Tiptoe through TULIP - I

Irresistible Grace

What It Does Not Mean

This is always a sticky one, primarily because of its unfortunate wording. So first and foremost let me make it abundantly clear that the principle of Irresistible Grace does not teach that God's grace cannot be resisted. Certainly we can resist God's grace. We do, perhaps daily. Without a doubt, God's grace can be resisted. This is not the intent of this doctrine. Nor is it a reference to common grace. Common grace is what everyone encounters from God, such as rain, food, shelter, existence. These are known as "common grace". The doctrine does not refer to common grace. Finally, the doctrine of Irresistible Grace does not hold that people are dragged into the kingdom of God against their wills. There is nothing like that in the doctrine. Just as no one is kept from God against their will, no one comes to God against their will. These are all not part of the doctrine of Irresistible Grace.

What It Does Mean

Having cleared up some of the misconceptions, what does the doctrine hold? Essentially, Irresistible Grace says that God is capable of overcoming our resistance when He chooses to do so. Keeping in mind Total Depravity and Unconditional Election, when God chooses to regenerate a person, Man cannot resist.

It's important to note that regeneration must precede faith (1 John 5:1). This becomes apparent if Man is depraved at his core. It must be that God acts first if Man is to respond in faith. Scripture, in fact, lists both repentance and faith as gifts from God (2 Tim. 2:24-25; Phil. 1:29). Regeneration, then, gives Man a new inclination, one toward God.

While some have argued that God gives this inclination to everyone, Jesus said, "All that the Father gives to Me shall come to Me." (John 6:37) In fact, He says that the Father draws them (John 6:44), and that He would lose none of them (John 6:39). This makes it a certainty, primarily because it is driven by God. The simple fact is, if this grace that brings about regeneration could be resisted, there isn't a single person who would be saved, since we are by nature hostile to God (Rom. 8:5-8).

Part of the confusion on this doctrine is the distinction between the General Call and the Effectual Call. A better name for this doctrine is "Effectual Calling". Jesus said, "Many are called but few are chosen." (Matt. 22:14) Therein is the distinction. Paul puts it this way (1 Cor. 1:23-24):

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

Therein are the two calls. To those who are not elect, the General Call goes out. To them it is "a stumbling block" and "foolishness". But to "those who are called", it is power and wisdom. That is the Effectual Call.

Look these up for yourself. Acts 16:14; Eph. 2:5; Titus 3:5-7; 2 Cor. 4:4-6.

Objections Answered

Objection #1: "The Holy Spirit must draw us to God, but we can use our freedom to resist or accept that drawing."

This is undoubtedly true. If it weren't for God's grace we would continue to resist God. But Jesus said that no one can come to the Him unless the Father draws him (John 6:44). And if the Father draws (as a person draws water), it is not an uncertainty as to the outcome.

Objection #2: Is it fair for God to regenerate people against their will?

The simple fact of the matter is, all people -- 100% -- deserve Hell. If God did not intervene, He would be 100% just. He has no demand on Him to intervene. If He does intervene, it is mercy, and, again, He has no obligation to show mercy. So if He should choose to regenerate people apart from their own choice to enable them to choose Him, He has not acted unjustly.

Objection #3: Where does free will come into this?

I said at the outset that Irresistible Grace did not hold that people are dragged into the kingdom against their wills. While I believe that most Christians have an over-inflated view of free will, this doctrine certainly doesn't violate it. God doesn't force choice; He enables it. He doesn't make the choice for you; He gives you a new inclination. He endows the newly regenerated person with the gifts of faith and repentance (John 6:65; Rom. 12:3; Phil. 1:29; 2 Tim. 2:25)that they choose to exercise. If the original problem, Total Depravity, is a problem of the "want to", God repairs their "want to" to enable them to choose Him.