The Five Points of Calvinism (aka The Doctrines of Grace) which were defined by the Synod of Dort, were so called because they were corrective statements to five unbiblical points in Arminian teaching. Arminius taught that the sovereign will of God to be limited by the will of His creatures. He taught that God’s decree of election proceeded from God’s prior knowledge of men’s free decision to repent and accept Christ, so that it is really man, and not God, who determines which persons shall receive eternal life.  This we believe is contrary to Scripture’s teaching. Hence TULIP was formulated.

T – TOTAL INABILITY: In our natural state of spiritual death, we are unable and unwilling to come to Christ.
“The heart is deceitful above all things, and beyond cure.” – Jeremiah 17:9
“For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander.” – Mathew 15:19
“As it is written:  There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God.” – Rom 3:10-18

U – UNCONDITIONAL ELECTION: God’s choice in salvation is not dependent on human will or ability, or any foreseen traits.
Eph 1:4,5 “Before the foundations of the world…adopted as sons and daughters”
Rom 5:8; “…While we were still sinners, Christ died for us”
Rom 5:10; “…when we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son,”
Rom 8:30;  “And those he predestined he also called; those he called he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.”

L – LIMITED ATONEMENT: Christ fully paid the sin debt of His people and accomplished salvation on their behalf.
Acts 13:48; “…and all who were appointed for eternal life believed”
Rom 9:13;  “Just as it is written: “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”
Rom 9:15; “ I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion”
2 Cor 6:2; “In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.
John 17:20; “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message…”

I – IRRESISTIBLE GRACE: Those whom God elected He draws to Himself through irresistible grace. God makes man willing to come to Him.
John 6:37 & 44; “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him and I will raise him up at the last day.”
Gal 3:14; “ … so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit”.
2 Pet 1:3,4; “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness … granted to us his precious and very great promises … may participate in the divine nature.

P – PRESERVATION OF THE SAINTS: None whom God elected will be lost, they are eternally secure.
John 10:28-29; “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Fathers hand.”
Rom 8:1; “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus”,
Rom 8:31-39;  “If God is for us, who can be against us?…. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship… For I am convinced that neither death nor life,….nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.