Nepaug Bible Church - http://www.nepaugchurch.org - Pastor's Adult Sunday School Notes - http://www.nepaugchurch.org/bb/bb20020616.htm

EXAMINING CONTESTED REFORMED THEOLOGY BELIEFS
Part III: Examining The Five Points Of Calvinism (And Arminianism) In Light Of Scripture
D. Examining Calvinism's Doctrine Of Irresistible Grace In Light Of Scripture
  1. Introduction
    1. The theology of John Calvin, the main formulator of "Reformed Theology," rests on five "pillars" of belief: Total Inability, Unconditional Election, Limited Atonement, Irresistible Grace and Perseverance of the saints, doctrines that spell, T-U-L-I-P, Boettner, The Reformed Doctrine of Predestination, p. 1, 59f.
    2. These beliefs and their spiritual effects on believers besides the opposing beliefs of Arminianism and its respective spiritual effects are critiqued by Christ in respective order in Revelation 3:17 as follows:
  2. Examining Calvinism's Doctrine Of Irresistible Grace In Light Of Scripture, Revelation 3:17 et al.
    1. Calvinism teaches "Irresistible Grace," that unsaved man's will is in such bondage to sin that he can not author faith, so the Holy Spirit effectively enlightens and causes the elect to trust in Christ, Ibid., p. 163.
    2. Conversely, Arminians hold God gives every individual "a special influence of the Holy Spirit" so he may trust in Christ, Strong, Syst. Theol., p. 601; also Bettenson, ed., Docs. of the Chr. Ch., 2nd ed., 378.
    3. Yet, Jesus Christ prophetically criticized both views and their errant spiritual results in Revelation 3:17:
      1. Jesus claimed the Laodiceans were fourth of all "blind" (NIV & KJV). The Greek word for "blind is tuphlos (UBS Grk. N.T., p. 845), and we define what Christ means by it through the Scripture context:
        1. In Rev. 3:18, Christ said the solution to this Rev. 3:17 "blind" state came by applying an eyesalve (really, a poultice made from mineralized tablets at Laodicea's famous medical school that were sliced from a kollyrium [cylinder], reduced to powder and smeared on the eyes [cf. Sir W. Ramsay, The Letters to the Seven Churches, p. 429]) that came from Himself so the afflicted might "see."
        2. Well, elsewhere, only in Jn. 9 did Christ use a poultice on eyes to give one physical sight to lead to his spiritual insight (Ryrie St. Bib., KJV, 1978 ed, 1887), so the Rev. 3 "blind" state is spiritual.
      2. This counters both Calvinist and Arminian views of the role of the Holy Spirit in illumining men:
        1. Though Calvinism teaches God's Holy Spirit illumines and effectually causes the elect to trust in Christ, as the Laodiceans are true sons of God (Rev. 3:19 in view of Heb. 12:6-8) and are yet "blind," there is no "irresistible" grace or they would not also be "blind" as God's true sons!
        2. Then, as Arminianism teaches the Holy Spirit causes every man readily to be able to see his need for Christ so he can contribute faith to be saved, the fact that these true sons of God (Rev. 3:19 in light of Hebrews 12:6-8) were also "blind" reveals they were still saved though having no insight, so one's illumination to the truth is God's work alone apart from man's effort in any way!
        3. Rather, the Holy Spirit illuminates and convicts men of the truth with no cooperating effort or merit on man's part, and that divine conviction leaves the sinner free to exercise his own faith to believe. God ALONE then saves man, and God ALONE provides ILLUMINATION even in the Christian life that FOLLOWS when the believer walks by the Holy Spirit's power.
      3. Spiritually, the errant views of the Holy Spirit's illuminating work in Calvinism and Arminianism have led to their disciples' lack of Bible insight: (a) the Calvinist's assumption he is forever given the Spirit's effective insight via "efficacious grace" at salvation has led to his assuming his spiritual insight will advance by way of God's predestination, and has tended to leave him irresponsibly not leaning upon the Spirit for that insight growth. (b) The Arminian's assumption he always is equipped by the Spirit to discern God's truth and that his faith produces salvation has likewise led him to a futile failure to depend upon the Holy Spirit for illumination of Scripture truths. Thus, both groups have failed to see the need for believers (a) responsibly (b) to exercise a dependence upon the Holy Spirit's ministry available in fellowship with God (John 16:13) to grow in Biblical, spiritual insight, Eph. 1:17 with 1 Cor. 2:9-16! Both groups of disciples have become "blind" to Biblical truth as a result, Mk. 4:21-25!
Lesson: (1) Calvinism errs in asserting the Holy Spirit irresistibly illuminates the elect so they will trust in Christ, and (2) Arminianism errs in holding that insight is always provided by the Holy Spirit so man can trust in Christ. (3) Rather, the Spirit (a) convicts ALL the lost so ALL are responsible to respond by faith in Christ (Jn. 1:9; 16:8; Rev. 22:17), BUT He (b) illumines only those Christians who live by the Spirit's power to grow and KEEP their Biblical insight, Gal. 5:16-23; 1 Cor. 2:9-16; Mk. 4:21-25!