What is Calvin's "Irresistible Grace" concept?

[MrPolo]

What is Calvin's "Irresistible Grace" concept?

 

[A New Dawn]

Irresistible Grace & Effectual Calling

Regeneration is a secret act of God in which he imparts new spiritual life to us. As the gospel comes to us, God speaks through it to summon us to himself (effective calling) and to give us new spiritual life (regeneration) so that we are enabled to respond in faith. Effective calling is thus God that Father speaking powerfully to us, and regeneration is God that Father and God the Holy Spirit working powerfully in us, to make us alive.
Sometimes the term irresistible grace is used in this connection. It refers to the fact that God effectively calls people and also gives them regeneration, and both actions guarantee that we will respond in saving faith. The term irresistible grace is subject to misunderstanding, however, since it seems to imply that people do not make a voluntary choice in responding to the gospel - a wrong idea, and a wrong understanding of the term irresistible grace. The term does preserve something valuable, however, because it indicates that God's work reaches into our hearts to bring about a response that is absolutely certain - even tough we respond voluntarily.​

Wayne Grudem from Systematic Theology (pg. 699)

 

[MrPolo]

It refers to the fact that God effectively calls people and also gives them regeneration, and both actions guarantee that we will respond in saving faith. Wayne Grudem from Systematic Theology (pg. 699)

So is all grace given by God "irresistible" in this way? That even though it is never rejected, the recipient freely accepts it?

Also, is Wayne Grudem an authority for Calvinism? What weight should I give this definition?

Thx!

 

[A New Dawn]

There are a lot of articles at that link that deal with the subject. If you read them you would probably get a more well-rounded idea than just from reading a synopsis like this, but I think it is a pretty good synopsis.

 

[DocNH]

So is all grace given by God "irresistible" in this way? That even though it is never rejected, the recipient freely accepts it?

Also, is Wayne Grudem an authority for Calvinism? What weight should I give this definition?

Thx!

Grudem is a graduate of Reformed Theological Seminary. His two systematics (Bible Doctrine and the larger one Systematic Theology) are well done. HIs definitions are normally right on in most places -- I disagree with him on some of his veiws on Charismatics, but ...

As far as irresistible grace (IG) this differs from common grace (CG). CG = "It rain on the just and the unjust the same" etc. CG may be resisted. However, IR may not be.

You may enjoy these articles:
http://thirdmill.org/newfiles/gor_girod/gor_girod.IrresistibleGrace.html
http://thirdmill.org/newfiles/joh_murray/Murray.IrresistibleGrace.html
http://thirdmill.org/newfiles/lor_boettner/lor_boettner.EfficaciousGrace.html
http://thirdmill.org/newfiles/rl_dabney/rl_dabney.fivepoints.html

and these sermons:
http://thirdmill.org/sermons/compile_speaker.asp/speaker/Arturo%20Azurdia/site/iiim/category/speakers

Calvins:
http://www.reformedtheology.ca/calvin.html
http://www.monergism.com/directory/link_category/Calvin-John/Essays--Articles/


Sincerely,
Doc

 

[heymikey80]

So is all grace given by God "irresistible" in this way?

No, it's not.

That even though it is never rejected, the recipient freely accepts it?

If you think through the Grudem citation, it'd be tough to ask this question. The model is not acceptance/rejection, the model is death brought back to life; re-creation.

Can what's made, resist its being made? 2 Cor 5:17

Also, is Wayne Grudem an authority for Calvinism? What weight should I give this definition?

Wayne Grudem is a modern Reformed theologian. He's Reformed, so another Reformed theologian would need to "place" him. He's also well-known among theologians, maybe not as popular as Sproul, but on the same level in theological circles.

Any definition that isn't straight from Calvin, we normally talk about it as "Calvinistic", or best, "Reformed". John Calvin himself was one of a number of Reformed theologians -- again, the most popular in his group. To be "Calvinism" proper, you'd need to find it characterized either in Calvin or one of the Reformed council documents (Council of Dordt, Belgic Confession, Heidelberg Confession, Westminster Confession).

One statement of the Canons of Dordt on this matter is as follows:

And this is the regeneration, the new creation, the raising from the dead, and the making alive so clearly proclaimed in the Scriptures, which God works in us without our help. But this certainly does not happen only by outward teaching, by moral persuasion, or by such a way of working that, after God has done his work, it remains in man's power whether or not to be reborn or converted. Rather, it is an entirely supernatural work, one that is at the same time most powerful and most pleasing, a marvelous, hidden, and inexpressible work, which is not lesser than or inferior in power to that of creation or of raising the dead, as Scripture (inspired by the author of this work) teaches. As a result, all those in whose hearts God works in this marvelous way are certainly, unfailingly, and effectively reborn and do actually believe. And then the will, now renewed, is not only activated and motivated by God but in being activated by God is also itself active. For this reason, man himself, by that grace which he has received, is also rightly said to believe and to repent.
​

 

[Paleoconservatarian]

If you want Calvin's thoughts on the matter, you can always consult Calvin himself:

http://www.monergism.com/thethreshold/articles/onsite/calvin_conversion.html

 

[tim237]

As I understand it, this is it:

1) All people are so entirely sinful they won't come to Jesus for salvation.
Our eyes are so blind we don't see how great Christ is. We may make up our own god and worship him, but because we are so evil we could never come to Christ for forgiveness of sins on our own. (see for example 2 Cor 4:4)


2) The Holy Spirit opens the spiritual eyes of some to see Christ.
I should also add that this is not because of any goodness in them, God just decides and we have absolutely no idea why. This act is called “grace” - an undeserved gift. (2 Cor 4:6)


3) Christ is so lovely that when our spiritual eyes are open we come to him for salvation.
This is why it is called irresistible. For no man once they are given spiritual eyes can resist the grace offered by Christ. (2 Cor 4:6)


Any questions? I can give you more “proof texts” if you wish 2 Corinthians 4 just sprung instantly to mind.