I. Tips and Tactics

• 1. Neo-Calvinists are notorious for saying one thing when they mean something else entirely
  2. Make certain that terms such as “law,” “grace,” “imputed righteousness,” are clearly defined and that they stick with the definition
  1. Neo-Calvinists don’t want to admit we must believe to be saved, or that we must accept God’s grace, or that man must do anything to be saved.
  2. Make them say it!
  1. Legalism – “You’re a modern-day Pharisee, legalist, etc.”
  2. Ignorance – “Do you know everything?”
  3. Unrighteousness – “All our works are as filthy rags.”
  1. A great deal of Neo-Calvinism comes from perverting Romans.
  2. You must know what is taught before you can know error when you hear it!

A. Define all terms. Watch for “term jumping”B. Make them say “Must.”

C. Get ready to be charged:

D. Know the book of Romans

I. Error

• 1. “We are under grace, not law. We must not depend on what we do, but on God.”
  1. Romans 6:14-15
  2. Galatians 3:11

A. Neo-Calvinists say:B. Passages Misused:

II. Truth

• • a) Ephesians 2:8-11
    b) Romans 3:23; 10:5
    a) 1 Corinthians 9:21
    b) Romans 8:2
    c) Galatians 6:2
    a) James 1:25; 2:12
    b) Romans 8:2, 16-17

  1. We are not under a law system whereby man works and earns his salvation:2. However, we are under law:

  3. This law is the Gospel, with all its accompanying commands, privileges, and provisions:

  1. Neo-Calvinists confuse basis for salvation (Christ) and the conditions for salvation (obedience).
  2. Is any really teaching, “I go to services three times a week and have been baptized and so I do not need Jesus”?
  3. Man must obey the Gospel, the law of Christ!when you hear it!

A. Bible teaches we are under law and graceB. Confusion about Grace

I. Error

• 1. “Some sins don’t separate us from God. Christ’s blood automatically covers sins of ignorance or inadvertence.
  1. 1 John 1:7-9; 5:16-17
  2. Romans 4:8
  3. 2 Corinthians 5:19
  1. Using a hypothetical situation to make you play God.
  2. “A man is a faithful saint for 50 years, gets splashed by mud on the street one day, curses, and then is hit by a bus. Will he be lost or saved?”
  3. Don’t play God! Clemency is up to the Judge. All we can do is quote the law!

A. Neo-Calvinists say:B. Passages Misused:

C. Favorite Tactic:

II. Truth

• • a) we walk “as He is in the light” (1 John 1:7)
    b) did Jesus sin when He walked? Neither can we!
    a) such is impossible – 1 John 1:5
    a) just compare your life to the record left by the Holy Spirit and see if you measure up – Romans 8:16
    a) all questions such as, “Do you know everything?” are just a smoke screen to cast doubt in one’s mind.
    b) we may not know everything about everything, but does that mean we know nothing about anything? Hardly!
    c) we know what we must do to be saved and to continue in the light — be assured in the practice of that knowledge!
    a) Luke 18:13-14
    b) if Jesus says the man “went down to his house justified” after confessing general sin then who can disagree?

  1. Walking in the light does not allow for sin2. Every sin separates man from God, or else God would be in fellowship with sin.

  3. Assurance is possible:

  4. We can know the truth, and thus be free – John 8:32

  5. Specific confessing of every single sin is not a part of this position

  1. If one man can be saved with unrepented sin in his life, then why can’t we all be saved that way?
  2. Could a man be an ignorant adulterer? An inadvertent liar?
  3. Which sins can man commit and not be lost? List please!

