Common grace is connected with what is called "common operations of the Spirit." We have already spoken of both these ideas. It is an error of some Calvinists to say that the Spirit of God operates not at all in the hearts and minds of totally depraved and lost sinners. However, as we have seen, the scriptures teach that the Holy Spirit does work on the hearts of sinners in their unregenerate state prior to their being regenerated. Not only that, but the Spirit works on the hearts of those who will never be saved. One verse we have cited already shows these statements to be true. Stephen in his preaching said the following to those who were rejecting his message in a hostile manner: “You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you." (Acts 7: 51 nkjv)
Common Operations of the Spirit
Travis Fentiman, who we have cited previously from his web page (See here), in his introduction to the numerous citations he provided from the Puritans and older Calvinists who believed in common and prevenient grace, and in common operations of the Spirit, wrote the following (emphasis mine):
"Note that the common operations of the Spirit are not simply incidental and purposeless. God is a purposeful being and has purposes for all of his actions and benefits. Thus, note in almost all of the quotes below that the language of purpose is used, that these operations and benefits are for the purpose of drawing people (including the reprobate) to Christ...That irresistible grace, as used by reformed divines, was never meant to deny resistible grace..."
Some Calvinists, especially the Hyper Calvinists or those with leanings in that direction, though they may admit of some operations of the Spirit upon the unregenerate non-elect, yet will be reluctant to say that those operations are done with the intent of saving sinners. They have this idea that the Spirit can never fail to save those who he operates upon. However, as we have seen, and will yet see further, that is false. In "The Common Operations of the Spirit" by Dr. A. A. Hodge in "The Westminster Confession: A Commentary" (1870), Hodge wrote the following on pages 170–171 (as cited here; emphasis mostly mine):
"3. That the sole agent in this effectual calling is the Holy Ghost; that He uses Gospel truth as His instrument; and that, while all sinners are active in resisting the common influences of grace before regeneration, and all believers in co-operating with sanctifying grace after regeneration, nevertheless every new-created soul is passive with respect to that divine act of the Holy Spirit whereby he is regenerated, may all be proved under the following distinct heads:
(1) There are certain influences of the Spirit in the present life which extend to all men, in a greater or lesser degree; which tend to restrain or to persuade the soul; which are exerted in the way of heightening the natural moral effect of the truth upon the understanding, the heart, and the conscience.
They involve no change of principle or permanent disposition, but only an increase of the natural emotions of the heart in view of sin, of duty, and of self-interest. These influences, of course, may be resisted—and are habitually resisted—by the unregenerate.
The fact that such resistible influences are experienced by men is proved:
(a) From the fact that the Scriptures affirm that they are resisted. Genesis 6:3; Hebrews 10:29.
(b) Every Christian is conscious that, prior to his conversion, he was the subject of influences impressing him with serious thoughts, convincing him of sin, and tending to draw him to the obedience of Christ, which for a time he resisted. We observe the same to be true of many who are never truly converted at all."
We have already called attention to Genesis 6: 3 where we read:
"And the LORD said, “My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, for he is indeed flesh; yet his days shall be one hundred and twenty years.” (nkjv)
Even the Hyper Calvinistic leaning John Gill wrote the following in his commentary on this text (emphasis mine):
"...or rather this is to be understood of the Holy Spirit of God, as the Targum of Jonathan, which agrees with 1 Peter 3:18 and to be thus interpreted; that the Spirit of God, which had been litigating and reasoning the point, as men do in a court of judicature, as the word signifies, with these men in the court, and at the bar of their own consciences, by one providence or by one minister or another, particularly by Noah, a preacher of righteousness, in vain, and to no purpose..."
As for Hebrews 10: 29 we will have more to say in the next chapter.
On pages 101-102 Hodge wrote further:
"As common grace, this spiritual influence extends to all men without exception, though in varying degrees of power—restraining the corruption of their nature and impressing their hearts and consciences with the truths revealed in the light of nature or of revelation. It is either exercised or judicially withheld by God at His sovereign pleasure.
As efficacious and saving grace, this spiritual influence extends only to the elect and is exerted upon them at such times and in such degrees as God has determined from the beginning."
In "Outlines of Theology" (1879) pp. 451–452 20, Hodge wrote further:
"In what sense is grace irresistible? It must be remembered that the true Christian is at the same time the subject of:
1. Those moral and mediate influences of grace upon the will common to both himself and the unconverted; and
2. Those special influences of grace within the will, which are certainly efficacious.
The first class of influences Christians may—and constantly do—resist, through the law of sin remaining in their members. The second class of influences are certainly efficacious, but are neither resistible nor irresistible, because they act from within and carry the will spontaneously with them.
