Page 76 - The Prophetic Word Newsletter Archive 2009

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RRESISTIBLE GRACE UPON MAN BY GOD

Read this fourth statement of Calvinism and perhaps you can see what is becoming an underlying

block-building theme behind Calvinism: “Man is incapable of making choices, of being responsible

or even accountable for his actions.”

Under “Total depravity”, CALVINISM ON THE GRACE OF GOD:

man cannot cease from sin “The power of God, exerted in regeneration and conversion

for he has no power to do so. of sinners is invincible. Those who speak of irresistible

Under “Unconditional election”, grace,mean that it cannot finally be resisted; that it will
only the elect that God chooses overcome all the efforts of corrupt nature to counteract its
are to be unconditionally saved. design; and that it will ultimately render sinners obedient to
Man has no part in that election. the faith. Men must submit in the end to the power of God;
and this will be more evident if we consider that His power
Under “Limited atonement”, is not only sufficient to compel the most refractory to yield,

only the elitist elect are saved, although with greatest reluctance, but that it can take away

the rest of mankind are doomed the spirit of opposition, and so influence the hearts of men,

since Christ did not die for them. that this submission shall be voluntary. Were we to say that

Under “Irresistible grace”, the grace of God is not invincible, we should be under the
what God does for the elect necessity of adopting the opinion, which we have already
cannot be resisted. The elect proved to be unscriptural, that there is in man a power to
will become what God has comply or not to comply with the call of the Gospel. We
foreordained them to be should take the work of conversion out of the hand of God,
whether they want to or not. and commit it to man himself…”

“Objections to Calvinism as it is” by R. S. Foster, pg 118

How does this concept of “Irresistible grace” compare with the New Testament epistles?
What do they say pertaining to the idea that grace is “irresistible”?

A believer can receive the grace A believer can believe in vain:

of God in vain: “MOREOVER, BRETHREN, I DECLARE TO YOU THE GOSPEL
WHICH I PREACHED TO YOU, WHICH ALSO YOU RECEIVED AND
“WE THEN, AS WORKERS TOGETHER
WITH HIM ALSO PLEAD WITH YOU IN WHICH YOU STAND, BY WHICH ALSO YOU ARE SAVED,
NOT TO RECEIVE THE GRACE OF GOD IF YOU HOLD FAST THAT WORD WHICH I PREACHED TO YOU-

IN VAIN.” 2 Cor. 6:1 UNLESS YOU BELIEVED IN VAIN.” 1 Cor. 15:1-2

Believers who by their willful acts of sinning would be guilty of

“…TRAMPLING UNDER FOOT THE SON OF GOD, AND WHO HAS CONSIDERED THE COVENANT BLOOD BY
WHICH HE WAS CONSECRATED COMMON AND UNHALLOWED, THUS PROFANING IT AND INSULTING AND

OUTRAGING THE HOLY SPIRIT WHO IMPARTS GRACE-THE UNMERITED FAVOR AND BLESSING OF GOD?”
Heb. 10:29 Amplified

A believer can fall from grace: The abuse of grace as a doctrine:

“YOU HAVE BECOME ESTRANGED “CONTENT EARNESTLY FOR THE FAITH…
FROM CHRIST…YOU HAVE FALLEN MEN HAVE CREPT IN …WHO TURN THE GRACE OF

FROM GRACE” OUR GOD INTO LICENTIOUSNESS…”
2 Cor. 5:4 Jude 4

We have but little place left to comment on the error of Calvin’s view of grace.
Let me highly recommend a book to you which greatly contrasts

such “cheap grace” with biblical “costly grace”. Dietrich Bonhoeffer said:

“It is terrifying to realize what can be made of a genuine evangelical
doctrine (the doctrine of grace) The misuse of the formula leads to the
complete destruction of its very essence…The only man who has the
right to say that he is justified by grace alone is the man who has left all
to follow Christ. Such a man knows that the call to discipleship is the gift

of grace, and that the call is inseparable from the grace.”

(The Cost of Discipleship, page 55)