The Doctrines of Grace - Prologue Part 1

In this series of upcoming posts I plan to explain what are known as the "doctrines of grace," "the five points of Calvinism," or "Reformed Theology." I will be relying heavily on a lecture series by Pastor John Piper for how this series will be laid out.

These posts are designed to communicate the essence of the reformed view of the doctrine of salvation and to show how this particular understanding of this precious doctrine is rooted in the careful study of Scripture. My interest is not so much about what John Calvin or the other reformers thought about predestination, but first and foremost what Jesus, Paul, Moses, Peter, Abraham, Luke, and the rest of the Biblical writers taught in Scripture.

Before we go any further let me explain that there is a framework that all of what follows should be placed in. It goes as such...

(1.) The Bible is the Word of God, fully inspired and without error in the original manuscripts, written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and that it has supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct.

(2.) Right thinking (getting your doctrine right) about what the Bible teaches about God and man and salvation really matters. Bad theology dishonors God and hurts people.

(3.) The work of the Holy Spirit, and the pursuit of his work (or His help) in prayer, is essential for grasping the truth of Scripture. This is to help balance #2. It is not mere thinking that enables us to grasp the Bible, but it is the work of the Spirit.

1 Corinthians 2:13-16
"We impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who possess the Spirit. The unspiritual man does not receive the gifts of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. The spiritual man judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. “FOR WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD SO AS TO INSTRUCT HIM?” But we have the mind of Christ."


(4.) Thinking is essential for grasping Biblical truth. The exercise of the hard work of reflecting on the meaning of words and sentences is important.

1 Corinthians 14:20
"Brethren, do not be children in your thinking; yet in evil be infants, but in your thinking be mature."

2 Timothy 2:7
"Think over what I say, for the Lord will grant you understanding in everything."


Reformed theology is a way of thinking that sees God behind everything. Gods is sovereign over everything. From Him, through Him, and to Him is everything. Those who are willing to think Biblically make these kinds of connections: God is over everything, God is in everything, God is doing everything, God enables everything, God is sovereign over everything, and God is governing everything. This is called means of grace. The Lord will give it and there is no amount of thinking in the world that will get you what you need and no grace that will give it to you if you’re not doing the means, and the means themselves are gifts of grace.


(5.) God ordains that there be teachers in the church to help the body grasp and apply the truth of Scripture.

Ephesians 4:11-12
"And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ."

Some people may think that #4 says that I and the Bible can get it right without the aid of teachers, but that would not be Biblical.

Hebrews 13:7
"Remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you; and considering the result of their conduct, imitate their faith."


Hear is an example of what this study is about…

2 Chronicles 30:7-9
“Do not be like your fathers and your brothers, who were unfaithful to the LORD God of their fathers, so that He made them a horror, as you see. Now do not stiffen your neck like your fathers, but yield to the LORD and enter His sanctuary which He has consecrated forever, and serve the LORD your God, that His burning anger may turn away from you. For if you return to the LORD, your brothers and your sons will find compassion before those who led them captive and will return to this land (K)For the LORD your God is gracious and compassionate, and will not turn His face away from you if you return to Him."

The conditions laid down in this Scripture say that if you want God’s anger turned away from you, you had better serve the Lord, and if you return to God, your brethren and children will find compassion. So compassion is contingent on the means of returning to the Lord. You do this and God will do that. This is how most humans understand God to work – God gives humans conditions, He tells them what they have to do, and if humans do what they’re supposed to do, God does what He does in response. That is human religion. You don’t need the Holy Spirit to make sense of that.

2 Chronicles 30:10-12
"So the couriers passed from city to city through the country of Ephraim and Manasseh, and as far as Zebulun, but they laughed them to scorn and mocked them. Nevertheless some men of Asher, Manasseh and Zebulun humbled themselves and came to Jerusalem. The hand of God was also on Judah to give them one heart to do what the king and the princes commanded by the word of the LORD."

The means were given. God told them what they had to do: repent, humble themselves, yield to the Lord, and God would be compassionate to them. Then God gave them the heart to do these things.

This is the end of part 1 of this prologue. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, feel free to leave me a comment. Thursday we will conclude this prologue by looking at a little bit of history and we will review the five points of contention between the Arminian way of thinking and the Reformed way of thinking.