You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me; and you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life. - John 5:39-40
Good morning! Last Sunday we began our discussion on the 4th points of Calvinism and Arminianism. Both of these deal with God’s amazing grace. We learned that Calvinists believe the LORD’s grace is irresistible. In other words, the Holy Spirit will inevitably bring about the regeneration and salvation of those elected by God. Such an outcome has already been predestined by His sovereign will and nothing - including man’s free will - can prevent it. God’s saving grace is always effective.
In the upcoming message, we will consider the Arminian view of how God’s grace functions in the process of salvation. As always, we will look at the Scriptural support for this position. I will also share my own personal leanings on this point. Let’s get started…
I. WHAT IS RESISTIBLE GRACE?
“Resistible Grace” is the Arminian doctrine that God gives prevenient grace to all people which enables them to exercise their free will unto salvation. This grace effectively overcomes their sinful depravity and allows them to see and recognize God. Sometimes called pre-regenerating grace, it precedes a person’s actual conversion. Each individual person therefore has a choice to make - whether to trust in Jesus Christ for salvation or not. They can either submit to the convicting call of the Holy Spirit and be saved or resist it and remain in their sin.
There are several verses and passages in the Bible which suggest that people can resist and/or oppose the gracious calling of the Holy Spirit. Ananais and his wife lied to the Holy Spirit and put Him to the test (Acts 5:3,9). Paul urged the Ephesians not to grieve the Holy Spirit by their own stubborn disobedience (Ephesians 4:30-31). In the Old Testament, God’s people Israel constantly rebelled against the Holy Spirit (Isaiah 63:10, Psalm 106:33). The Thessalonians were warned not to quench the Spirit (1 Thessalonians 5:19). Stephen directly charged the Jews who stoned him with resisting the Holy Spirit (Acts 7:51).
After healing a demon-possessed man, Jesus was accused of casting out demons by the power of Beelzebul. Jesus declared that a house divided against itself could not stand, and declared that He cast out demons by the Spirit of God. He went on to say that those who blaspheme the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven (Matthew 12:31-32, Mark 3:29, Luke 12:10). This is generally referred to in Christianity as “the unpardonable sin”. It can be understood as willfully denying, slandering, and rejecting the gracious work and calling of the Holy Spirit.
An excellent example of resistible grace is found in Paul’s conversation with Felix, the governor of Judea and Samaria. At the time of their meeting, Paul was being held prisoner in Caesarea, having not yet been sent to Rome. Paul was brought before Felix and his wife, where he boldly presented the gospel to them. He spoke to them passionately about faith in Jesus Christ. The Bible says that Felix became frightened - but of who? Certainly not Paul! Clearly he was under conviction, fearing the judgment of Almighty God against sinners. Yet, rather than yielding to the Holy Spirit and repenting, he resisted and hastily sent Paul away (Acts 24:25-26).
II. MY STANCE ON THIS ISSUE
Let me begin by agreeing with the Calvinists that God’s saving grace is irresistible and efficacious. When the LORD ultimately chooses to save someone, the Holy Spirit perfectly and infallibly regenerates that person. God’s saving grace, when employed, is inescapable and never fails. When God determines to do something, no person is able to stop Him. But there is a difference between what God can do and what He actually does.
I don’t believe that God conveys His saving grace upon someone unless it is preceded by a profession of faith. As I’ve indicated throughout this series, I believe that a person must exercise their free will, as enabled by God’s prevenient grace, in order to accept Christ. They must believe! This is the Arminian view. Stated simply, I believe that a person must surrender to God’s prevenient grace (which is resistible) before receiving His saving grace (which is irresistible). If a person isn’t free to say no, they aren’t free at all.
Some Arminians believe that God’s prevenient grace is virtually synonymous with His common grace, and is bestowed upon all people continuously throughout their lives. In effect, this means that a person can come to Christ whenever they choose to. I firmly disagree. I side with those who believe that God’s prevenient grace is granted to people on occasion in conjunction with Holy Spirit conviction, typically brought about by the presentation of the Gospel. Should the person resist the Holy Spirit’s call while under conviction, the LORD will withdraw His prevenient grace, thereby returning the sinner to their state of depravity until another opportunity is granted. Thus, a person cannot come to Christ whenever they choose, but only as He draws them.