A. Walking in the light gives assurance, when properly understoodB. Questions for the Neo-Calvinists:

I. Error

• 1. “Gospel is the good news about Christ, and nothing more. Gospel cannot be preached to saints. None of the epistles are Gospel. We must agree on Gospel, but not on doctrine. Fellowship should be extended to all who accept the Gospel.”
  1. 1 Corinthians 15:1-4

A. Neo-Calvinists say:B. Passages misused:

II. Truth

• • a) 1 Timothy 1:8-11
    b) Philippians 1:27
    c) 2 Corinthians 5:14
    a) Romans 1:5; 2:8; 6:17; 10:16; 16:21
    a) Romans 1:15
    b) 1 Peter 1:25
    c) 1 Corinthians 15:1-3
    a) Where is this list of “gospel facts” that all agree on?
    b) Some have 5 facts, others 12, some 7 — this is unity?

  1. “Gospel” and “Doctrine” are used interchangeably2. Gospel must be obeyed:

  3. Jesus preached the Gospel (Matthew 4:23) also called doctrine (Matthew 7:28).
  4. Gospel can be preached to saints

  5. Who will get to decide what is gospel?

  6. Why were the epistles written if they don’t really matter?

A. Neo-Calvinists could not have missed it farther!

III. Additional Problem Area: Examples and Inferences

• • a) Lord’s Supper only on Sunday
    b) frequency of Lord’s Supper, once a week
    c) elders in every church
    d) how churches cooperated
    e) how spiritual gifts were imparted
    f) a church treasury
    g) duration of miracles
    a) Where is the background command for taking the Supper every week?
    b) Where is the background command for appointing elders in every church; why not Metropolitan bishops?

  1. Neo-Calvinists argue that human reasoning decides which examples to bind, and what is a “necessary” inference.
  2. If God wants to communicate by implication/examples can we limit Him?
  3. See how many things are changed when this part of biblical authority is discarded (this is only a partial list!):4. Don’t buy into “we accept examples with a clear ‘background command’.”

  5. This is just an effort to broaden fellowship!

A. Neo-Calvinism strips the Bible of authority!

I. Error

• 1. Galatians 2:17
  2. Romans 4:5-10; 5:1
  3. Hebrews 7:22
  4. Isaiah 64:6

A. Neo-Calvinists say: “Men are saved by His good works. Jesus is our substitute. We are accounted righteous because Jesus is righteous. The righteousness of Christ clothes the believer with the righteousness the law demands. Man is too corrupt — he can never be righteous on his own.”
B. Passages misused:

II. Truth

• • a) Words – just, justify, justification, right, righteous, righteousness are all from the same Greek word
    a) Acts 10:34-35
    b) Matthew 5:20
    c) Romans 6:13-16
    d) 1 John 3:17

  1. An attribute of God – Romans 3:5
  2. Salvation, justification – Romans 4:1-8; 10:1-10 3. What God declares right – Psalm119:172; Hebrews 5:13
  4. Righteousness is what a man does when he obeys God:

  1. Means to be forgiven, saved, justified
  2. That’s all — nothing more!
  3. No passage teaches Jesus’ righteousness is given to you, or that your righteousness can be given to anyone else!

A. Righteousness used in different ways B. What does “imputed righteousness” mean?

I. Error

• 1. “Salvation is by grace alone”
  1. Romans 4:1-5; 11:6
  1. Watch them say “grace only” whenever you talk about obedience, but then say “one must believe”
  2. Which is it – grace only or grace and faith?
  3. See John 6:29

A. Neo-Calvinists B. Passages Misused

C. Red Flag:

II. Truth

• • a) Hebrews 2:9
    b) Romans 3:24-25
    a) Titus 2:11
    b) 2 Corinthians 6:1
    c) Hebrews 12:15
    a) Hebrews 5:9
    a) Noah built (faith), but God had the plan (grace).
    b) Israel walked (faith), but God parted the Red Sea (grace).
    c) Israel marched (faith), but God destroyed Jericho’s walls (grace).
    d) Man is baptized (faith), but God saves (grace).

