Calvinism Irresistible Grace Which of these are in

Calvinism: Irresistible Grace

Which of these are in worse shape?

Irresistible Grace Defined by Calvinists “Since it is the will of God that those whom He gave His dear Son in eternity past should be saved, He will surely act in sovereign grace in such a way that the elect will find Christ irresistible. God does not force the elect to trust His Son but rather, gives them life. The dead human Spirit finds the dead spirit of Satan irresistible, and all living human spirits find the God of the living irresistible. Regeneration (the work of God) must precede true repentance and

Irresistible Grace Defined by Calvinists “Although the outward call of the gospel can be, and often is, rejected, the special inward call of the Spirit never fails to result in the conversion of those to whom it is made. This special call is made not to all sinners, but is issued to the elect only! The Spirit is in no way dependent upon their help or cooperation for success in His work of bringing them to Christ. It is for this reason that Calvinists speak of…God’s grace in saving sinners as being…’invincible’ or ‘irresistible. ’ For the grace which the Holy Spirit extends to the elect cannot be thwarted or refused, it never fails to

Irresistible Grace Defined by Calvinists “…the Holy Spirit will certainly – without any and’s, if’s and but’s – cause everyone whom God has chosen from eternity and for whom Christ died to believe on Jesus. ” – Five Points of Calvinism by Edwin H. Palmer, p. 58

A Calvinist’s View of Free-Will “As we said before, man is always free. He does exactly what he wants to do. This does not mean that he has free will – that is, the ability to choose the good and the bad equally as well. He does not have that kind of freedom. For He hates God, loves sin, and freely, willingly sins without any external compulsion. He is never able to choose the good, God, and Christ, because he is in slavery to the devil and his own sinful desires. ” – Five

Irresistible Grace: Assumed Causation “Two college students attend a Bible Study of Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship. One says, ‘That’s great’; the other says, ‘Poppycock. ’ Two strangers hear a clear sermon on ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through me. ’ One believes, the other does not. Two boys – brought up in the same home with the same religious instruction. One loves God, and the other hates Him. Their names are Jacob and Esau…Why do two people in precisely the same circumstances react in opposite ways? Why does one believe, and another reject Christ? . . . Irresistible grace is the

Irresistible Grace: Assumed Causation Could this be the reason Esau turned from God? (Genesis 28: 6) Esau saw that Isaac had blessed Jacob and sent him away to Padan Aram to take himself a wife from there, and that as he blessed him he gave him a charge, saying, "You shall not take a wife from the daughters of Canaan, " (NKJV) (Genesis 28: 9) So Esau went to Ishmael and took Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael, Abraham's son, the sister of Nebajoth, to be his wife in addition to the wives he had. (NKJV)

Some do not want the truth because of the consequences of accepting it! “Some conservative groups believe that divorced people who marry another spouse are living in sin. However, the number of divorces in the United States has led most denominations away from that teaching. ” - Anthony Dunnavant, Orange County (California) Register

How is one saved? We are saved by grace through faith. (Ephesians 2: 8 -9) For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. (NKJV)

How is one saved? We are saved by grace but NOT GRACE ONLY. If we were, all would be saved because… (Titus 2: 11) For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men… (1 Timothy 2: 6) who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time, (NKJV)

How is one saved? We are saved by grace but NOT GRACE ONLY. God does want everyone to be saved… (1 Timothy 2: 4) who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. (NKJV) (2 Peter 3: 9) The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. (NKJV)

How is one saved? We are saved by grace but NOT GRACE ONLY. Yet we know all will not be saved! (2 Thessalonians 1: 8) in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. (NKJV)