I’ve been trying to wrap my mind around the Jansenism schism of the Catholic Church in 1643 and am having a hard time understanding exactly what the basis was.
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The Church thought Jansen’s ideas were too much like John Calvin. Jansen arguably adhered to the first four of the Five Points of Calvinism (TULIP):
Total depravity – it is impossible for a person to be righteous enough to deserve salvation. (“When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, ‘Who then can be saved?’ Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.'” – Matthew 19:25-26)
Unconditional election – God’s decision to save a person has nothing to do with any choice that person makes. (“For He says to Moses, ‘I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.'” – Romans 9:15)
Limited atonement – Christ died only for the sins of those the God had predestined to be saved. (“I am the good shepherd, and I know my own, and my own know me, even as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.” – John 10:14-15)
Irresistible grace – Those whom God has predestined to be saved are unable to reject that salvation, but rather are *compelled* to have faith. (“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws [forcibly drags] them, and I will raise them up at the last day. – John 6:44)
HOWEVER, Jansen rejected the “P” in TULIP, for “Perseverance of the saints.” This is the idea that once you have been called by irresistible grace, you will never fall from it. Jansen thought that no one could be assured of their own salvation, since God could revoke it as He wished. (“Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.” – Job 1:21)
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