Summary of TULIP After Reading This Site for Over Eight Years

This is not what Calvinists believe. People are capable of doing good without Christ. We see that every day. The question is the intent of that good. And it's not a matter of choosing evil. We are unrighteous if we are not saved. Ergo, we are evil without salvation. Of course it all depends on what you mean by evil.

I don't know of any Calvinist that would argue that people who are not elect are evil to the core and as bad as they can be and that seems to be what you are saying we believe.

 

That's why I said it depends on what you mean when you say evil.

If someone believes that they are just ignorant of reality.

 

I've noticed in the OT several verses where God says that ...
He desires to dwell with those who have humble and contrite hearts.
So, I've been wondering if this might be how He chooses people for election.

 

You can not do anything good in the sight of God prior to regeneration. The best work of the unregenerate man is seen by Him as a used menstural rag.
Unregenerated man is pure evil. Anyone who has broken the law is guilty of the entire law. In God's eyes, the serial killer and the best by worldly standards unsaved person are equal. There is no true goodness outside God.
(And I am not a Calvinist.)

 

Excellent appraisal of Calvinism.
MB

 

Did some one say man is innocent? Of course man is a sinful creature but not one of them is unsavable. Even a Calvinist can be saved. Although lately it seems they are not so kind as to admit this
MB

 

That post is so far out in the weeds I have no idea where to begin.

 

Many misunderstand what we mean by total depravity, as it is NOT sayingl that lost sinners are not able to do any good works or even be religious, but that they cannot ever by themselves do works from a selfess motive, and are trying to get right with God based upon works and not His grace! Refers to spiritual death and inability to come to God////

 

What total depravity is depends on what type Calvinist you are. Hypers and most ultra High, believe exactly what you say Calvinist don't believe. I agree with the hypers.

 

I've bolded the portions of your summary that I believe need clarification.
In addition, I've made some observations based on what you've written.

1) Man's efforts at reconciling to God in and of himself are fruitless, as all our works are as filthy rags ( Isaiah 64:6 ).
There is no acceptable way for men to approach God without a change of heart, as the Lord cannot and will not accept anything other than a blood sacrifice to atone for sins.

2) You appear to object quite strongly to the biblical teaching that man's will is not only tied to his nature, but incapable of truly making a decision apart from the influence of our corrupt sin nature.
At this point, I encourage you to trust God's perspective on the human heart, and not what some "teacher" tells you from a pulpit.

3) You also seem to be under the impression that your own will was somehow "violated" by God saving you, as if it were a bad thing.

 

Essentially I think you have most of this correct, although I also think the wording could be better.
One thing I would change is this...

God makes His power known by making of the same, tainted clay both vessels of mercy, and vessels of wrath.
All are meant for His eternal glory.
Some for an eternal relationship with Him for the praise of the glory of His grace, and some for eternal punishment due to their willfully committed sins that they could never, in a million years, be completely trusted to repent of.

Those that are fitted to destruction fit themselves, by piling up sins to Heaven.
Those that he afore prepared unto glory, He sent His Son to atone for, and they are precious in His sight.

 

I would clarify that the word "world" in many places, means those that He has saved out of every tongue, tribe and nation ( Revelation 5:9, Revelation 7:9 ), both Jews and Gentiles ( Romans 9:24 ).
Otherwise, I believe you have represented this closely enough.

"World", at least in John 3:16 and 1 John 2:2, means saved Jews and Gentiles.

 

I believe you may have a misunderstanding in this last statement.
Free will ( freedom of choice ) exists in both unregenerate and regenerate individuals.

The difference is, the person who is not born again decides things based on a love of sin and a hatred of God for commanding repentance.
The person who is born again, decides things based on a love of God and a hatred of sin.

The "heart" has been changed ( Ezekiel 11:19, Ezekiel 36:26, Romans 8:5-17, 2 Corinthians 5:17 ).

I agree that it is "irresistible", in that God simply overpowers the recipient of His mercy and grace and effects the heart change against their rebellious will.

 

There is no such thing as an inability to come to God. Inability to come to God isn't even discussed in scripture.
MB

 

In this final point, I also think there is need for clarification.

1) Believers in Jesus Christ are not caused to repent against their natural wills.
God changes the heart, and when they hear the Gospel of their salvation and realize what they have done in offending God by their sins, naturally repent as a consequence of that realization.
God does not cause repentance, he grants it by changing the hearts and minds...lifting the believer out of the "rut" of his or her own rebellion and sinfulness.

2) A good way to know if someone is truly saved is to see the fruits of the Spirit ( Galatians 5:22-23 ) in them.
Even spiritually dead religious people can exhibit "good works" ( from man's point of view ), yet not demonstrate the fruits of the Spirit.

For example, the same person who gives to the poor can be a rampant adulterer or love the world and its ways.
Famous people do good works everyday, yet in their hearts and minds, they don't genuinely love God.

 

Then He chooses them based on what they do, making Him a respecter of persons.

Sinful men making their own destiny?
Again, an attractive idea to anyone, in my opinion.