Simply Irresistible Part 7

In conclusion to my series on the doctrine of irresistible grace I want to address the most serious accusation against the sovereignty of God in salvation. I have found that two questions are quickly raised when discussing the 5-points of Calvinism. We should not take these lightly.

If Irresistible Grace is true, why evangelize? It breaks my heart when Christians ask this question. It is as if they throw out all they know about the Bible to try and win an argument against a Calvinist. However, there is some substance to their argument. There are Calvinists who would say that evangelism is not necessary because of the doctrine of election or of irresistible grace. This is called "Hyper Calvinism" and it is completely unbiblical (Romans 10:14).

A positive response is that irresistible grace encourages evangelism. If I have to rely on my wit or intellect to get somebody to have faith in Christ I won't be able to sleep at night. However, if I know that God works through the preaching of the gospel and that He will use my obedience to bring salvation to someone I am able to evangelize harder than any Arminian and still sleep like a Calvinist.

Here is how Paul puts it: "Having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart. But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God’s word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled only to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world [Satan] has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God...For God, who said, 'Let light shine out of darkness,' has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." (2 Cor. 4:1-6)

If Irresistible Grace is true, why pray for the lost?

I'm sure any non-Calvinist who has read me say that the Holy Spirit has freedom to give new birth to whomever He wills (which happens to be the elect) had the thought come to mind "then why pray for them?" But my question is why would you pray for them if the Holy Spirit is just waiting on the sinner to produce faith on his own? If you don't believe God can or will overcome resistance why would you waste your time praying for people instead of trying to use clever devices to get them to believe? (I'm sorry if this is an equally irrational question but I think it is fair).

God uses means to achieve His ends. If He predestined that Bob gets saved He might have also predestined that you pray that Bob get saved. You don't know what God has predestined until it happens. You know that you are told by God in His word to pray. So pray for Bob's salvation! God is not going to punish you for praying for someone when you didn't know if they were elect.

I hope and pray that this series has been helpful. Feel free to leave comments or questions.
Grace and Peace,
Stephen