The Truth about TULIP and the 5 Solas
TULIP and the 5Solas are the Reformed bumper stickers that solidify the Reformed gospel as a given truth. They are the, “Give me liberty or give me death,” and “Remember the Alamo” of Americanism. The major difference in this analogy is the fine print. Patriotic bumper stickers are pretty straight forward; Reformed bumper stickers have a lot of fine print. In fact, with TULIP and the 5Solas, the devil is literally in the details.
T: Total Depravity. The assumption is that this only pertains to mankind in general and not the family of God. No, it is also the total depravity of the saints.
U: Unconditional Election. This isn’t an election for salvation. The elect qualify for a race of faith alone; viz, Augustine’s Sabbath Rest doctrine. If one lives by faith alone as a Christian, the reward is salvation. This is the already and not yet Reformed bumper sticker.
L: Limited Atonement. Only in regard to those chosen to enter the race of faith, not everyone “elected.”
I: Irresistible Grace. Also known as the effectual calling. This only pertains to being called into the race of faith. According to Calvin, only the ones gifted with perseverance finish the race of faith alone. So, there is the non-elect, the elect, and those who persevere (CI 3.24.6).
P: Perseverance of the Saints. Not the idea that the chosen will persevere as a result of election, but the chosen must finish the race by faith alone in order to receive the prize of salvation. The race of faith is not for rewards as workmen for the kingdom—the reward is salvation.
I: Scripture Alone. As a narrative that only shows Christians their total depravity in a deeper and deeper way so that they can continually return to the same gospel that saved them.
II: Faith Alone. For both justification and sanctification.
III: Grace Alone. For both justification and sanctification. Justification is progressive; i.e., sanctification by justification.
IV. Christ Alone. Literally. All of reality is interpreted through Christ and His works in the gospel. EVERYTHING else is a shadow of Christocentric reality, including the other two members of the Trinity.
V. Glory to God Alone. Literally. EVERYTHING else recognized as having worth steals from the glory of God. Luther/Augustine/Calvin interpreted reality as everything being categorized as the glory story (man) or the cross story (Christocentric reality).
paul
Encouragement for Calvinist Pastors Who Love the Truth
I know, it’s a drag. You have been calling yourself a Calvinist for 10, 20, maybe even 30 years, and now it is coming out that Calvin didn’t believe that justification is a finished work. Justification by faith alone means faith alone in sanctification as well via a Gnostic application. Total depravity also pertains to the saints. Christ alone doesn’t mean the only way to the Father, it means Christ has preeminence over the other two members of the Trinity. Bad things man. In the Calvin Institutes, Calvin states plainly that sins committed in the Christian life, “separate us from grace.” Yikes!
Now what? Though few in the Calvin gene pool, you really want your parishioners to think for themselves. When these contradictions come up, you don’t want them to merely look at you while waiting for you to say, “Move on, nothing here, all is well.” Moreover, you actually believe you will stand before Christ to give an account for leading the sheep in a gospel that propagates an unfinished justification. You imagine Christ saying, “What did you think I was talking about when I said, ‘It is finished’?”
As one who lost my identity as a Christian, my church “family” of 20 years and all of the friendships thereof, a marriage of 24 years and the privilege of living in the same house with my son, my reputation, my job, and….I think that covers all of it on the loss side…let me encourage you.
First, you could really grab the bull by the horns and get up in front of your congregation tomorrow and ask forgiveness for leading them astray. You could try to sell them on the idea that this begins a new adventure in your life and you want them along for the ride. And by golly, this time you know what you are talking about! (Have another job lined up first).
If that doesn’t sell, there is always the truth and a clear conscience. Besides, you will not lose all of your friends. This is where leaving big tips for Sally Lou down at the local diner pays off.
The encouragement is the following: ultimately, standing with the truth is a win/win situation. God will give you another ministry—one that you never saw coming. And he will replace your friends with new ones, and this time, real ones. Friendships built on a common love for the truth.
And you will be free to pursue the real truth unhindered by the standards and acceptance of men. It will take patience because words mean things. I will leave you with one more tip: this is something you will be saying often;
Ok, I will read it again, but you aren’t dreaming, and you didn’t see a UFO, this is what he wrote, it’s right here…
…words mean things.
Paul's Passing Thoughts 
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