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The fourth plank in the Calvinistic platform relates to the grace of God and the free will of man. This point flows naturally from the previous one. If man is born in sin, incapable of any good, then his free will has been taken from him to serve God if he chooses. There is no way that he can break the cruel shackles of his total depravity without direct Divine intervention to remake his evil nature and incline it toward God. This Divine grace is irresistible. Such is the teaching of Calvin and his disciples. It is by the doctrine of “irresistible grace” that Calvin implements his doctrine of the predestined elect (Point No. 1 of the 5 points). If God has predetermined the exact names and number of the saved so that it can neither be increased or diminished, then those upon whom God wishes to bestow His grace have no choice or free will in the matter—they must accept. Thus, the doctrine of “irresistible grace” is another false doctrine that was born of a prior false assumption.
It is incredible that so much of the religious world has gullibly accepted such a patently anti-Scriptural theory as outlined above. Nothing is taught more clearly in the Bible than that man, from the beginning, has been given complete freedom of choice over his own life and destiny. This includes the ability to either accept or refuse every offer of God’s grace or of Satan’s temptations. Adam and Eve were creatures of free will. God said, “Do not eat.” Satan said, “Go ahead.” They made the wrong choice (Gen. 3:1–6). Men have always been “free moral agents,” choosing to serve God and be blessed or to served Satan and be condemned. Otherwise, why the invitations and warnings of Scripture? Jesus said, “He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my sayings, hath one that judgeth him” (John 12:48). Such words are vain if it is impossible to resist God. Indeed, if the matter is “cut and dried,” why do we even have the Gospel at all?
[Note: I wrote this article for, and it was published in the “Bible Thoughts” Column for the Hood County News, Granbury, Texas, July 24, 1977.]
Attribution: From thescripturecache.com; Dub McClish, owner and administrator.
