TULIP
Acronym expressing the essential belief of Calvinism.
Lesson 3 · Course 57
Looking at Two Extremes
Calvinism and Arminianism — TULIP, conditional salvation, and how Dort framed the debate.
At a glance
Summary
Calvinism’s essential belief is summarized by TULIP; Arminians hold conditional salvation. The image of God grounds moral choice—repenting, turning, and believing. Total depravity means inability to please God. “Elect” refers to the corporate church or all believers. Dort condemned Arminius for conditional salvation (among other charges). Arminius taught a person becomes a sinner only when consciously and voluntarily sinning; salvation can be lost if the believer denies Calvary; confusing salvation and sanctification yields a “second work of grace.” Regeneration is God’s work.
Quiz 3: 10/10 (100%), 3m 37s, cmid 2398 / attempt 101768. Multi-choice only — no essays.
Big ideas
What to teach and remember
- Calvinism acronym: TULIP.
- Arminian belief about salvation: conditional salvation.
- Image of God → moral choice (repent, turn, believe).
- Total depravity = inability to please God.
- Elect = corporate church / all believers.
- Dort condemned Arminius for conditional salvation (plus experiential neglect of Calvary and wrong perfection).
- Arminius: man becomes a sinner only when he consciously and voluntarily sins.
- Arminian loss of salvation: if the believer denies the work of Calvary.
- Salvation/Sanctification confusion = second work of grace.
- Regeneration is God’s work.
Key terms
People, places, and words that matter
Conditional salvation
Arminian view of salvation; also the other charge Dort condemned in Arminius.
Moral choice
Image-of-God power reflected in repenting, turning from sin, and believing.
Total depravity
Inability to please God.
Elect
Corporate church or all believers.
Council of Dort
Condemned Arminius (conditional salvation; experiential neglect of Calvary; wrong perfection).
Second work of grace
Confusion of salvation and sanctification as sequential experiences.
Regeneration
God’s work.
Structure
Outline / timeline
- Two extremes: Calvinism (TULIP) and Arminianism (conditional salvation)
- Image of God and moral choice
- Total depravity and the meaning of elect
- Dort’s condemnation of Arminius
- Arminian anthropology, security, second work of grace
- Regeneration as God’s work
Must remember
Facts to keep straight
| Quiz 3 | 100% (10/10), cmid 2398, attempt 101768 — multi-choice, no essays |
|---|---|
| Calvinism | TULIP |
| Arminian salvation | Conditional salvation |
| Moral choice | Repent, turn, believe (image of God) |
| Total depravity | Inability to please God |
| Elect | Corporate church / all believers |
| Dort | Condemned Arminius for conditional salvation (among others) |
| Regeneration | God did the work |
Compare
Side-by-side contrasts
Calvinism vs Arminianism (as framed in this lesson)
- Calvinism: TULIP
- Arminian: conditional salvation; sinner only when consciously/voluntarily sins
- Loss: if believer denies Calvary; second work of grace when salvation/sanctification confused
Dort’s charges against Arminius
- Conditional salvation
- Experiential focus neglecting Calvary’s non-experiential accomplishment
- Wrong interpretation of perfection
For the pulpit
Sermon hooks
- Name the extremes without caricaturing people — TULIP and conditional salvation are maps, not insults.
- Preach moral choice under the image of God: repent, turn, believe.
- Hold regeneration as God’s work even while calling sinners to respond.
- Don’t confuse being saved with growing holy — “second work” talk often mixes salvation and sanctification.
Quiz drill
Quiz drill / review · open to practice · 10 items
Quiz score: 100% · 1 attempt
1. What acronym expresses the essential belief of Calvinism?
TULIPTULIP summarizes Calvinism’s essential belief.
2. What does the Arminian believe about salvation?
Conditional salvationArminian view: conditional salvation.
3. The image of God gives people the power of choice. What kind of choice does reflect the repenting heart, turning from sin, and believing in God’s work of salvation?
Moral ChoiceMoral choice: repent, turn, believe.
4. What is the proper definition of total depravity?
Inability to please God.Total depravity = inability to please God.
5. What does the word “elect” mean refer to?
Corporate Church or to all believersElect = corporate church / all believers (Moodle stem as given).
6. Arminius was condemned by the council of Dort because he taught on the experiential aspect of salvation but neglected the non-experiential accomplishment of Calvary and wrong interpretation of perfection. What is the other one that Arminius taught?
Conditional SalvationDort also condemned conditional salvation.
7. According to Arminius, a man becomes a sinner only when,
He consciously and voluntarily sinsOnly when he consciously and voluntarily sins.
8. One of the beliefs of the Arminian why salvation is lost?
If the believer denies the work of CalvaryLost if the believer denies Calvary.
9. Arminius confused between Salvation and Sanctification. It looks like one will go first and the other will follow. This experience is known as,
Second work of graceCalled a second work of grace.
10. Who did the work of “Regeneration?”
GodRegeneration is God’s work.