  1. Grace is all that God has done for us, that we couldn’t do ourselves 2. We must accept the conditions of His grace:

  3. God will not obey for you! He has done all He will, man must obey:

  4. Keep using the Old Testament examples of man cooperating with God’s grace:

A. What is grace really all about?

I. Error

• 1. “Justification is done by God, makes one right with Him. Sanctification is an ongoing process wrought by the Spirit.”
  1. Romans 5:1-5, 17; 8:1ff
  2. 1 Thessalonians 4:3-4
  3. 2 Thessalonians 2:13

A. Neo-Calvinists: B. Passages Misused

II. Truth

• • a) 1 John 3:7
    b) Romans 3:24-26; 4:21-25; 5:1
    a) James 2:24-25
    b) Romans 3:26
    a) Luke 7:29; 10:29; 16:15

  1. Simply means to pronounce righteous. Comes from the same Greek root word as righteous (didasko).
  2. God pronounces righteous when we obey Him: 3. Word is used for saints and aliens – 1 Corinthians 6:9-11
  4. Justification is conditional

  5. “Justify” refers to man’s actions:

  • a) Acts 20:32
    b) 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14
    a) 1 Corinthians 6:11
    b) 2 Corinthians 7:1

  1. Means “separation, set apart”
  2. “To purify from sin” – 1 Corinthians 6:11; Ephesians 5:26
  3. Sanctification happens at the point of salvation, and is an ongoing process 4. It is seen as completed action and a continuing process:

A. Justification B. Sanctification

The Seed of Calvinism

God’s Sovereignty Must Rule and Control Everything!

• • • Total Depravity
    • Unconditional Election
    • Limited Atonement
    • Irresistable Grace
    • Perseverance of the Saints

• Baptizing Babies and Infants (Total Depravity)
• Holy Spirit Conversion “Experience” (Irresistable Grace)
• Once Saved Always Saved (Perseverance)
• Predestination (Limited Atonement)

• Calvinism alone would never be accepted
• However, if it is modified and made more deceptive…
• Calvinism mixed with some truth equals new-Calvinism
• Neo-Calvinism is born!

• J ustification – Sanctification Difference
• O nly Grace
• R ighteousness Imputed
• D octrine – Gospel Distinction
• A ssurance – Security
• N o Law

Authors: Bobby Holmes and Mark Roberts

Naturally, the roots of Neo-Calvinism are found in plain vanilla Calvinism. This booklet attempts to briefly cover that ground before turning its attention to this “offshoot” of John Calvin’s original errors.

John Calvin made one wrong assumption, and it totally corrupted and destroyed everything he ever thought or wrote from then on. His decision that God controlled everything crept into his beliefs about salvation, redemption, etc. Look carefully at the TULIP and you will see his erroneous ideas about sovereignty behind every point.

The Neo-Calvinists among us make some similarly wrong conclusions, and then build a house of theology upon the shifting sands of error. May this booklet help you to destroy this pernicious teaching.

For additional information and help I would heartily recommend Neo-Calvinism in the Church of Christ (Tom Roberts, editor; Cogdill Foundation, publisher). The famous “green book” is the definitive work on Neo-Calvinism, in my opinion, and I am completely indebted to its writers. Thomas G. O’Neal’s little book, Set For The Defense (Cogdill Foundation, publisher) is also an excellent work that briefly sets for the error of Neo-Calvinism. Both of these books can be purchased from the Guardian of Truth bookstore.

Study carefully, think carefully, and then go forth boldly to refute error. May this work be of every assistance to you.

The pioneer preachers who blazed the trails in truth that we have come to regard as the “Restoration Movement” were able to do so only as they wrestled with sectarian doctrines and creeds and returned to the “old paths” of Bible truth. Much of the religious error of early America with which Barton W. Stone, Walter Scott, James O’Kelley; the Campbells, Ben Franklin and other noble preachers contended was that known as Calvinism.

So far as the churches of Christ are concerned, the fundamental teaching of truth during the Restoration Movement was so effective (cf: “The Scheme of Redemption,” by Robert Milligan) that it eradicated practically every vestige of Calvinism among Christians. From the early 1800′s until our generation, classic Calvinism (TULIP) has been recognized as the error it is and has not been a source of internal strife (must less a cause of division) within local congregations. However, history will record that it has become the task of our generation to combat these errors again.

