Doctrines of Grace: Irresistible Grace (L5)

Introduction

Irresistible Grace may be better termed Effectual Grace.

The term irresistible has caused some to accuse the Reformed view of teaching that God calls us kicking and screaming, but we cannot resist.

As a matter of fact, one of the objections based on this type of misunderstanding is that God forces people that do not want to accept Christ while others who do want to accept Christ are not permitted because they are not the Elect.

This is what we call a straw man argument.

It is not real. It is not what the Reformed view teaches. It is not what the Bible teaches.

When the Biblical Doctrine of Total Depravity is understood, one understands that no one wants to accept Christ.

Additionally, the Bible teaches that no one would accept Christ if it were not for the new birth applied by the Holy Spirit upon the Elect so that they willingly come to Christ.

So far, we have seen the work of the Father in electing a people unto salvation before the foundation of the world.

We have seen that the Father gives the elect to the Son to be His people.

We have seen that the Son, at the opportune time, incarnated and secured the redemption of the elect by His blood through a new covenant.

Now, we will look at the work of the Holy Spirit in applying the benefits of Christ’s work to the elect.

The doctrine of effectual grace deals with this phase of salvation.

Irresistible Grace or Effectual Grace

Scripture itself connects election and effectual calling in

Romans 8:30 (ESV)

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

Now, please note, that if Paul means that everyone is called, then Paul would necessarily mean that everyone is justified and glorified.

Obviously, Paul is not intending to teach universalism.

If we care about biblical accuracy we must note that within the context of this passage and epistle, Paul is teaching us that there is a calling that cannot be resisted.

This language, in the context of the epistle, is being used to speak of the elect of God.

Is there more than one type of calling by God?

The Bible teaches that there is a general or outward call of God upon all mankind through creation and the gospel.

The outward call made by God at the preaching of the gospel is His genuine call to all hearers to repent of their sin and believe upon His Son for salvation.

However, there is a call of God at the preaching of the gospel upon the elect of God that overcomes the natural resistance inherent within the sin nature of man.

We call this the special internal call of God.

This special call of the Holy Spirit performs a work of grace within the sinner that brings the sinner to faith in Christ.

This special call is the regenerating work of the Spirit of God on all those whom the Father has given the Son.

This new birth is making one alive spiritually so they can appreciate spiritual truth and respond positively to Christ.

John 3:5–6 (ESV)

5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

What Effectual Grace Is Not!

The Arminian brings two passages up and cries, “We can resist God’s calling.”

Acts 7:51 (ESV)

51 “You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you.

The Arminian says, many of the very people of Israel who were blessed with the patriarchs, prophets, covenants of promise, etc. resisted the Holy Spirit.

Titus 2:11 (ESV)

11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people,

The Arminian says, not all people are saved, so those who reject Christ reject the grace of God.

The Reformed view does not deny that man can resist the grace of God.

As a matter of fact, we affirm it.

And, we add that because of the total depravity of mankind, resisting God’s grace is all we can do.

If left to our own devices, all anyone would ever do is resist God.

What Effectual Grace Is!

Simply stated, this doctrine asserts that the Holy Spirit never fails to bring to salvation those sinners whom He personally calls to Christ.

1689 LBC: Chapter 10: Section 1

In God’s appointed and acceptable time, he is pleased to call effectually, by his Word and Spirit, those he has predestined to life. He calls them out of their natural state of sin and death to grace and salvation by Jesus Christ. He enlightens their minds spiritually and savingly to understand the things of God. He takes away their heart of stone and gives them a heart of flesh. He renews their wills and by his almighty power turns them to good and effectually draws them to Jesus Christ. Yet he does all this in such a way that they come completely freely, since they are made willing by his grace.

Let’s look at passages of Scripture that teach the effectual grace or calling of God:

A Work of the Holy Spirit

1 Corinthians 2:10–14 (ESV)

10 these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. 11 For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. 13 And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.

14 The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.

We have been given something or Someone that has enabled us to be able to understand the things of God.

What Paul says here, Jesus says in John 3.

The person who is merely flesh cannot understand spiritual things.

We must be made alive spiritually in order to understand spiritual truths.

1 Corinthians 6:11 (ESV)

11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

The “you” of the passage are the elect of God.

Paul is saying they had been set apart by the Spirit of God.

