Some people say God has preordained certain people to go to Heaven. However, there is a real big problem with this idea. The flip side of this doctrine is that God preordains people to go to Hell. That is a real problem because when I read the Scriptures, I read that “God so loved the world.”

Calvinism is an attempted answer to the statement, “If people are saved by grace, then they can live however they want and still be saved.” To try and get around that, people, starting with John Calvin, created a doctrine can be summed up in 5 points. These points are illustrated in the acronym, “TULIP.”

Total Depravity – People are so depraved that they cannot even believe.
Unconditional Election – God has predetermined people to go to heaven.
Limited Atonement – Jesus’ blood only paid for certain people’s sin.
Irresistible Grace – God’s grace is so irresistible that we cannot say “no.”
Perseverance of the Saints – If you persevere until the end, then you were truly saved.

I reject all 5 points of Calvinism because the Bible rejects all five points of Calvinism.

And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life. John 5:40

This verse tells us that there are people who can but won’t come to Christ. This shows that people are able to believe in Christ and yet are able to resist grace.

1 Timothy 2:4 (today’s scripture) shows that there is no truth to unconditional election.

All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. Isaiah 53:6

This verse clearly shows the sins of everyone were laid on Christ. There was no limit to the atonement.

And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. John 10:28

Jesus said eternal life is given, therefore, it is not dependent on your perseverance. A better way to put it would be the “preservation of the saints.” Jesus is the One Who saves us and the One Who keeps us saved!