“Although the conversion of man is a work of God’s omnipotent power, Eph. 1:19; 2 Cor. 4:6, divine converting grace nevertheless is not irresistible (gratia irresistibilis), as the Calvinists teach, but resistible (gratia resistibilis), as Holy Scripture affirms, Matt. 23:37; Acts 7:51. The reason for this is evident. Though God is irresistible whenever He deals with man according to His sovereign power (in nuda maiestate), Matt. 25:31-32, He can be resisted whenever He exercises His omnipotent power through means, Matt. 11:28; 23:37. Both in His Kingdom of Power and in the Kingdom of Grace the means by which He purposes to bless man can be rejected. Thus life, the greatest of God’s earthly gifts, though created and sustained by divine omnipotence, can nevertheless be destroyed by man. Similarly spiritual life, or conversion, though offered through the means of the omnipotent Word of God, can be rejected by man through malicious resistance.”
Mueller, John Theodore. (2011-04-17). Christian Dogmatics: A Handbook of Doctrinal Theology for Pastors, Teachers, and Laymen (Kindle Locations 7156-7163). Concordia Publishing House. Kindle Edition.
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