Paige Patterson stated, "I see no biblical evidence for Irresistible Grace." Hugh?

During the Pastor's Conference at the SBC in Greensboro, NC, Dr's Paige Patterson and Al Mohler discussed "Reaching the World through differing views of election". I've been waiting for someone to point out some of the inconsistency's espoused by Dr. Patterson but have not yet seen anyone do so. This post is in no way intended to insult Dr. Patterson. He is a fellow Christian, a man of God, articulate, educated and we owe Dr. Patterson a great deal of respect. He is truly "worthy of double honor".

However, may I embark on the difficult task of trying to figure out what in the world Dr. Patterson meant when he stated, "I see no biblical evidence for Irresistible Grace." Is Dr. Patterson's position such that when God's will and man's will collide that man wins? Let's ask Jonah about that, or Nebuchadnezzar, or Pharaoh, or for that matter, me.

I don't recall the Apostle Paul sitting on the side of the Damascus road struggling to decide whether to believe in Jesus Christ or not while the choir sang 10 stanzas of "Just As I Am". And what did Jesus say of Paul's conversion? "But the Lord said to him, 'Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine...'" (Acts 9:15) And what did Paul say of his own conversion? "But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb and called me through His grace, to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles..." (Galatians 1:15-16)

Now let's be clear. Irresistible Grace does not mean that God's grace, God's will, or God's Spirit is not and can not be resisted. The reality is that we all resist His grace, daily. The point is that when God wills to overcome our sinful resistance, He does so and He saves. Make no mistake, this doctrine is nothing less than the power of God to save undeserving sinners by and for the "glory of His grace" (Eph 1:5-6)

I suppose that my primary problem with Dr. Patterson's position boils down to this question, "How does God save sinners through the gospel of Jesus Christ?" Dr. Patterson would probably say, (I am presuming such) "God brings conviction on the sinner so that they are made to choose according to their will to accept or reject Jesus Christ." But, salvation is not according to the will of man! (When's the last time you heard that from a preacher?)

Let me get down to my main point and then share some biblical passages on the doctrine of Irresistible Grace. Because of sin, man is spiritually dead and incapable of saving Himself. He is not neutral and does not want to be saved but rather always rebels and turns aside to his own way. God's grace and power in salvation is manifested through the Holy Spirit awakening the dead sinner to "see the kingdom of God" (John 3:3) and then willfully "enter the kingdom of God" (John 3:5) by coming to Christ. This is called regeneration or being "born again". It is not according to the will of man (John 1:13, Rom 9:11, 16). It is only according to God's free and sovereign grace given to whomever He wills to give it. (Rom 9:15, 18) Jesus spoke of being "drawn" by the Father (John 6:44) and "calling" His sheep by name (John 10:3, 26-29). Paul used the term "called" in Romans 8:30, "Moreover, whom He predestined, these He also called, and whom He called, these He also justified, and whom He justified, these He also glorified." This calling is not general to all men equally but is "irresistible" or "effectual" producing salvation because all whom He predestined, He called and He justified and glorified. Jesus said, "All that the Father gives to Me will come to Me...and this is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me, I should lose nothing but should raise it up at the last day." (John 6:37, 39)

Remember Paul's testimony? "When it pleased God, who...called me by His grace". Paul spoke of our "Holy Calling" in 2 Timothy 1:8b-9 "...the gospel according to the power of God, who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began." Paul told Titus that our salvation is "not by works of righteousness which we have done but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit...having been justified by His grace..." (Titus 3:5, 7)

Let me close with Jesus' words in John 8:34, 36. "Jesus answered them, 'Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin...Therefore, if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed." The biggest word in this text is "if". "If the Son makes you free..." meaning that God is under no obligation to save anyone much less everyone. When the fallen angels sinned and fell, God gave them no reprieve, no atonement, no grace, and no mercy. He could have done the same to every fallen son of Adam. This doctrine is not superficial but absolutely necessary to the proper understanding of the gospel truth. Rightly understood, it produces humility and godly fear which, by the way, is the beginning of wisdom.

If you are reading this post and have never trusted in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, I plead with you in the name of Jesus Christ, turn from your sins, flee the wrath of God to come, call upon the Lord for mercy, and look to Jesus Christ in faith believing that He died on the cross in your place and rose from the dead to give you everlasting life. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved!