Martin Luther on the Five Points of Calvinism

Humble Disciple · Jul 27, 2021

Martin Luther was not a Calvinist, but neither was John Calvin. The five points of Calvinism were formulated at the Synod of Dort, in response to the five points of Arminianism. Nonetheless, one can find support for the five points of Calvinism in Martin Luther’s writings, as well as the early Lutheran confessions.

Total Depravity (Total Inability)

29. The best and infallible preparation for grace and the sole disposition toward grace is the eternal election and predestination of God.
30. On the part of man, however, nothing precedes grace except indisposition and even rebellion against grace.
https://www.uniontheology.org/resources/historical/medieval/the-97-theses
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Augsburg Confession (1530), Art. 2: “since the fall of Adam, all human beings who are born in the natural way are conceived and born in sin. This means that from birth they are full of evil lust and inclination and cannot by nature possess true fear of God and true faith in God. Moreover, this same innate disease and original sin is truly sin and condemns to God’s eternal wrath all who are not in turn born anew through baptism and the Holy Spirit.”
https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/was-luther-a-calvinist/
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Unconditional Election

Is there injustice on God’s part (in predestination)? By no means! The apostle gives no other reason as to why there is not injustice with God than to say: ‘I will have mercy on whom I have mercy’ (Romans 9:15), which is the same as saying: 'I will have mercy on whom I wish,’ or to him who is predestined to receive mercy. This is a harsh answer for the proud and those who think they know everything, but for the meek and the humble it is sweet and pleasing, because they despair of themselves; and thus God takes them up…
This statement seems hard and cruel, but it is full of sweet comfort, because God has taken upon Himself all our help and salvation, in order that He alone might wholly be the Author of our salvation.
https://beggarsallreformation.blogspot.com/2016/02/luther-have-ineffable-joy-if-youre.html
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Formula of Concord, Solid Declaration, Art. 11: “Our election to eternal life does not rest upon our righteousness or virtues but solely on Christ’s merit and the gracious will of his Father, who cannot deny himself . . . . Therefore, it is false and incorrect to teach that not only the mercy of God and the most holy merit of Christ but also something in us is a cause of God’s election, and for this reason God chose us for eternal life.”
https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/was-luther-a-calvinist/
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Limited Atonement (Particular Redemption)

Here’s the famous early affirmation of limited atonement:

Luther, Lectures on Romans (1515-1516), from the scholia at Rom. 15:33 (“Now the God of peace be with you all,” LW 25:375–76): “The second argument [against predestination] is that ‘God desires all men to be saved’ (1 Tim. 2:4). . . . these verses must always be understood as pertaining to the elect only, as the apostle says in 2 Tim. 2:10 ‘everything for the sake of the elect.’ For in an absolute sense Christ did not die for all, because he says: ‘This is my blood which is poured out for you’ and ‘for many’—he does not say: for all—‘for the forgiveness of sins’ (Mark 14:24, Matt. 26:28).”

Here are some later, more definitive statements of Luther:

...It is likewise the part of this incarnate God to weep, wail, and groan over the perdition of the ungodly, when the will of the Divine Majesty purposely abandons and reprobates some to perish. And it is not for us to ask why he does so, but to stand in awe of God who both can do and wills to do such things.”
https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/was-luther-a-calvinist/
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Irresistible (Enabling, Efficacious) Grace

In Bondage of the Will... “our salvation is not of our own strength or counsel, but depends on the working of God alone.” Further, “man’s will is like a beast standing between two riders. If God rides, it wills and goes where God wills . . . . If Satan rides, it wills and goes where Satan wills. Nor may it choose to which rider it will run, or which it will seek; but the riders themselves fight to decide who shall have and hold it” (2.8).
https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/was-luther-a-calvinist/
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Preservation/Perseverance of the Saints

Even if he wants to, he cannot lose his salvation, however much he sin, unless he will not believe. For no sin can condemn him save unbelief alone. All other sins—so long as the faith in God’s promise made in baptism returns or remains—all other sins, I say, are immediately blotted out through that same faith, or rather through the truth of God, because He cannot deny Himself.
https://beggarsallreformation.blogspot.com/2009/10/did-luther-believe-salvation-can-be.html
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Luther cautioned that we not abuse the doctrine of election, either as a license to sin or as a disincentive to preach the Gospel to all people indiscriminately:

I hear that here and there among the nobles and persons of importance vicious statements are being spread abroad concerning predestination or God’s foreknowledge. For this is what they say: “If I am predestined, I shall be saved, whether I do good or evil. If I am not predestined, I shall be condemned regardless of my works.” I would be glad to debate in detail against these wicked statements if the uncertain state of my health made it possible for me to do so. For if the statements are true, as they, of course, think, then the incarnation of the Son of God, his suffering and resurrection, and all that he did for the salvation of the world are done away with completely. What will the prophets and all Holy Scripture help? What will the sacraments help? Therefore let us reject all this and tread it underfoot.
https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/was-luther-a-calvinist/
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Humble Disciple · Jul 30, 2021

Martin Luther on the Five Points of Calvinism

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Martin Luther on the Five Points of Calvinism

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