Irresistible Grace of Calvinism (John Piper)

False assumptions of Calvinism:

1. Man is not only born sinful, but they are born totally hardened (by sovereign decree) and thus unable to even respond to God's own appeal to be reconciled from the fall.

2. The responsibility of man to humble ourselves and repent of our inabilities and sinfulness in faith merits salvation and thus is boast worthy if we do it apart from God's irresistible grace.

3. A gift has to be irresistibly given for the giver to get full credit for giving it. If you think a person is able to resist the gracious gift then you are robbing God's glory.

Truths:

1. Man is born sinful, depraved and in need of a savior, not judicially hardened or blinded in their rebellion.  Men become hardened over time after rejecting the revelation of God, "otherwise they are able to see, hear, understand and turn.' (Acts 28:27-28; John 12:39-41; Rm. 11, Mark 4, Mt. 13)

2.  A humble response to the gospel truth is not meritorious. God doesn't give grace to those who humble themselves because humility earns salvation.  God gives grace because he is gracious. Asking for forgiveness doesn't merit being forgiven.  God is not obligated to save those who "decide" to repent.  He chooses to save those who repent because He is gracious.

3. God gets all the glory for the gift even when a man resists it and turns his nose up to it.  The rejection of the giver doesn't impugn the goodness of God in his giving of the gift. God likewise get all the glory for providing the means for our salvation and enabling us through the gospel to respond. 

Those who reject the gospel cannot rightly say, "God doesn't love me." Or "God didn't grant me faith." Or, "God didn't give me what I needed."  Man's rejection of the powerful gospel truth is their own fault and their own fault alone.  It is not a reflection of God's lack of provision or love.