After giving the confessional definition of the doctrine of "Irresistible Grace" yesterday, I want to, of course, look at what the Scriptures say.

To go from death to life, there must be a change, which the Scriptures call regeneration.

But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

Titus 3:4-7

There is the full power of the resurrection and ascension of Christ behind this regeneration:

For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.

Ephesians 1:15-21

Look at how the Scriptures describe this regeneration:

And I will give them one heart, and a new spirit I will put within them. I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh, that they may walk in my statutes and keep my rules and obey them. And they shall be my people, and I will be their God.

Ezekiel 11:19-20

Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

John 3:3

Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.

John 5:24

And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.

Colossians 2:13-14

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

2 Corinthians 5:17

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

1 Peter 2:9

Look at these descriptions and tell me which part a man can do for himself? Which part did Lazarus have in his resurrection? Lazarus was resurrected. He was passive. He had no part in his resurrection. Neither do you in your regeneration.

You might suggest that Jesus did call Lazarus to come forth. And you are right. But could Lazarus come forth unless Jesus had already resurrected him? Could Lazarus have even heard the call to come forth unless Jesus had already quickened him? This is the same power that regenerates you.

After Lazarus was quickened, he heard the call and came forth. After you are regenerated, you follow with faith and repentance.

Jesus described it as a new birth. Do you have children? What part did they play in their birth? Was there some exercise of the will that bore them? Did you ask your child for his permission to birth him? Could he have even resisted? Is there anyone walking around today with a 13-year-old or 21-year-old still stubbornly in the womb? No, the birth was, quite frankly, violently forced upon them.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Hebrews 12:1-2

Jesus founded your faith in you, and He will perfect that faith.

For who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?

1 Corinthians 4:7

Why does one person believe and another person not believe? Because God regenerates one and does not regenerate the other. By the grace of God you are what you are.

You can sing "Just as I am" forty times, but only the Holy Spirit can regenerate the dead soul and bring it to faith. (I have to confess that as a young man I walked down many aisles just to shut up the song director so we could move on. But there was no work of the Holy Spirit in it.)

And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.

Ezekiel 36:26-27

My grandmother is blind in one eye. I can shine a flashlight as long as I want into that eye and it will not see. Not until she has a new eye, will she see.
Look at the testimony of Lydia:

One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul.

Acts 16:14

The Lord first opened her heart! Or she would not have paid any attention to Paul.

As Jesus said,

For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will.

John 5:21

Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him.

John 17:1-2

This is what happened in Antioch:

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.

Acts 13:48