July 29, 2010
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Irresistible Grace, summary and preface
Thus far, I have not yet covered Irresistible Grace. Most of my dealings were on topics I felt Scripture spoke on heavily or clearly — with the exception of Limited Atonement. And now I get to another tenet. It is controversial, confusing, or, at least, it goes against our intuitions very strongly. Thankfully, I think it has good grounds in both Scripture and the doctrines previously stated.
An important reflection is that the various parts of TULIP are intertwined. Some of them imply the other, or rather, that if you take hold of two, the third follows. I believe this is the case with the irresistibly powerful nature of God’s particular grace. Let me try to demonstrate it from dogma, then from Scripture.
First, let me say something with respect to Calvinism and Arminianism, in general. I don’t seek to demonstrate that Calvinism — the teachings of the Reformed tradition most closely associated with John Calvin, though by far not limited to him — is wholly true and wholly trustworthy. All I seek to do is clarify misunderstandings, and try to show that it is, as far as I know, one of the best interpretation of the texts, and that it does adequately –compared to the other perspectives, such as Arminianism– cause us to have a right attitude about God and man. I do not hold onto Calvinism unwaveringly. I do not worship it, or its founder. I believe that it puts me in the best position to worship God appropriately.
Total Depravity states that humans have acquired from Adam the sin nature, in which we are all corrupt morally, spiritually, mentally, emotionally — and on every level within those. Not that we are as bad as we can be. No, society proves that through having its diversity of criminal and upright citizen, of the whore and the soup kitchen worker, of the philosopher and the truck driver. Instead, we are dead spiritually, we do not want the things of the Spirit, and we live in contradiction with God. We are on the wrong side of the war, being enemies of God, in spite of the fact that his loving, mighty arms are open to us.
This is probably the most significant point of the doctrine. Not only are we on the wrong side, not only are we living contrary to God and in rebellion: in this spiritual death, we are oriented in such a way that we will never seek God or pursue him or love him apart from his own initiative and enablement. This means that if God leaves man alone, he will stay in this state, never turning to God or seeking forgiveness from him. He will operate in rebellion according to the sinful nature, forsaking God.
Unconditional Election states that humans have a place in history in which God has promised to save an individual from sin and restore him back to himself. Where God has placed a purpose in history that he would show someone particular love. And this purpose is according to a plan can never fail. God is not surprised by what happens, nor anticipating it merely in foresight. His number of people who will be saved is the same, and was decided before Creation who will be included in that unknown number. It was decided by God independently, not in reaction to something else. He decided out of his own mysterious purposes and wisdom when, where, how, and who to love. And love them he does indeed.
Perseverance of the Saints states that anyone whom God chooses to be saved initially, will be saved finally. The old creation was dead. They are now a new, undying creation. God finishes what he starts; he who began a good work in the elect will carry it on to completion. He does not disown the very sons he adopts. There is no sin too great that he does not forgive you and restore you. There is no sin too captivating that you cannot go home to the Father. The grace that showed you salvation continues to operate in your life; though you may sin, though you may leave the community of saints, though you may break fellowship with God, you still have the Holy Spirit pulling within you and he will restore you to himself.
I won’t even get into the other, though it can be supportive. Let’s just get a glimpse of Irresistible Grace and relate them back to the others.
Irresistible Grace states that the Holy Spirit not only nudges but resurrects, not only guides but gives life, not only influences but indwells the believer in such a way that the Holy Spirit is the cause of faith, repentance and salvation in the individual. He is logically prior to the saving faith, for he is the very one who gives it. At the appointed time set for redemption, he comes in power in such a way that the person’s desires, thoughts, and orientation toward God change. The cause is sufficient to produce the consequence of being saved.
It is a process, but he is the ultimate cause and without him, there is no repentance, no saving faith, no new life, no new creation. There is no justification, for it cannot be imputed. There is no sanctification, for it cannot be worked out. There is no glorification, for the body raised is still dead spiritually. God’s grace in changing the heart and renewing the mind of the individual is in itself a miracle; for in man there can be nothing to change his standing before God, and the greatness of his sin and corruption of his nature are so thorough that it can only be God who overcomes. Who can, and must, that they be saved.
Take this doctrine, and look at it from a standpoint of necessity. That is, if you analyze the others summarized, you are led to accept that grace is irresistible. They imply it. For example, if you hold onto Total Depravity and know that there exist some Christians, then God must have changed them, overcoming their dark hearts. If God’s grace could be resisted, Total Depravity means that they will always resist it, and indeed they would never be saved. In our nature, apart from God’s grace, we are enemies, and, more importantly, we are dead and insensitive to God.
Or take another: if you hold onto Unconditional Election, you understand that God’s plans will work out because he is interacting and faithful to his promises. As such, nothing can stand in his way with regard to his plans in salvation. Or, thinking about it another way, if he has elected you before Creation and you can resist grace to the very end of your life, then his plan has failed. You were elected but his grace was insufficient to compel you beyond your nature. This is false; may it never be!
Or finally, if you accept Perseverance of the Saints, you trust that God’s grace which caused you to forsake the sinful nature and hold onto him, which not only raised you but sustains you, which sanctifies you into all righteousness, must be powerful enough to bring about the very salvation which justified you in the first place. Anything that could not overcome your sinful nature in salvation could never sustain you throughout your life.
Thus, if you accept any of these three, Irresistible Grace is considered implied. What is more, if you accept more than one, you would be ready to accept it as another way of saying the same thing. As such, we have strong ground to accept the doctrine. As I said originally, this is the dogmatic approach. In the next post, I will give exposition of Scripture to further lend credence to it, for it must have clear Scripture if we are to accept it, rather than go on the teachings of men and their reasoning alone.
