THEOS prōtos

The Doctrine of Grace can be understood by truly understanding the total depravity of man, God’s election of those whom He shows saving grace towards and atoned for, the value and extent of God’s Grace shown to those whom were elected and atoned for, and the unlimited unending saving grace that is given as well.  Through these we can more clearly see the majesty of God’s Grace.

God makes it clear we were dead.  Without God’s grace we are spiritually dead. And only by his Grace are we saved and made spiritually alive (Ephesians 2:1, 5).  Salvation by God’s Grace is the only way for us to be saved. Just as the dead can not bring themselves back to life, we can not will ourselves to spiritual life.

In God’s grace alone He has chosen those whom he will show this saving grace to from before the beginning of the world (Ephesians 1:4–6).  By his Grace we were shown mercy and elected to be adopted to become a child of God.  This Grace is unconditionally given to those whom he chose.  It is done all according to God’s will and not ours (Romans 8:29–30; 9:11; Ephesians 1:11–12.  All those who are unconditionally chosen by God before the beginning of time come from all sorts of backgrounds and culture; thus His Grace is given to any person by his choosing (Revelation 5:9).

Christ’s atonement ensures that all those whom God has chosen will be saved; but just as not all are chosen and not all are prayed for (Ephesians 1:4–6; John 17:9) means not all are given saving Grace.  His saving Grace is only extended to those whom have been chosen; and those people will for sure come through grace to faith in Jesus Christ (John 6:37–40, 44).  This is more modernly called a “particular redemption”.  That Christ’s atonement was intended for a particular people to absolutely come to God in faith.

The absolute-ness of God’s calling through Grace is clear in scripture.  Jesus makes it absolutely clear that those whom the father has called “WILL COME” (John 6:37–40, 44).  These particular people WILL absolutely respond to God’s calling and absolutely remain as promised in God’s Will because it is a work of God and not of man. That by God’s Grace man is given a new heart and the ability to be compelled to God’s divine calling (Ezekiel 36:26).  This calling is so spiritually majestic and amazing that it absolutely compels those who receive to respond in faith. 

God’s saving Grace is so awesome and powerful it not only brings people to spiritual life and compels them to respond in faith but also ensures that no other force or will can supersede God’s divine calling and eternal purpose. The particular people whom God shows saving grace on, will never be lost for all eternity (John 10:27–29; Romans 8:29–30; Ephesians 1:3–14). Through God’s Grace, their faith will remain no matter the obstacles or forces against them.  No force or will of any other spirit, person, or themselves will prevent God’s amazing Grace because Christ will forever intercede on their behalf (Romans 8:34; Hebrews 7:25).

God’s divine and holy Grace is so absolute, eternal, and sovereign that it created a particular people to come to God, to be saved by God, and to remain in fellowship with God for all eternity and there is nothing in all reality more powerful. 

Irresistible Grace

• He showed us a grace that saved us without effort of our own (Titus 3:5)
• All those who are chosen by God WILL come to Jesus (John 6:37-40).
• Lazerus was dead, yet, responded to God’s commands to come to life (John 11:43)
• We can NOT see the Kingdom of God unless we are first born again spiritually and we can not compel ourselves to be born (John 3:3) 
• Being spiritually born does not come about by heritage, effort, or self will but only from the grace of God (John 1:12-13; Ephesians 2:1-10) 
• God alone delivered us from darkness and transferred us to his Kingdom (Colossians 1:13)
• Salvation is from by God’s Grace alone (Psalm 3:8) 
• The outward call of the gospel message can be rejected (Matthew 22:14; Romans 1:18-32) but the inward call is irresistible (John 6:37-47) 
• This grace compels us to reject our old sinful self (2 Corinthians 4:1-6) 
• The exact people who were appointed by God to have eternal life; believed (Acts 13:48)
• God’s grace opens our hearts to hear and see the awesome power of salvation through his son (Acts 16:14 )
• Irresistible grace is the transforming power of the Holy Spirit whereby He takes a man dead in his trespasses and sins and gives him spiritual life so that he can recognize the surpassing value of God’s offer of salvation. Then, having been set free from the bondage of sin, that man willingly comes to Christ.
• Holy Spirit can overcome all such resistance and that He will draw the elect with an irresistible grace that makes them want to come to God and helps them to understand the gospel so they can and will believe it.