Does Matthew 23:37 Refute Irresistible Grace?

Does Matthew 23:37 Refute Irresistible Grace?

Episode 33 — Does Matthew 23:37 Refute Irresistible Grace? Description In Matthew 23:37, Jesus laments over Jerusalem: “How often would I have gathered your children together… and you were not willing.” Many point to this verse as proof that God’s saving will can be resisted and that grace ultimately depends on human decision. But does this passage actually refute the doctrine of Irresistible Grace? In this episode, we examine the context, the audience, and the language of the verse to see whether it contradicts sovereign grace—or confirms it. Matthew 23:37 (ESV) “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!” * What Irresistible Grace actually teaches * Context: judgment on Israel’s religious leaders * Distinguishing “you” from “your children” * Human resistance vs. divine decree * Compassion and sovereignty held together Irresistible Grace does not teach that God forces people against their will. It teaches that when God regenerates a sinner, He changes the heart so that the sinner comes willingly. John 6:37 (ESV) “All that the Father gives me will come to me…” Psalm 110:3 (ESV) “Your people will offer themselves freely on the day of your power.” Grace liberates the will—it does not violate it. Jesus is addressing the scribes and Pharisees. Matthew 23:13 (ESV) “You shut the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces…” The leaders were actively preventing others from coming to Christ. In verse 37, the unwillingness belongs to those leaders (“you”), while “your children” refers to the people under their influence. Scripture never presents Jesus as failing to accomplish the Father’s saving plan. John 6:38–39 (ESV) “I have come down from heaven… that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me…” John 10:27–28 (ESV) “My sheep hear my voice… and they will never perish.” Christ successfully gathers all whom the Father gives Him. Matthew 23:37 shows genuine human resistance and culpability. Romans 8:7–8 (ESV) “The mind that is set on the flesh… does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot.” Resistance highlights moral inability—it does not disprove sovereign grace. Jesus’ lament reveals true compassion without undermining divine sovereignty. Ezekiel 33:11 (ESV) “I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked…” Romans 9:18 (ESV) “So then he has mercy on whomever he wills…” God’s compassion is sincere, and His sovereign purposes stand firm. * Matthew 23 is a judgment passage, not a failed salvation attempt. * The unwillingness in the verse belongs to Jerusalem’s leaders. * Irresistible Grace teaches willing response after regeneration. * Christ does not fail to gather those given to Him. * Human responsibility and divine sovereignty coexist in Scripture. Matthew 23:37 does not teach that grace fails—it teaches that sinners resist. Irresistible Grace explains why some stop resisting. When God changes the heart, His sheep come freely and joyfully. Christ gathers every one the Father has given Him. Key PassageMain ThemesUnderstanding Irresistible GraceThe Immediate ContextChrist’s Will and the Father’s PurposeHuman Resistance Is RealCompassion and Sovereignty TogetherKey TakeawaysBottom Line

Bonus Episode 19 Acts 13:48 — Who Appointed Them to Eternal Life?

Bonus Episode 19 Show NotesActs 13:48 — Who Appointed Them to Eternal Life? In Acts 13:48, Luke records one of the clearest statements in Scripture concerning God's sovereign election: "And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed." (ESV) Why did Luke write the verse this way? Why didn't he simply say that those who heard the gospel believed? In this episode, we examine why Luke intentionally points to God's sovereign appointment as the reason certain Gentiles came to faith. Everyone heard the same gospel preached by Paul and Barnabas. Everyone heard the same message. Yet only those who had been appointed to eternal life believed. Topics covered in this episode include: * Why Acts 13:48 is a powerful testimony to God's sovereign election. * Who did the appointing. * Whether this appointment took place before the individuals believed. * Why faith is presented as the result of God's gracious work rather than its cause. * What happened to those who heard the gospel but remained in unbelief. * How Acts 13:48 harmonizes with John 6:37, John 6:44, Ephesians 1:4, Romans 8:29–30, and 2 Timothy 1:9. * Why God's sovereign election is an encouragement—not a hindrance—to evangelism. * Acts 13:48 * John 6:37 * John 6:44 * Ephesians 1:4 * Romans 8:29–30 * 2 Timothy 1:9 Thank you for listening to The Closet Calvinist Podcast. If this episode encouraged you, please consider following the podcast and sharing it with others who desire to grow in their understanding of God's Word and His sovereign grace.

Episode 32 — Does Joshua 24:15 Refute Election?

