This book really change my thought about Christian since i read it approximately about 4 years ago. I was astonished after i know the truth. I was in a charismatic church for maybe 10 years and i knew nothing about Christ, about Christian, about doctrine, it was too superficial. And who says doctrine is not important is the one who doesnt want to know about God, because knowing doctrine is like learning to know and understand God deeper. Do you really want to know Him?? From this book i realized so many things. Let me share a little :)
It tells about TULIP.
T is for total depravity. Human is so depravated, we even dont have an abilty to do good things. We dont have any desire, we cant understand what goodness is, it is our nature to do sin. Yes we are. If we think we are good enough, then we dont need God. Even we didnt steal, or kill someone, doesnt mean that we are good enough. No one is good, the one who is good is Good only. (Rome 3, 2 Cor 3:12-18)
U is for unconditional election. It means that God choose people to be loved for unconditional reason. He doenst have any reason to love a sinful human like us, but He does... and He didnt ask for any requirement. Once we are choosen then forever we are saved. Its not because of our good deeds, but only by His unconditional love.
Some people says that we can lost our salvation. Other say we are all given a ticket to Heaven, but in our way to exchange that ticket, some didnt do because of free will not to accept that ticket, some exchange that ticket, then the one who didnt isnt saved. By that story, we can see that its like God has no power upon us and it doesnt make any sense. God is a powerful God, and He is consistent. Once choosen, then forever we're with Him, and human has no power against His power.
Who are we to receive His great election and forgiveness? Its because His love for us, His grace for us... (John 6:37, John 15:16, Acts 13;48, Ephesians 1:4-5, Eph 2:8)
L is for limited atonement. God love the world, but its not every people in the world. Do you get shocked by now?? i did. Because i thought He chooses everyone of us. Unfortunately no. (John 6:37-40, John 10:15, eph 5:25, Rm 9:13) its called predestination. From the beginning He choose some people... He choose Jacob and not Esau. He doesnt choose everyone. Maybe now, you are asking about God's justice. If God is a fair God, then none of us would be saved, because we are not worth it. We cant ask for God's justice, His soverignty far above us, beyond our thoughts...
Irresistable grace. Those who obtain grace is not by their free will but by the sovereign grace of God. Calvin said "it is not violent, so as to compel men by external force; but still it
is a powerful impulse of the Holy Spirit, which makes men willing who
formerly were unwilling and reluctant." (John 6:37,44, Rm 8:29-30,
Perseverence of The Saint may be defined as that continuous operation of the Holy
Spirit in the believer, by which the work of divine grace that is begun
in the heart is continued and brought to competition. It is because God
never forsakes His work that believers continue to stand to the very
end. They whom God hath accepted in His Beloved, effectually called and sanctified by His Spirit, can neither totally nor finally fall away from the state of grace, but shall certainly persevere therein to the end, and be eternally saved.
Many who profess to believe fall away, but they do not fall from grace
for they were never in grace. True believers do fall into temptations,
and they do commit grievous sins, but these sins do not cause them to
lose their salvation or separate them from Christ. (John 6:37,39, 44, 63-63)
i really suggest you to read this book about Calvinism, or you can read in www.monergism.com
It is really great to know more about the truth by what He truly said in the Bible. :)