Renewed emphasis by some brethren on certain aspects of Calvinism (“Neo-Calvinism”) has made it necessary to get back to basics on the Bible doctrines of the nature and grace of God, nature of man and his ability, faith, works, gospel, law, doctrine, the nature of Christ, imputed righteousness, justification, and sanctification among some of the weightier subjects. Too many brethren seem to be sitting at the feet of Evangelical scholars instead of at the feet of the inspired writers, drinking from the polluted wells of Augustine, Calvin and Luther than from the pure streams of truth. Terminology previously familiar among sectarians is rampant today, resulting in the charges of “Pharisaism, legalism, perfectionism, too much doctrine and not enough gospel, too much about the church and not enough about Christ, too much law and not enough love” against those who do no worse than preach “sound doctrine” (2 Timothy 3).

It is for our generation to fight old battles again, to root out sectarian error, to revisit the Bible basics. It must be our lot to reclaim a love for scriptural preaching, to turn the hearts of our young people to

I. The Universal Need of Grace – Let us never tire of preaching it (Ephesians 2:4-10)

A. Romans 1, 2, 3:9-18 – Gentile or Jew (thus, all mankind) unable to save self through demands of law. Result: Romans 3:23.
B. Jewish misconception – no need of grace

1. Law-keeping perfection – Galatians 3:1-5
2. Lineage – Galatians 4:21-31

C. Abraham introduced to show grace – Galatians 3:7-14 (prior to giving of Law)
D. Man is righteous through forgiveness – not through perfection in law keeping – 1 John 1:7; Romans 6:1-7.

1. Gospel of grace is a remedial system, based on blood of Christ – Ephesians 2:11-22; Hebrews 9:13-14, healing the sinner – Isaiah 53.
2. Gospel of grace is a system of redemption, freeing men from bondage – Romans 6:17-18, 22; Ephesians 2:11-13
3. Gospel of grace is a system of atonement, satisfying the divine wrath of God against sin – Romans 3:21-26; Hebrews 10:3-7 (note: atonement, mercy seat – Hebrews 9:11-12)
4. Gospel of grace is a system of reconciliation, returning men to God’s favor – 2 Corinthians 5:17-20 Hebrews 7:19 (“draw nigh” to God)
5. Gospel of grace is a system of imputed righteousness – Genesis 15:6 (Romans 4:1-8; Galatians 3:8; James 2:23), based on forgiveness – Romans 4:7.
6. Gospel of grace is a perfected system, taking its fulness from the fulness of Christ – Colossians 1:12-20; 2:3-10;1 Peter 2:9-10; 2 Peter 1:3-4.

II. What is the difference between Calvinism and New Testament Christianity that they are antithetical to each other? The New Testament is predicated on the premise that God has addressed man as a free-will, moral creature of God whose nature has not changed since Creation. Man (though a sinner by choice) has the ability to understand the word of God and respond in faith to God’s grace. Faithful obedience is blessed by saving grace (Ephesians 2:8-9) and righteousness is given to man as a result. Calvinism rejects man’s ability to believe and obey since it avows man is born in total depravity; man is totally passive, God must do everything in salvation; sinners cannot read and understand the Bible without supernatural help from the Holy Spirit; grace saves, doctrine sanctifies; election is unconditional; justification is by faith alone (with faith being a gift by God to the elect only; the saved cannot be lost. The two systems of religion cannot be reconciled.

A. Note: Calvinism is a modern, popularized Augustinianism.

1. Augustine (354-430 A.D.), born in North Africa.
2. Joined Manichaean sect and learned tenets of Gnosticism regarding the nature of Christ and man; inherited depravity.
3. Became a nominal Christian during formative years of Catholic Church.
4. Writings (“City of God,” “Confessions,” etc) contributed to evolving Catholic theology.
5. Controversy with Pelagius in Rome about the nature of man and free will strengthened Augustine’s influence.
6. Augustine’s theology, given the fallacy of inherited total depravity is logical, sequential and representative of “Systematic Theology.”
7. What Augustine taught about fall of man:

a. Sovereignty of God demanded foreordination of all things.
b. Man had free choice in Garden, but his nature changed at the fall.

