Have you ever heard of the acrostic TULIP used to expound upon the Doctrines of Grace? Do you agree? You might be surprised to see that you do. While you might not use the same terminology you might actually believe in the doctrine.
Total Depravity - Almost all Christians will agree that we are all sinners and need a savior. If we have sinned we have violated at least one point of the Law. The Bible teaches that if you are guilty of one violation you are guilty of ALL.
James 2:10 (NKJV) “For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all.”
Romans 5:8 (NKJV) “8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Unconditional Election – Again almost all Christians will readily admit that there is neither a sinner so bad nor a sin so terrible that God can’t forgive them. They will admit that God will save anyone, so there are no human conditions needed for Salvation. The sticking point is who does the choosing. If it is God all Glory to God. On the other hand; if I have chosen God and it was the volition of my own will that saved me then who gets the Glory?
Ephesians 2:8-10 (NIV) “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
John 1:12-13 (ESV) “12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.”
Limited Atonement – Most Christians have an objection to this doctrine, yet they will almost all agree that there is at least one, and probably many more people in Hell. Therefore whether they will admit it or not they believe that the Atonement of Christ was limited to those that are or will be in heaven. Therefore; they believe in Limited Atonement rather they will admit it or not.
John 10:25-26 (ESV) “25 Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father's name bear witness about me, 26 but you do not believe because you are not among my sheep.”
John 6:64 (ESV) “64 But there are some of you who do not believe.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him.)”
Irresistible Grace – If God has called us who can resist? If we can resist are we greater then God’s will? Almost all will agree that God can harden hearts to unbelief. Why not then can he not soften our hearts and call us to him. If he calls how can we resist.
John 6:65 (ESV)“65 And he said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.”
John 6:44 (ESV)“44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.”
Perseverance of the Saints – For my Christian brothers and sisters that believe that we have a choice and through our own free will can choose to believe in Christ, Jesus and receive the gift of Salvation; this is a very tricky doctrine. Many who say we choose and make a decision for Christ will also say, “Once saved, always saved.” Yet, if I chose God of my own free will then why can’t I then un-choose him and decide not to believe? If all that is required for me to lose my Salvation is my will then where is my hope. My Salvation now rests on me and me alone. It is not God who saves but my will. If on the other hand if God chose me then it is him who keeps me by his will.
John 6:37-39 (ESV) “37 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. 38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. 39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day.”
John 10: 27-30 (ESV) “27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are one.”
T -- total depravity. This doesn't mean people are as bad as they can be. It means that sin is in every part of one's being, including the mind and will, so that a man cannot save himself.
U -- unconditional election. God chooses to save people unconditionally; that is, they are not chosen on the basis of their own merit.
L -- limited atonement. The sacrifice of Christ on the cross was for the purpose of saving the elect.
I -- irresistible grace. When God has chosen to save someone, He will.
P -- perseverance of the saints. Those people God chooses cannot lose their salvation; they will continue to believe. If they fall away, it will be only for a time.
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