: Irresistible Grace • T.U.L.I.P; Calvin’s doctrinal system as it relates to the spiritual condition of man. –Total Hereditary Depravity U nconditional Election 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 ( 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 ’s elect to salvation, extends to them a special inward call…a work of grace within the sinner which inevitably brings him to in Christ.” • “This is accomplished through 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 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 C • A Dead sinner means they are separated from God I • Isa. 59:1-2; Col. 1:21 • And made alive means to be forgiven of your • Col. 2:13

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 C • Yes, the words of Christ brings life, but to those who I HEAR! • And a dead sinner may choose not to hear • Ax. 7:57; 13:48; 28:25-27 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 C • If a saint is dead to and can choose to sin, then why I can’t a dead sinner choose to obey?

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 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 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)