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Tiptoeing Through the TULIP: Radical Corruption – Part 1


The Fall of Man
On the sixth day of creation, God breathed life into man, the pinnacle of His handiwork. He beheld the earth with all the life therein and proclaimed it to be very good. (Gen 1:31) The earth was a paradise, a work of perfection. God gave man dominion over his creation. He had three simple laws for Adam and Eve to obey. They were to be fruitful and multiply. They were also forbidden to partake of the fruit of the tree of knowledge of Good and Evil. God warned:

for in the day that thou eatest thereof, thou shalt surely die. (Gen 2:17).

However, man proved unfaithful to God’s law. Satan, that ancient serpent, beguiled Eve into eating the fruit of that tree. She then shared it with Adam, who had done nothing to prevent her fateful decision.

God’s judgment came swiftly with great severity. He remained true to his word. In that day death came into the world through sin. Adam and Eve did not die physically that day. In fact, they both would live for many centuries following the incident.

So, in what way did they die in the day they ate of the tree? Continue reading →

Tiptoeing Through the TULIP: Introduction


This upcoming series of posts are for anyone new to the doctrines of God’s Sovereign Grace, or Calvinism, (although I’m not fond of that moniker at all, but it is easier to type). Calvinism (yes, I’m lazy) has been succinctly, but incompletely defined by the TULIP acrostic. Contrary to popular belief, the renowned theologian John Calvin did not formulate TULIP. It was created in response to the Five Points of Arminianism many years after Calvin’s death. I suppose Calvin is associated with TULIP and the belief system it represents because he so clearly articulated the doctrines in his own extensive writings. Continue reading →

Mailbag Musings: For God So Loves the World… Or Does He?


 

A reader, after digesting the post entitled Is God in Control?, has posed a few questions. Here is the first part:

 

‘In this blog you mention, “God elected certain men to salvation before the foundation of the world. Christ secured their salvation at the cross, dying for sin.” Some people may ask what John 3:16 means based on what you have said. Why did Jesus say, “For God so loved the world…” if He was only talking to the “elected certain men”? After all, it was “their” salvation He died for, right?’ Continue reading →

Mailbag Musings: A Calvinist Explains the Fall


I received an email the other day from a reader with the following question:

How would a Calvinist explain the fall of man to someone who does not understand the story?

First, let me give the straightforward answer to this question.

A Calvinist would explain the fall no differently than any other Christian who believes in the authenticity and authority of scripture.

Most orthodox Christians believe in the literalness of the story. It is not a fable, a myth or an allegory. The story of the fall is all fact, and all truth. Reject a literal interpretation of the fall and the mystery of man’s corrupt state remains unanswered. The story of Christ and his redemption would not make sense unless the story were true. Jesus is called the second Adam. Where Adam caused humanity to fall into sin, Christ redeemed humanity from sin. Continue reading →

Is God in Control?


Is God in Control?

The answer, a person would think, should be obvious. Of course God is in control! Most Christians would be indignant at even questioning God’s sovereignty and power over his own creation. Yet, many sincere believers will boldly proclaim this truth, then turn around and state with equal conviction how man has free will to choose whatever he wishes. It is not a question to be taken lightly, by any means. The answer will color our perception of God’s very nature and character. Our understanding of his mercy and grace are at stake!

I don’t think any sane person (other than an atheist) would question God’s ability to control everything. It is quite apparent that someone who is powerful enough to speak creation into existence also has the ability to govern it by his own hand. I think the issue comes down to God’s willingness to direct or delegate the course of human history.

The flip side of this question is: Does man have free will?

If the answer to both questions is ‘yes’, then a third question must be addressed.

How can God be in control while at the same time allowing man to exercise his free will? Continue reading →