Calvinism—What is it? Is Calvinism biblical?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

Calvinism, often summarized by the acronym TULIP, affirms that humans are totally depraved and unable to save themselves (Total Depravity), that God elects those who are saved apart from any merit (Unconditional Election), that Jesus died specifically for the elect (Limited Atonement), that God’s grace is irresistible when He calls someone to Himself (Irresistible Grace), and that those whom God saves will persevere to the end (Perseverance of the Saints). While each of these claims finds support in Scripture, Christians differ on their interpretation and emphasis. Scripture makes it clear that God is sovereign, that salvation is by grace, and that God chooses according to His purpose. However, it also affirms human responsibility. Whether one agrees with all five points of Calvinism or not, the biblical message is that salvation is God’s work from beginning to end.

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• The tenets of Calvinism can be seen in the Old Testament. For example, total depravity teaches that humanity is deeply fallen and incapable of pleasing God on their own, shown in Genesis 6:5 (“only evil continually”), Psalm 51:5 (sin from conception), Jeremiah 17:9 (deceitful heart), and Ecclesiastes 7:20 (no one righteous without sin).
• Unconditional election is seen in the way God sovereignly chooses His people by grace, not merit, as seen in Deuteronomy 7:6–8 (God’s choice of Israel despite their fewness), Isaiah 43:1 (God calls His people by name), and Psalm 33:12 (blessing on the chosen).
• Limited atonement shows that God’s atoning work is specific and effective for His covenant people, illustrated by Isaiah 53:4–6 (the servant bearing “our” iniquities), Exodus 29:36–37 (atonement offerings for Israel’s sins), and Leviticus 16:29–34 (Day of Atonement for Israel).
• Irresistible grace is seen by God giving a new heart and His Spirit to enable willing obedience, evident in Ezekiel 36:26–27 (new heart and Spirit), Psalm 110:3 (people offering themselves freely), and Isaiah 55:1–3 (God’s free and effective invitation).
• Perseverance of the saints is seen with God faithfully preserving His people through trials, promised in Psalm 37:28 (God will not forsake His saints), Isaiah 43:2 (presence through hardship), Jeremiah 31:3 (everlasting love), and Isaiah 41:10 (upholding by God’s hand).
• Calvinism emphasizes God's meticulous sovereignty, affirming that God actively governs every detail of creation—including human decisions (Proverbs 16:9; 21:1), national events (Deuteronomy 7:6–8), rulers' hearts (Daniel 4:35), and even random outcomes like the casting of lots (Proverbs 16:33). Psalm 115:3 declares God does all He pleases, showing He can override human will, and 1 Samuel 2:6–8 affirms He controls life, death, poverty, and wealth—demonstrating that nothing happens outside His purposeful, sovereign will.

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• Total depravity means that sin has corrupted every part of the human being—mind, will, heart, soul, and body—not that people are as sinful as possible, but that their depravity is comprehensive. This doctrine is difficult for many because it asserts that unbelievers are incapable of choosing God on their own, as even their intellect is biased against truth—making them unable to respond to evidence or seek God apart from grace (Romans 3:10–11; Ephesians 2:1; 1 Corinthians 2:14). Paul insists that no one is righteous or seeks God naturally, that we were spiritually dead, and that the natural person cannot understand spiritual truth because it is only discerned through the Spirit—confirming that salvation cannot begin with human initiative but must begin with God.
• Unconditional election teaches that, since fallen humans are spiritually dead and unable to choose God on their own, God sovereignly chooses whom He will save based solely on His will and not on any foreseen action or merit. Though difficult for some to accept because it seems to remove human free will, Scripture consistently affirms this truth—Jesus said only those the Father gives to Him will come (John 6:37), His sheep follow because they were given to Him (John 10:27–29), and Paul states that believers were chosen “before the foundation of the world” (Ephesians 1:4–5), using God’s choice of Jacob over Esau as proof that election is not based on works but on God’s purpose (Romans 9:11–21). While this doctrine is often misunderstood as anti-evangelistic, Calvinism affirms that our job is to proclaim Christ to all, trusting that God will use His Word to save the elect—just as John Calvin sent pastors to plant churches, and William Carey launched the modern missions movement with a firm belief in God’s sovereign election.
• Limited atonement (also called “Particular Atonement”) teaches that Jesus died specifically and effectively for the elect alone, not for all people without exception, with verses like John 10:11 (“the good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep”) suggesting He died for a particular group. Calvinists say that since Jesus paid the full penalty for sin, if He died for those who will never be saved, it would create a theological problem of “double jeopardy” (i.e., God punishing sin twice), undermining His justice. Four-point Calvinists raise concerns from universal-sounding texts like John 3:16, but five-point Calvinists interpret these verses as referring to people from all nations, not every individual. In practice, both views agree only the elect are ultimately saved, and both affirm evangelism as essential since we are called to freely proclaim the gospel, trusting God to save those whom He has chosen.
• Irresistible grace teaches that all whom God has unconditionally elected will be irresistibly drawn to Christ by the Holy Spirit—not against their will but through a transformation of the heart that makes them genuinely desire salvation. This grace is not coercive but renewing, as seen in John 6:44, where Jesus says no one can come to Him unless drawn by the Father, and in Acts 16:14, where “the Lord opened [Lydia’s] heart” to respond to Paul’s message—demonstrating how God changes hearts so that formerly unwilling sinners become willing and eager to believe, thus overcoming total depravity through sovereign, effective grace.
• Perseverance of the saints teaches that all who are truly elected, called, and saved will never lose their salvation, not because of their own strength but because Jesus will not let them go. In John 6:39, Jesus promises to lose none of those the Father has given Him but to raise them up on the last day, and Romans 8:29–30 (the “golden chain”) shows that everyone God foreknew, predestined, called, and justified will also be glorified—proving that salvation, from start to finish, is God’s work, and that every true believer is eternally secure.

