Irresistible Grace

Review

August: Unconditional Election

September: Limited Atonement (Particular Atonement)

October: Total Depravity (Radical Depravity)

This month we move to the “I” in the TULIP acronym, which is Irresistible Grace.

Introduction

Acts 6:8–11 ESV

And Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people. Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of those from Cilicia and Asia, rose up and disputed with Stephen. But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking. Then they secretly instigated men who said, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.”

Acts 17:2–5 ESV

And Paul went in, as was his custom, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ.” And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a great many of the devout Greeks and not a few of the leading women. But the Jews were jealous, and taking some wicked men of the rabble, they formed a mob, set the city in an uproar, and attacked the house of Jason, seeking to bring them out to the crowd.

I bring these particular scriptures to our attention because they provide examples of something that is true today. In fact, if we are clued in, we can expect to see this action every day. People reject or resist the grace of God. They hear the message of grace. People hear the gospel, but instead of believing it and embracing it as the life-giving message it is, they reject it, and thereby reject Christ.

Anyone who knows this church, and has been around and engaged in the life of this church for any amount of time knows that we affirm the doctrines of grace. They have been taught here and more than referenced in sermons and we have been teaching them during our Sunday Night Theology services for the past 3 months. We believe the doctrine that has been popularly titled Irresistible Grace. But clearly, we need to clarify what is meant here.

A Brief History

Dr. Steven Miller, who began this series for us back in August, spent some time walking us through the history that surrounded the Cannons of Dort, which I will talk more about in a few moments. I mention this to encourage you to watch the recording of that presentation (can be found our our church’s Youtube channel), so get a much more thorough walkthrough. But I want to provide us a brief summary, not only as a brief reminder, but also because the Cannon of Dort help to facilitate much of the question that arise around the doctrines of grace.

Before his death in 1609, Jacobus Arminius studied for about 5 years under the successor of John Calvin, Theodore Beza. After his time under the teach of Beza, he went to Amsterdam to pastor a church. While ministering in Amsterdam, a dutch theologian by the name of Dirk Volkertszoon Coornhert, began to attack the theology of Beza which lead to Arminius defending the views of his former teacher. In the course of his preparation of his defense of the traditional Calvinist doctrine, Arminius became convinced Coornhert’s position. He began to preach free will. Arminius died in 1609 the movement he began continued under the leadership of Johannes Uytenbogaert. In 1610, the Arminians met at Gouda and wrote a document called the Remonstrance, which set fort The Five Arminian Articles. A remonstrance is a protestation or a statement of opposition, and this document opposed reformed theology, at least as it was understood in the Netherlands. The response of the Calvinists was comprised of five points because The Remonstrance was five points. Through a series of events, including the threat of war, some arrests and others fleeing their countries and assembly was called by the States General to address this conflict. The Snyod met from Nov. 13, 1618 until May 29, 1619. ON Dec. 13 & 17, the Arminians presented The Opinions of the Remonstrants which was really a response to what the Canons of Dort were aiming to criticize and correct. The Arminians apparently were unwilling to cooperate with the proceedings and were dismissed from the Synod in January. On April 22, 1619, the canons were adopted and settled. The churches would adopt these these statements as their own and were regarded as the articulation of authentic reformed faith. On May 6, 1619, the Canons were published in Latin, Dutch and French and the synod also approved the Belgic Confession to be published and also commissioned a new Dutch translation of the Bible. The Canons of Dort, again responding to the five points of the Remonstrants, outlined five points of their own:

Divine Election

Christ’s death and human redemption through it

The 3rd and 4th points were connected. They dealt with human corruption and how we convert to God

the 5th point dealt with the perseverance of the saints

With that brief statement of history concluded, let’s again return to this issue at hand. How can corrupt, rebellious people, who have and continue to reject the call of the gospel, convert to God? How does that ever happen?

The Objection

I made reference to the Arminians’ response to the Calvinists’ response to their Remonstrants which was called The Opinions of the Remonstrants (also called the Sententia).

