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An Important Question About God's Grace
Here is an important question about God's grace: Can non-Christians permanently resist becoming Christians? Or, to put the question differently, is God's saving grace, which comes to those who believe in Jesus Christ as their Savior, permanently resistible by non-Christians, if they choose permanently to resist it?
Those who accept the doctrines of historic Calvinism would answer the questions this way: It all depends if those persons have been chosen by God to become Christians, or if God has chosen to leave them as non-Christians. Such Calvinists say that God's grace is only temporarily resistible by those whom God has elected to be saved. They believe that the elect can and will at first, and maybe for a long time, resist becoming Christians, but sooner or later God will overcome their resistance and they will be saved by believing in Jesus Christ. On the other hand, they believe the non-elect will always remain non-Christians. There is no alternative for the non-elect.
Two Quotes From Calvinists About "Irresistible Grace"
To make sure you know I am not misrepresenting Calvinism on this point, consider a leading Calvinist's own words. The following quote comes from John Piper's website. Here is part of what it says on this subject. It is in red so it is easy to distinguish it from my words:
The doctrine of irresistible grace means that God is sovereign and can overcome all resistance when he wills. "He does according to his will in the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand!" (Daniel 4:35). "Our God is in the heavens; he does whatever he pleases" (Psalm 115:3). When God undertakes to fulfill his sovereign purpose, no one can successfully resist him.
This is what Paul taught in Romans 9:14-18, which caused his opponent to say, "Why then does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?" To which Paul answers: "Who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, 'Why have you made me thus?' Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for beauty and another for menial use?" (Romans 9:20f).
More specifically irresistible grace refers to the sovereign work of God to overcome the rebellion of our heart and bring us to faith in Christ so that we can be saved. If our doctrine of total depravity is true, there can be no salvation without the reality of irresistible grace. If we are dead in our sins, totally unable to submit to God, then we will never believe in Christ unless God overcomes our rebellion.
Someone may say, "Yes, the Holy Spirit must draw us to God, but we can use our freedom to resist or accept that drawing." Our answer is: except for the continual exertion of saving grace, we will always use our freedom to resist God. That is what it means to be "unable to submit to God." If a person becomes humble enough to submit to God it is because God has given that person a new, humble nature. If a person remains too hard hearted and proud to submit to God, it is because that person has not been given such a willing spirit.
This is what Paul taught in Romans 9:14-18, which caused his opponent to say, "Why then does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?" To which Paul answers: "Who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, 'Why have you made me thus?' Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for beauty and another for menial use?" (Romans 9:20f).
More specifically irresistible grace refers to the sovereign work of God to overcome the rebellion of our heart and bring us to faith in Christ so that we can be saved. If our doctrine of total depravity is true, there can be no salvation without the reality of irresistible grace. If we are dead in our sins, totally unable to submit to God, then we will never believe in Christ unless God overcomes our rebellion.
Someone may say, "Yes, the Holy Spirit must draw us to God, but we can use our freedom to resist or accept that drawing." Our answer is: except for the continual exertion of saving grace, we will always use our freedom to resist God. That is what it means to be "unable to submit to God." If a person becomes humble enough to submit to God it is because God has given that person a new, humble nature. If a person remains too hard hearted and proud to submit to God, it is because that person has not been given such a willing spirit.
To read the entire article from John Piper's website, click on this link: http://www.desiringgod.org/resource-library/articles/what-we-believe-about-the-five-points-of-calvinism.
Here is a quote from another adherent of historic Calvinism. His words are in red to distinguish them from mine:
When God calls his elect into salvation, they cannot resist. God offers to all people the gospel message. This is called the external call. But to the elect, God extends an internal call and it cannot be resisted. This call is by the Holy Spirit who works in the hearts and minds of the elect to bring them to repentance and regeneration whereby they willingly and freely come to God.
To read this author's entire article in defense of Calvinism, click on this link: http://calvinistcorner.com/tulip
I have several books by Calvinist authors, and have carefully read their defense of historic Calvinism. The foregoing quotes do accurately represent Calvinism.
The Doctrine of "Irresistible Grace" Contradicts Clear Biblical Statements.
That's what historic Calvinists teach. But is it taught in the Bible, from which they claim to derive their teachings? One of the reasons I do not think Calvinism's doctrine of "irresistible grace" is found in the Bible is because it contradicts some clear Biblical statements. Consider three of them:
1.) In Matthew 23:37 we read that the Savior, heart-broken over the people's stubbornness, said, " 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!" ( the King James Version)
Now, if God's grace were, in fact, irresistible, why did not the Lord Jesus Christ, who was and is God manifested in the flesh, simply exercise His sovereign omnipotence and cause "the elect" to receive him as King, Lord, and Savior? Instead of doing so, we read of him heart-brokenly weeping over the people's resistance to Him.
