Jesus would often say, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear."
Matthew 11:15, Matthew 13:9, Matthew 13:43, Mark 4:9, Luke 8:8, Luke 14:35
How does one receive the spiritual ears to hear the Gospel and respond to it? The answer is God's irresistible (enabling) grace:
Those who have ears to hear are those who are humble, and so willing to listen to, and learn from, God.
Psalms 25:9 (WEB) 8 Good and upright is Yahweh, therefore he will instruct sinners in the way. 9 He will guide the humble in justice. He will teach the humble his way.
Isaiah 66:2 (WEB) For my hand has made all these things, and so all these things came to be,” says Yahweh: “but I will look to this man, even to he who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at my word.
Irresistible grace doesn't mean that God's elect will never rebel against or resist God's grace, but that God's grace is powerful enough to overcome the elect's rebellion, transform their wills and desires, and lead them to ultimate salvation.
No Scripture teaches this; rather, the New Testament is filled with warnings, admonitions, commands, and urgings to remain firm in the faith, living holy lives before God, to be saved. For instance:
Romans 11:20-22 (WEB) 20 True;
by their unbelief they were broken off, and
you stand by your faith. Do not be conceited, but fear; 21 for
if God didn’t spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you. 22 See then the
goodness and severity of God. Toward
those who fell, severity; but
toward you, goodness, IF you continue in his goodness; otherwise you also will be cut off.
Hebrews 3:13-15 (WEB)
13 but exhort one another day by day, so long as it is called “today”, lest any one of you be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. 14
For we have become partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence firm to the end, 15 while it is said,
“
Today if you will hear his voice, do not harden your hearts, as in the rebellion.” [Psalm 95:7-8]
Hebrews 12:25 (WEB) See that
you (
the Christians for whom the letter was written) do not refuse him who speaks. For if
they (
those OT Israelites) did not escape when
they refused him who warned on the earth,
how much more will we (
the Christians for whom the letter was written) not escape who turn away from him who warns from heaven
Hebrews 10:35-38 (WEB)
35 Therefore do not throw away your boldness, which has a great reward. 36
For you need endurance so that, having done the will of God, you may receive the promise
1 Corinthians 10:1-12 (WEB)
10 Now I would not have you ignorant, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; 2 and were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea; 3 and all ate the same spiritual food; 4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of a spiritual rock that followed them, and the rock was Christ.
5 However with most of them, God was not well pleased,
for they were overthrown in the wilderness. 6
Now these things were our examples, to the intent that,
we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.
7
Do not be idolaters, as some of them were. As it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.” [Exodus 32:6]
8
Let us not commit sexual immorality, as some of them committed, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell. 9 Let us not test Christ, as some of them tested, and perished by the serpents. 10
Do not grumble, as some of them also grumbled, and perished by the destroyer.
11 Now all these things happened to them by way of example, and they were written for our admonition, on whom the ends of the ages have come. 12
Therefore let him who thinks he stands be careful that he doesn’t fall.
To fall is to be lost
Hebrews 4:11 (WEB)
11
Let us therefore
give diligence to enter into that Rest,
lest anyone fall after the
same example of disobedience.
Hebrews 4:1 (WEB)
Let us fear therefore, lest perhaps anyone of you should seem to have
come short of a promise of entering into his Rest.
1 Timothy 4:1 (WEB) 1
The Spirit clearly says that in later times
some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.
1 Timothy 4:16 (WEB)
16
Pay attention to yourself and to your teaching.
Continue in these things, for in doing this you will
save both yourself and those who hear you.
Romans 8:16 (WEB) 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God; 17 and if children, then heirs: heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ,
if indeed we suffer with him,
that we may also be glorified with him.
Galatians 6:9 (WEB) 9
Let us not be weary in doing good, for
we will reap in due season,
if we do not give up.
Ephesians 4:5-7 (WEB)
5 Know this for sure, that no sexually immoral person, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater,
has any inheritance in the Kingdom of Christ and God. 6
Let no one deceive you with empty words. For because of these things, the wrath of God comes on the children of disobedience. 7
Therefore do not be partakers with them. 8 For
you were once darkness, but are now light in the Lord.
Walk as children of light, 9 for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth.
