Janet Austin Supporter Lover of God. Right to the Soul, author

This is meant to be a teaching point. I apologize if it sounds rude. It is said kindly with insight that I hope helps eBible readers. 

A Calvinist is a person who is very confused about the truth of what Jesus taught. 

As I read Mr Houdmann’s answer, I asked myself, what would a Calvinist parent say when their 9-year-old asks, “Daddy, will I go to heaven or hell?” I’m asking because if I understand his answer correctly, he is saying that NO ONE can decide on their own to follow Christ Jesus as Lord. 

But that makes no sense according to MANY Bible verses. Why would the Bible talk about repentance, free will, faithful believing, spreading the Gospel (which in Greek means GOOD NEWS), if the only news to be spread is –- You may or may not go to hell…and you have no way to choose to follow God/Lord Jesus. That sounds like BAD news to me.

Supporting VERSES for my above points, plus my COUNTERPOINTS:

REPENTANCE: 
Acts 3:19 Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out.
2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill His promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
COUNTERPOINT: These verses say that God calls everyone to repentance (to change one’s mind and turn from sin), and when one repents, their sins are forgiven/blotted out. 

FREE WILL:
Acts 26:20 (Paul) preached that they should repent and turn to God and demonstrate their repentance by their deeds.
John 1:12-13 But to all who did receive Him, who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. 
COUNTERPOINT: These verses say that everyone has the ability/free will to repent and turn to God. 

FAITHFUL BELIEVING
Acts 16:31 “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved”
Ephesians 2:8-9 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.
COUNTERPOINT: God gifts everyone grace, and all of us must make a choice -- accept it by faith, or not. 

SPREADING the GOSPEL: 
Mark 16:15-16 And He (Jesus) said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. 
Romans 10:17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
The word gospel literally means “good news” (Greek - euaggelion). The gospel is basically the good news that Christ Jesus was the sin offering for us. He paid the price for our sins. He is “the way” – the way of salvation. 
COUNTERPOINT: Why would Jesus tell people to preach the Gospel if people are already chosen and have no choice in the matter?

So, since “Gospel” means “good news,” but the Calvinists believe in (acronym TULIP) “T” - Total depravity” and “U” – unconditional election, it appears that the only honest answer to anyone who asks “Am I going to heaven or hell?” would be…“You might go to hell; we don’t know; but you don’t have a choice.” 

THAT DOES NOT SOUND LIKE GOOD NEWS TO ME!

I hope Mr Houdmann and other Calvinists reply to this comment. Also, please reply to my other eBible question, “What should Calvinist parents say to their young kids about the Calvinist fact that the kids might not be chosen?” 

In conclusion, a Calvinist is someone who is missing the GOOD NEWS.

January 21 2026 • 1 response • Vote Up • Share • Report

S. Michael Houdmann Supporter Got Questions Ministries

Traditionally, one was called a Calvinist for following the teachings of John Calvin, a 16th-century magisterial Reformer and theologian. Calvin emphasized the sovereignty of God, the unconditional...

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August 17 2015 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Ezekiel Kimosop Supporter

What is a Calvinist?

A Calvinist is Christian who subscribes to the Reformed Calvinistic doctrines that are attributed to the French lawyer and theologian John Calvin. I believe Calvinism is largely synonymous with Reformed Theology save for minor doctrinal variations. 

Some Calvinistic traditions subscribe to some rather than all the TULIP doctrines. Whether one rejects one or two of the TULIP doctrines, my view is that the entire TULIP set of doctrines contradicts the revelation and authority of Scripture. It denies John 3:16-17, Acts 2:37-38, 16:30-31, among other texts and passages of Scripture that acknowledge the responsibility and contribution of the sinner in the process of salvation. 

Under the Total Depravity doctrine, Calvinism teaches that the sinner is so depraved in sin that they are unable to respond to God's grace in the gospel of Jesus Christ unaided. To address this supposed incapacity, Calvinism teaches that God must extend irresistible grace to the elect sinner in order to draw them to Christ. 

This doctrine ties in with the unconditional election doctrine which supposes that only those who had been chosen by God before the foundation of the world would come to faith. They argue that Ephesians 1:4-5 and John 6:44 and Romans 9:10-13 affirm this doctrine. My view is that neither of these texts of Scripture when read within their passage and book contexts anchors the unconditional election doctrine. 

The Limited Atonement doctrine holds that Christ's atonement is limited to only those that God chose for salvation from eternity past. Critics of this doctrine argue that the extent of the atonement is only limited to sinners who turn to Christ without any prior distinction or discrimination. To this extent, the atonement is therefore unlimited and can potentially cover all sinners if they all turned to Christ. 

The irresistible grace doctrine has already been mentioned but suffice to say that God would be acting in contradiction to His written word if His invitation to Christ was exclusively intended for a select group of sinners. This doctrine violates the Scriptures cited above. 

The doctrine of the preservation of saints is predicated on the theological validity of the Total Depravity doctrine. 

Accordingly therefore, my view is that a Calvinist subscribes to sets of theological doctrines that manifestly contradict the revelation of Scripture.

May 17 2026 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report