Philippians 1:29
Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; in no way alarmed by your opponents--which is a sign of destruction for them, but of salvation for you, and that too, from God. For to you it has been granted for Christ’s sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake, experiencing the same conflict which you saw in me, and now hear to be in me.
This is remniscent of the fact that the Jews had rejected the Gospel, and now God was turning to the Gentiles, in order to stimulate the Jews towards jealousy, so that by their jealousy, they might seek God. However, Calvinists try to read Irresistible Grace into this:
John Calvin comments: “Here Paul clearly testifies that faith, as well as constancy in enduring persecutions, is a free gift of God.” (Calvin’s New Testament Commentaries: Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians and Colossians, p.243, emphasis mine)
And faith is received by hearing the Gospel. (Romans 10:17)
Acts 11:17-18: “Therefore if God gave to them the same gift as He gave to us also after believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God’s way? When they heard this, they quieted down and glorified God, saying, ‘Well then, God has granted to the Gentiles also the repentance that leads to life.’”
2nd Timothy 2:24-26: “The Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will.”
