Monday, July 1, 2013

Calvinist Lies 5

I know, I know - redundant title is redundant.

In this series, I will not debate Calvinism vs. Arminianism. After all, the majority of the people who use the term "Arminian" are Calvinists - a very small micro-sect of Christianity. The other 6-billion people on the planet refer to "Arminians" as Christians. I also like the term "Biblicist," when it comes to matters of doctrine.

Irresistible Grace
This is the "I" in TULIP. Irresistible Grace is the concept that, if you are a person predestined by God for salvation, once He decides it is time for you to be saved, He will start regenerating you, then apply so much grace to you that you cannot possibly resist. The grace is so overwhelming that you have no ability to resist - free will is no more. Of course, this has to be the natural conclusion if one had no free grace to begin with.

Of course, if it was irresistible, then it would not be grace at all. It would be something forced onto the redeemed person. This would completely destroy the nature of the relationship with God that the Bible teaches in so many verses and passages.

At this point, Calvinists will start reaching and twisting words (they always do).
Calvinists will claim that God draws all men to Himself. This is true, but they step over the line and equate drawing people to Him to be the same as forcing people to be redeemed.
Calvinists will claim that you cannot believe God is sovereign if you reject the notion that God forces salvation. Here again, the twisting of words: just because God can force us DOES NOT MEAN He does force us. 


Summary:
Irresistible Grace is not grace at all.
Being able to force grace does not mean God does in fact force His grace upon us.
The Bible contains many verses indicating that mankind can resist.
God enlightens everyone (John 1:9).
God convicts everyone (John 16:8).
God draws everyone (John 12:32).
God leaves the choice to each individual (John 3:16).

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