The Calvinism Debate - Way of Life Literature

grace alone, not from anything at all foreseen in man, who isaltogether passive therein, until, being quickened andrenewed by the Holy Spirit, he is thereby enabled to answerthis call, and to embrace the grace offered and conveyed in it.Others, not elected, although they may be called by theministry of the Word, and may have some commonoperations of the Spirit, yet they never truly come untoChrist, and therefore cannot be saved...”Following are proof texts that are put forth in support ofthe doctrine of Irresistible Grace:John 3:8--“e wind bloweth where it listeth, and thouhearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence itcometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born ofthe Spirit.”is verse does not say anything about divine election anddoes not say anything one way or the other about thedoctrine that those who are sovereignly elected are irresistiblycalled. It simply states that the Spirit of God is like the windin that you cannot see the Spirit but you can see His influencein the lives of those who are born again.John 6:37--“All that the Father giveth me shall come tome; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.”If “irresistible grace” is taught in this passage, it is for allwho believe on Christ and not merely for a special few whowere sovereignly pre-elected to be saved.is verse does not say that God has sovereignly prechosenonly some for salvation and that it is those pre-chosenones that are given to Christ. One must read all of that intothe verse. It simply says that all that the Father gives willcome to Christ. e question is this: “Who is it that theFather gives to Jesus?”at question is answered plainly in this passage only threeverses later: “And this is the will of him that sent me, thatevery one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, mayhave everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last114