INTRO: This is parts 4 and 5 in our series, "What is the PCA?" Don't let the word "Calvinism" throw you for a loop! Calvinism of course gets its name from John Calvin, of the Reformation. He wrote the great theology text of the Reformation, "The Institutes of the Christian Religion," which sought to summarize the doctrines of the Bible. So "Calvinism" just means Bible doctrine. But the term "Calvinism" is used by many to refer specifically to the "Doctrines of Grace," so called because they emphasize how gracious God is in His work of salvation. Sometimes the word "Tulip" is used as an acrostic to aid in memorizing these 5 doctrines. Let's just see what the Bible says about these five doctrines that emphasize the grace of God:

I. "T" is for "Total Depravity."
A. Modern American English has changed. We are not all Attilla the Hun!
Some of us are quite nice, humanly speaking.
B. BUT, except for Christians, all mankind is in a state of rebellion against God.
C. Does the Bible teach that? Yes.
1. We are born with sinful natures and inclinations (Ps. 51:5).
2. We have all committed many sins, and of our own free will we will
not seek after God (Romans 3:9-12).
3. We are actually dead toward God, and objects of His wrath by
our very nature (Eph. 2:1, 3).
In plain English: The human race is on the Niagra River, with no paddle,
about ready to go over the falls, and doesn't want to turn around.
D. What does this have to do with grace? MANKIND NEEDS IT!

II. "U" is for "Unconditional Election."
A. God saw the whole human race rejecting Him, about ready to go
to a Godless eternity, and decided in mercy to intervene.
B. He decided to choose (elect) some, not all, of our lost race, and destine
them for salvation (Ephesians 1:3-6).
C. God's choice was based on foreknowledge, but not of our merit. More likely
we are those who least deserve saving (I Peter 1:1-2; I Cor. 1:26-31)

III. "L" is for "Limited Atonement."
A. Why did Jesus die? What was his objective? Just to make a possible
atonement for every human being? Or to make an effective atonement
for those who would believe?
B. If it were just to make it theoretically available to every human being,
how many people would choose to repent and believe simply of their
own free will? None. (John 6:41-44 and 63-66; John 10:22-26).
C. There is a sense in which Jesus' death purchases benefits even for
those who reject Him -- "common grace." (see I Timothy 4:10).
D. Acts 20:28 and John 10:11 tell us that Jesus died for "the Church," and
for His "sheep." Jesus died to fulfill the Father's plan in election.

IV. "I" is for "Irresistable Grace."
A. God uses His power to guarantee that all His elect turn to Christ.
B. It is Grace, because we don't deserve to be saved.
C. It must be irresistable because we cannot and will not repent of our own
free will (John 6:41-44 and 63-66; John 10:22-26).
D. All those God has chosen MUST come to Christ (John 6:37).

V. "P" is for the "Preservation of the Saints." (All Christians are saints.)
A. Perseverance of the saints, preservation of the saints, eternal security.
Once saved, always saved. Many ways to say it.
B. Logic tells us this must be true. If God chose me, predestined me to walk
in glory, then I MUST walk in glory, or God failed. Or, if I ever have
ETERNAL life, and lose it, it was never eternal, was it?
C. The Bible also states it plainly: John 10:27-30.

CONCLUSION: So these are the doctrines of GRACE. We are not saved because we sought God of our own free will, or because we did some good deeds, or anything like that. We are saved entirely by the Grace of God, and we must be humble before Him, and give Him thanks. By His grace He chose us, He called us, he gave us the gifts of repentance and faith, and he will insure that we remain saved, and see to it that we spend eternity with Him in Heaven. We don't earn or deserve any of this. It is all due to God's gracious kindness.