IRRESISTIBLE GRACE
The forth point of Calvinism is irresistible grace. By irresistible grace, John Calvin meant that God simply forces people to be saved. God elected some people to be saved, and it is for this elect group that Jesus died. Now by irresistible, He forces those elected and those for whom Christ died to be saved.
The truth of the matter is, there is no such thing as irresistible grace. Nowhere in the Bible does the word “irresistible” appear before “grace.” That terminology is just not in the Bible. It is a philosophy of John Calvin, not a Bible doctrine. The word “irresistible” does not even sound right in front of the word “grace.”
The forth point of Calvinism is irresistible grace. By irresistible grace, John Calvin meant that God simply forces people to be saved. God elected some people to be saved, and it is for this elect group that Jesus died. Now by irresistible, He forces those elected and those for whom Christ died to be saved.
The truth of the matter is, there is no such thing as irresistible grace. Nowhere in the Bible does the word “irresistible” appear before “grace.” That terminology is just not in the Bible. It is a philosophy of John Calvin, not a Bible doctrine. The word “irresistible” does not even sound right in front of the word “grace.”
Grace means “God unmerited favour”. Somebody said G-R-A-C-E- is God’s riches at Christ’s expense. Grace is an attitude, not a power. If Calvin had talked about the irresistible drawing power of God, it would have made more sense. Instead, he represents grace as the irresistible act of God, compelling a man to be saved, who doesn’t want to be saved, so that a man has no choice in the matter at all; except as God forcibly put an action in his heart. Calvinism teaches that man has no part in salvation, and cannot possibly cooperate with God in the matter. - In no sense of the word and at no stage of the work does salvation depend upon the will or work of man or wait for the determination of his will.
Does the Bible say anything about irresistible grace? Absolutely not! The Scripture shows that man does resist and reject God. Prov 29:1
29:1 He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.
Notice the word “often” in this verse. Then how could it be that God only gives one opportunity to be saved? The Bible says, “He that being often reproved….” This means the man had been reproved over and over again. Not only is he reproved many times, but he was reproved often. The Bible also says, “He hardeneth his neck” and “shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy". That certainly doesn’t sound like irresistible grace. The Bible teaches that a man can be reproved over and over again, and that he can harden his neck against God, and as a result will be destroyed without remedy.
Prov 1:24-26
24 Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded;
25 But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof:
26 I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh;
Here the Bible plainly says, “I have called you and you refused, I have stretched out my hand and no man regard; but ye hath set at naught all my counsel, and would none of my reproof.” That doesn’t sound like irresistible grace to me. God calls, and man refuses, is that irresistible? God stretches out His hands, and no man regards it. Is that irresistible grace? The Bible makes it plain that some men do reject Christ, and refuse His call. John 5:40
40 And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.
This like many other verses plainly teaches that man can and do resist God and refuse to come to Him.
In Acts, chapter 7, we find Stephen preaching. He says in verse 51, “Ye stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.” To the Jewish leaders Stephen said, “Ye do always resist the Holy Ghost.”
Notice the words of Stephen in verse 51, “Ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did so do ye.” So it’s not only the Jewish leaders that were resisting the Holy Ghost, but their fathers did before them as well. Stephen said that all the way from Abraham, through the history of the Jewish nation, down to the time of Christ, unconverted Jews have rejected the Holy Spirit.
There is absolutely no such thing as “cant-help-it” religion. God doesn’t just force man to be saved with a so-called Irresistible Grace.
God offers salvation to all men. Titus 2:11
11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
But man must make his own choice and either receive or reject Christ.
John 1:12
12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
When Jesus wept over Jerusalem He said: Matt 23:37
37 O Jerusalem , Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!
Here the Bible clearly indicates that God would have gathered them together, but they would not. They certainly show that they could reject and resist Christ.
“I would, but I could not” does not fit the teaching of irresistible grace. People do resist the Holy Ghost, they do refuse to come to Christ; they do harden their necks and refuse God’s call.
That means, those who are not saved could have been saved. Those who reject Christ, could have accepted Him and that God offers salvation to those who will have it; but does not force it upon anyone who doesn’t want it.
Does the Bible say anything about irresistible grace? Absolutely not! The Scripture shows that man does resist and reject God. Prov 29:1
29:1 He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.
Notice the word “often” in this verse. Then how could it be that God only gives one opportunity to be saved? The Bible says, “He that being often reproved….” This means the man had been reproved over and over again. Not only is he reproved many times, but he was reproved often. The Bible also says, “He hardeneth his neck” and “shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy". That certainly doesn’t sound like irresistible grace. The Bible teaches that a man can be reproved over and over again, and that he can harden his neck against God, and as a result will be destroyed without remedy.
Prov 1:24-26
24 Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded;
25 But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof:
26 I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh;
Here the Bible plainly says, “I have called you and you refused, I have stretched out my hand and no man regard; but ye hath set at naught all my counsel, and would none of my reproof.” That doesn’t sound like irresistible grace to me. God calls, and man refuses, is that irresistible? God stretches out His hands, and no man regards it. Is that irresistible grace? The Bible makes it plain that some men do reject Christ, and refuse His call. John 5:40
40 And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.
This like many other verses plainly teaches that man can and do resist God and refuse to come to Him.
In Acts, chapter 7, we find Stephen preaching. He says in verse 51, “Ye stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.” To the Jewish leaders Stephen said, “Ye do always resist the Holy Ghost.”
Notice the words of Stephen in verse 51, “Ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did so do ye.” So it’s not only the Jewish leaders that were resisting the Holy Ghost, but their fathers did before them as well. Stephen said that all the way from Abraham, through the history of the Jewish nation, down to the time of Christ, unconverted Jews have rejected the Holy Spirit.
There is absolutely no such thing as “cant-help-it” religion. God doesn’t just force man to be saved with a so-called Irresistible Grace.
God offers salvation to all men. Titus 2:11
11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
But man must make his own choice and either receive or reject Christ.
John 1:12
12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
When Jesus wept over Jerusalem He said: Matt 23:37
37 O Jerusalem , Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!
Here the Bible clearly indicates that God would have gathered them together, but they would not. They certainly show that they could reject and resist Christ.
“I would, but I could not” does not fit the teaching of irresistible grace. People do resist the Holy Ghost, they do refuse to come to Christ; they do harden their necks and refuse God’s call.
That means, those who are not saved could have been saved. Those who reject Christ, could have accepted Him and that God offers salvation to those who will have it; but does not force it upon anyone who doesn’t want it.
If you understand the purpose for which God made man, (to rule instead of Satan); you will understand that He could not have made some to be saved and some to be damned.
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