Calvinism 101 - Part 1: A Personal Testimony

My last post introduced my Calvinism 101 series; in this post I wish to relate my own journey, as it were, to the Biblical doctrines that are labeled Calvinism.  To me, this is not merely a dry theological discussion that is best relegated to the halls of a seminary, but rather it is a discussion of scriptural doctrines that actually affect people and how they think, speak, and act.

I have not always called myself "Reformed." 

In fact, I really hadn't even heard of Reformation theology or Calvinism, let alone understood what these were, until a few years ago.  Then, my family started our blog and began reading other families' blogs.  We started to see people who labeled themselves as "Reformed Christians" or "Calvinists."  I really didn't know what that meant--Reformed believers were "them," not me.

It wasn't too long after this time that I started finding out what basic Calvinism was.  Oddly enough, it meshed with my own convictions.  It was, well, biblical!

I remember as a young lad believing in Calvinistic predestination after reading the magnificent passage in Ephesians 1.  When I read that God chose, I believed that God chose.  I also believed that man couldn't do anything to be saved and that once someone was genuinely converted, he could not fall away totally from salvation.

All these are tenets of basic Calvinism.  Essentially, I had been a "Calvinist" without realizing it.  What I did lack though, was a comprehensive view of the different Reformed doctrines and how they interrelated.  I also lacked a full understanding of the implications of the doctrines I believed in.

Studying the five points of Calvinism has given me two things: 1) a greater realization of the sinfulness of humans, ergo, myself, and 2) a greater realization of the sovereignty and love of God.  And that is why I believe that Calvinism is the heart of the gospel; the gospel cannot exist without a sinful man (else why the need for salvation?) or a totally sovereign God (else how can salvation take place?).  It is these two primary points that I want to expound on in this series.  All other points, I believe, are derivative of these.

I don't believe Calvinism because of John Calvin.  I haven't even read Calvin's Institutes!  I don't believe Calvinism because of the grand label of Reformed Theology.  I believe Biblical doctrines--if they are called Calvinism, then that's what I believe.  But I want to make clear that my convictions stem not just from a sense of belonging to a label, as it were, but rather that these doctrines are Biblical!

-Jonathan

Comments

[C.S. Hayden]

Hi Jonathan. I hope you and your family are well. Thanks for the posts about Calvinism. I will look forward to reading more posts on the subject. Can I expect to see you in Boston in July for the celebration of Calvin's 500th birthday?

Congrats on graduating! What are you doing these days, having completed your studies?

[Jonathan Girotti]

Hi, Caleb! Thanks so much for commenting. Unfortunately, we probably won't be at the Calvin 500 though I would greatly desire to.

My days since graduation have been filled with overtime at work and seeking a new job in the engineering field. But it is still nice to come home and not worry about homework due. ;)

I hope you and your family are prospering!

[Tony Konvalin]

Jonathan:

I look forward to reading further posts on Calvinism. I always like to see how other explain the Doctrines of Grace as I find it helps me find differnt ways to explain them to others that do not understand them.

It sounds like I was much like you in that I was a "calvinsist" long before I knew what a "calvinist" was. Due to my lack of struggle with the doctrines as others have I need to find differnt ways to explain things so as to meet other struggles that I have not had. So againit will be good to hear your explaination of the 5 points.

Tony

[Jonathan Girotti]

Mr. Konvalin,

Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment! It's always great to see someone is reading. :)

Studying Calvinism has been a great blessing to me, and it appears a great blessing to you as well. I hope my up-coming posts will be clear and Biblical.

[Jessica]

Thanks for sharing this post. It reminds me of what the wonderful Prince of Preachers, Charles Spurgeon, once said, "Calvinism is simply another nickname for Biblical Christianity." :)

[Jonathan Girotti]

Jessica, thanks for the comment. I'm sorry I didn't reply earlier. Indeed, Charles Spurgeon is correct. He has a knack for encapsulating complex truth into pithy statements.