1) Loss of freedom of choice in spiritual matters.
2) Obstruction of knowledge – in spiritual matters.
3) Loss of enabling grace by which he chose to do good.
4) Loss of paradise.
5) Development of concupiscence (flesh over spirit).
6) Physical death.
7) Hereditary guilt in posterity.

8. What Augustine taught about redemption of man:

a. Totally in hands of God; man is completely passive.
b. Grace is irresistible to the elect (predestination and election).
c. Justification by an infusion of moral perfection of Jesus by grace through the Holy Spirit.
d. Sanctification (perseverance of saints) – Holy Spirit works in Christian to secure salvation.

B. The Reformation set in motion by Martin Luther

1. Catholicism had changed through centuries to system of works (sacerdotalism).
2. Luther sought to return Catholicism back to Augustine’s salvation by faith only.
3. John Calvin reduced Augustine’s theology to “five points”

a. “Tulip”

1) Total Hereditary Depravity
2) Unconditional Election (justification by faith only)
3) Limited Atonement
4) Irresistible Grace
5) Perseverance of the saints (once saved, always saved)

b. Imputation of Righteousness of Christ

1) Invalid definition of “imputation” (see Barnes’ Notes, Romans 4 for complete study) to mean “transfer”
2) “Transfer” of Adam’s guilt to posterity (inherited guilt)
3) “Transfer” of mankind’s guilt to Christ
4) “Transfer” of Christ’s perfection to believers
5) Error of this concept shown by Ezekiel 18 (see vv. 4, 18)

4. “Calvinism” is now embedded in Protestant theology.
5. Restoration Movement confronted, opposed, defeated Calvinism. As pioneers gave up creeds, turned back to Bible, their battles were with Calvinists, as they came out of Calvinistic churches: Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, etc.
6. Churches of Christ free of internal conflict; debated sectarians often.

C. In our time (1970′s), Calvinism became an internal influence.

1. Commentaries, versions of Bible (NIV), Evangelical upsurge, magazines (“Verdict,” “Present Truth,”etc.) influenced a generation of preachers.
2. ACC teachers and writers (R. C. Bell, K. C. Moser, Burton Coffman, etc.) exposed generation of students to Calvin’s imputed righteousness.
3. C. H. Dodd, Church of England prelate, expounded on difference between “gospel” and “doctrine,” and had an influence on Carl Ketcherside and cohorts.
4. Seen as radicals in early years, Ketcherside & Leroy Garrett lived long enough to see their theories become popular among institutional preachers: Rubel Shelly, Max Lucado, etc.
5. Ketcherside infiltrated students at Florida College through Edward Fudge who spread Calvinism to many of his generation across the nation (Hubert Moss, Bruce Edwards, Arnold Hardin, Clyde Goff, Jack Kirby, Mark Nitz, a host of others.

D. Modern Calvinists don’t like all of Calvinism (New-Calvinism).

1. Reject imputation of Adam’s sin to mankind (total depravity).
2. Some accept imputation of mankind’s sin to Christ.
3. Most accept imputation of personal reighteousness of Christ to believer.
4. Inconsistency doesn’t seem to bother brethren any more than Free Will Baptists who differ from Primitive Baptists.

E. C. H. Dodd’s “Core Gospel” (Gospel/Doctrine distinction) led to arbitrary challenges to“sound doctrine.”

1. “Gospel” seen as essential to salvation (defined deity of Christ).
2. “Doctrine” seen as unimportant, and would not limit fellowship among those who accept the deity of Christ.
3. Provided rationale for broadened fellowship with sectarians – no doctrinal position was to be bound on others; tolerance for error and permissiveness for every shade of belief. Some accepted the fallacy that grace covered sinners evan as, and while, they sinned, a position compatible with typical “once saved, always saved.”
4. “Factionalism” (rejection of this definition of gospel) was the only sin which would limit fellowship. Sound preaching not tolerated. Charges of “perfectionism,” “legalism,” “Pharisaism,” hurled at those who opposed “unity in diversity.” “Doctrinal preaching” was not equated as “gospel preaching,” “doctrine” emphasized the “church” more than “Christ,” “creed” more than “the cross.”

