Five points of Calvinism (John Calvin)

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In response to Jacob Arminias' Five Articles of Remonstrants.

"Total depravity": The doctrine of total depravity (also called "total
inability") asserts that, as a consequence of the fall of man into
sin, every person born into the world is enslaved to the service of
sin. People are not by nature inclined to love God with their whole
heart, mind, or strength, but rather all are inclined to serve their
own interests over those of their neighbor and to reject the rule of
God. Thus, all people by their own faculties are morally unable to
choose to follow God and be saved because they are unwilling to do so
out of the necessity of their own natures. (The term "total" in this
context refers to sin affecting every part of a person, not that every
person is as evil as possible.)

"Unconditional election": The doctrine of unconditional election
asserts that God's choice from eternity of those whom he will bring to
himself is not based on foreseen virtue, merit, or faith in those
people. Rather, it is unconditionally grounded in God's mercy alone.
[8]
Main article: Unconditional election

"Limited atonement": Also called "particular redemption" or "definite
atonement," the doctrine of limited atonement asserts that Jesus's
substitutionary atonement was definite and certain in its design and
accomplishment. This implies that only the sins of the elect were
atoned for by Jesus's death. Calvinists do not believe, however, that
the atonement is limited in its value or power (in other words, God
could have elected everyone and used it to atone for them all), but
rather that the atonement is limited in the sense that it is designed
for some and not all. Hence, Calvinists hold that the atonement is
sufficient for all and efficient for the elect.[9] The doctrine is
driven by the Calvinistic concept of the sovereignty of God in
salvation and their understanding of the nature of the atonement.
Main article: Limited atonement

"Irresistible grace": The doctrine of irresistible grace (also called
"efficacious grace") asserts that the saving grace of God is
effectually applied to those whom he has determined to save (that is,
the elect) and, in God's timing, overcomes their resistance to obeying
the call of the gospel, bringing them to a saving faith. This means
that when God sovereignly purposes to save someone, that individual
certainly will be saved. The doctrine holds that every influence of
God's Holy Spirit cannot be resisted, but that the Holy Spirit,
"graciously causes the elect sinner to cooperate, to believe, to
repent, to come freely and willingly to Christ."[10]
Main article: Irresistible grace

"Perseverance of the saints": Perseverance (or preservation) of the
saints. The doctrine asserts that since God is sovereign and his will
cannot be frustrated by humans or anything else, those whom God has
called into communion with himself will continue in faith until the
end. Those who apparently fall away either never had true faith to
begin with or will return.[11] The word "saints" is used in the
Biblical sense to refer to all who are set apart by God, not in the
technical sense of one who is exceptionally holy, canonized, or in
heaven (see Saint).