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Can we Resist God’s call to Repentance?
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Chapter: 14.36
(Section 14: Selective Salvation)
Copyright © Michael Bronson 1998 - 2005
BibleHelp.org

A previous chapter (TheTULIP) details the five main points of selective salvation. The fourth point in the TULIP is "Irresistible Grace." Listed below is their definition of Irresistible Grace:

"The grace that God extends to the elect cannot be refused. God puts into the hearts of the elect an irresistible desire to turn to Him and accept His salvation. This desire is so overpowering that no one can refuse it."

The Bible, however, presents a completely different story. The Bible clearly says we can resist and reject God. It says God is grieved when we reject Him. It says the Nation of Israel, (which is part of God’s elect) were a stiff-necked and stubborn people (which resulted in many of them resisting God’s call to salvation). It also provides numerous examples of God changing His mind when people repented of their sins.

There are over a hundred verses where God pleads with us to repent and seek Him. Why would God make these pleas if ourpersonal repentance was irrelevant? Why would God passionately encourage us to come to Him if He was going to force us to come anyhow? Listed below are verses that conflict with the doctrine of Irresistible Grace:

Verses showing People resisting God

2 Chron 13:8	People are *resisting* the Kingdom of God
Job 9:4	Job said, "Who has *resisted* Him and come out unscathed?"
Isaiah 1:20	If you *resist*, you will be devoured by the sword
Acts 7:51	"You *stiff-necked* people … you always *resist* the Holy Spirit

God can be grieved by our actions and calamities
(This shows God is grieved when we reject Him)

1 Chron. 2:15	God was *grieved* because of their calamity
2 Samuel 24:16	God was *grieved* because of the calamity
Acts 7:51	Holy Spirit can be *resisted*
Ephesians 4:30	Holy Spirit can be *grieved*
Ezekiel 6:9	God is *grieved* by their adulterous hearts
Genesis 6:6	It *grieved* God that He made mankind
Isaiah 63:10	Their actions *vexed* the Holy Spirit
Isaiah 63:10	God’s people rebelled and *grieved* His Holy Spirit
Jeremiah 42:10	God is *grieved* over disasters
Psalm 78:40	God’s people *grieved* Him

People can reject God
(This shows people have the ability to choose to go to Heaven or Hell.)

1 Chron. 28:9	If you *forsakeHim***, He will forsake you
2 Chron. 15:2	If you *forsake Him*, He will forsake you
Ezekiel 18:23	The wicked should *return* from his ways and live
Ezekiel 18:30	Repent and *turn* from your transgressions
Ezekiel 18:31	*Cast away* your transgressions … make yourself a new heart
Ezekiel 18:32	The wicked should *return* from his ways and live
Ezekiel 3:19	If the wicked *does not turn* from his wicked ways he will die in his sins
Ezekiel 33:19	If the wicked *turns* from his wickedness … he shall live
Ezekiel 33:9	If the wicked *does not turn* from his wicked ways, he will die in his sins
John 3:18	He that *believeth not* is condemned already
John 3:36	He that *believeth not* shall not see life
John 5:40	… and you *will not come* to me that you might have life
John 8:24	You will die in your sins because you *do not believe* I am He
Luke 12:9	He that *denies me* shall be denied
Mark 8:16:16	Whoever does *not believe* will be condemned
Mark 8:35	Whoever will *save his own life* will lose it
Mark 8:38	Whoever is *ashamed of me* … I will be ashamed
Matthew 16:25	Whoever *saves his own life* will lose it

Verses showing God wants us to repent
(If God is going to force us to become Christians, why does He plead with us to repent?)

1 Kings 8:47	*Repent*
2 Chron. 6:37	*Repent*
2 Peter 3:9	God wants everyone to *repent*
Acts 8:22	*Repent*
Acts 13:24	John preached *repentance*
Acts 17:30	God commands all people everywhere to *repent*
Acts 2:38	Peter preached *repentance*
Acts 20:21	They must turn to God in *repentance*
Acts 26:20	Paul preached *repentance*
Acts 3:19	*Repent* and *turn* to God
Acts 8:22	*Repent* of this wickedness
Ezekiel 14:6	*Repent* and *turn* from all of your abominations
Ezekiel 18:30	Repent and *turn* from your transgressions
Ezekiel 18:32	God says, "*Turn* and live"
Ezekiel 33:11	God begs us to *turn* from our wicked ways
Hosea 12:6	*Turn* to God
Hosea 6:1	*Return* unto the Lord
Isaiah 30:15	*Repentance*
Isaiah 59:20	The Redeemer will come to those who *repent*
Jeremiah 15:19	If you *repent,* I will restore you
Jeremiah 3:1	*Return* to me
Jeremiah 4:1	*Return* to me
Job 34:33	Why do you refuse to *repent*?
Job 36:10	God commands people to *repent*
Joel 2:3	*Turn* unto the Lord
Luke 13:3	Jesus said that you will perish unless you *repent*
Luke 13:5	Jesus said that you will perish unless you *repent*
Luke 15:10	There is rejoicing over one sinner who *repents*
Luke 24:47	*Repentance* shall be preached among all nations
Luke 3:3	John the Baptist preached *repentance*
Luke 5:32	Sinners are called to *repentance*
Mark 1:15	Jesus said *repent* and live
Mark 1:4	John the Baptist preached *repentance*
Mark 6:12	The disciples preached that men should *repent*
Matthew 3:2	John the Baptist preached *repentance*
Matthew 4:17	Jesus told people to *repent*
Rev. 2:16	*Repent*
Rev. 2:21	I gave her space to *repent* … she repented not
Rev. 2:5	*Repent*
Rev. 3:19	So be earnest and *repent*
Rev. 3:3	Obey and *repent*
Zechariah 1:3	*Turn* unto me

Verses showing God wants us to seek Him
(If God is going to force us to become Christians, why is He asking us to seek Him?)

