What Are Some Practical Benefits of Calvinism?

Calvinism gives people a sense of security about their salvation regardless of their lifestyle. It allows them to live in whatever way they chose and not worry about the Judgment. Actually, I'm not sure they are benefits.

 

Calvinism does not give a liscense to sin, nor is it a form of easy believism. From my own observation it is the Calvinists that our embracing and proclaiming Lordship Salvation and repentance. Look at the modern day, main-stream Calvinist teachers. You will see that they are leading the charge on the Lordship salvation issue, most notably the prolific MacArthur. He is not the only one. RC Sproul has a teaching called Repentance in which he explains that salvation is always accompanied by repentance and shows the absolute necessity for repentance in salvation. John Piper has a small teaching on google video entitled 'A problem with Christians in Evangelicalism' in which he dismantles the popular notions of what it means to 'accept Jesus', as well as a video clip called 'What does it mean to be saved', in which he outlines the supernatural, life transforming power of regeneration, and even asks Pastors, if they are truly saved.

These are just a few examples to illustrate my point. Calvinist teachers, in this era and every other era, have a much higher view of the Gospel than their Arminian brothers, and to insinuate that Calvinism somehow dispenses liscenses for sinning is a lie.

The reading of Edwards, and the early Puritan Calvinists, would definetly eradicate the claim that Calvinism somehow promotes easy believism. Early Calvinists were scrupulous in the examination of their converts. Much writing was produced that was based on the theme: What are the evidences of saving faith? In fact, in Edwards time, it was a uniform practice by the clergy to judge someones salvation by how they perservere in holiness.

Calvinism does not teach easy believism, and it does not give unwarrented assurance. Does it assure true Christians? Yes, because we recognize that salvation is of the Lord, and it is the Lord who keeps us.