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JOHN CALVIN : LIFE, LEGACY AND THEOLOGY -<br />
I<br />
PROF. M. M. NINAN<br />
"IRRESISTIBLE GRACE"<br />
YOU HAVE NO SAY IN YOUR FINAL DESTINATION<br />
<br />
"Irresistible grace", also called "efficacious grace", asserts that the saving grace of God is<br />
effectually applied to those whom he has determined to save (that is, the elect) <strong>and</strong> overcomes<br />
their resistance to obeying the call of the gospel, bringing them to a saving faith. This means<br />
that when God sovereignly purposes to save someone, that individual certainly will be saved.<br />
The doctrine holds that this purposeful influence of God's Holy Spirit cannot be resisted, but<br />
that the Holy Spirit, "graciously causes the elect sinner to cooperate, to believe, to repent, to<br />
come freely <strong>and</strong> willingly to Christ." This is not to deny the fact that the Spirit's outward call<br />
(through the proclamation of the Gospel) can be, <strong>and</strong> often is, rejected by sinners; rather, it's<br />
that inward call which cannot be rejected.<br />
"All those whom God has predestined to life, <strong>and</strong> those only, He is pleased, in His appointed <strong>and</strong><br />
accepted time, effectually to call, by His Word <strong>and</strong> Spirit, out of that state of sin <strong>and</strong> death, in which<br />
they are by nature, to grace <strong>and</strong> salvation, by Jesus Christ; enlightening their minds spiritually <strong>and</strong><br />
savingly to underst<strong>and</strong> the things of God, taking away their heart of stone, <strong>and</strong> giving to them a heart<br />
of flesh; renewing their wills, <strong>and</strong> by His almighty power determining them to that which is good, <strong>and</strong><br />
effectually drawing them to Jesus Christ; yet so, as they come most freely, being made willing by His<br />
grace. This effectual call is of God's free <strong>and</strong> special grace alone, not from anything at all foreseen in<br />
man, who is altogether passive therein, until, being made alive <strong>and</strong> renewed by the Holy Spirit, he is<br />
thereby enabled to answer this call, <strong>and</strong> to embrace the grace offered <strong>and</strong> conveyed in it. Others, not<br />
elected, although they may be called by the ministry of the Word, <strong>and</strong> may have some common<br />
operations of the Spirit, yet they never truly come unto Christ, <strong>and</strong> therefore cannot be saved.."<br />
Westminster Confession of Faith X, 1,2<br />
"What is effectual calling? Effectual calling is the work of God's Spirit, whereby, convincing us of our<br />
sin <strong>and</strong> misery, enlightening our minds in the knowledge of Christ, <strong>and</strong> renewing our wills, he doth<br />
persuade <strong>and</strong> enable us to embrace Jesus Christ, freely offered to us in the gospel. " Westminster<br />
Shorter Catechism Question 31<br />
The fourth Biblical truth in the five points of <strong>Calvin</strong>ism teaches that God's grace to save a person<br />
cannot be resisted. Grace is God's free <strong>and</strong> unmerited power to save a person from his sins which<br />
would otherwise lead us to hell. Grace brings him to heaven who naturally would end in eternal hell.<br />
That grace is irresistible. That means that if God gives grace to you, there is nothing in the world that<br />
you can do to resist it <strong>and</strong> thwart God's intention to take you to heaven. The certainty of salvation for<br />
God's elect is seen in <strong>John</strong> 6:37 where Jesus says: "All that the Father hath given me shall come to<br />
me..." There is no doubt that they will be saved. Verse 44 says that those who come to God come<br />
because God draws them. Not our will, but God's will is first <strong>and</strong> powerful.<br />
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