1 Chron 16:11	*Seek* His face always
1 Chron 28:9	If you *seek* Him, He will be found by you
1 Chron. 2:8,9	If you *seek* Him, He will be found
2 Chron 19:3	*Set your heart* on seeking the Lord
2 Chron. 15:2	If you *seek* Him, He will be found
2 Chron. 7:14	*Seek* my face
Acts 15:17	That the remnant of men *seek* the Lord
Amos 5:4	*Seek* me and live
Amos 5:6	*Seek* the Lord and live
Colossians 3:1	*Seek* those things that are above
Deut. 4:29	*Seek* the Lord
Hebrews 11:6	God rewards those who earnestly *seek* Him
Isaiah 55:6	*Seek* the Lord while He may be found
Jeremiah 29:13	You will *seek* me and find me when you seek me with all of your heart
Job 8:5	*Seek* God early
Lam. 3:25	God is good to those who *seek* Him
Luke 11:9,10	*Seek* and you will find
Luke 12:31	*Seek* His kingdom
Matthew 6:33	*Seek* God’s kingdom
Proverbs 8:17	Those who *seek* Me will find Me
Psalms 105:4	*Seek* His face always
Psalms 119:2	Blessed are those who *seek* Him with all their hearts
Psalms 27:8	God said *seek* my face
Psalms 69:32	The heart that *seeks* God shall live
Zephaniah 2:3	*Seek* the Lord

Verses showing God changing His mind
(This shows God does change His mind in response to OUR repentance)

1 Chron. 2:15	God was *grieved* because of their calamity
1 Chron. 21:15	God *changed* His mind about punishing Israel for David’s sin
1 Kings 21:29	When Ahab humbled himself before God, He *withdrew* His punishment
1 Sam. 13:13, 14	God was going to establish Saul’s kingdom forever, but *changed* His mind because of Saul’s sin.
1 Samuel 8:19	God *changed* His mind and allowed Israel to have a king
2 Chron. 7:14	If my people shall humble themselves … I *will heal* their land
2 Samuel 12	David sinned by committing adultery and murder. God’s punishment for these sins was death. Yet, God *changed* the punishment and allowed David to live.
2 Samuel 24:16	God *changed* His mind about punishing Israel for David’s sin
Exodus 32:14	God was going to punish the Israelites because of their sins. At the request of Moses, God *changed* His mind.
Ezekiel 6:9	God is *grieved* by their adulterous hearts
Genesis 6:6, 7	It "repented" and *grieved* the Lord that He made man
Isaiah 63:10	God’s people rebelled and *grieved* His Holy Spirit
Jeremiah 18:8	If they turn from their evil ways, God will *repent* from what He was going to do
Jeremiah 26:13	If they obeyed the word of the Lord, He will *change* His mind concerning their punishment
Jeremiah 26:19	God *changed* His mind about punishment
Jeremiah 3:12	God told Israel to return from their sins and He will *change* His mind toward them
Jeremiah 42:10	God is *grieved* over disasters
Job 33:27, 28	God will save those who *repent*
Joel 2:13	Turn unto the Lord and He will *relent* on sending calamity
Joel 2:14	God may *relent*
Psalms 106:23	God’s wrath was *turned* away because of Moses’ prayers
Psalms 106:45	God *repented* when He heard the cries of the Israelites
Psalms 107:13	They cried unto the Lord and he *saved* them
Psalms 107:19	They cried unto the Lord and he *saved* them
Psalms 107:28	They cried unto the Lord and He *brought* them out of their troubles
Psalms 78:40	God’s people *grieved* Him
Psalms 90:13	David is asking God to *change* His mind (relent)

Verses showing Israel was a stiff-necked people
(This shows many of them resisting God's call to salvation.)

2 Chronicles 30:8
2 Chronicles 36:13
2 Kings 17:14
Acts 7:51
Deuteronomy 10:16
Deuteronomy 31:27
Deuteronomy 9:6,13
Exodus 32:9
Exodus 33:3,5
Exodus 34:9
Jeremiah 17:23
Jeremiah 19:15
Jeremiah 7:26
Nehemiah 9:16,17,29
Proverbs 29:1

Verses showing Israel was a stubborn people
(This shows many of them resisting God's call to salvation.)

Deuteronomy 2:30
Deuteronomy 21:18,20
Deuteronomy 9:27
Ezekiel 2:4
Hosea 4:16
Isaiah 46:12
Isaiah 48:4
Jeremiah 11:8
Jeremiah 13:10
Jeremiah 16:12
Jeremiah 18:12
Jeremiah 23:17
Jeremiah 3:17
Jeremiah 7:24
Jeremiah 9:14
Judges 2:19
Leviticus 26:19
Mark 16:14
Mark 3:5
Psalms 78:8
Psalms 81:12
Romans 2:5

Other Chapters in this Section

Home
Up
PART 1: What is Selective Salvation?
PART 2: What Does the Bible say about Selective Salvation?
PART 3: Problems with Selective Salvation

How do you KnowYou are Saved?
Are We Lying when We are Witnessing?
Children of the Elect
Statistics do not Support Selective Salvation
Why are there so Many Religions?
Can We Resist God's Call to Repentance?
Can We Seek the Lord?
Why was Hell Created?
Has God Really Selected People at Random to go to Hell?
Why did the Reformation take place?

PART 4: “Choice” –The Achilles’ Heel of Selective Salvation
PART 5: Difficult Questions Answered
Appendix: Foundational Documents used by Selective Salvationists

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