Calvinism:  Who decides who is going to Heaven?

Some who read this won’t initially know what Calvinism is. So, let’s begin this study with a definition for it that you’ll find in any good dictionary. Calvinism is a theological system that emphasizes God’s sovereignty, the depravity of man, and what is called predestination. It is based on the teachings of a man named John Calvin who was a theologian living from 1509 to 1564.  His home was in Geneva, Switzerland. He is perhaps best known for his doctrine of predestination. What everyone needs to realize is that he taught that GOD DETERMINED before all time who would be eternally saved and who would be condemned to hell and the Lake of Fire.  This is the teaching that in God’s omniscience He not only knew who would go to Heaven or hell but determined WHO would spend eternity in those places.

If you study Calvinism and what is generally called Reformed Theology, you’ll find that so much of this teaching is based on their own unbiblical made-up definitions of certain words like sovereignty, depravity, election, predestination, and certain other words related to this subject.  This includes even simple words like “world” and “all” with which everyone is familiar.  These are all words used in “Christian” circles, but you’ll also find among these people a variety of different definitions for them.  For instance, you’ll find that most Christian theologians readily agree that God is sovereign but to Calvinists and those believing in Reformed Theology, this means that it is God who determines every decision both good and evil ever made by anyone. Concerning man’s depravity, there are many who correctly believe in the depravity of man, but Calvinists believe man is so depraved that he’d never accept the gospel or any other Bible truth if God didn’t cause him to do so.  Regarding even volition, there’s the belief that man is free and able to make all kinds of other decisions but not this one that is most important—believing the gospel message and where he’ll spend eternity.  In other words, as much as they don’t seem to like this term, people are thought to be much like robots that are completely controlled by God.  But their beliefs beg the most important question of all—Where in the Bible are such ideas taught? For instance, man was created with volition.  Even after he first sinned, he still had free will.  We know that because God justly holds man responsible for all his decisions both good and bad.  Otherwise, what would be the point of all God’s commands and prohibitions if He was determining all his choices for him?

Obviously, there are those who believe the Bible does teach what Calvinists believe. Most Calvinists will certainly point out Scripture that they believe teaches these things.  As having once been a student where these beliefs were taught, I had to learn these principles and was tested on them.  So, I’m quite familiar with them.

One thing you’ll find about people who think they are Calvinists is that many of them don’t have a clear understanding of the teachings of John Calvin.  If they did, many of them would promptly abandon them.  For instance, Calvinism teaches that an infant can be doomed to hell and the Lake of Fire from the womb, having no say at all in their eternal destination.  Of course, they’ll try to rebut that by talking about how no one deserves Heaven, and that God is being gracious to save any of us.  That’s true, but how is it that it is fair to provide a way of salvation for some but not all.  What they many times are reluctant to say is that God predetermined their decision to accept or reject the gospel message.  The bottom line to this is that Calvinists don’t believe anyone has what most of us would think of as “free will.”  To them man’s will in this matter isn’t “free” at all.  Simple statements of Scripture about this are explained away to make them coincide with their beliefs.  Here’s one well–known passage of Scripture that tends to bring out even more of their false beliefs.

John 3:16-18

¹⁶ For God so loved THE WORLD, that he gave his only begotten Son, that WHOSOEVER believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Again, Calvinists redefine words to make passages say what they want them to say.  In this case they believe that God really doesn’t love everyone; only those in the world that He’s predetermined to believe the gospel and gain entrance into Heaven.  Furthermore, the offer of salvation by grace through faith in Christ isn’t really extended to ALL people.  For more information on all this, please see my other articles about this—

Calvinism:  What is it all about?

Calvinism:  Does God love ALL mankind?

¹⁷ For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that THE WORLD through him might be saved.

Again, to Calvinists this only includes that portion of the world of mankind that God has predetermined to save.

¹⁸ He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. [Emphasis added]

True Calvinists believe it is God who actually does all the deciding on what man believes.  To them it is God who controls man’s volition and only causes some to believe the gospel and be saved.  All others are doomed to Hell and the Lake of Fire.

Regarding Christ’s work on the cross to pay for man’s sins, they believe God only did this for a limited number, not all or the entire world of mankind.  In theological circles this is called limited atonement.  But what do the Scriptures tell us about this? Was what Christ accomplished through His death, burial, and resurrection limited to only a few?

1 Timothy 2:3-6

³ For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;

⁴ Who will have [THELO = desires] ALL men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

I always want to ask these people what it is about “all” that they do not understand? Could Scripture make it any plainer?

⁵ For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

⁶ Who gave himself a ransom for ALL, to be testified in due time. [Emphasis added]

Again, can these verses state these simple but important truths any plainer? Do we really need an interpreter for these? Even the apostle John tells us these things.

1 John 2:1-2

¹ My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

² And he [Jesus Christ] is the propitiation [the One who satisfied the demands of God’s justice] for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of THE WHOLE WORLD. [Emphasis only]

This, of course, doesn’t mean everyone is saved but that everyone COULD or HAS THE POTENTIAL to be saved. Here, again, please see my other articles about all this—

Salvation:  Does God desire it for everyone?

