Refuting Irresistible Grace: A Biblical and Theological Critique

Refuting Irresistible Grace: A Biblical and Theological Critique

Irresistible grace is a doctrine in Calvinism that teaches God’s grace in salvation cannot be resisted by those whom He has chosen. In other words, when God wills to save an individual, that person will inevitably come to faith because God's grace is effectual and cannot be refused. While this view is widely held among Reformed theologians, there are strong biblical and theological reasons to challenge it.

1. Free Will and Human Responsibility

The Bible presents people as moral agents who have the ability to accept or reject God's grace. Jesus laments over Jerusalem, saying:

“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!” (Matthew 23:37, ESV).

Here, Christ expresses a genuine desire to gather the people, yet they refuse. If grace were irresistible, this passage would not make sense—Jesus would simply override their resistance.

Similarly, in Acts 7:51, Stephen rebukes the Jewish leaders:

“You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you.”

If grace were irresistible, how could people resist the Holy Spirit? This verse clearly shows that individuals can reject God's work in their lives.

2. The Many Calls to Repentance

The Bible frequently calls sinners to repent, implying they have the ability to respond or reject.

“Seek the LORD while he may be found; call upon him while he is near.” (Isaiah 55:6)

“But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.” (Romans 2:5)

If grace were irresistible, there would be no need for such warnings. Instead, these passages indicate that people can resist God’s call and harden their hearts against Him.

3. Conditional Salvation and Faith

Scripture often places conditions on receiving God’s grace, such as belief and repentance.

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God.” (Ephesians 2:8)

This verse makes it clear that salvation is through faith. If grace were irresistible, there would be no need for faith as a condition—salvation would occur automatically. Yet, the Bible consistently teaches that belief and repentance precede salvation (Mark 16:16; Acts 16:31).

4. The Parable of the Sower

Jesus' parable of the sower (Matthew 13:1-23) describes four types of people who hear the Word. Only one group receives it and bears fruit. The others either reject it outright, fall away due to persecution, or are choked by the cares of the world. If grace were irresistible, we would not expect these different responses—everyone chosen would respond positively. Yet, Jesus teaches that some initially receive the Word but later reject it, showing that grace can be resisted.

5. God’s Desire for All to Be Saved

The Bible teaches that God desires all people to be saved:

“This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” (1 Timothy 2:3-4)

“The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9)

If God's grace were truly irresistible, then all whom He desires to save would, in fact, be saved. Yet, the Bible clearly teaches that not all will be saved (Matthew 7:13-14). This suggests that people can and do resist God’s grace.

Conclusion

The doctrine of irresistible grace is not consistent with the full counsel of Scripture. The Bible presents human beings as responsible for responding to God’s call, and it provides multiple examples of people resisting His grace. While salvation is by God's grace, He does not override human will in such a way that makes rejection impossible. Instead, God calls all people to repentance and faith, but not all will respond positively.

Rather than embracing irresistible grace, we should recognize that God's grace is available to all, yet it must be received through faith. Salvation is not forced upon anyone—it is a gift that must be willingly accepted.

Calvinists often cite Jonah and Paul as examples of irresistible grace, arguing that God's will in their lives was unavoidable. However, a closer examination of both cases reveals that while God sovereignly pursued them, they still had the ability to resist Him—at least for a time. Their stories actually support the idea that God's grace can be resisted before submission, rather than proving it is always irresistible.

Jonah: A Case of Resistance, Not Irresistible Grace

Jonah’s story is a prime example of someone resisting God's will. When God commanded him to preach to Nineveh, Jonah did not immediately comply. Instead, he actively fled in the opposite direction:

> “But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. He went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish.” (Jonah 1:3, ESV)

Jonah was clearly resisting God’s command. If grace were truly irresistible, Jonah would have obeyed immediately. Instead, he chose to run away, which resulted in severe consequences—being thrown into the sea and swallowed by a great fish. Only after experiencing hardship did Jonah finally submit:

> “Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from the belly of the fish.” (Jonah 2:1)

Jonah’s story demonstrates that God can be resisted, though He may use external circumstances to bring people to repentance. Jonah ultimately obeyed, but not because God’s grace was irresistible—rather, it was because God disciplined him until he yielded. This is far from the Calvinistic idea that God’s grace cannot be refused.

Additionally, even after Jonah preached to Nineveh and saw their repentance, he still resisted God's mercy toward them:

> “But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was angry.” (Jonah 4:1)

This further demonstrates that Jonah’s heart was not irresistibly changed—he continued to struggle with God's will even after submitting externally.

Paul’s Conversion: A Dramatic Encounter, Not Irresistible Grace

Paul’s conversion on the road to Damascus (Acts 9) is often cited as a key example of irresistible grace. However, Paul's experience actually shows that he had been resisting God for some time. When Jesus appeared to him, He said:

> “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? … It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” (Acts 9:4-5)

The phrase "kick against the goads" was a common expression referring to resisting authority. This implies that Paul had already been experiencing conviction and resisting God’s truth before this encounter. He had been persecuting Christians, but it seems his conscience had been pricked—possibly by witnessing Stephen’s martyrdom (Acts 7:58) or seeing the faith of those he persecuted.

Furthermore, Paul did not immediately accept Christ. He was blind for three days, fasting and praying (Acts 9:9). This was a time of reflection and decision-making. If grace were irresistible, Paul would have immediately rejoiced in his new faith. Instead, he underwent a process before fully embracing Christ.

Finally, Paul’s conversion was unique because it involved a direct, miraculous appearance of Christ. Most people do not experience such an encounter, yet many still reject the gospel. If Paul’s experience is an example of irresistible grace, then why doesn’t God forcefully appear to all unbelievers in the same way? Clearly, God’s approach with Paul was special, not a universal model for all conversions.

Conclusion

Both Jonah and Paul initially resisted God’s calling. Jonah actively fled, and Paul "kicked against the goads." In both cases, God pursued them, but He did not override their will. Jonah repented only after severe consequences, and Paul needed time to process and accept Christ’s lordship. Their stories demonstrate that God's grace is powerful and persistent, but not irresistible in the Calvinistic sense.

Rather than proving irresistible grace, Jonah and Paul’s experiences illustrate that while God’s grace is sovereignly extended, people can resist before ultimately yielding. This aligns with the broader biblical teaching that God's grace calls all to repentance, but individuals must choose to submit to it.