Resistance

Resistance. The act of withstanding force, pressure, or opposition. In Christianity, it generally refers to the human freedom and ability to resist the influence of God (e.g., Acts 7:51; 2 Tim 3:8) or Satan (e.g., Jas 4:7; 1 Pet 5:9). Two major views on resistance have been espoused. On the one hand, Calvinists believe that God, as the Sovereign Ruler of the universe, predestines all things. Humans have been totally depraved after the Fall, so they can neither choose nor reject salvation. Instead, God chooses whom to save and whom to condemn. Those whom God elects to save cannot resist His grace through which they develop a saving faith, and once saved, cannot be lost. Arminians, on the other hand, believe that, although human nature was corrupted by the Fall, we still possess free will and the ability to choose God with the help of the Holy Spirit through prevenient grace. Because we still have free will (even though corrupted), we can resist the call of the Holy Spirit. Thus, although God foresees our choice to accept or reject His call, salvation, and damnation are conditional on our choices. Christ died for everyone, and the saving grace is available to all who choose to believe and accept Him. Salvation can be lost through future resistance to the Holy Spirit or preserved through continuous acceptance of God’s influence and His sacrificial gift.