There is an interesting story mentioned in the Bible which, in my opinion, properly portrays the process of salvation. While in Bethsaida, the crowds brought a blind man to Jesus to be healed. Jesus led the man out of the village, spat on his eyes, laid His hands on him, and asked if he could see anything. The blind man answered that He could see a little, but it was still very blurry. Then Jesus placed His hands on the man’s eyes and his vision was completely restored so that he could see clearly (Mark 8:22-26). Notice the 3 stages of this miracle - total blindness, an intermediate stage of blurred vision, and finally clear and perfect sight.
In the same way, we are all spiritually blinded by our sin. We are in darkness and cannot see God or know Him. However, by the convicting power of the Holy Spirit, at moments of the Lord’s choosing, God extends His prevenient grace upon individual sinners. Though it does not remove their blindness completely, it enables them to see sufficiently enough to recognize their need. In these moments, if the sinner makes a profession of faith, the LORD imparts His saving grace upon them and they are born again - their spiritual blindness is healed so that they can see clearly!
CONCLUSION
As we close, let’s restate the 4th points of Calvinism and Arminianism. “Irresistible Grace” teaches that those whom God has predestined and elected will inevitably be saved by the efficacious power of the Holy Spirit. “Resistible Grace” asserts that God grants prevenient grace to all people which overcomes their spiritual depravity and enables them to exercise their freewill unto salvation.
On this particular point, I agree with the Arminians. I believe that a person can resist the calling of the Holy Spirit. That brings my score to 2½ points for Arminianism and 1½ points for Calvinism. Next Sunday we will consider the 5th and final points of these 2 competing perspectives.
Is the Holy Spirit calling out to you this morning? Is He convicting you of your sin and the terrible penalty it demands? Is He revealing your need for forgiveness? My friend, if He is… don’t resist Him. Surrender to His call, repent of your sins, trust in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, and be saved by the mighty grace of God!
Good morning! Last Sunday we began our discussion on the 4th points of Calvinism and Arminianism. Both of these deal with God’s amazing grace. We learned that Calvinists believe the LORD’s grace is irresistible. In other words, the Holy Spirit will inevitably bring about the regeneration and salvation of those elected by God. Such an outcome has already been predestined by His sovereign will and nothing - including man’s free will - can prevent it. God’s saving grace is always effective.
In the upcoming message, we will consider the Arminian view of how God’s grace functions in the process of salvation. As always, we will look at the Scriptural support for this position. I will also share my own personal leanings on this point. Let’s get started…
I. WHAT IS RESISTIBLE GRACE?
“Resistible Grace” is the Arminian doctrine that God gives prevenient grace to all people which enables them to exercise their free will unto salvation. This grace effectively overcomes their sinful depravity and allows them to see and recognize God. Sometimes called pre-regenerating grace, it precedes a person’s actual conversion. Each individual person therefore has a choice to make - whether to trust in Jesus Christ for salvation or not. They can either submit to the convicting call of the Holy Spirit and be saved or resist it and remain in their sin.
There are several verses and passages in the Bible which suggest that people can resist and/or oppose the gracious calling of the Holy Spirit. Ananais and his wife lied to the Holy Spirit and put Him to the test (Acts 5:3,9). Paul urged the Ephesians not to grieve the Holy Spirit by their own stubborn disobedience (Ephesians 4:30-31). In the Old Testament, God’s people Israel constantly rebelled against the Holy Spirit (Isaiah 63:10, Psalm 106:33). The Thessalonians were warned not to quench the Spirit (1 Thessalonians 5:19). Stephen directly charged the Jews who stoned him with resisting the Holy Spirit (Acts 7:51).
After healing a demon-possessed man, Jesus was accused of casting out demons by the power of Beelzebul. Jesus declared that a house divided against itself could not stand, and declared that He cast out demons by the Spirit of God. He went on to say that those who blaspheme the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven (Matthew 12:31-32, Mark 3:29, Luke 12:10). This is generally referred to in Christianity as “the unpardonable sin”. It can be understood as willfully denying, slandering, and rejecting the gracious work and calling of the Holy Spirit.