Here’s what it says regarding the conversion of man and his response to the grace of God:

The Opinions: Point #5:

The efficacious grace by which anyone is converted is not irresistible; and though God so influences the will by the word and the internal operation of His Spirit that He both confers the strength to believe or supernatural powers, and actually causes man to believe, yet man is able of himself to despise that grace and not to believe, and therefore to perish through his own fault.

What this is saying is that though it is true that God in His grace influences the human will by His word and the Holy Spirit, and though He enables people to believe, man is able to resist His work and reject His grace and not believe the gospel.

And Dort does not deny that people reject God and His call in the gospel to repent and believe. In section 3: Human Corruption, Divine Conversion, Article 9 says:

Section 3, Article 9

The fact that many who are called through the ministry of the gospel do not come and are not brought to conversion must not be blamed on the gospel, nor on Christ, who is offered through the gospel, nor on God, who calls them through the gospel an even bestows various gifts on them, but on the people themselves who are called. Some in self-assurance do not even entertain the Word of life; other do entertain it but do not take it to heart, and for the same reason, after the fleeting joy of a temporary faith, they relapse; others choke the seed of the Word with the thorns of life’s cares and with the pleasures of the world and bring forth no fruits. This our Savior teaches in the parable of the sower (Matt. 13).

So something that The Remonstrance and Dort have in common is that they both acknowledge that people can reject the call of the gospel. So how can anyone think of the grace of God as irresistible? The Arminians pounce on this by holding that people can choose. They can choose God or reject Him. They agree that possess nothing in themselves that would lead them to choose God, so they suggest that God grants His preceeding or prevenient grace. In other words, the Arminians teach that God grants all people His grace that enables them to make a decision for Christ. This, they say is sufficient grace for faith and conversion. This is why they deny irresistible grace. Man is able of himself to despise that grace and not to believe.

The 2 Calls

Rather than immediately going back to Dort for their defense of the doctrine of Irresistible Grace, I think it best now, and perhaps some are thinking, finally, we go to Scripture.

The Gospel Call

This call is one that Jesus mandated that His church to issue with His authority

It is a call that presents the substances of the gospel message (God, man, Christ, faith)

It is a call to repent of sin and place faith in the redemptive work of Christ

It is a call that issues a promise that for those who repent of their sins and place their faith in Christ, their sins will be forgiven and they will be granted eternal life

But as we have already noted, not everyone wants this. In fact the Bible makes clear that people don’t want this.

Romans 3:11 ESV

no one understands; no one seeks for God.

Romans 8:6 ESV

For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.

John 6:44 (ESV)

No one can come to me...

So the question is not so much why do some come to God and others do not. It is, why does anyone come to God.

The answer to this question is found in the call that we have not referenced yet.

The Effectual Call

Romans 8:28 ESV

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

Who is Paul addressing?

Christians

How does Paul define or describe Christians here?

those who love God

those who are called according to His purpose - lit. those who are the called ones

according to His purpose

a prepositional phrase that makes clear it is God who call. It is God who takes the initiative in this transaction. All of this is according to His purpose

Not everyone loves God, so we can be sure that Rom. 8:28 is about a specific group of people.

So before going deeper into the effectual call, let’s be clear why I am suggesting there is the gospel call and the effectual call

The Gospel call is to sinners everywhere:

Isaiah 45:22 ESV

“Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other.

John 7:37–38 ESV

On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’ ”

Acts 3:19–21 ESV

Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago.

Acts 17:30 ESV

The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent,

Revelation 22:17 ESV

The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price.

This is what we are called to proclaim to everyone everywhere without discrimination. God has not chosen to reveal to us those whom He has predestined. But, as we noted, we have a mandate from our Lord to proclaim this message… this call with His authority to all people.

The Effectual Call is issued to some

This call effects what it demands. This call demands repentance and faith in Christ. But, different from the gospel call, this call not only issues this demand, but provides the ability to obey the demand.

