My post was lame humor in reference to basketball (3 point shooter).
There is no such thing as a 3 point calvint, as there is no such thing as a 0 point calvinist.
If you are a calvinist, you hold to TULIP...5 points.
Actually, the basketball reference was brewing in my mind, but didn't know if that was really what you were getting at.
Next time, I try a Miller-time quick release!
Personally, I sometimes refer to myself as a 0 point Calvinist.
I am certainly not any Arminian, rejecting all the points there as they have been 'developed' by the Arminians, and I reject the wording of all five points of Calvinism, as worded, as well.
But I believe in 'free grace', salvation by faith, the blood substitutionary atonement and resurrection of the God-man, the Lord Jesus Christ and 'eternal Security', for starters.
And the other cardinal doctrines of the Christian faith, as well, in their entirety.
drfuss: I have had problems with those three points being together. When not connected to irresistible grace, unconditional election must take on a new meaning. Unconditional election in this case must mean election of those who are presented the gospel and not the election of those to be saved.
I believe Augustine/Luther/Lutherans believe in unconditional election, but not in irresistible grace nor perseverance of the saints. I got that from a Lutheran on another forum. If there are some Lutherans on here, they can shed some light on this or correct me if I am wrong.
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Bob, I suspect that whoever said they were a three point Calvinists did so by changing the definition of unconditional election from the Classic Calvinist definition. The Classic Calvinists definition assumes irresistible grace or it doesn't make sense.
I have a friend who was a Classic Calvinist having graduated form Moody Bible Institute many years ago. Over the years, he changed his beliefs to believe only in the perseverence of the saints. Yet he claims to be a 5 point Calvinist. He has changed the definition of the first four points to agee with his present beliefs. However, he still calls himself a Calvinist. Why? I don't know, but I suspect that he has heard so much bad mouthing of the Arminians, in previous years, that he doesn't want to be called an Arminian.
I suspect that whoever claimed to be a three point Calvinist, did so by changing the definition of unconditional election.
I am waiting to hear the definition of unconditional election from someone who believes in total depravity, unconditional election, and perseverence of the saints, but not in irresistible grace.
So does that mean we are still in search of the illusive 3-pointer?
Does it mean that you are one but you know of no others on this board that are 3 pointers?
Or does it mean that Baptists that call themsevles 3-point Calvinists and those that call themselves Arminian but they also hold to OSAS - are in fact all holding to one and the same teaching?