Sermon Tone Analysis

INTRODUCTION

Speaking in Generalities - this leads to inaccuracies in specific cases - but the generality still stands

Today we speak about the teachings of John Calvin - now known as Calvinism

Lay my cards on the table - I believe the teachings of Calvin have lead more good hearted people astray than perhaps any other movement

John Calvin

Protestant Reformer - French - mid 16th cent.

Calvinism / Reformed Theology

Brilliant mind

Became a Bishops clerk at age 12

began at the University of Paris at age 14

Granted a Doctorate of Law

Went to Geneva where he rose to prominance

Establishing new civil and church governments.

Remember: as reformers they rejected the Pope, and had to establish their own governance

Also had problems, including being expelled from the city for a time - and (perhaps unjustly) bearing the blame for the execution of Michael Servetus (heretic)

Calvinism

Huge influence over many groups of the reformed world

numerous Congregationalists

Reformed

Presbyterian

Lutheran

Anglican

and Episcopal

Huge influence over much of the teaching in the reformed world

Once saved always saved

Original sin

etc

Pre-Calvin 'Calvinism'

Augustine of Hyppo (5th cent.)

Original Sin

every person born bears the guilt of Adams Sin (not merely the consequeces)

A few views in Predestination

God Chooses specific men

Martin Luther (early 16th cent.)

Faith only

Grace only

TULIP

simplified doctrines placed into an acrostic

Later, Calvin's followers boiled down his teachings into an acrostic TULIP

Starts from the premise that God is sovereign - God is in Control

but the premise is taken with total disregard to other scripture

The leap is taken; God is sovereign, in control - to "God determines everything"

TULIP

T - Total Depravity (hereditary)

At birth all men are wholly and completly depraved - stemming from hereditary guilt of sin from Adam

U - Unconditional Election

Before the founding of the World god chose specifically who would be saved and lost - all decisions are final

L - Limited Atonement

Christ came and died for only those whom God elected (above)

I - Irresistible Grace

a depraved (unregenerated person) ca not volutarily choose to believe in God - but once God elects him, he can not resist the power of God's call

P - Perseverance of the Saints

As A person's salvation is completely dependent upon God - nothing they do has any bearing - so too once saved they can do nothing to be lost

Total Depravity (hereditary)

AKA Original Sin

Taught by the vast majority of denominations (some not taking Calvin's view of salvation from this depravity)

Three things Here are important

Each Person is Depraved - caught in and guilty of sin

Wholly, Completely, Totally - there is nothing good in any person

This condition is Hereditary - inherited from their parents, all the way back to Adam and the first sin

The Westminster Confession of Faith states, "They (Adam and Eve) being the root of all mankind, the guilt of this sin was imputed, and the same death in sin and corrupted nature conveyed to all their posterity, descending from them by ordinary generation.

From this original corruption, whereby we are utterly indisposed, disabled, and made opposite to all good, and wholly inclined to all evil, do proceed all actual transgressions."

(Chapter VI)

John Wesley (Founder Methodist Church) "We are condemned before we have done good or evil, under the curse before we know what it is."

(Sermons on Original Sin, p. 340)

As a person is totally Depraved, He can do nothing but sin

A person can only be saved through direct miracle on a person's soul

Proof Texts

While singling out "not even one" - they skip the verbs of "Doing"

"From the womb"

Yet

"go astray" not born that way

Following verses speak of stopping up ears and shattering teeth (newborns do not have teeth)

Objections