Some people ask how it is that God’s desires could not be fulfilled.  The answer to that is that it was God’s decision to allow man to decide all this for himself.  He’s free to accept God and His provision for his salvation or reject it.

The Bible clearly tells us that to be saved a person must personally accept the gospel message.  This is something every person is free to decide.

1 Corinthians 15:1-4

¹ Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also YE have received, and wherein ye stand;

God didn’t decide for them.  They each decided for themselves.

² By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.

³ For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;

⁴ And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: [Emphasis added]

But how can one honestly tell an unbeliever Christ died for his sins if He died for only some people?  How could he possibly know that He died for that person he was presenting this message to?  Here’s the name of my article about this—

Calvinists:  Can they honestly present the gospel message?

For more information about the five major beliefs of Calvinism, you’ll find that in my articles on this website.

Question:  From a practical standpoint, what are your thoughts about bringing a child into the world with no hope at all of them ever being saved?  To the true Calvinist, babies are born into the world every day who have no hope at all for ever entering Heaven.  To the Calvinist, their eternal future has already been determined by God.  To the Calvinist, your child will have no say at all about it. Does that seem fair to you? IS it fair? You will find that generally, Calvinists don’t know how to answer such a question.  Instead, they’ll talk about the goodness and fairness of God and that such questions need not be asked.  In other words, they’re unable to reconcile these things.  What they, of course, claim is that they don’t need to reconcile them.  They just try to convince us that God will justly work all this out even though how He does that is totally unknown to us.  They speak of this as a mystery but it is actually a contradiction.  The truth of the matter is that the reason they’re irreconcilable is that they are false.  It is the Bible that helps us see that.  The Bible clearly offers salvation to all and tells us anyone can be saved by accepting God’s means to it.

The idea that God is the sovereign governor of all creation is a central tenet of Calvinism and Reformed Theology.  Romans 9 is one of the proof texts these people use to teach this.  Let’s look at that portion of it that is commonly used for this.

Romans 9:14-18

¹⁴ What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid.

¹⁵ For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.

¹⁶ So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.

¹⁷ For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.

¹⁸ Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth. [Emphasis added]

You’ll find my comments about these verses and more on this website.  I’ve devoted a whole article explaining this Romans 9 text.  Here’s the link to it—

Calvinism:  Does Romans 9:14-18 support it? 

Perhaps the most important truth Calvinism distorts is the teaching that man, even in his sinful, unbelieving state, is able to choose his own destiny.  That’s why he’s thought to be responsible for his choices.  In other words, he is response able or able to respond.  The choice truly is his.  God made man to be able to respond and accept God’s provision for his salvation when he resided in the Garden of Eden, and he still has that ability today.  God certainly didn’t have to do things this way, but He did.  That’s why we have passages of Scripture from Him like these—

Deuteronomy 30:19-20

¹⁹ I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore CHOOSE life, that both thou and thy seed may live:

What would be the point of such a statement if man was unable to make such a choice?  Even having the capacity to love is based on this principle.

²⁰ That thou mayest LOVE the Lord thy God, and that THOU MAYEST OBEY his voice, and that THOU MAYEST CLEAVE unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the Lord sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them. [Emphasis added]

THEIR decision would determine their future.  There are other passages that show us this.

Joshua 24:14-16

¹⁴ Now therefore FEAR the Lord, and SERVE him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers SERVED on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and SERVE ye the Lord.

¹⁵ And if it seem evil unto you to SERVE the Lord, CHOOSE you this day whom YE will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

Clearly God gave man these options.  He could either choose to serve God or refuse to serve Him. He commands them because they are RESPONSE ABLE.  God gave them the freedom and the ability to make their own choice in the matter.

¹⁶ And the people answered and said, God forbid that we should forsake the Lord, to serve other gods; [Emphasis added]

Again, they were able to go either way on this just as we are today.  There’s a real sense in which we become products of our own decisions.

Galatians 6:7-8

⁷ Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

⁸ For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. [Emphasis added]

Man sows and reaps in accordance with his own decisions.  As a pastor I once knew said— “God is a gentleman! He lets people decide for themselves.”

What will YOUR decision be on this? How have YOU been deciding thus far? What place have YOU chosen to give God and His Word in your life? How you’re answering that of your own free will has everything to do with your future now and even in eternity.  Therefore, choose wisely! Don’t abuse the free will God has given you.  Let the prophet Joshua’s words be your words—

Joshua 24:15b

^15b…as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. [Emphasis added]

Never think even for a second that this isn’t YOUR decision to make. You’ll never be in a position to rightfully blame anyone but yourself if you make the wrong one.  Again, choose wisely! You’ll never regret it if you do that.  Accept by faith this reconciliatory work Jesus Christ did for you so that you would have this glorious opportunity to spend eternity in a wonderful place like Heaven.

2 Corinthians 5:18-21

¹⁸ And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;

¹⁹ To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

²⁰ Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.

²¹ For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. [Emphasis added]

Being even the sinner that you are, God is graciously offering you this opportunity.

Romans 5:8

⁸ But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. [Emphasis added]

Never be so foolish as to reject what He did for you.  Accept His gift of salvation now and be glad forever!