[brandontmilan]

As i learn more and more about the Doctrines of Grace, - which is still very little - i find it harder and harder to refer to my soteriology with the acronym TULIP. These five points: total depravity, unconditional election, limited atonement, irresistable grace and perseverence of the saints, seem inadequate to explaining my soteriology. As many authors and theologians have said, they almost misrepresent Calvinism, the 'L' and the 'I' for the most part. I believe Sproul once refered to the 'L' as effectual atonement and Horton refered to the 'I' as intoxicating grace, though, I may be wrong. Anyway, it just seems that this acronym, though it helps a lot in explaining our beliefs, is missing something essential to the Doctrines of Grace, though i can't quite point my finger at it. Even after the changes that some theologians have made, and the addition of two more points, it still seems that it is inadaquate... so what is it missing??? Is there anyway we could make it more explanitory, maybe even a new acronym... or am I just missing something???

[Luke]

I think it's more than the Five Points themselves, when examined only in a cursory manner, do not address concepts such as how great God's love really is to redeem a totally depraved sinner (as an example), something that all Calvinists believe but is not stated anywhere in the Five Points of Calvinism...

Grace & Peace
Luke

[ThePlaidRanger]

The problem is that TULIP isn't supposed to be a full declaration of Calvinist soteriology - it's supposed to be a response to the Arminians, and a reaffirmation of certain debated points withing Reformed soteriology.