The 5 points of Calvinism is a misnomer because Calvin didn't write them, his followers did.  About 100 years after the reformation the followers of James Arminias in 1610 wrote the Remonstrance - a protest against Reformed Theology.  

They had five points...

 

1. Man has the moral ability to believe apart from God's grace.
2. Conditional election - foreseen faith.
3. Universal atonement - potential atonement.
4. Man can resist the grace of God.
5. Man can lose salvation.

 

In 1618-19 the Arminian view was rejected by the Synod of Dort, it was rejected as heresy.  That's when the five points of Calvinism was written.  It was a response to the five points of Arminianism.

 

The five points of Calvinism spells T.U.L.I.P.

 

1. T is for total depravity of man.
2. U is for unconditional election.
3. L is for limited atonement.
4. I is for irresistible grace.
5. P is for the perseverance of the saints.

 

The Reformed / Arminian debate did not originate in the 1600's.  Okay a little history.  An English monk named Pelagius in 410 A.D. believed and taught that...

 

1. Adams sin is not imputed.
2. Sin is learned by example.
3. Grace is helpful, but not necessary.
4. You can work your way to heaven.

 

Pelagius debated with Augustine, Augustine believed;

 

1. Adams sin is imputed and affects the whole man.
2. Grace is essential.

 

In 418 A.D. Pelagius was declared a heretic.

 

From Pelagius came Semi-Pelagianism.  Whereas man cannot be saved apart from God’s grace but left to man to cooperate with God’s grace.  Semi-Pelagianism and Arminianism teach the same thing.  Arminianism always points back to Pelagianism.  If you take Arminianism to its logical conclusion you end up with works righteousness.