The essence of Calvinism aids us in comprehending what God has done through Jesus Christ to save the people on earth.Calvinism is best known for TULIP, but you might not know its official name, which stands for Total Depravity, Unconditional Election, Limited Atonement, Irresistible Grace, and Perseverance of the Saints. Calvinism is a theological system that was developed in the 16th century by the French lawyer and theologian, John Calvin (1509–1564).The Augustinian and Thomistic currents would both lay the groundwork for the Reformation positions on election, predestination, and salvation. As the early church developed into the Roman Catholic Church during the Middle Ages, the Roman Catholic Church would then be judged and condemned by Calvinists as corrupt and unscriptural. John Calvin is best known throughout the world for his theological and philosophical teachings. His doctrines have influenced the formation of Protestant denominations throughout the world. Calvin believed in predestination, and Luther did not. Charitable works, according to Martin Luther, were insufficient to earn salvation. The Calvinist idea of predestination deals with the idea of God’s control over the world. According to the Westminster Confession of Faith, God ‘ordained whatsoever comes to pass freely and immutable.‘The second meaning of the word ‘predestination’ is used to describe salvation, implying that God predetermined the eternal fate of certain people to be saved through grace while leaving the rest to face eternal curses for all their misdeeds. The election is not about salvation, but the kingdom. The election has to do with inheritance, not being identified as a ‘chosen child.’ God elects those who are receptive to his will. We should not be surprised that God elects according to his own will. God does not select people who do not want Him or His Kingdom. Calvinism teaches predestination through the type of reformed churches.In Lutheranism, religious beliefs are free will. There were no children born to Calvin and Idelette, his wife. Calvin spoke French, Swiss German, and Latin. Most of his Protestant principles were in these languages. The origin of historical Calvinism dates back to Switzerland during the Swiss Reformation when Huldrych Zwingli began sermonizing the first version of the Reformed faith in Zürich in 1519. At the age of 25, while working on his first edition of the ‘Institutes Of The Christian Religion’, Calvin began influencing other theologians’ beliefs around the world. Calvin’s theology about church discipline began when he started writing in 1534 and finished in 1536.What is Calvinism?Calvinism is a system of Christian theology and an approach to the Christian life. It is named after the French reformer John Calvin, a Protestant reformer, ecclesiastical historian, and Geneva’s most famous pastor.Calvinism emphasizes the sovereignty or rule of God in all things - in salvation, but also in all of life. Calvinist theologians see God as totally sovereign over His creation and not bound by the laws that He created. Largely as a result of the influence of neo-Calvinism, Calvinism has become one of the dominant theological systems in the United States.Calvinism is a system of Christian theology based on the teachings of John Calvin, a 16th century French reformer. The word ‘Calvinism’ is derived from the latinized form of his name, ‘Calvini’. Doctrines commonly associated with this system are ‘TULIP’ (total depravity, unconditional election, limited atonement, irresistible grace, and perseverance of the saints).Many churches today use Calvinism as a theological foundation. However, it is very important to note that the term ‘Calvinism’ does not exclusively denote a particular denomination. There are many denominations (Baptist, Methodist, and Presbyterian) that hold to Calvinistic principles but do not use the word ‘Calvinism’ in their denomination’s name.There are some churches that would be considered “Calvinistic”. Presbyterianism bases its teachings directly on those of Calvin and his interpretation of the Bible. This church is organized by geographical region and follows a hierarchy consisting of “presbyters” (elders) and “synods.” Their beliefs can be summarized as: God’s sovereignty in salvation, the authority of scripture, predestination, original sin, and atonement.The Methodists are another type of church in which, theologically speaking, John Calvin was a major reformer within the ranks of Catholicism who worked diligently to improve upon various errors that had crept into the church. The Baptist Church is perhaps the largest group influenced by John Calvin. Many Baptists have creeds that summarize their beliefs, but not all churches do so. The Origins And History Of CalvinismCalvinism came out of the Protestant Reformation of the early 16th century. It was started by John Calvin (1509–1564), a French theologian.The Protestant reformers wanted to reject certain teachings and traditions that had developed in western Christianity during the Middle Ages. They also wanted to make changes to society, which they felt needed reform. Calvin developed a Christian theological system, and therefore, we also call him ‘The Father of Calvinism.