1 Thessalonians 4:3-8 (WEB) 3 For this is the will of God:
your sanctification, that
you abstain from sexual immorality, 4 that each one of you know how to
control his own body in sanctification and honor, 5 not in the passion of lust, even as the Gentiles who do not know God, 6 that no one should take advantage of and wrong a brother or sister in this matter; because
the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as also we forewarned you and testified. 7 For
God called us not for uncleanness, but in sanctification. 8 Therefore
he who rejects this doesn’t reject man, but God, who has also given his Holy Spirit to you.
1 Timothy 4:1 (WEB) 1 But the Spirit says expressly that in later times
some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons
1 Timothy 6:10-12 (WEB)
10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.
Some have been led astray from the faith in their greed, and have pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
11 But you, man of God, flee these things, and
follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness. 12
Fight the good fight of faith.
Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you confessed the good confession in the sight of many witnesses.
1 Timothy 6:18-19 (WEB)
18 that they do good, that they be rich in good works, that they be ready to distribute, willing to share; 19 laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come,
that they may lay hold of eternal life.
1 Timothy 6:20-21 (WEB) 20 Timothy, guard that which is committed to you, turning away from the empty chatter and oppositions of what is falsely called knowledge, 21
which some profess, and thus have wandered from the faith.
2 Timothy 2:16-21 (WEB) 16 But shun empty chatter, for it will go further in ungodliness, 17 and
those words will consume like gangrene, of whom is
Hymenaeus and Philetus; 18 men who have
erred concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection is already past,
and overthrowing the faith of some. 19 However
God’s firm foundation stands, having this seal, “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “
Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from unrighteousness.” 20 Now in a large house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of clay. Some are for honor, and some for dishonor. 21 If anyone therefore
purges himself from these (unrighteousness), he will be a vessel for honor,
sanctified, and suitable for the master’s use, prepared for every good work.
Hebrews 12:14-17 (WEB)
14 Follow after peace with all men,
and the sanctification without which no man will see the Lord, 15
looking carefully lest there be any man who falls short of the grace of God, lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and many be defiled by it, 16 lest there be any sexually immoral person, or profane person,
like Esau, who sold his birthright for one meal. 17 For you know that even when he afterward desired to inherit the blessing,
he was rejected, for he found no place for a change of mind though he sought it diligently with tears.
Hebrews 10:26-30 (WEB) 26
If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, 27 but only a
fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. 28 Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.29
How much worse punishment do you think he will be judged worthy of who has
trodden under foot the Son of God, and has
counted the Blood of The Covenant with which he was sanctified an unholy thing, and has
insulted the Spirit of Grace? 30 For we know him who said, “Vengeance belongs to me. I will repay,” says the Lord. [Deuteronomy 32:35] Again, “
The Lord will judge HIS people.” [Deuteronomy 32:36; Psalms 135:14]
Matthew 3:9 beautifully illustrates the doctrine of irresistible grace. If God can raise up children of Abraham from stones, then He can unfailingly turn the hearts of His elect ones from hearts of stone to hearts of flesh.
This Scripture only states that God is able to do this, not that this is God’s plan to do this, otherwise God would have turned stones into children of Abraham.
God's gracious will is to save whosever will believe in His Son through the Gospel Invitation. Many refuse, but those who believe (
continuous) are saved.
Calvinism isn't some awful, scary thing. It's only called "Calvinism" because John Calvin popularized the doctrines of grace, he did not originate them. It's the same doctrines that Augustine taught against Pelagius and Luther taught against Rome.
Calvinism is scary, because it easily could lead to laxity regarding ones being watchful, sober, and vigilant to remain firm and steadfast in the faith against all temptations, and so forfeit their eternal salvation.
This is true because Calvinism teaches that it’s all God’s work, so if you believe in Jesus and you believe God guarantees your salvation, then chances are you will feel no need to be vigilant to overcome.
Luke 9:23-25 (WEB) 23 He said to all, “If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily and follow me. 24 For
whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but
whoever will lose his life for my sake, will save it. 25 For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses or
forfeits his own self?
Luke 21:34-36 (WEB)
34 “
So be careful, or your hearts will be loaded down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that day will come on you suddenly. 35 For it will come like a snare on all those who dwell on the surface of all the earth. 36 Therefore
be watchful all the time, praying that
you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will happen, and
to stand before the Son of Man.”
1 John 2:15-17 (WEB) 15 Do not love the world or the things that are in the world.
If anyone loves the world, the Father’s love isn’t in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, isn’t the Father’s, but is the world’s. 17
The world is passing away with its lusts, but he who does God’s will remains forever.