No, I am not a Calvinist... but God IS Sovereign <3

So, a subscriber of mine recently mentioned how interesting it is that I am so into the sovereignty of God and asked if I was a Calvinist. I had never heard of Calvinism before, so I decided to look into it. After thorough research, I found that I do not consider myself a Calvinist. However, there are some Calvinistic points that I do agree with. In this post, I will discuss Calvinism and my beliefs based on the Word of God, and explain why I think understanding the sovereignty of God is extremely important for every believer to know.

Calvinism is a branch of Protestant theology that follows the teachings of John Calvin, a 16th-century reformer. It emphasizes the sovereignty of God, the authority of Scripture, and the doctrine of predestination. Here are some key points about Calvinism:

Key Doctrines of Calvinism:

1. Total Depravity: This doctrine asserts that human nature is thoroughly corrupted by sin due to the Fall. As a result, individuals are unable to come to God on their own and are in need of divine grace.

   1. Scripture:

      1. Romans 3:10-12: "As it is written: 'There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.'"

      2. Ephesians 2:1-3: "As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world... All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath."

      3. Isaiah 64:6: "All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away."

   2. My thoughts: Human nature is corrupted by sin, and the Word of God makes this very clear. We have an inclination toward sin. How is this even debated? To think that we have an ounce of righteousness in us means we haven't truly read and understood the Word of God. The Bible clearly states that our righteousness is like filthy rags to God. Why are well-studied believers even arguing about this? Are they so blinded by their limited understanding that they refuse to believe what the Word of God says?
      

2. Unconditional Election: Calvinists believe that God has chosen certain individuals for salvation out of His own will and mercy, not based on any foreseen merit or action on the part of the individual.
   

   1. Scripture:

      1. Ephesians 1:4-5: "For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will."

      2. Romans 9:11-13: "Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad—in order that God’s purpose in election might stand: not by works but by him who calls—she was told, 'The older will serve the younger.' Just as it is written: 'Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.'"

      3. John 15:16: "You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you."

   2. My thoughts: Again, how is anyone even arguing about this? Scripture is so clear that we are predestined. There is nothing to even argue about here. What is there not to understand? Nowhere in the Bible does it say that God foresaw you would choose Him and that's why He chose you. In fact, the Bible clearly states that you did not choose Him, but He chose you.

3. Limited Atonement: This is the belief that Jesus Christ’s atoning sacrifice was intended to save only the elect, those whom God has chosen for salvation.
   

   1. Scripture:

      1. Romans 9:10-24, " Not only that, but Rebekah’s children were conceived at the same time by our father Isaac. Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad—in order that God’s purpose in election might stand: not by works but by him who calls—she was told, “The older will serve the younger.” Just as it is written: “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.” What then shall we say? Is God unjust? Not at all! For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” It does not, therefore, depend on human desire or effort, but on God’s mercy.  For Scripture says to Pharaoh: “I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden.  One of you will say to me: “Then why does God still blame us? For who is able to resist his will?” But who are you, a human being, to talk back to God? “Shall what is formed say to the one who formed it, ‘Why did you make me like this?’” Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for special purposes and some for common use? What if God, although choosing to show his wrath and make his power known, bore with great patience the objects of his wrath—prepared for destruction? What if he did this to make the riches of his glory known to the objects of his mercy, whom he prepared in advance for glory— even us, whom he also called, not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles?

   2. My thoughts: Now, I do not fully agree with this point. By reading the Scripture, you can clearly see that our salvation does not depend on us at all. It is not by our own doing; God chose us to be saved. However, I believe that Jesus died for the world because the Bible says, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son." My thoughts on this are very deep. I personally believe that God is sovereign and had a plan in all of this. He is a storyteller, the author. He created this beautiful story, and in this story, He sent His Son to save the world. Those who believe are the ones who get to be saved. However, He predestined the saved, meaning He died for everyone, as the Bible says, but He predestined the people who would be saved. I hope this makes sense. I do not believe He died only for the elect. He died for everyone, but only the elect believe.

4. Irresistible Grace: According to this doctrine, the saving grace of God is effectively applied to those whom He has elected to save, and it overcomes their resistance to obeying the call of the Gospel.
   

   1. Scripture:

      1. John 6:37: "All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away."

      2. John 6:44: "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day."

      3. Romans 8:30: "And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified."

   2. My thoughts: My thoughts on this are that whoever created this is overthinking it and getting a bit fancy with their belief. It's not that deep. My thoughts are simple: God pulls your heart toward Him. This point is unnecessary to even dig into. If God chooses you, He pulls your heart to Him. If your heart is naturally pulled toward Him, it won't feel like resistance. The Bible does not speak about resistance in this context, so this point is reaching a bit.

5. Perseverance of the Saints: This doctrine holds that those whom God has elected and drawn to Himself will persevere in faith and will not permanently fall away. They are eternally secure in their salvation.

   1. Scripture:

      1. John 10:28-29: "I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand."

      2. Philippians 1:6: "Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."

      3. 1 Peter 1:3-5: "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time."

   2. My thoughts: Yes, I do agree with this point. In this life, we go through many things, and some believers have once been Satanists, murderers, or thieves. Everyone has their unique journey or testimony that led them to God. Ultimately, if you are chosen by God, your heart will be drawn to Him. Scripture is clear on this.

Why is all this important to know?

Understanding the sovereignty of God is crucial for every believer because it forms the bedrock of our faith and trust in Him. God's sovereignty means that He is the supreme ruler over all creation, exercising ultimate control and authority over every aspect of our lives and the universe. This truth reassures us that, despite the chaos and uncertainties we face, nothing happens outside of His perfect will and plan. Believers can find immense comfort and strength knowing that God is not only aware of our struggles but is actively working through them for our good and His glory. Embracing God's sovereignty empowers us to surrender our fears and anxieties, trusting that His plans are always better than our own and that He is orchestrating every detail of our lives according to His divine purpose. By acknowledging God's sovereignty, we align ourselves with a perspective that fosters peace, confidence, and a deeper reliance on His grace and wisdom, knowing that He is in control of all things, both seen and unseen.

By the way, I want to extend my thanks to The Fifth Arrow for introducing me to the concept of Calvinism. I was unaware of its existence before this. I had often heard pastors and preachers emphasizing our responsibilities as believers, which, while true, didn’t fully acknowledge our imperfections. If everything depended solely on us, our lives would likely be in disarray, as our imperfections could easily derail God's plan for us. The sovereignty of God is crucial because it ensures hope and order in our lives. I appreciate that Calvinism provides a perspective that aligns more closely with the truth than what I had previously encountered.