Episode 32 — Does Joshua 24:15 Refute Election? Description “Choose this day whom you will serve.” — Joshua 24:15 This verse is frequently quoted as proof that salvation ultimately depends on human choice. But does Joshua 24:15 actually refute the doctrine of election? In this episode, we examine the verse in its full covenant context and discover that it does not contradict election at all. In fact, when read carefully, Joshua 24 supports the biblical pattern of sovereign grace preceding human response. Joshua 24:15 (ESV) “And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve… But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” * Covenant renewal, not an evangelistic altar call * God’s sovereign initiative before human response * Commands do not prove natural ability * Moral responsibility within divine sovereignty * Election as the foundation of obedience Joshua 24 is addressed to Israel — a people God had already chosen and redeemed. Joshua 24:2–3 (ESV) “Thus says the LORD… I took your father Abraham…” Joshua 24:13 (ESV) “I gave you a land on which you had not labored…” The chapter begins with God’s sovereign action — “I took,” “I sent,” “I gave.” Grace precedes the call to choose. Deuteronomy 7:6 (ESV) “The LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession…” The command to choose comes after election, not before it. Scripture frequently commands what fallen humanity cannot do apart from grace. Deuteronomy 10:16 (ESV) “Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart…” But God must ultimately perform that work: Deuteronomy 30:6 (ESV) “And the LORD your God will circumcise your heart…” Just a few verses later, Joshua says: Joshua 24:19 (ESV) “You are not able to serve the LORD, for he is a holy God.” This echoes New Testament teaching: John 6:44 (ESV) “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him.” Scripture consistently holds both truths together: Philippians 2:12–13 (ESV) “…work out your own salvation… for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work…” Romans 9:16 (ESV) “So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy.” Election does not eliminate responsibility. It explains why God’s people ultimately respond in faith and obedience. * Joshua 24:15 occurs in a covenant context of prior grace. * God’s sovereign choosing precedes Israel’s commanded response. * Commands reveal responsibility, not autonomous ability. * The Bible consistently teaches both divine sovereignty and human accountability. * Joshua 24:15 supports the biblical pattern of election followed by obedience. Joshua 24:15 does not refute election — it presupposes it. God chose, redeemed, and preserved Israel before calling them to covenant faithfulness. The command to choose flows from sovereign grace, not independent human autonomy. Key PassageMain ThemesContext MattersIsrael Was Already ChosenCommands Do Not Equal AbilityJoshua Affirms InabilityHuman Choice Within Divine SovereigntyKey TakeawaysBottom Line

Bonus Episode 18: Refuting the Prescient View

Bonus Episode 18: Refuting the Prescient ViewEpisode Description Many Christians reject Calvinism because they believe God's election is based on His foreknowledge of who will believe. This is commonly known as the Prescient View. According to this position, God looked down through time, saw who would freely choose Christ, and then elected those individuals to salvation. But is that what Scripture actually teaches? In this episode, we examine the Prescient View and show why God's foreknowledge cannot simply mean foresight of future faith. We will look at key passages such as Romans 8:29, Ephesians 1, and Acts 13:48 to demonstrate that election is rooted in God's sovereign purpose and grace, not in foreseen human decisions. * What the Prescient View teaches * The difference between foreknowledge and foresight * Why Romans 8:29 does not support conditional election * The biblical order of salvation * Why election is based on God's grace, not human choice * Common objections answered * Romans 8:29-30 * Ephesians 1:4-5 * Ephesians 1:11 * Acts 13:48 * John 6:37 * John 6:44 * Romans 9:11-16 * 2 Timothy 1:9 If election is based upon foreseen faith, then faith becomes the decisive factor in salvation rather than God's sovereign grace. Scripture consistently presents God's choice as the cause of our faith, not the result of it. God's foreknowledge is relational and covenantal, referring to those whom He set His love upon beforehand, not merely those whose future decisions He observed. "God does not choose us because we believe. We believe because God has graciously chosen us." Website: theclosetcalvinist.com Part of Calvinist Media Group Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, iHeartRadio, and most major podcast platforms. Thank you for listening to The Closet Calvinist. Connect With The Closet Calvinist podcast http://www.theclosetcalvinist.com [www.theclosetcalvinist.com ]

Limited Atonement: But Who Does the Limiting—God or Man?

Episode 31 — Limited Atonement: But Who Does the Limiting—God or Man? Description Is the atonement limited? Every theological system answers yes. The real question is not whether the atonement is limited—but who does the limiting. Did Christ actually secure salvation for a definite people? Or did He merely make salvation possible, leaving its effectiveness up to human decision? In this episode, we examine whether Scripture presents the cross as a decisive accomplishment or a universal provision dependent on man’s will. * The atonement’s design and intent * Definite redemption vs. potential redemption * Did Christ actually secure salvation? * Double payment and divine justice * The meaning of “world” and “all” in context Matthew 1:21 “She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” John 10:14–15 “I am the good shepherd… and I lay down my life for the sheep.” John 10:26 “But you do not believe because you are not among my sheep.” Hebrews 10:14 “For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.” John 6:37 “All that the Father gives me will come to me…” John 6:39 “This is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me…” Romans 8:30 “Those whom he predestined he also called…” Isaiah 53:11 “…he shall bear their iniquities.” If Christ bore the sins of every individual without exception, yet some are still punished eternally, that would imply double payment for the same sins. John 11:51–52 “…to gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad.” Revelation 5:9 “…you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.” “World” often refers to global scope, not every individual without exception. * Everyone limits the atonement in some way. * If God limits it → Christ actually saves. * If man limits it → the cross only makes salvation possible. * Scripture presents the atonement as effective and definite. * Christ does not fail to save those He died for. The question is not whether the atonement is limited—but whether it is limited in extent or in power. Scripture consistently portrays the cross as accomplishing exactly what God intended: the certain salvation of His people. The atonement is not potential. It is powerful, purposeful, and perfectly effective. Key ThemesCore Scripture References (ESV)Christ Died to Actually SaveThe Father’s Given PeopleJustice and Double PaymentUnderstanding “World” and “All”Key TakeawaysBottom Line