Firming Your Foundation
Let’s Check It Out:
The “T” in TULIP
by George Sinkie

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     As I mentioned in the last article there are numerous religious doctrines in this world.  As we look at them we must check them out and hold to those that are good (1 Thessalonians 5:21).  When we check out these doctrines, we need to use the Scriptures to determine what is right (Acts 17:10-11).  Remember that we pointed out, just having a Scripture doesn’t prove the doctrine is right (Matthew 4:5-6), the doctrine has to agree with all Scripture (Matthew 4:7).  Jesus proved Satan had misused Scripture by using Scripture.

     In the 1500s, there was a French reformer named John Calvin.  He worked for many years in France and Switzerland trying to “reform” Catholicism, by “protesting” against it.  While he dealt with numerous topics, we are going to look at a series of doctrines that became known by the acronym — TULIP.

     The “T” in TULIP, refers to the doctrine of, “Total Hereditary Depravity.”  Basically this means that when a little baby is born, they are totally corrupt, incapable of any good.  How did that little baby get to be in such a bad spiritual condition?  According to them — all babies inherit the guilt of Adam’s sin.  In other words this is just another name for the doctrine of Original Sin.

     Remember that for a doctrine to be true, it has to harmonize with all of Scripture.  If even one verse contradicts it, then it is false doctrine.  Consider Romans 5:12, “
Therefore, just as through one man [Adam, GAS] sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned...”  Does Paul say death spread to all men because they inherited the guilt of Adam’s sin?  NO, death spread because “all sinned.”  “Sinned” is an active verb, that means it is something that all men did.

     Paul, being a Jew, knew very clearly that God did not hold children accountable for their father’s sin.  Clear your mind of preconceived ideas and read Ezekiel 18.  God clearly pointed out that each person is accountable ONLY for their own sins.

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      Courtesy of the Mitchell church of Christ.
      © George Sinkie; used by permission. rev.170326
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