE, and PERSEVERANCE OF THE SAINTS.Real Baptists are neither Calvinists nor Arminians, they are Biblicist. While Calvinists would resort to Calvinistic books authored by men as authority for their beliefs, real Baptists should only rely upon the Bible as the final source of authority. The controversy and inconsistencies of Calvinism are so many that they themselves who uphold the TULIP doctrine cannot agree with one another. Sadly, there are even Baptists who proudly call themselves "Calvinists" and hail John Calvin like a hero of faith. But who is John Calvin anyway? According to Dr. I.K. Cross, (an American Missionary Baptist writer) in his letter to the Filipino brethren, he stated:"As for John Calvin, he received his ordination in a Catholic Church, was baptized by a Catholic Church, and lived and died only a reformed Catholic, never denouncing his ordination or baptism. He killed many Baptists, and divided them in England and much of the rest of the world, and his teachings continue to cause division among them to this day."Though John Calvin has long been dead, yet the spirit and doctrine of Calvinism continue to divide many Baptists today. Thus it is a challenge for true Baptists to study the Scriptures well and be able to defend the right doctrines of the faith.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1502832976
• ISBN13: 9781502832979
• Release Date: October 2014
• Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
• Length: 51 Pages
• Weight: 0.34 lbs.
• Dimensions: 11.0" x 0.1" x 8.5"