According to Calvinism, those persons did not receive Him because they could not do so unless there was an irresistible divine intervention causing them to do so. But the sensible way of interpreting these verses is to say that the people did not receive Him because they would not do so. This makes them responsible for their resistance of God's grace, not the Savior. Keep in mind this previous quote from John Piper's website: If a person becomes humble enough to submit to God it is because God has given that person a new, humble nature. If a person remains too hard hearted and proud to submit to God, it is because that person has not been given such a willing spirit.
2.) In John 5:39 and 40 we read that the Lord Jesus Christ said to those who had resisted His grace: "Search the Scriptures, for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. And ye will not come to me that ye might have life." ( the King James Version)
That good principle of interpreting the Bible, IF THE PLAIN SENSE OF SCRIPTURE MAKES SENSE, SEEK NO OTHER SENSE, is very helpful for interpreting verse 40. Is it not obvious that the Lord Jesus Christ was holding those persons responsible for not going to Him to get what they needed, which was life? They had physical life, so He must have been referring to eternal life.
The Lord was doing more than simply stating a fact about those persons. That is, He wasn't simply saying what they would not do. Rather, He was holding them responsible for their unwillingness to do what they needed to do to get eternal life, which was to go to Him in repentance and faith to get it.
But Calvinism would have us believe that those persons could not receive eternal life from Him until, by His omnipotence, He irresistibly caused "the elect" among them to do so, if any of them were among "the elect." Keep in mind this quote from http://calvinistcorner.com/tulip : When God calls his elect into salvation, they cannot resist. God offers to all people the gospel message. This is called the external call. But to the elect, God extends an internal call and it cannot be resisted. This call is by the Holy Spirit who works in the hearts and minds of the elect to bring them to repentance and regeneration whereby they willingly and freely come to God.
3.) In Acts 7:51 we read that the martyr Stephen said to his murderers: "Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye." ( the King James Version)
What is more logical than to say that by those words Stephen was holding those persons responsible for their resistance of the work of Holy Spirit in their hearts? He meant that they were guilty for doing so. He meant that they should have received the work of the Holy Spirit in their hearts by believing on the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation. There is not a hint here about an irresistible grace, but a plain statement about resistible grace.
Calvinism Makes God Responsible For Man's Continued Resistance To The Gospel
According to Calvinism, the only reason those persons of long ago continued to resist the Holy Spirit is because God did not intervene and cause them to quit resisting Him. Keep in mind what Piper's website says: If a person becomes humble enough to submit to God it is because God has given that person a new, humble nature. If a person remains too hard hearted and proud to submit to God, it is because that person has not been given such a willing spirit. And keep in mind this quote from: http://calvinistcorner.com/tulip : When God calls his elect into salvation, they cannot resist. God offers to all people the gospel message. This is called the external call. But to the elect, God extends an internal call and it cannot be resisted. This call is by the Holy Spirit who works in the hearts and minds of the elect to bring them to repentance and regeneration whereby they willingly and freely come to God.
These statements unmistakably prove that, ultimately, Calvinism makes God responsible for any one's continued resistance of the Holy Spirit, and, therefore, their continued unwillingness to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. It can't be any other way. In contrast, the Bible, which is the inspired and infallible Word of God, makes man responsible for these sins.
R. A. Torrey's Non-Calvinist View Of God's Grace Is Good
R. A. Torrey was an evangelist and fundamentalist Bible teacher and Bible scholar in the early 20th century. He did not not hold to the doctrines of Calvinism, and had a better understanding of these matter than Calvinists did then and do now. As proof of his view of these matters, consider this quote from one his sermons. His words are in red to distinguish them from mine. His sermon is titled,
One Of The Saddest Utterances That Ever Fell From The Lips Of The Son Of God
By R. A. Torrey
"Ye will not come to Me, that ye might have life." John 5:40.
That is one of the saddest utterances that our Saviour ever spoke. I wish I could reproduce His tender tones and His loving look when He uttered the words. I believe it would break your heart. He came down from Heaven with its glory to earth with its shame, to bring life to men. He went up and down among men proclaiming that life could be obtained by simply coming to Him, but men would not come. And at last He turned round upon the men who had not come to Him, and with a heart aching with disappointment, and with tones full of yearning pity He said: "Ye will not come to Me, that ye might have life."