2 Corinthians 3:17 (ESV)

17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.

If you do not have the Spirit of God, then you do not have the freedom that one can only have in regeneration, justification, and sanctification.

1 Peter 1:1–2 (ESV)

1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,

To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood:

May grace and peace be multiplied to you.

The elect according to the predestination of God in His sovereign purposes led to the calling of the Spirit through the new birth for the purpose of obedience.

This is new covenant language.

John 1:12–13 (ESV)

12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

Titus 3:5 (ESV)

5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,

1 Peter 1:3 (ESV)

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

Peter credits the cause of our new birth to be God’s mercy.

New Covenant Promises

Deuteronomy 30:6 (ESV)

6 And the Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your offspring, so that you will love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live.

This is after God tells them that they will disobey and break the covenant.

And, God promises that He will eventually give what they cannot do.

God promises here the very thing they cannot do on their own.

These promises are further revealed as promises of the new covenant that would come through the Messiah.

Ezekiel 36:26–27 (ESV)

26 And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.

Ezekiel 11:19 (ESV)

19 And I will give them one heart, and a new spirit I will put within them. I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh,

The new covenant promises to deliver:

a heart that loves the Lord.

a heart that no longer hates God.

a heart that is no longer an enemy of God.

the Spirit of God in them to work in the new covenant people both to will and to do according to His good pleasure.

Galatians 6:15 (ESV)

15 For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.

What matters is not what you do, but what God does in regeneration.

Ephesians 2:10 (ESV)

10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

The salvation of the elect is such a sure thing that God not only predestined the elect unto salvation, but He guarantees it will come to fruition and that we will walk in the good works that He ordained for the elect beforehand, meaning before the foundation of the world.

2 Corinthians 5:17–18 (ESV)

17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation;

All of this, salvation from beginning to end, is from God.

Christ is the author and perfecter of our faith.

From Death to Life

John 5:21 (ESV)

21 For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will.

It is God who gives life, He raises us from our spiritually dead condition.

Ephesians 2:1 (ESV)

1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins

Ephesians 2:5 (ESV)

5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—

Our salvation is by grace, it is not merited by meeting a condition of faith as the Arminian theology actually teaches.

Colossians 2:13 (ESV)

13 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses,

God is who made us alive to then understand the gospel and respond positively due to our new birth.

Regeneration is solely an act of God.

It is monergistic, a compound word from mono meaning single and erg meaning energy.

Man does not cooperate with God.

Man only responds positively and willingly to the new birth with faith.

Revelation to the Elect

Matthew 11:25–27 (ESV)

25 At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; 26 yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. 27 All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.

Who knows the Father?

Those to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him.

Matthew 16:15–17 (ESV)

15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.

Jesus attributes this knowledge to the Father revealing it to Peter.

This is not a truth understood in the heart by a person that is spiritually dead.

1 Corinthians 2:14 (ESV)

14 The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.

Natural meaning of the flesh with no spiritual life within them.

The person who is spiritually dead cannot understand the things of the Spirit, they are foolishness to such a person.

They have to know intellectually to regard it as foolish.

So, Paul is saying they cannot understand these truths in a salvific way.

Faith & Repentance Are Divine Gifts

Acts 5:31 (ESV)

31 God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.

Remember that true Israel is the spiritual seed of Abraham.

Acts 11:18 (ESV)

18 When they heard these things they fell silent. And they glorified God, saying, “Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life.”

The response of the Council was that the salvation of the Gentiles manifested that God has granted repentance to them, as well as to some Jews.

Out from among all the nations, our from among the world.

Acts 13:48 (ESV)

48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed.

Those who believed were those who had been predestined to believe.

Acts 18:27 (ESV)

27 And when he wished to cross to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples to welcome him. When he arrived, he greatly helped those who through grace had believed,

How did they believe? —> By the grace of God.

Ephesians 2:8–9 (ESV)

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

The closest antecedent to “not your own doing” and “gift of God” is faith. Hence, faith is the gift of God that Paul is speaking of in this passage.

Philippians 1:29 (ESV)

29 For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake,

Here again, the language that Jesus used in John 6:65 of the act of believing upon Christ being caused by the act of God granting it to be so.

2 Timothy 2:25–26 (ESV)

25 correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, 26 and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.

