Tulip Gazing

“Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior.  But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free form accusation – if you continue in your faith, establish and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel.”

                                                     

                                                      Colossians 1:21-23a

Today is all about tulip gazing.  With spring upon us in the Northeast and yet another dumping of snow, I can’t help wonder if some of you are excited with that prospect.  I hate to be a killjoy but our time of tulip gazing hasn’t anything to do with spring or the beautiful flowers it brings but in doctrine, deep into doctrine.  Some of you are shutting down right now but stick with me because you might just love me by the time we are done.  We might even become besties?

I love the weight of what our scriptures teach us today.  Before we get into our tulip gazing let’s take a moment to really let the truths soak in from verses 21-22.  “Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your mind because of your evil behavior.  But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation.” (Emphasis mine). 

Because of Christ’s death of his physical body, you stand reconciled before God when you put your faith in Jesus.  You could never have done this for yourself.  God had to do it for you.  You could not and cannot make yourself holy (in his sight not yours), blameless or free from accusation.  Only a savior could do that.  God did it.  Not you.  Jesus did it. Not you.  Glory!  So grateful.  Because Christ took the punishment we get right standing.  Not such a fair deal but one I embrace.  There is no other way to be reconciled to God.  No. Other. Way.  You can’t do it yourself.  Only God can do it.  And He does.  What a God we serve!!!!

Tulip gazing.  In the last year or so, I found myself, by necessity, delving deep into the study of the doctrine of grace.  Seemed simple enough when I started, yet a year and half later I am still attempting to get my mind wrapped around this doctrine and all of its complexities of which there are many.  Not only is the doctrine complex but it is equally controversial.  I learned that there are two rather distinct camps and lots of grey in-between.   I know what you are thinking.  Yawn.  Hold tight. 

The controversy started around the 16^th and 17^th century between John Calvin and Jacob Arminius.  Arminius called into question some of the teachings of John Calvin and what ensued was a debate that still echoes through churches, universities, home bible study groups etc.; even today.  What is the seed of this controversy?  Basically free will.  To put it more scholarly, God’s sovereignty versus man’s responsibility regarding salvation.  Are you starting to feel a bit of tension?  You should.  It is a tense topic and one that might rattle your belief system.  Rattling is good because we need to know what we believe and why we believe it.  We are not called to just take someone else’s word for it.  Your faith is your faith.  Faith is your foundation and what you believe will be reflected in how you live.  Since we want to live for the glory of God, we need to be rattled every now and again. I commence rattling.

Right about now you might be wondering; “so what exactly did Calvin believe and what was Arminius’s problem with it”.  And what in heaven’s name do tulips have to do with this. 

John Calvin’s thesis regarding the doctrine of grace has been summed up with five points represented in the acronym TULIP.  He is how it is spelled out. 

T – Total depravity of Man – every aspect of humanity is tainted by sin; therefore, man is unable to come to God on his own accord.

U – Unconditional Election – God elects individuals to salvation based entirely on His will, not on anything inherently worthy in the individual.

L- Limited atonement – The belief that Jesus died for only the elect.

I - Irresistible – God’s grace is irresistible.  When God calls a person to salvation that person will inevitably come. 

P – Perseverance of the saints – the concept wherein a person who is elected by God will persevere in faith and will not permanently deny Christ or turn away from Him. 

What did Jacob Arminius believe?  Basically, the opposite of all the five points. 

Instead of total depravity, Arminianism teaches partial depravity.  Partial depravity states that even though every aspect of humanity is tainted by sin, man is still able to put their faith in God of their own accord.

Instead of unconditional election, Arminianism teaches conditional election.  Conditional election states that God elects individuals to salvation based on His foreknowledge of who will believe in Christ for salvation, thereby on the condition that the person chooses God. 

Instead of limited atonement, Arminianism stresses unlimited atonement.  Christ died for everyone and not just the elect. 

Instead of God’s grace being irresistible, Arminianism says that God’s grace can be resisted. 

Instead of the perseverance of the saints, Arminianism holds to conditional salvation where a believer can turn away of his own free will from Christ and thereby lose salvation. 

Let me point out something of great importance before you plant yourself firmly on one side of the debate over the other.  Scholars have supported both sides of the five “Tulip” points with scripture.  Both sides are scriptural.

So is your head spinning?  My guess is that your belief system is probably landing a little bit on both camps.  Most likely you aren’t fully Calvin or fully Arminian.  You are not alone.  There is a terminology that describes different individuals doctrinal beliefs based on how many points of the Calvin “Tulip” thesis they stand with.  There are 5 pointers, 4 pointers, 3 pointers…you get the drift. 

What is the world does all this has to do with our verse today? 

“if you continue in your faith, establish and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel.” (Emphasis mine)

Depending on where you stand in your doctrinal belief of grace, will determine what you take this verse to mean.  Can you figure out which of the five points this particular verse reflects?  Try and figure it out for yourself, I can wait. 

If you got “p”, you would be right.  Perseverance of the saints it is.  If you hold to Calvin’s perspective than Paul is saying that if they continue in their faith, than they are genuine believers.  If you hold to Arminian school of thought, it would mean that it is up to the believer to keep themselves in their faith.  Perplexing at its very core. 

One last bit of advice, know what your teachers believe and that would include this teacher.  Whether you are a 5 pointer, a 4 pointer or whatever pointer, it is best you know the teachers that instruct you and where they stand regarding the doctrine of grace.  If you don’t, be prepared to be confused and frustrated.  While I don’t advocate that you pack up and run from any teacher that you don’t agree with, because you might even change your perspective over time, but you want to be aware.  Some are especially dogmatic about what they believe and are unbending regarding certain doctrines that we need not be dogmatic about.  Scripture isn’t so we shouldn’t be either.  But I think even that point would bring cause for dispute. 

So where do I stand on all of this controversy after my year plus of study.  I believe….drum roll….neither and both.  Both of these systems fail to explain the unexplainable.  We, as mere men, cannot fully ever grasp the magnitude and brilliance of God.  I believe that God can cause both of these doctrines to be completely true.  Yes, God is absolutely sovereign and knows everything and yes we are called to make a decision of faith in Christ for salvation.  While these facts seem like they contradict each other, in the mind of God, they can make perfect sense.

Did I do a good job-explaining TULIP?  Are you glad you stuck with me?  Are we besties yet?

“Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the creator of the ends of the earth.  He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable.”

                                                               Isaiah 40:28

** Note much of my research came from several articles on Calvinism from a wonderful resource on the web gotquestions.org.  Check them out.