CALVINISM: “IRRESISTIBLE GRACE”
Calvinism maintains that the Gospel is made up of Total Depravity, Unconditional Election, Limited Atonement, Irresistible Grace, and Perseverance of the Saints. We have written articles refuting the first three of these doctrines of Calvinism’s TULIP. Now we come to the “I”—Irresistible Grace.
The doctrine of “Irresistible Grace” teaches that when God decides to save someone, His grace is so powerful that it inevitably draws that person to Himself, rendering them unable to resist. According to this belief, once God has chosen someone for salvation, their heart is permanently changed, and they will inevitably come to Christ. It is commonly found within the Reformed tradition and Calvinist theology. A closer examination of all that the Bible teaches about God’s free offer of salvation shows that this doctrine lacks solid biblical foundation and, more critically, misrepresents both the nature of God’s grace and humanity’s ability to respond to it.
Human Ability: A Key to Understanding God’s Invitation
One of the most fundamental aspects of the Christian faith is the belief in human freedom and responsibility. God has given us both the responsibility and the ability to choose whether or not to accept Jesus. From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible consistently portrays humanity as possessing the ability to make real, meaningful choices.
This human responsibility is not some peripheral concept. It is at the core of the biblical narrative. God created Adam and Eve with the ability to choose to follow Him or to reject Him (Genesis 3:6). If we accept that “irresistible grace” somehow eliminates real human choice, then we must ask: why would God give Adam and Eve a choice to disobey Him, only to later override human free will in the process of salvation? This contradiction undermines the narrative of humanity’s fall and God’s ongoing relationship with His creation.
Consider Romans 10:13, which states, “For whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” The operative word here is “whoever” (Greek: πᾶς, pas), which clearly indicates that the invitation to salvation is open to anyone who calls upon God. If grace were truly irresistible, this passage would make no sense. The concept of “whoever” would be irrelevant if only a select few are irresistibly drawn to God, regardless of their response. Instead, this verse suggests that the calling is a voluntary action, and the individual has the choice to respond to God’s grace.
In Matthew 22:14, Jesus uses the word ἐκλεκτός (Greek: eklektos, “chosen”) to describe those who respond to God’s call: “For many are called, but few are chosen” (ἐκλεκτοί, eklektoi). The term eklektos means “chosen out of,” indicating that among those who are invited, some respond freely and are chosen. The doctrine of irresistible grace would make this “choosing” irrelevant if God forcibly determined the outcome. The very fact that God calls out to all and leaves the choice in our hands highlights the freedom we have to respond to Him.
Grace as Invitation, Not Coercion
One of the central flaws of the irresistible grace doctrine is its portrayal of God’s grace as something that is imposed, rather than freely offered. Grace, by definition, is an unearned favor, something given freely to those who don’t deserve it. If grace were irresistible, it would no longer be a gift but a coercive force. Consider Ephesians 2:8-9, which says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” The Greek word for “grace” here is χάρις (charis), which speaks of kindness or favor given without expectation of return. It is freely offered and must be received. If grace were irresistible, there would be no real opportunity to accept or reject it. Yet, the Bible makes it clear that grace, in its truest form, is something we must willingly receive.
God’s Call and the Human Response
There are numerous biblical passages where God extends an invitation for all people to come to Him. If irresistible grace were true, these invitations would be meaningless. Take, for instance, Jesus’ invitation in Matthew 11:28-29: “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” If grace were irresistible, Jesus would not need to invite anyone. Instead, He would simply draw them regardless of their willingness. But Jesus invites us to come, and He does not force us. The very idea of an invitation assumes that we have the ability to decline or accept.
Paul similarly encourages believers to present themselves to God in Romans 12:1-2: “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.” Here, Paul appeals to believers to actively choose to respond to God’s mercy. If grace were irresistible, why would Paul need to ask believers to present themselves? What would be the point of giving such a command if it were inevitable?
In Acts 17:30, God commands all men everywhere to repent: “Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent.” The Greek word for “repent” here is μετάνοια (metanoia), which means a change of mind. Repentance is clearly presented as a choice — a voluntary act that we must make in response to God’s grace. If grace were irresistible, repentance would not be a choice—it would be a compulsion.
The Greek Word for “Draw” (ἕλκω, helkō) and Human Resistance
Advocates of irresistible grace often cite John 6:44, which says, “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him.” The Greek word for “draw” is ἕλκω (helkō), which can mean “to pull” or “to drag.” But helkō is also used in John 12:32, where Jesus says, “And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to Myself.” The drawing in this context is a voluntary invitation, not a forceful dragging. Jesus is lifted up on the cross, and it is through the message of the cross that He “draws” all people to Himself. This is not a coercive act. It is an invitation that people can choose to accept or reject.
In Acts 7:51, Stephen accuses the Jewish leaders: “You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit!” If grace were irresistible, how could the people resist the Holy Spirit? The clear implication here is that people can resist God’s grace. This is not a sign of a God who forces His will on people, but rather a demonstration that grace is offered but not imposed.
The Human Capacity to Reject God’s Grace
In Matthew 23:37, Jesus laments over Jerusalem: “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!” The rejection of God’s grace is a choice. Jesus expresses His desire to gather the people of Jerusalem to Himself, but He acknowledges that they were not willing.
If grace were irresistible, Jesus would not mourn their unwillingness. Instead, He would have simply caused them to respond, and they would have had no choice but to come to Him. The fact that He mourns their rejection highlights the reality that grace can be resisted.
In Revelation 3:20, Jesus again extends an invitation: “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.” If grace were irresistible, why would Jesus need to knock? Why would He need an invitation if everyone would inevitably respond? The imagery here of Jesus knocking at the door of the heart is an invitation that requires a response, and the choice remains with the individual.
The Parable of the Sower: Human Choice in Action
One of the clearest illustrations of human free will in relation to God’s grace is the Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13:1-23). In this story, a sower scatters seed on four different types of soil, and only one type of soil produces fruit. The different types of soil represent different responses to the Gospel. Some hear the Word but reject it, while others accept it and bear fruit. If grace were irresistible, the seed would fall on all soils and produce fruit. But that is not the case. People have the ability to accept or reject the Gospel, and the different soils represent the varied ways in which people respond to God’s call.
Conclusion: Grace is a Gift, Not a Coercion
In conclusion, the doctrine of irresistible grace does not hold up to scrutiny when we examine the Scriptures closely. While God’s grace is indeed powerful and transformative, it is not something that is forced upon us. The Bible makes it clear that grace is an invitation, freely given, but requiring a voluntary response.
If grace were truly irresistible, there would be no need for Jesus to invite us, for Paul to exhort us, or for the Spirit to convict us. Grace, in its purest form, is a gift that must be received and responded to, not something that we are forced into. God desires a people who freely choose to love and follow Him, not robots who are irresistibly drawn to Him against their will—and certainly not those whose will is changed “against their will” by an act of God apart from the power of the Gospel. Irresistible Grace is simply fiction, a doctrine of human imagination.
Bryan Dewayne Dunaway