God grants repentance.

The Call of God

Romans 1:6–7 (ESV)

6 including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ, 7 To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Called out from among the Nations to be a saint of God.

Saint means holy one.

Romans 9:23–24 (ESV)

23 in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory— 24 even us whom he has called, not from the Jews only but also from the Gentiles?

Here we see this teaching that the elect are not only Jews, but also out from among the Gentiles, as well.

This is the “world” concept that we looked at last week.

1 Corinthians 1:9 (ESV)

9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

This is an exclusive calling into fellowship with Christ as the Head of the New Covenant.

1 Corinthians 1:23–24 (ESV)

23 but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

Paul makes a distinction between Jews and Gentiles who categorically reject the gospel and Jews and Gentiles who accept Christ because they have been called out and made new by the power of God.

Galatians 1:15–16 (ESV)

15 But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace, 16 was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone;

How was Paul called? —> By grace.

When had God set Paul apart? —> Before he was born.

By grace, God revealed Christ to Paul and Paul was saved.

Ephesians 4:4 (ESV)

4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—

2 Timothy 1:9 (ESV)

9 who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began,

Jude 1 (ESV)

1 Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James, To those who are called, beloved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ:

1 Peter 2:9 (ESV)

9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

We were in darkness, not able to perceive the majesty and beauty of Christ.

But God removed the veil, through regeneration so that the darkness of sin was removed.

2 Peter 1:3 (ESV)

3 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence,

The power of God has granted us all of the components of salvation through the merits of Christ and by the power of the Spirit of God to apply Christ’s work to the elect in time.

Isaiah 55:11 (ESV)

11 so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.

The preaching of the gospel will accomplish the purposes of God.

Christ will build His Church by divinely ordained means to bring all the elect into the New Covenant.

John 3:27 (ESV)

27 John answered, “A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven.

John 17:2 (ESV)

2 since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him.

Romans 9:16 (ESV)

16 So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy.

1 Corinthians 3:6–7 (ESV)

6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. 7 So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth.

1 Corinthians 4:7 (ESV)

7 For who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?

It is not our doing to come to Christ.

It is solely the sovereign choice and power of God to bring it to fulfillment.

Philippians 2:12–13 (ESV)

12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

The power of God is displayed in that He not only causes us to do, but He also is the cause of our desiring to do.

James 1:18 (ESV)

18 Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

He brought us out of spiritual death by the Word of Truth.

A Summary of the Biblical Working Out of Effectual Grace

Let’s walk through the redeeming work of God from beginning to end.

Ephesians 1:3–4 (ESV)

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him.

John 6:37 (ESV)

37 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.

If you believe upon Christ, which is what Christ means by coming to Him, He will never cast you out.

This is covenant language. You will never be exiled from the New Covenant.

Also, there is a limit on who the Father gives to the Son, a specific people, because all of them will come to Him. And, not all people do.

John 6:44 (ESV)

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

Draws = compelled by an external force. (drag, pull)

John 6:65 (ESV)

65 And he said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.”

How does the Father draw and grant a person to accept Christ?

The Spirit of God applies the benefits of Christ’s work to the elect.

John 6:63 (ESV)

63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.

John 3:3 (ESV)

3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

John 3:8 (ESV)

8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

The work of the Holy Spirit is one that can only be seen by the fruit it bears in repentance of sin and faith in Jesus Christ.

Acts 13:48 (ESV)

48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed.

The electing work of God and the application of the redemption of Christ, secured by His atoning blood, is worked out in the calling out of the elect by the preaching of the gospel.

Acts 16:14 (ESV)

14 One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul.

The word for pay attention means to agree or respond in conformity.

Romans 8:30 (ESV)

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

And, here we see this act of salvation, from beginning to end being a work of God on the elect of God.

And, next week we will look at the final point of the five points, Perseverance of the Saints.

I may combine Perseverance of the Saints with Objections & Difficulties.

END OF LESSON

Homework:

Read over the Lesson Notes again.

In the next class, we will begin looking at the Doctrine of the Perseverance of the Saints.

Books used for this Lesson:

* ESV Bible

* “The Five Points of Calvinism,” Steele, Thomas, & Quinn

* “Free Will vs. Predestination: Calvinism and Arminianism Explained”, Rose Publishing 2022