In other words, the rebellion and corruption of people that prevent people from coming to God cannot obstruct or prevent the Spirit’s call on God’s people from taking root in their souls.

Keep this in mind when looking at what come next in Rom. 8.

Romans 8:29–30 ESV

For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

These verses provide the basis of our confidence in the work that God does on our behalf. What’s the work?

Predestination

Calling

Justification

Glorification

It’s important to note here that Paul’s purpose was not to provide a complete description of salvation here. he doesn’t mention redemption or sanctification for example.

Paul’s point here is to show that God performs each of these actions.

These acts have the same object. Think of it this way:

those who have been predestined are the same one who have been called. And those who have been called are the same ones who have been justified. And those who have been justified are the same one who have been promised to be glorified.

This is not a general gospel call. This is the effectual call of the Spirit of God.

Verse 29 tells us that those who are predestined have been conformed to the image of His son. Who is conformed to the image of Jesus?

Romans 8:30 ESV

And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

Those whom God has predestined are justified

What do we know about the doctrine of justification? It can be summed up in 3 words. We see it taught in Rom 4 & 5.

The 3 words: justification by faith

Romans 5:1 ESV

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

So what am I getting at here.... seems like I’m repeating myself.

God predestines, calls and justifies. The doctrine of justification makes clear that faith is required to be justified. Therefore we can conclude that the effectual call of God provides the faith to believe the gospel call but it also produces the justification of those called.

This is in opposition to what the Arminians taught. God’s grace cannot be resisted. God does not provide helpless sinners with a kind of grace that awakens them enough to exercise faith in Christ if they choose. He issues His gracious call to those whom He predestined, and resurrects them from their spiritual death and grants them life. And this call comes with everything we need including the faith to embrace it.

This is good news. This is what we need to keep in mind when it comes to our ministry of evangelism. Are you hesitant to share the gospel? Are you discouraged that the person you have been praying for what seems like so long persists in unbelief. Are you ready to give up. Son’t! Why? Because God’s grace, when He issues His effectual call by the power of His Spirit and through the proclamation of the gospel, cannot be resisted. His grace is more. His grace is greater than all our sin.

This is what Dort believed

Section 3, Article 12

And this is the regeneration, the new creation, the raising from the dead, and the making alive so clearly proclaimed in the Scriptures, which God works in us without our help. But this certainly does not happen only by outward teaching, by moral persuasion, or by such a way of working that, after God’s work is done, it remains in human power whether or not to be reborn or converted. Rather, it is an entirely supernatural work, one that is at the same time most powerful and most pleasing, a marvelous, hidden, and inexpressible work, which is not less than or inferior in power to that of creation or of raising of the dead, as Scripture (inspired by the author of this work) teaches. As a result, all those in whose hearts God works in this marvelous way are certainly, unfailingly, and effectively reborn and do actually believe. And then the will, now renewed, is not only activated and motivated by God, but in being activated by God is also itself active. For this reason, people themselves, by that grace which they have received, are also rightly said to believe and to repent.

I would be amiss if I din’t quote the words of Jesus:

John 6:44 ESV

No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.

We do not teach the Doctrines of Grace, debate the finer points of the Doctrines of Grace and continue to urge a thorough understanding and deep love for the Doctrines of Grace to protect some obscure theological technicality or to provide us with some material for stimulating conversation. No, we teach the Doctrines of Grace to proclaim to one another and to the world that salvation is all of God. We do not experience grace because we have faith. We experience the grace of God and we therefore have faith in God.

To close I’d like to pray part of the prayer that was prayed at the opening of the Synod of Dordt which I have included in the handout:

Opening prayer at the Synod of Dordt

… We were a people dwelling in the darkness and shadow of death, without hope of salvation, cast off in the unworthiness of our souls, for whom an unknown treasure would be of no use. But Thou hast enlightened us by the revelation of the Sun of righteousness and truth! Without this, we would have perished everlastingly in these errors, not knowing what way we must walk.