offer untrue or insincere. He was willing to save all who repented and he had the power to do so.

How can this example be used to illustrate both the truths of God's sincere, general offer to all sinners of salvation in Christ and the truth that a limited number determined by God are to be saved?

Irresistible grace does not mean that sinners cannot resist God's gracious workings. They do. The outward callings of God's Spirit are continually resisted by all who remain unregenerate. The Spirit's saving work is often resisted by His children. Irresistible grace means that the Spirit's saving call will be effectual. The Holy Spirit will lovingly conquer the hearts of all the elect. All those whom the Father elected and the Son atoned for, will be regenerated by the Spirit.

Irresistible grace also does not mean that God's people are saved against their will; that the Spirit forces them or drags them against their will to Christ. Rather, the Holy Spirit renews their will, He makes them willing and desirous for salvation in Christ by showing them their sinful condition and the wonderful depth of mercy to be found in Jesus. The workings of the Holy Spirit reveal the need for, and the desirability of, Christ, which wins over the hearts of God's children.

"I am confused on this point," Ellen confessed to her minister. "Does a child of God choose and make a decision for Christ when he is saved, or not? Sometimes when I hear you preach I think I hear you saying, 'Yes, he must!'; at other times it sounds like you are warning us against this and saying, 'No, he can't!' I'm confused. Which is right?"

Satan hates God's offer of salvation to fallen sinners. Why?

And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

-Ephesians 4:30

Quench not the Spirit.

-I Thessalonians 5:19

Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.

-Acts 7:51