Calvinism :
Irresistible Grace
• T.U.L.I.P; Calvin’s doctrinal system as it
relates to the spiritual condition of man.
– T otal Hereditary Depravity
U nconditional Election
Limited Atonement
Irresistible Grace
Perseverance of the Saints
Calvinism :
Irresistible Grace
• History Tidbit
• Definition of Terms
• Irresistible – that which cannot be successfully
resisted or opposed (Webster)
• Grace - unmerited favor (Salvation by a
supernatural working of the Holy Spirit)
Calvinism :
Irresistible Grace
• What Do The Creeds of Men Say?
• “the Holy Spirit, in order to bring God’s elect to salvation,
extends to them a special inward call…a work of grace within
the sinner which inevitably brings him to faith in Christ.”
• “This is accomplished through regeneration or the new birth by
which the sinner is made a child of God and is given spiritual
life…the once dead sinner is drawn to Christ by the inward
supernatural call of the spirit who through regeneration makes
him alive and creates in him faith and repentance.”
• “…the special inward call of the Spirit never fails to result in the
conversion of those to whom it is made…For the grace which
the Holy Spirit extends to the elect cannot be thwarted or
refused, it never fails to bring them to true faith in Christ.” (The
Heidelberg Catechism, Pg 48-49)
Calvinism :
Irresistible Grace
• What Do The Creeds of Men Say?
• “All those whom God has predestinated unto life, and those only, He is
pleased, in His appointed and accepted time, effectually to call, by His
Word and Spirit, out of that state of death, in which they are by nature,
to grace and salvation by Jesus Christ; enlightening their minds
spiritually and savingly, to understand the things of God; taking away
their heart of stone, and giving them a heart of flesh; renewing their
wills, by His almighty power determining them to that which is good;
and effectually drawing them to Jesus Christ, yet so as they come most
freely, being made willing by His grace.”
• “This effectual call is of God’s free and special grace alone, not from
anything at all foreseen in man, who altogether passive therein, until,
being quickened and renewed by the Holy Spirit, he is thereby enabled
to answer this call, and to embrace the grace offered and conveyed by
it.” (The Wesminister Confession of Faith, Chapter 10)
Calvinism :
Irresistible Grace
• Irresistible Grace Explained and Refuted
• Is a dead corpse parallel to a
dead sinner?
• Not in ability to act.
• Eph. 2:2-3; Col. 3:7
• A Dead sinner means
they are separated from God
• Isa. 59:1-2; Col. 1:21
• And made alive means to be forgiven of your
sins
• Col. 2:13
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Calvinism :
Irresistible Grace
• Irresistible Grace Explained and Refuted
• Both Christ and Lazarus were
raised from the dead w/o choice
• Jn. 5:21-25
• Jn. 6:44, 45, 63, 68
• Yes, the words of Christ
brings life, but to those who
HEAR!
• And a dead sinner may choose not to hear
• Ax. 7:57; 13:48; 28:25-27
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Calvinism :
Irresistible Grace
• Irresistible Grace Explained and Refuted
• What about the opposite?
• A Dead Saint
• Col. 3:3; Rom. 6:2
• Rom. 8:12, 13; 6:16-18
• If a saint is dead to sin and
can choose to sin, then why
can’t a dead sinner choose to obey?
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Calvinism :
Irresistible Grace
• Questions For The Calvinist
• How can irresistible grace produce faith in a
person when the Bible says it is the hearing of
the gospel that does?
• “and so spoke that a great multitude both of the
Jews and of the Greeks believed.” (Ax. 14:1)
• “that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear
the word of the gospel and believe.” (Ax. 15:7)
• “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the
word of God” (Rom. 10:17)
Calvinism :
Irresistible Grace
• Questions For The Calvinist
• How can the Spirit supernaturally convert the
sinner without him even knowing it, when the
Bible says it is the Words of the Spirit that does?
• “the sword of the Spirit which is the word of
God” (Eph. 6:17)
• “Now when they heard this they were cut to the
heart…” (Ax. 2:37)
• “When they heard these things they were cut to
the heart…” (Ax. 7:54)
Calvinism :
Irresistible Grace
• Questions For The Calvinist
• Why does the Bible say the Lord opens the heart after one hears,
and not before?
• Now a certain woman named Lydia heard us…the Lord opened
her heart…” (Ax. 16:14)
• Why does the Bible say we can receive the grace of God in vain if
it is irresistible?
• “We…plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain.”
(2 Cor. 6:1)
• Why does the Bible say we can resist the Spirit if it is irresistible?
• “You stiffed neck and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You
always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did so do you.” (Ax.
7:51)