Irresistible Christ

A lot of people imagine that the doctrine of God's sovereignty has Him somehow forcing people against their wills to believe. Theologians sometimes use the expression "irresistible grace" when they describe the way God brings sinners into the kingdom. Don't think for a moment that there is any kind of violent fervor or coercion involved when God draws people to Christ. Grace doesn't push sinners against their wills toward Christ; it draws them willingly to Him--by first opening their hearts. It enables them to see their sin for what it is and empowers them to despise what they formerly loved. It also equips them to see Christ for who He truly is. Someone whose heart has been opened like that will inevitably find Christ Himself irresistible. That is precisely the meaning of the expression "irresistible grace." That is how God draws sinners to Himself. The Lord simply opened her heart to believe--and she did.

JOHN MACARTHUR
Twelve Extraordinary Women
(The book was worth the read for that definition of irresistible grace. wow.)