https://beyondtulip.com Challenging Calvinism with Biblical Clarity en-us Sun, 02 Mar 2025 00:23:39 +0000 https://beyondtulip.com/corporate-election-the-biblical-alternative-to-calvinist-individualism-in-romans-9/ https://beyondtulip.com/corporate-election-the-biblical-alternative-to-calvinist-individualism-in-romans-9/ Sun, 02 Mar 2025 00:23:39 +0000 Of all the fortresses in the 5-point Calvinist system, none seems more imposing than Romans 9. For many of us who have walked this path, it was the chapter that sealed the deal, the exegetical high ground from which all other texts were viewed. I remember reading R.C. Sproul’s classic, Chosen by… Unconditional Election https://beyondtulip.com/philippians-212-13-the-verse-that-explodes-calvinist-monergism/ https://beyondtulip.com/philippians-212-13-the-verse-that-explodes-calvinist-monergism/ Sun, 02 Mar 2025 00:16:07 +0000 The Calvinist Claim: Salvation Is All God’s Work Calvinism teaches a doctrine called monergism , which asserts that salvation is entirely the work of God, with zero human contribution. One prominent Calvinist thinker, R.C. Sproul, sums it up clearly: “Man lacks moral ability to desire God without… Unconditional Election https://beyondtulip.com/foreknown-≠-preapproved-why-romans-829s-foreknowledge-isnt-a-calvinist-rubber-stamp/ https://beyondtulip.com/foreknown-≠-preapproved-why-romans-829s-foreknowledge-isnt-a-calvinist-rubber-stamp/ Sat, 01 Mar 2025 22:50:49 +0000 The Calvinist Position: Unconditional Election In Chosen by God , R.C. Sproul tackles the idea of predestination head-on, especially in his discussion of Romans 8:29. He firmly rejects the notion that God’s election—choosing who gets saved—is based on foreseen faith. On pages 127–130, Sproul argues… Unconditional Election https://beyondtulip.com/born-of-the-word-not-a-monergistic-monolith-how-james-118-refutes-calvinist-monergism/ https://beyondtulip.com/born-of-the-word-not-a-monergistic-monolith-how-james-118-refutes-calvinist-monergism/ Sat, 01 Mar 2025 22:44:53 +0000 The Calvinist Position: Regeneration Precedes Faith In his book Chosen by God , R.C. Sproul lays out a cornerstone of Calvinist theology: regeneration must come before faith. On page 72, he writes, “Regeneration liberates us from original sin,” arguing that God’s act of making a person spiritually… Unconditional Election https://beyondtulip.com/the-problem-of-evil-is-calvinisms-god-the-author-of-sin/ https://beyondtulip.com/the-problem-of-evil-is-calvinisms-god-the-author-of-sin/ Sun, 16 Feb 2025 19:56:13 +0000 Introduction: The Theological Dilemma Calvinism asserts God’s absolute sovereignty, including His decree of all events (Ephesians 1:11). Critics argue this makes God the  author of sin —a claim Calvinists vehemently deny. Yet, if God ordains evil acts (like Judas’ betrayal), how is He not… Total Depravity https://beyondtulip.com/ezekiel-3626-does-god-unilaterally-replace-hearts/ https://beyondtulip.com/ezekiel-3626-does-god-unilaterally-replace-hearts/ Sun, 16 Feb 2025 19:35:31 +0000 Introduction: The Calvinist Claim Calvinists argue that  Ezekiel 36:26  ("I will give you a new heart... I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh") teaches  monergistic regeneration —that God alone replaces the human heart without any cooperation from the… Irresistible Grace https://beyondtulip.com/john-644-does-drawing-mean-forced-regeneration/ https://beyondtulip.com/john-644-does-drawing-mean-forced-regeneration/ Sun, 16 Feb 2025 19:17:04 +0000 Calvinist Interpretation: Irresistible Grace James White, in  The Potter’s Freedom , argues that John 6:44 (“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them”) teaches  monergistic