An excellent example of resistible grace is found in Paul’s conversation with Felix, the governor of Judea and Samaria. At the time of their meeting, Paul was being held prisoner in Caesarea, having not yet been sent to Rome. Paul was brought before Felix and his wife, where he boldly presented the gospel to them. He spoke to them passionately about faith in Jesus Christ. The Bible says that Felix became frightened - but of who? Certainly not Paul! Clearly he was under conviction, fearing the judgment of Almighty God against sinners. Yet, rather than yielding to the Holy Spirit and repenting, he resisted and hastily sent Paul away (Acts 24:25-26).
II. MY STANCE ON THIS ISSUE
Let me begin by agreeing with the Calvinists that God’s saving grace is irresistible and efficacious. When the LORD ultimately chooses to save someone, the Holy Spirit perfectly and infallibly regenerates that person. God’s saving grace, when employed, is inescapable and never fails. When God determines to do something, no person is able to stop Him. But there is a difference between what God can do and what He actually does.
I don’t believe that God conveys His saving grace upon someone unless it is preceded by a profession of faith. As I’ve indicated throughout this series, I believe that a person must exercise their free will, as enabled by God’s prevenient grace, in order to accept Christ. They must believe! This is the Arminian view. Stated simply, I believe that a person must surrender to God’s prevenient grace (which is resistible) before receiving His saving grace (which is irresistible). If a person isn’t free to say no, they aren’t free at all.
Some Arminians believe that God’s prevenient grace is virtually synonymous with His common grace, and is bestowed upon all people continuously throughout their lives. In effect, this means that a person can come to Christ whenever they choose to. I firmly disagree. I side with those who believe that God’s prevenient grace is granted to people on occasion in conjunction with Holy Spirit conviction, typically brought about by the presentation of the Gospel. Should the person resist the Holy Spirit’s call while under conviction, the LORD will withdraw His prevenient grace, thereby returning the sinner to their state of depravity until another opportunity is granted. Thus, a person cannot come to Christ whenever they choose, but only as He draws them.
There is an interesting story mentioned in the Bible which, in my opinion, properly portrays the process of salvation. While in Bethsaida, the crowds brought a blind man to Jesus to be healed. Jesus led the man out of the village, spat on his eyes, laid His hands on him, and asked if he could see anything. The blind man answered that He could see a little, but it was still very blurry. Then Jesus placed His hands on the man’s eyes and his vision was completely restored so that he could see clearly (Mark 8:22-26). Notice the 3 stages of this miracle - total blindness, an intermediate stage of blurred vision, and finally clear and perfect sight.
In the same way, we are all spiritually blinded by our sin. We are in darkness and cannot see God or know Him. However, by the convicting power of the Holy Spirit, at moments of the Lord’s choosing, God extends His prevenient grace upon individual sinners. Though it does not remove their blindness completely, it enables them to see sufficiently enough to recognize their need. In these moments, if the sinner makes a profession of faith, the LORD imparts His saving grace upon them and they are born again - their spiritual blindness is healed so that they can see clearly!
CONCLUSION
As we close, let’s restate the 4th points of Calvinism and Arminianism. “Irresistible Grace” teaches that those whom God has predestined and elected will inevitably be saved by the efficacious power of the Holy Spirit. “Resistible Grace” asserts that God grants prevenient grace to all people which overcomes their spiritual depravity and enables them to exercise their freewill unto salvation.
On this particular point, I agree with the Arminians. I believe that a person can resist the calling of the Holy Spirit. That brings my score to 2½ points for Arminianism and 1½ points for Calvinism. Next Sunday we will consider the 5th and final points of these 2 competing perspectives.
Is the Holy Spirit calling out to you this morning? Is He convicting you of your sin and the terrible penalty it demands? Is He revealing your need for forgiveness? My friend, if He is… don’t resist Him. Surrender to His call, repent of your sins, trust in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, and be saved by the mighty grace of God!