F. New definition of “Gospel” used by Bill Love, “The Core Gospel” to critique preachers from A. Campbell to J. D. Tant for lack of “gospel preaching.”

“One of the most striking examples of the displacement of the cross appears in T. W. Brents’ huge volume, The Gospel Plan of Salvation (1874). It became a standard work and wisely read for decades…The only extended treatment of the atonement is a five-page section devoted to refuting the Calvinistic doctrine of limited atonement. Although one finds a few references to Christ’s death scattered throughout the book’s 662 pages, nowhere does one find any systematic or extended discussion of human need and how God met that need at the cross…In a book claiming to set forth the gospel plan of salvation, I find such omission astounding, the sign of something deeply awry in the theology of the movement” (p. 120).

G. “The Cruciform Church” by C. Leonard Allen also decried the lack of preaching on the cross and too much about the church.
H. Concurrently, a number of conservative brethren echoed the charge, nearly plagiarizing the terminology and examples of Love and Allen. A large segment of brethren seem disenchanted with doctrinal preaching, coming from the same mindset as defined by Love and Allen.
I. Brethren initiated a paper, Christianity Magazine, dedicated to “accentuating the positive and eliminating the negative.” Faithful preaching was seen as too hard, unloving, unkind, negative, too controversial. “Journalism” was sought after and scripture was limited in use; one-sided teaching refused to allow error to be reviewed. Elements for “unity in diversity” have been advocated. Doctrinal unity is described as impossible.
J. In midst of a retreat from preaching the “whole counsel” (Acts 20:28), divorce and adulterous marriages became a national and congregational problem.
K. Because divorce became so rampant, it had ramifications with Christians.
L. Debates, books, preachers advocated many positions as to why the guilty, put away fornicator could remarry.
M. Homer Hailey’s view on the “alien who would come to God” took center stage among thinking of brethren; his views advocated in book by that name.
N. Romans 14 used by Ed Harrell to defend fellowship with Homer Hailey in series of articles, “Homer Hailey: False Teacher?” (Christianity Magazine, Nov. 1989), “The Bounds of Christian Unity (1-16),” (Christianity Magazine, Feb. 1989-May. 1990), “The Parameters of Fellowship,” (Christianity Magazine, March/April, 1997).
O. A wave of preachers jumped on the band-wagon of “grace-unity” with its attendant errors and charges against sound preaching.

1. Grace Covers Sin
2. Obedience equated with “Perfectionism”
3. Toleration for error became a hand-maiden with criticism of sound preaching; permissiveness toward sin but caustic rejection of truth
4. Faithful preachers labeled with bad attitudes for truth-telling; branded as having a lack of integrity for identifying teachers of error; charged with fomenting trouble by doing what gospel preachers have always done.
5. Note: History of this generation (facing institutionalism, liberalism, indifference, New Hermeneutics, modernism, immodesty, worldliness) must be one of aggressive evangelism (1 Timothy 1:8-11; 2 Timothy 1:8-13; 4:1-4).
6. Soft preaching, eliminate-the-negative preaching, being tolerant of error and being willing to fellowship sinful beliefs and practices is something new. Those who charge faithful preachers with initiating a controversy among brethren over these principles should learn “who split the log,” and who is real “Troubler of Israel.”

III. God’s answer to Departures from Sound Doctrine

A. First Century and now – the same.
B. Declare the “whole counsel of God” (Acts 20:25-32); commend to grace of God.
C. Preach the word – in season and out – whether brethren like it or not – 2 Timothy 4:1-5.
D. The grace of God has appeared – Titus 2:11-15 – “speak these things…let none despise.”
E. This is the true grace of God – stand in it – 1 Peter 5:12.