I. WHY ANY MAN IS LOST.
Those words contain the explanation why any man is lost. If any man is lost it will be because he will not come to Christ. If any man or woman goes out of this hall to-night unsaved, that will be the reason. Jesus Christ offers life to every man and woman here on the simple condition that you come to Him, and if you go out of this hall to-night without it, it is simply because you would not come to Him.
1. No man is lost because he needs to be lost. No man needs to be lost. God has provided salvation for everybody. The atonement of Jesus Christ covers the sins of every man. He tasted death -as we are told in the Word of God- for every man, and the offer of salvation is made to every man. If any man does not take it, it is because he will not come and get it. No man is lost because of any purpose or decree of God. It is the will of God, we are told expressly in His word, that all men should be saved, and He "is not willing" -as we read in 2 Peter iii. 9 "that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." And if any man is lost, it is solely because He will not come.
2. No man is lost because he has gone down so deeply into sin. Indeed it is true that all of us have gone down into sin so deeply that we deserve to be lost. But "this is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners" -even the chief. He can do it. He is doing it every day. Christ did save the chief of sinners -Saul of Tarsus- and He has power to-night to save any man or woman in London. No man or woman is lost because they have gone down so deeply into sin, but simply because they will not come to that only Saviour who has power to save them from their sins.
3. No man is lost because he is too weak to lead the Christian life. It is true that every one of us is too weak to lead a true Christian life in our own strength; but, thank God, we have a Saviour who "is able to keep us from falling, and to present us faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy." If any man is lost, it is solely because he will not come to Christ. If any man or woman or person goes out of this hall to-night unsaved it is no one's fault but your own, and the whole reason will be that you will not come to Christ and obtain life.
"Ye will not come to Me, that ye might have life." John 5:40.
That is one of the saddest utterances that our Saviour ever spoke. I wish I could reproduce His tender tones and His loving look when He uttered the words. I believe it would break your heart. He came down from Heaven with its glory to earth with its shame, to bring life to men. He went up and down among men proclaiming that life could be obtained by simply coming to Him, but men would not come. And at last He turned round upon the men who had not come to Him, and with a heart aching with disappointment, and with tones full of yearning pity He said: "Ye will not come to Me, that ye might have life."
I. WHY ANY MAN IS LOST.
Those words contain the explanation why any man is lost. If any man is lost it will be because he will not come to Christ. If any man or woman goes out of this hall to-night unsaved, that will be the reason. Jesus Christ offers life to every man and woman here on the simple condition that you come to Him, and if you go out of this hall to-night without it, it is simply because you would not come to Him.
1. No man is lost because he needs to be lost. No man needs to be lost. God has provided salvation for everybody. The atonement of Jesus Christ covers the sins of every man. He tasted death -as we are told in the Word of God- for every man, and the offer of salvation is made to every man. If any man does not take it, it is because he will not come and get it. No man is lost because of any purpose or decree of God. It is the will of God, we are told expressly in His word, that all men should be saved, and He "is not willing" -as we read in 2 Peter iii. 9 "that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." And if any man is lost, it is solely because He will not come.
2. No man is lost because he has gone down so deeply into sin. Indeed it is true that all of us have gone down into sin so deeply that we deserve to be lost. But "this is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners" -even the chief. He can do it. He is doing it every day. Christ did save the chief of sinners -Saul of Tarsus- and He has power to-night to save any man or woman in London. No man or woman is lost because they have gone down so deeply into sin, but simply because they will not come to that only Saviour who has power to save them from their sins.
3. No man is lost because he is too weak to lead the Christian life. It is true that every one of us is too weak to lead a true Christian life in our own strength; but, thank God, we have a Saviour who "is able to keep us from falling, and to present us faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy." If any man is lost, it is solely because he will not come to Christ. If any man or woman or person goes out of this hall to-night unsaved it is no one's fault but your own, and the whole reason will be that you will not come to Christ and obtain life.
Did you notice that R. A. Torrey rightly put the responsibility on man for his unbelief and lost condition. He did not say one word in this part of his sermon about irresistible grace versus resistible grace, nor did he do in the rest of the sermon. And that is the Biblical way to look at this matter. Calvinists also put the responsibility on man for his unbelief and lost condition. But they cannot justifiably do so, if they are right that not one of "the elect" can permanently resist becoming a Christian because God's "irresistible grace" will make sure they repent and believe the Gospel.
If you want to read R. A. Torrey's complete sermon, click on this link:
If you want to see a picture of Torrey and read a short biography of him, click on this link:
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