Five-Point Calvinism's Total Depravity In The Light of Free Grace Theology

Introduction

The Word of God is absolutely true, inerrant in the autographa and inspired by God Himself (Psalm 19:7-9; 2 Tim 3:16; 2 Pet 1:21). Thus, it would stand to reason that every theological perspective must be measured against the Word of God, resonating perfectly in its internal consistency and its correspondence to reality. Varying theologies within Christendom are products of interpretation and have hermeneutical differences and consequences that make them unique among their peers. Where a system is found to be inconsistent with the Scriptures, it should be readily abandoned in favor of where the text leads. Too often the opinions of men, whether codified or not, have turned a shortcut into an expressway simply because a temporary obstruction on the main road did not fit their schema.

Unfortunately, those who advocate Five-Point Calvinism have held fast to a system of theology that has been proven to be logically consistent, yet biblically inconsistent. This is a serious error that demands for its replacement in favor of a faithful representation of that whichis revealed in God’s Word.

Free Grace Theology exposes the scriptural inadequacies of Five-Point Calvinism, providing a theologically consistent and coherent understanding of soteriology that is exegetically-deduced. Addressing the first point of Calvinism will be the focus of this study, for its importance cannot be overstated. Sproul affirms this: “If one embraces this aspect of the T in TULIP, the rest of the acrostic follows by a resistless logic. One cannot embrace the T and rejectany of the other four letters with any degree of consistency” (emphasis added). By their own admission, the Calvinistic view of Total Depravity is the foundational point for their entire system of logical soteriological thinking. But is the Five-Point perspective on Total Depravity biblical?

The basic tenets of Free Grace find internal consistency within the Scriptures while remaining true to life in the scope of eternity, as well as coherence in the here and now. These convictions yield practical implications that foster a greater spiritual satisfaction while bringing unparalleled cohesion to the text of Scripture. Therefore, the convictions and interpretations of Five-Point Calvinism’s view of Total Depravity will be considered against the Absolutes of Free Grace Theology (which will be addressed), with the latter showing superiority in representing theGod’s Word as the original Author/authors intended. With this in mind, those holding to Free Grace Theology will be designated as Free Grace while those who affirm Five-Point Calvinism will be referred to as Five-Point Calvinist, Reformed, Calvinist, or simply Five-Point.

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