I rather choose to term grace invincible, than irresistible. –John Newton
John Newton is not alone in his desire to retitle the doctrine of irresistible grace. Many after Newton have preferred the phrase “effectual calling” simply because calling grace “irresistible” is confusing. It’s confusing because Scripture makes clear that people refuse God’s grace all the time. As Newton wrote “it is too often resisted, even by those who believe”.
Secondly, the term “irresistible” is confusing because it causes many to assume that what is being claimed is that God “effects faith and conversion without the sinner’s own hearty consent and concurrence”. And that simply is not true. In researching for this article I stumbled upon one of those 15-reasons-Calvinism-is-the-devil type of sites. The author’s summary of irresistible grace is shared by many. He summed it up this way: “By irresistible grace, John Calvin meant that God simply forces people to be saved.”
This same charge seems to be laid at the feet of John Newton. And he response by explaining that the gospel that is preached to men can be rejected—in fact apart from the work of the Holy Spirit it will be rejected. Newton also rightly believed that God will not save people kicking and screaming against their wills.
And so you see the problem. “No sinner is converted without his own hearty will and concurrence” but in his natural state man will never give his heart to Christ. The only hope sinful humanity has is if God does something in the heart. This is what Newton referred to as invincible grace. God’s free bestowal of grace to make the heart willing and their eyes able to see the beauty of Jesus.
Far from inspiring Newton to give passionless appeals from the pulpit this doctrine is what actually motivated him to share the gospel with others. He rightly believed that God’s general call (Come to me, all you who are weary and heavy laden) could be rejected by sinners. But he also believed that God was able to overcome this obstinacy with his invincible grace.
Newton once quipped, “As to myself, if I was not a Calvinist, I think I should have no more hope of success in preaching to men, than to horses or cows”. (Letters, 116)
What Newton is saying is that apart from the Spirit’s work of grace men are no more fit to see the beauty of Christ than a horse or a cow. Given the obstinacy of sinful man to the gospel, a horse or a cow might give a bit more prospect of conversion. But Newton believed that God was able to take a heart of stone and make it a heart of flesh. God is able to change the leopards spots. And because of this he boldly and winsomely preached the gospel of Jesus.
May this doctrine stir up confidence and not complacency in proclaiming the gospel. And may it drive us to our knees, praying that God would see fit to use our feeble words to bring glory to Jesus in the salvation of lost sinners.
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