Irresistible Grace

"C.H. Spurgeon preached the doctrine of irresistible grace, which teaches that all who are called by God to come to faith in Jesus will ultimately do so. it is important to state that it does not teach that all who hear a Gospel message or receive an invitation to trust Christ will believe. These examples of a 'general call' can be ignored and resisted. We are instead referring to the work of the Holy Spirit in calling an individual to repent and believe the Gospel.

We see in Scripture that no one is able to come to Christ unless he is first drawn by God to do so. John 6:44 states, "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him." Being totally depraved, we will not and cannot choose God on our own. So it is clear that those who come to Christ are first drawn by Him.

Spurgeon summarized this truth by saying, "You cannot look to Christ before he has looked to you. If you are willing to be saved, He gave you that will." [1]

While this is an important aspect of irresistible grace, it is not the entire scope of the doctrine. Irresistible grace further teaches that while some may resist this calling of God for a time, His will in saving those whom He calls cannot be thwarted (John 6:37; Romans 8:30). Spurgeon emphatically made this point:

You yourselves say, "we won't come;" God says, "You shall come." Yes! There are some here who are laughing at salvation, who can scoff at Christ, and mock at the gospel; but I tell you some of you shall come yet. "What!" you say, "can God make me become a Christian?" I tell you yes, for herein rests the power of the gospel. It does not ask your consent; but it gets it. It does not say, will you have it? But it makes you willing in the day of God's power. [2]

This doctrine does not speak of merely overriding man's will, but of changing it supernaturally. Says Spurgeon:
A man is not saved against his will, but he is made willing by the operation of the Holy Ghost. A mighty grace which he does not wish to resist enters into the man, disarms him, makes a new creature of him, and he is saved. [3]

When God calls sinners to come to Him, they will come; "And nought in heaven, nor on earth, nor in hell, can stop them from coming." [4]

God's will in electing sinners unto salvation cannot be thwarted, though His calling may be resisted for a season. Those whom He calls will ultimately be saved."

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[1] Steven Lawson, The Gospel Focus of Charles Spurgeon, (Reformation Trust Publishing), 54.

[2] C.H. Spurgeon, "Effectual Calling," (March 30, 1856), accessed January 28, 2015. http://www.spurgeon.org/sermons/0073.htm.

[3] The Gospel Focus of Charles Spurgeon, 52-53.

[4] Ibid., 55.

Article by Clay Kraby