It is to be lamented that the term irresistible grace has ever been used, since it suggests the idea of a mechanical and coercive influence upon an unwilling subject; whereas, in truth, it is the transcendent act of the infinite Creator, making the creature willingly willing."
It is regrettable that the acronym TULIP was created to summarize Calvinism's "doctrines of grace." For instance, when people hear the words "total depravity" they think that unsaved people are as bad as they can be. When they hear the words "limited atonement" they think that is an unjust limitation. When they hear the words "irresistible grace" they also think that it means that God forces people to be saved against their wills. So, I agree that "it is to be lamented that the term irresistible grace has ever been used."
Convict the World of Sin?
"And when He (the Holy Spirit) has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin, because they do not believe in Me; of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged." (John 16: 8-11 nkjv)
These verses are often a problem for those Calvinists who deny prevenient grace and common operations of the Spirit. The question must be asked: "is everyone who the Spirit convicts of sin, righteousness, and judgment to come a born again child of God?" Other questions also need to be asked. Such as - "who is meant by "the world""? And, "does the Spirit do this convicting through the preaching of the gospel?" And, "is this convicting work of the Spirit ever resisted?" And, "when Stephen was preaching the gospel to those who were uncircumcised in heart and ears and stiffnecked in Acts 7: 51 and who resisted the Holy Spirit, was he doing what the above words of Jesus predict?"
On this text John Gill wrote the following in his commentary (emphasis mine):
"...though not to the exclusion of the Gentiles, the whole world that lies in wickedness; since both joined, and were concerned in these things, and reproved of them; which "reproving", as it may respect different persons, may intend both such reproofs and convictions, as are not attended with conversion, and issue in salvation; and such as are powerful, spiritual, and to saving purposes: the several things the Spirit of God is said to reprove of, being repeated in the following verses, with reasons or specifications annexed to them, will be there considered."
It is surprising that Gill took this position in light of his tendency to give a Hyper Calvinistic interpretation to many such texts. He defines "the world" of the text to "the whole world that lies in wickedness." He also says that such convictions are experienced by those who are never converted nor saved. As we will see in the next couple chapters in this series many people are convicted by the gospel, make professions of faith in the gospel, and make some moral reformation, but who are never saved, their professions not lasting. Another text to consider in conjunction with the above text is this:
"But they rebelled and grieved His Holy Spirit; So He turned Himself against them as an enemy, And He fought against them." (Isa. 63: 10 nkjv)
On this text we cite again from John Gill's commentary. He wrote:
"...and vexed his Holy Spirit; the Spirit of God the Father...for the Jews, as their fathers before them ever did, resisted the Holy Spirit of God in the evidence he gave of the Messiah, which must be very provoking, Acts 7:51."
We have a similar text in these words:
"They angered him also at the waters of strife, so that it went ill with Moses for their sakes: Because they provoked his spirit, so that he spake unadvisedly with his lips." (Psalm 106: 32-33 hjv)
There are warnings in the new testament written to believers that exhort them not to "quench the Spirit" and not to "grieve" the Spirit. (I Thess. 5: 19; Eph. 4: 30) Surely if believers can do this so too can lost sinners. Some professing believers even "lied to the Holy Spirit" (Acts 5: 3). The same ones were said to "tempt" or "test" the Spirit. (vs. 9)
Further, we read of lost sinners who "blaspheme" or "speak a word against the Spirit." (Matt. 12: 31-32) These Jesus said could never be forgiven.
Wrote the prophet Zechariah:
"But they refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears, that they should not hear. Yea, they made their hearts as an adamant stone, lest they should hear the law, and the words which the LORD of hosts hath sent in his spirit by the former prophets: therefore came a great wrath from the LORD of hosts." (Zech. 7: 11-12 kjv)
Here again we see where depraved lost sinners resisted the words sent by the LORD "in his Spirit" to them. When people reject the word of God and the gospel they are resisting the Spirit.
Of course, just as the bible teaches that the Spirit of God may be resisted at times, yet there are also times when he cannot be resisted. So we read:
"And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people. Then there arose certain of the synagogue...disputing with Stephen. And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake." (Acts 6: 8-10 kjv)
With those chosen to salvation the Spirit works in a manner whereby they are not able to resist the drawing of the Father and so they come to Christ by faith, which coming is a gift of God. (John 6: 65) We read of the effect of the preaching of Apollos in these words:
"For he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publicly, shewing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ." (Acts 18: 28 kjv)
Those who have truly come to Christ come to him because they were irresistibly attracted or drawn to him. His "charming love" they could not resist. It is like "falling in love."
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