So, I’m trying to finish a number of backlogged projects – here’s one: my continuation of summarizing the salient points in Steele, Thomas and Quinn’s book, The Five Points of Calvinism. These are merely quotations from the book and not my own thoughts. I am recording them to have them on file. The other articles can be found by clicking on the “Calvinism” category.
THE EFFICACIOUS CALL OF THE SPIRIT OR IRRESISTIBLE GRACE
Simply stated, this doctrine asserts that the Holy Spirit never fails to bring to salvation those sinners whom He personally calls to Christ. He inevitably applies salvation to every sinner whom He intends to save, and it is His intention to save all the elect.
Through this special call, the Holy Spirit performs a work of grace within the sinner, which inevitably brings him to faith in Christ.
His will is renewed through this process, so that the sinner spontaneously comes to Christ of his own free choice. Because he is given a new nature so that he loves righteousness, and because his mind is enlightened so that he understands and believes the biblical gospel, he renewed sinner freely and willingly turns to Christ as Lord and Savior. Thus, the once dead sinner is drawn to Christ by the inward, supernatural call of the Spirit, who through regeneration makes him alive and creates faith and repentance within him.
Notable aspects of this doctrine:
The Spirit Saves: Romans 8:14; 1 Cor 2:10-13; 6:11; 12:3; 2 Corinthians 3:6, 17-18; 1 Peter 1:1-2.
The Spirit Gives New Birth:
1. Sinners through regeneration, are brought into God’s Kingdom and are made His children. The author of this new birth is the Holy Spirit; the instrument which He suses is the word of God: John 1:12-13; 3:3-8; Titus 3:5; 1 Peter 1:3, 23; 1 John 5:4.
2. Through the Spirit’s work, the dead sinner is given a new heart (nature) and made to walk in God’s law. In Christ he becomes a new creation: Deuteronomy 30:6; Ezekiel 36:26-27; Gal 6:15; Ephesians 2:10; 2 Corinthians 5:17-18. Note: I would personally quibble with the use of Deuteronomy 30:6 and Ezekiel 36:26-27 at this juncture. I believe there is something more eschatological about these texts that is assumed by their quotation here.
3. The Holy Spirit raises the sinner from his state o spiritual death and makes him alive: John 5:21; Ephesians 2:1, 5; Col 2:13.
The Spirit Reveals the Secrets of God: Matthew 11:25-27; Luke 10:21; Matthew 13:10-11, 16; Luke 8:10; Matthew 16:15-17; John 6:37, 44-45; 6:64-65; 1 Cor 2:14; Ephesians 1:17-18.
The Spirit Gives Faith and Repentance: Acts 5:31; 11:18; 13:48; 16:14; 18:27; Ephesians 2:8-9; Phil 1:29; 2 Tim 2:25-26.
The Spirit Effectually Calls: Rom 1:6-7; 8:30; 9:23-24; 1 Cor 1:1-2, 9, 23-31; Gal 1:15-16; Eph 4:4; 2 Tim 1:9; Heb 9:15; Jude 1; 1 Pe 1:15; 1 Pe 2:9; 5:10; 2 Pe 1:3; Rev 17:14.
Salvation, Given by a Sovereign God: Isa 55:11; John 3:27; 17:2; Rom 9:16; 1 Cor 3:6-7; 4:7; Phil 2:12-13; James 1:18; 1 John 5:20
