The five points of Calvinism by WJ Seaton

Author: WJ Seaton

Date: 1970

Source: The Five Points of Calvinism

Publisher: Banner of Truth Trust

City: London

1. Free will, or human ability. This taught that man, although affected by the fall, was not totally incapable of choosing spiritual good, and was able to exercise faith in God in order to receive the gospel and thus bring himself into possession of salvation.

2. Conditional election. This taught that God laid His hands upon those individual who, He knew - or foresaw- would respond to the gospel. God elected those that He saw would want to be saved of their own free will and in their natural fallen state- which was, of course, according the the first point of Arminianism, not completely fallen anyway.

3. Universal redemption, or general atonement. This taught that Christ died to save all men; not only in a potential fashion. Christ death enabled God to pardon sinners, but only on condition that they believed.

4. The work of the Holy spirit in regeneration limited by the human will.  This taught the Holy Spirit, as He began to work to bring a person to Christ, could effectually resisted and His purpose frustrated. He could not impart life unless the sinner was willing to have this life imparted.

5. Falling from grace. This taught that a saved man could fall finally from salvation. It is, of course, the logical and natural outcome of the system. If man must take the initiative in his salvation , he must retain responsibility for the final outcome.