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

Calvinism is a theological system that arose indirectly from the teachings of John Calvin during the Reformation. Calvin would not have called himself a Calvinist, arguing that Scripture must be our final authority. In fact, the term “Calvinist” can be traced to a period after his death, when the teaching of another individual from the Reformation period, Jacob Arminius, was used to discredit some of Calvin’s views. The Arminian view presented five summary statements, to which five counter arguments were presented by those we now know as Calvinists. Those five arguments have come to be known by the acronym, TULIP, with each letter representing one of the five counter arguments.

Like with any movement, there are certainly those who hold to Calvinism because of the pedigree of its name. However, most Calvinists would agree with Calvin that what is important is making sure everything we believe conforms to Scripture, not to one man’s particular view on it. When most Calvinists call him or herself a Calvinist, what is meant is not that he or she follows Calvin’s teaching, but that he or she agrees with the conclusion of those five points the first Calvinists made that were based on Calvin’s teaching, derived from Scripture.

The TULIP acronym deals primarily with the doctrine of salvation, which a Calvinist argues is both directly biblically supported, as well as the result of logical inferences based on the sovereignty of God.

Note that not all Calvinists hold to all five points of TULIP. There are two primary ways to understand God’s sovereignty. Most five-point Calvinists describe God’s sovereignty as meticulous. By that, they mean that not even one atom in the universe does anything outside of God’s control. Those who hold to softer forms of Calvinism, such as four-point Calvinism, tend to see God’s sovereignty as overarching but not meticulous, giving freedom to humans to make decisions outside of God’s direct (meticulous) control.

Because this article is about full Calvinism, what follows are the arguments of a five-point Calvinist:

Total Depravity: fallen man is incapable of pleasing God

Unconditional Election: God sovereignly elects some individuals for salvation based solely on His grace

Limited Atonement: Jesus’ death atoned only for the sins of the elect

Irresistible Grace: the Holy Spirit irresistibly draws the elect to faith and repentance

Perseverance of the Saints: those whom God has elected, atoned for, and drawn to Himself are preserved in faith until the last day

Whether one embraces Calvinism in full or in part, we must submit our theology to Scripture. The doctrines often associated with Calvinism challenge us to reflect deeply on the nature of God’s sovereignty and grace. They remind us that salvation is not something we earn or sustain by our own strength. Instead, it is a divine gift from beginning to end.

For those who believe these doctrines, Calvinism can cultivate humility, awe, and confidence in God’s plan. At the same time, we must approach these matters with charity. Not all who love the Lord will interpret these doctrines the same way. What unites true believers is not agreement on every point of theology, but faith in Christ and commitment to God’s Word. Let us search the Scriptures carefully and respond with reverence—knowing that God is glorified not only in His sovereign choice, but also in His mercy and patience toward all.

UNDERSTAND

• Through the TULIP framework, Calvinism emphasizes God's sovereignty from election to final perseverance.
• The Bible reveals humanity’s sinfulness, predestination, the effectiveness of Christ’s atonement, the Spirit’s power in drawing sinners, and the security of believers.
• The strength with which Calvinists emphasize certain points can cause division with others, as others may affirm the same truths but differ in how they interpret God’s sovereignty, human responsibility, and the extent of Christ’s work.

REFLECT

• How do you personally respond to the truth that salvation is God's work from beginning to end?
• Which point of Calvinism challenges your current understanding of God or salvation the most, and why?
• How does believing (or wrestling with) God’s sovereignty impact your faith?

ENGAGE

• How can we reconcile and explain the truth that God is sovereign and that humans are responsible?
• How can we lead discussions around Calvinism to deeper worship and unity, rather than division, among believers?
• What truths can all believers hold onto regarding salvation, God’s sovereignty, and human responsibility?