regeneration : God’s grace  irresistibly  compels the elect to faith. White insists… Irresistible Grace https://beyondtulip.com/the-myth-of-extreme-vs-moderate-calvinism-a-false-dichotomy/ https://beyondtulip.com/the-myth-of-extreme-vs-moderate-calvinism-a-false-dichotomy/ Sun, 16 Feb 2025 19:15:12 +0000 Introduction: The Calvinist-Arminian Spectrum Theological debates often frame Calvinism and Arminianism as opposing systems. Norman Geisler’s  Chosen But Free  proposes a “moderate Calvinism” as a middle ground, claiming to balance divine sovereignty and human free will. However, this… Unconditional Election https://beyondtulip.com/calvinisms-use-of-romans-9-is-god-really-a-puppet-master/ https://beyondtulip.com/calvinisms-use-of-romans-9-is-god-really-a-puppet-master/ Sun, 16 Feb 2025 02:27:00 +0000 Introduction: Understanding the Debate Romans 9 is one of the most controversial passages in the Bible, often cited by Calvinists to defend their doctrines of predestination and election. In The Potter’s Freedom , James White argues that Romans 9 teaches God’s sovereign and unconditional election… Unconditional Election https://beyondtulip.com/perseverance-of-the-saints-does-eternal-security-encourage-complacency/ https://beyondtulip.com/perseverance-of-the-saints-does-eternal-security-encourage-complacency/ Sun, 16 Feb 2025 02:18:10 +0000 Introduction: The Calvinist Claim Calvinism's  Perseverance of the Saints  (also known as "Eternal Security") asserts that true believers will persevere in faith until the end, as their salvation is guaranteed by God’s sovereign grace. James White, in  The Potter’s Freedom , defends… Perseverance of the Saints https://beyondtulip.com/irresistible-grace-coercion-or-true-love/ https://beyondtulip.com/irresistible-grace-coercion-or-true-love/ Sun, 16 Feb 2025 02:11:28 +0000 Introduction: The Calvinist Claim Calvinism’s  Irresistible Grace  asserts that God unilaterally and monergistically regenerates the elect, enabling faith  without  their cooperation. James White defends this doctrine in  The Potter’s Freedom , comparing regeneration to… Irresistible Grace https://beyondtulip.com/did-christ-only-die-for-the-elect-a-case-for-universal-atonement/ https://beyondtulip.com/did-christ-only-die-for-the-elect-a-case-for-universal-atonement/ Sun, 16 Feb 2025 01:28:21 +0000 Introduction: The Calvinist Claim Limited Atonement  (Particular Redemption) asserts that Jesus’ death  efficiently secured salvation   only for the elect , not all humanity. James White claims in  The Potter’s Freedom : “If Christ died for all, then all would be saved” (p.… Limited Atonement https://beyondtulip.com/unconditional-election-is-predestination-compatible-with-a-loving-god/ https://beyondtulip.com/unconditional-election-is-predestination-compatible-with-a-loving-god/ Sun, 16 Feb 2025 01:08:38 +0000 Defining the Debate Calvinism’s Unconditional Election asserts God sovereignly chooses individuals for salvation solely based on His will, not human merit or foreseen faith (Ephesians 1:4–5). In The Potter’s Freedom, James White argues this doctrine reflects God’s glory, not human worthiness (pp.… Unconditional Election https://beyondtulip.com/does-total-depravity-mean-human-inability-a-biblical-response/ https://beyondtulip.com/does-total-depravity-mean-human-inability-a-biblical-response/ Sun, 16 Feb 2025 00:55:45 +0000 The Calvinist Claim Calvinism teaches Total Depravity : humanity is spiritually dead , enslaved to sin, and unable to respond to God without irresistible grace . In The Potter’s Freedom , James White argues that unless God monergistically regenerates sinners, they remain "corpses in trespasses and… Total Depravity