The Five Points of Calvinism (5)

4. Irresistible Grace

Introduction

Irresistible grace (or efficacious grace) is the doctrine which teaches that the saving grace of God is effectually applied to those whom he has determined to save (the elect) and, in God’s timing, overcomes their resistance to obeying the call of the gospel, bringing them to faith in Christ.

It is to be distinguished from prevenient grace particularly associated with Arminianism which teaches that the offer of salvation through grace does not act irresistibly in a purely cause-effect, deterministic method, but rather in an influence-and-response fashion that can be both freely accepted and freely denied.

History

Fourth-century Church Father Augustine of Hippo taught that God grants those whom he chooses for salvation the gift of persevering grace, and that they could not conceivably fall away. This doctrine gave rise to the doctrine of irresistible grace (gratia irresistibilis).

According to Calvinism, those who obtain salvation do so, not by their own “free” will but because of the sovereign grace of God. That is, men yield to grace, not finally because their consciences were more tender or their faith more tenacious than that of other men, but rather, the willingness and ability to do God’s will are evidence of God’s own faithfulness to save men from the power and the penalty of sin. Since man is so corrupt that he will not decide and cannot be wooed to follow after God, God must powerfully intervene by drawing the sinner to himself. In short, Calvinism argues that regeneration must precede faith.

In contrast, Arminianism argues that God’s grace through Jesus Christ stirs up a willingness to know God and respond to the gospel before regeneration; it is how God intervenes that separates Calvinism from Arminianism.

Calvin says of this intervention that “it is not violent, so as to compel men by external force; but still it is a powerful impulse of the Holy Spirit, which makes men willing who formerly were unwilling and reluctant” (Commentary on John 6:41-45).

John Gill says that “this act of drawing is an act of power, yet not of force; God in drawing of unwilling, makes willing in the day of His power: He enlightens the understanding, bends the will, gives a heart of flesh, sweetly allures by the power of His grace, and engages the soul to come to Christ, and give up itself to Him; he draws with the bands of love. Drawing, though it supposes power and influence, yet not always coaction and force: music draws the ear, love the heart, and pleasure the mind.”

No one can be saved unless he is first drawn by God (John 6:44). Irresistible grace does not teach that God’s calling cannot be resisted for a period of time, but that this resistance will ultimately be overcome. For this reason, a better term may be effectual grace, signaling that God’s intentions will have their intended effect on a person’s life. We cannot thwart the will of God to save us.

In short, this is the belief that all who are called by God to believe in Jesus will be saved. In John 6:37 Christ states, “All that the Father giveth Me shall come to Me; and him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out,” and in John 6:39, “And this is the Father’s will which hath sent Me, that of all which He hath given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.” God’s sovereign election is not contingent on our response; those who are called by Him will ultimately obtain justification and glorification (Romans 8:28-30).

5. Perseverance of the Saints

Introduction

Perseverance of the Saints (also referred to as eternal security or as once saved, always saved) is a teaching that asserts that once persons are truly “born of God” or “regenerated” by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, nothing in heaven or earth “shall be able to separate (them) from the love of God” (Romans 8:39) resulting in a reversal of the converted condition.

Calvinists maintain that God selected certain individuals before the world began and then draws them to faith in His Son, Jesus Christ. They believe that when Jesus said, “No man can come unto Me except the Father which hath sent Me draw him” (John 6:44), Jesus was saying that men had to be drawn to Him by God before they would believe and that He only draws those to Him whom He had chosen. Calvinists have long taught that when the Apostle Paul wrote, “God hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world” (Ephesians 1:4), he was indicating that God actually chose believers in Christ before the world was founded, not based on foreseen faith but based upon His sovereign decision to save whomever He pleased. According to Calvinism, God begins a good work in only those He chooses and then continues it. They attempt to prove that with the text from the book of Philippians where the Apostle Paul writes, “He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6).

The doctrine of Perseverance of the Saints is distinct from the doctrine of Assurance, which describes how a person may first be sure that he has obtained salvation and an inheritance in the promises of the Bible including eternal life. The Westminster Confession of Faith teaches about Perseverance of the Saints in its Chapter 17 and on Assurance of Grace and Salvation in its Chapter 18.

History

Church Father Augustine of Hippo taught that those whom God chooses to save are given, in addition to the gift of faith, a gift of perseverance (donum perseverantiae) which enables them to continue to believe, and precludes the possibility of falling away. Arminianism teaches that salvation is conditioned on faith; therefore, Perseverance of the Saints is also conditioned. The traditional Calvinist doctrine of perseverance is articulated in the Canons of Dordt (chapter 5) and in the Westminster Confession of Faith (Chapter 17).

If you have been justified before God you cannot lose your salvation. Once a person is truly saved, this salvation is eternally secure. In speaking about his sheep, Jesus taught that “no one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand” (John 10:28-29).

Rather than having to hold on to our salvation, the Bible teaches that when a person believes in Christ, he immediately obtains an eternal life (John 5:24; 6:47) that cannot be lost (John 10:27-28; Romans 8:31-39). Those who do appear to permanently fall away from the faith were never true believers (1 John 2:19).

Since we all struggle with sin, we can take comfort in this doctrine. As John MacArthur has stated, “If you could lose your salvation, you would.”

Conclusion

The Five Points of Calvinism, or Doctrines of Grace, are merely summaries of what the Bible teaches about salvation. We do not revere these doctrines because they were taught by John Calvin but because they are found in Scripture.

These five points also serve as a helpful introduction to the beliefs of Reformed Theology. Although some of these doctrines can seem difficult at first, I would encourage you to continue to look into these truths. Our main concern should be conforming our theology and morals to what the Scripture teaches. It is my conviction that Reformed Theology best captures the truth of God’s Word in these and many other areas.

Calvinism has its footing not in the Reformation of the 1500s but in the very pages of Scripture.

One of the forefathers wrote: “I have my own private opinion that there is no such thing as preaching Christ and Him crucified unless we preach what nowadays is called Calvinism. It is a nickname to call it Calvinism; Calvinism is the gospel and nothing else. I do not believe we can preach the gospel if we do not preach justification by faith, without works; nor unless we preach the sovereignty of God in His dispensation of grace; nor unless we exalt the electing, unchangeable, eternal, immutable, conquering love of Jehovah; nor can I comprehend a gospel which lets saints fall away after they are called and suffers the children of God to be burned in the fires of damnation after having once believed in Jesus. Such a gospel I abhor.” p

(This installment marks the end of this series.)

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