Man Is Not a Robot

The fourth tenet in Calvinism known as “irresistible grace” has the Holy Spirit overpowering man’s will. If you are one of the elect, then the Spirit will call you inwardly and it is impossible to resist. Such makes man a mere robot. To the contrary of this false teaching, we can quench the Spirit, though we should not (1 Th. 5:19). Those that Stephen preached to were guilty of always resisting the Holy Spirit, which had a direct connection to disobeying His Law (Ac. 7:51-53). We must remember that “the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets” (1 Cor. 14:32).

Calvinism strikes at the very foundation of man’s intellect. God made man with the capacity to grow in knowledge and expects us to do just that (2 Pt. 3:18). God expects man to put in the work needed to know and obey Him (1 Tim. 2:4, 4:13; 2 Tim. 2:15). He has furnished us with His complete, infallible Word and expects us to understand and apply it to our lives so that we may be complete (2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Pt. 1:3, 20-21; Jm. 1:25; 1 Jn. 2:21; Jn. 17:17).

It is possible to look into the mirror of the Holy Spirit inspired Word and walk away, having made no changes, just like a standard mirror (Jm. 1:23-24). Instead, let us keep our zeal glowing, our knowledge growing, and our walk behind Christ going (Tt. 2:11-14)! We should be ever thankful to God that He has given us the gift of will and love Him enough to obey His.

Trent Thrasher