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IRRESISTIBLE GRACE (1)
Victor M. Eskew
From time to time, we have been running articles that look at a system or religion called “Calvinism.” We have examined Total Hereditary Depravity. We have looked at Unconditional Election. And, we have studied Limited Atonement. Now, we will examine the fourth concept known as Irresistible Grace.
Calvinism teaches that God chose a select group of individuals to save eternally. They were chosen to be redeemed by the blood of Christ before the foundation of the world. Calvinism also affirms that Jesus died only for this select group of people known as “the elect.” Thus, His atonement was limited. The next building block involves “how” those who have been elected actually become part of that number. Calvinism teaches that the elect are saved by the grace of God and that the call to accept that grace cannot be resisted. The elect will irresistably accept God’s grace in order to be saved.
“Perhaps the best definition of irresistible grace is the one provided by Bruce Ware. ‘When Calvinists refer to irresistible grace,’ notes Ware, ‘they mean to say that the Holy Spirit is able, when he so chooses, to overcome all human resistance and so cause his gracious work to be utterly effective and ultimately irresistible. In soteriology, the doctrine of irresistible grace refers to the Spirit’s work to overcome all sin-induced resistance and rebellion, opening blind eyes and enlivening hardened hearts so that sinners understand and embrace the gospel of salvation through faith in Christ’” (Bruce A. Ware as quoted by Sam Storms, www.samstorms.org, “Ten Things You Should Know about Irresistible Grace”). A.A. Hodge defines the irresistible grace as “the transcendent act of the infinite Creator, making the creature spontaneously willing” (A.A. Hodge as quoted by Sam Storms, www.samstorms.org, “Ten Things You Should Know about Irresistible Grace”).
The process used by the Holy Spirit to bring God’s grace to the elect is referred to as the “effectual calling.” On pages 225, 226 of the Westminster Confession of Faith, an answer is provided to this question: “What is effectual calling?” Here is the answer: “Effectual calling is the work of God’s almighty power and grace, whereby (out of his free and especial love to his elect, and from nothing in them moving him thereunto) he doth in his accepted time invite and draw them to Jesus Christ, by his word and Spirit; savingly enlightening their minds, renewing and powerfully determining their wills, so as they (although in themselves dead in sin) are hereby made willing and able, freely to answer his call, and to accept and embrace the grace offered and conveyed therein.”
The action that the Holy Spirit enables the lost person to perform is faith in Jesus Christ. Prior to this point in time, the individual’s depraved nature is not able to accept Jesus Christ as Savior. Sam Storms admits this in the article we have previously referenced. He writes: “If God did not at some point make us willing to believe we would forever have remained unwilling and consequently lost (www.samstorms.org, “Ten Things You Should Know about Irresistible Grace, ” Sam Storms). This, however, presents some problems for the Calvinist. First, it presents a problem that involves man’s free moral agency. Man is not supposed to be forced to be saved, or, just automatically saved by God. Man is supposed to choose to serve the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus calls all men to come to Him (Matt. 11:28-30). Then, man is supposed to make the choice to come or not. It is always interesting to read how the Calvinists attempt to hold to the doctrine of predestination and also assert man’s free moral agency. Listen to Mr. Storms once again. “…all Calvinists concede that inwardly and subjectively, that is, beneath the level of consciousness, the Holy Spirit effects a transformation of the mind and will which inevitably and irresistibly issues in the conscious and voluntary acquiescence of the person to the truth of the gospel. Prior to this effectual transformation, the person is unwilling to believe. Subsequent to it, he is willing to believe and, in fact, does believe” (www.samstorms.org, “Ten Things You Should Know about Irresistible Grace, ” Sam Storms). Notice that prior to the Holy Spirit’s transformation of the mind and will of man, the person is “unwilling” to believe. It is only after the transformation that the person will voluntarily acquiesce to the truth of the gospel. The question is: “How can a person voluntarily do something, if it must be done?” The person was elected by God. He WILL be saved. Once the effectual call has come, the person does not really have a choice. Just to say that he does, doesn’t make it so. Yet, Mr. Storms contends that the called does choose. “While the grace by which God calls and converts the human soul is truly irresistible, the choice of the elect to repent and trust Christ for salvation is their choice, a true choice, a choice that, although certain, is neither coerced nor compelled. The elect freely come to Christ through the mystery and power of a grace that is always effectual” (www.samstorms.org, “Ten Things You Should Know about Irresistible Grace, ” Sam Storms). It is interesting that Mr. Storms can use the words “irresistible” and “a true choice” in the same sentence. Again, just to say man chooses does not mean that he does. It was God who enabled it. If He had not the man would have been lost. Once he was enabled, there was absolutely no way for him to resist.
Second, the concept of the effectual call presents a problem because there are multitudes of individuals who claim to have saving faith in Jesus Christ, but they have not received the effectual calling. Remember, only the elect can truly be called. This why the Calvinist refers to the “visible church” and the “invisible church.” The visible church consists of all who believe they have been called whether they been called or not. The invisible church is composed of those who have been effectually called by the Holy Spirit. It will be on the Day of Judgment that the Lord will separate the elect from those who are lost. It’s interesting that man cannot distinguish between the two. A person could affirm that he has been called, “serve” the Lord all his life, and be lost in the last day because he really was not called at all.
In our next article, we will examine some of the proof-texts used by the Calvinists in their attempt to prove irresistible grace. We will also set forth several passages of Scripture that refute the doctrine of irresistible grace.