James 1:21
Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls.
Jerry Falwell comments: “The phrase, able to save your souls, points out the inherent efficacy of the gospel....” (Liberty Bible Commentary, p.2588)
When Calvinists preach about the all-powerful, all-consuming total depravity of man, in that he is dead, remind the Calvinists that the Gospel is alive, to the saving of your soul. (James 1:21) So although man may be spiritually dead, there is a living dynamic.
John Calvin comments: “Which is able to save. What a splendid affirmation of the heavenly message, that by it we find sure salvation. This is added that we may learn to search out this ‘treasure beyond reckoning’ (as we may say), set our hearts on it, worship it. Here is a stinging reproof of our idle thinking, to find the Word, to which we usually pay such careless heed, to be the means of our salvation; not that the power to save us is ascribed to the Word in the sense of salvation being included in the outward hearing of the utterance, or of God’s saving task being put into other hands. James speaks of the Word which penetrates, by faith, to the heart of a man, and means only that God, as Author of salvation, accomplishes this by the agency of His own Gospel.” (Calvin’s New Testament Commentaries, Matthew, Mark and Luke, Vol. III, James and Jude, p.272, emphasis mine)
Calvin writes: “The minister’s teaching and speaking does no good unless God adds his inward calling to it. ... Preaching alone is just a dead letter, and we must beware lest a false imagination, or the semblance of secret illumination, leads us away from the Word on which faith depends.” (Acts: Calvin, The Crossway Classic Commentaries, p.278, emphasis mine)
Calvin explains: “Certainly the human voice cannot by its own power penetrate the soul. Too much honour would be paid to a mere mortal if it were said that he had power to regenerate us. The light of faith also is too exalted to be able to be conferred by man. But all these things do not prevent God from acting effectually by the voice of man, so as to create faith in us by his ministry.” (Calvin’s New Testament Commentaries: Romans and Thessalonians, p.233, emphasis mine)
The operative word in Calvin’s commentary is “not.” In other words, the Gospel is a “dead letter” unless God dispenses through it, irresistible Regenerative Grace for whom He has chosen:
Calvin writes: “Preaching only finds faith in people when God inwardly calls those he has chosen and draws to Christ those who were already his own (John 6:37).” (Acts: Calvin, Crossway Classic Commentaries, p.229, emphasis mine)
Calvin writes: “In a word, Paul indicates that all clamorous sounding of the human voice will lack effect, unless the virtue of God works internally in the heart.” (Concerning the Eternal Predestination of God, p.104, emphasis mine)
Calvin writes: “Now let Pighius asseverate that God wills all to be saved, when not even the external preaching of the doctrine, which is much inferior to the illumination of the Spirit, is made common to all.” (Concerning the Eternal Predestination of God, p.109, emphasis mine)
So this is what the Calvinist really believes about the dynamite power of the living Gospel. It is a dead letter, apart from Irresistible Grace. That simply reveals the vulnerability of the Calvinist argument. When the Gospel is preached, the lost, with their ears, may hear your voice, but in their heart, they feel Jesus knocking. (Revelation 3:20) As evidence, God said: “So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; it will not return to Me empty, without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.” (Isaiah 55:11) So when does “regeneration” occur? It occurs only in Christ, and you are not sealed in Christ until you hear and believe in the Gospel, which essentially flushes the Calvinist paradigm of Preemptive Regeneration down the drain: “In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation--having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise.” (Ephesians 1:13)
John 6:63: “The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life.”
John 15:3: “You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.”
Romans 1:16: “The gospel...is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes....”
Romans 10:17: “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.”
Eph. 1:13: “After listening to the message of truth...having also believed, you were sealed in Him.”
2nd Timothy 3:15: “The sacred writings...able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation....”
Hebrews 4:12: “For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword....”
1st Peter 1:23: “You have been born again...through the living and enduring word of God.”