‘Calvinism is a Christian doctrine that states that God is the creator of everything that exists, including all creatures. He takes care of them and leads them towards an ordered universe; this universe has been created by some objective plan, instead of happening by chance. According to Calvinists, it was made for human beings. God offered human beings two possibilities: either they can choose to accept the salvation which He offers them through Jesus Christ, or they will be condemned.Calvinism has given rise to various denominations, but above all, it inspired Presbyterianism in Scotland and Puritanism in England. The latter religious tendency shaped the British identity of the 17th and 18th centuries. Calvinism had a great influence on the English language, as many religious terms are derived from this doctrine. In South Africa, the first European settlers were the Dutch Calvinist settlers in 17th century.Significance Of CalvinismCalvinism is a theological system for understanding God, Scripture, and man. It emphasizes the glory of a sovereign God in his creation, redemption, and sanctification.Much of the modern world has been shaped by this much-maligned movement. Without it, we would not have such things as public education, missions to unreached peoples, or much of modern evangelicalism or evangelical churches. John Calvin emphasized his theological traditions through the holy scriptures, or the Geneva bible, for the saving grace of the Lord.It’s also owing to international Calvinism that Luther is known all around the world, since his spirituality, liturgical insights, views on preaching, and education have transformed many Calvinists in the modern-day. The work of Gordon Olson is also well recognized in the church history of Calvinism and Arminianism.Covenant theology and Calvinism are two theological systems that have been part of Christianity almost since its inception. Covenant theology is the belief that God has made several unconditional covenants with humanity, while Calvinism is the belief that God unconditionally elects individuals to salvation.The two systems are not mutually exclusive, although they seem to be at first glance. According to Calvinism, after Jesus’s death, the elect system started. A “Calvinist” was a term very distinctive from the Lutherans to distinguish Reformed Protestants from the Reformed idea of the Lord’s Supper. The Beliefs Of CalvinismCalvinism is a complex system of theology and beliefs grounded in Scripture that can be difficult to understand. As such, the basic principles of the Calvinist belief system are often simplified for easier understanding.For example, different sources can provide conflicting lists of beliefs. No formal doctrine or creed states what everyone who identifies as a Calvinist must believe. Nevertheless, the core tenets of the Calvinist belief system are presented in an attempt to provide a general sense of what it means to be a ‘Calvinist’ in terms of religious beliefs.Calvinism is a branch of Protestant Christianity whose tenets were defined by John Calvin and other early Reformation-era theologians. Believers in Calvinism are known as ‘Calvinists.’ The doctrine of total depravity asserts that people are by nature sinful and, as a result, they cannot voluntarily accept God’s offer of salvation.Total depravity stands in direct opposition to the concept of ‘free will,’ which is espoused by Arminians. The doctrine of unconditional election stands in direct opposition to the concept of ‘free will,’ which is espoused by Arminians. The doctrine of limited atonement asserts that Christ died only for the elect, or for those God chose before creation. This belief directly contradicts the idea that Christ died for the sins of every individual (universal atonement).The doctrine of irresistible grace asserts that the saving grace extended by God cannot be resisted. This belief directly contradicts the concept of ‘free will,’ which is espoused by Arminians. The doctrine of perseverance of the saints asserts that all whom God has elected, and for whom Christ died, will persevere in the faith to the end. This belief directly contradicts the concept of ‘free will,’ which is espoused by Arminians.
The essence of Calvinism aids us in comprehending what God has done through Jesus Christ to save the people on earth.
