Irresistable Grace Total Depravity Unconditional Election Limited Atonement
Irresistable Grace
Total Depravity Unconditional Election Limited Atonement Irresistable Grace Man enslaved by sin (guilt) Incapable of good Expression of God’s anger God glorifies himself Determined who he would save Not an act of faith, belief of will Focuses on death / sacrifice of Christ Affirms substitution Died only for the elect God through His grace sends the Holy Spirit to change and bring the individual to faith
A Man Made Doctrine
Irresistable Grace ? Simply put, the doctrine of irresistible grace refers to the biblical truth that whatever God decrees to happen will inevitably come to pass, even in the salvation of individuals. The Holy Spirit will work in the lives of the elect so that they inevitably will come to faith in Christ. The Bible teaches that the Holy Spirit never fails to bring to salvation those sinners whom He personally calls to Christ …whosoever will not receive you …. shake off the very dust from your feet for a testimony against them. (Luke 9. 5, Mk 6. 11, Matt 10. 14, Acts 13. 51)
Irresistable Grace ? The doctrine of irresistible grace recognizes that the Bible describes natural man as “dead in his trespasses and sins” … and because man is spiritually dead he must first be made alive or regenerated in order to understand respond to the Gospel message. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall be made alive. 1 Cor 15: 22 Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. Romans 5. 18
Irresistable Grace ? Irresistible Grace teaches that when the Spirit of God is sent to change a person's heart, that person cannot resist the change. This is when the Spirit of God applies the work of Christ to the soul. This does not mean that the person is unwilling to be changed because the Spirit of God is "fighting against them", rather the Spirit changes the heart of stone to beat as a heart of flesh. …he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. – Heb 11. 6 That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us – Acts 17. 27
Irresistable Grace ? Though the gospel call is extended without exception and without distinction to all men, only those who are chosen by God for salvation will come to faith. This special call is effectual when issued by the Holy Spirit. If God only intends to save the “elect” that He has chosen, then why would the Gospel call be extended without exception/distinction to all men?
Calvinism, an explanation of why some are not saved when they hear the Gospel, represents a misunderstanding of the grace of God. In order to understand God’s grace (its availability, how it is applied, and to whom) we need to look at the practical examples that we have and allow the word to speak for itself
? We need to understand what the scriptures teach about God’s grace and salvation For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3. 16 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. John 3. 17 And there is no better way to understand than to go to the source and see God’s plan in action ….
Examples of Conversion • Acts 2. 36 -40 – Save yourselves from this untoward generation. • Acts 8. 5 -12 - But when they believed Philip preaching • Acts 8. 26 -37 - If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest • Acts 10. 33 - to hear all things that are commanded thee of God. • Acts 16. 14 - attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul • Acts 16. 31 -33 - And they spake unto him the word of the Lord • Acts 22. 16 - …Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord
In the examples of conversion not one word is ever stated about the Holy Spirit acting on anyone to change their heart or bring them to faith. Christ never told Saul what to do on the road to Damascus and the angel pointed Philip in the direction of the Eunuch. All examples of conversion occurred in the context of being taught by a faithful Christian.
Role Of The Holy Spirit • Spirit of God sent to change a person’s heart… ? • • 2 Pet 1. 21 – Holy men of God … 1 Cor 2. 11 -13 – Holy Ghost teacheth John 16. 12 -14 – He will guide you into all truth John 12. 48 – The word that I have spoken …
Common Denominator • Rom 1. 16 – For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. • Eph 6. 17 - the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God • Rom 10. 17 - So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Resistable Grace • Deut 30. 19 – I set before you this day life and death • Josh 24. 15 – Choose you this day
The Call Of God • “Only those who are chosen for salvation come to faith “ • Rom 10. 13 -14 – Whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved … • Acts 17. 30 – Now commandeth all men to repent • Acts 2. 21 – Whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved
The Call Of God • Isa 55. 11 – So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
The Call Of God • 2 Thess 2. 13 -14 - But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
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