The Wesleyan Notion of Irresistible Grace

It may be argued that there is no mention of irresistible grace in the writings of Wesley, and that there can not properly be a ‘Wesleyan notion of irresistible grace’. However, this could not be farther from the truth. Not only is it appropriate to think of the initial benefits of prevenient grace as an efficacious work that is done in all men without any opportunity for resistance on the part of man, but that even further, there are many occasions within the writings of Wesley where he unambiguously explains the extent to which he is willing to use the term, ‘irresistible grace’.

We find this notion in his writings as early as 1743. “Having found, for some time, a strong desire to unite with Mr. Whitefield as far as possible, to cut off needless dispute, I wrote down my sentiments, as plain as I could, in the following terms:……‘With regard to… Irresistible Grace, I believe, That the grace which brings faith, and thereby salvation into the soul, is irresistible at that moment: That most believers may remember some time when God did irresistibly convince them of sin: That most believers do, at some other times, find God irresistibly acting upon their souls: Yet I believe that the grace of God, both before and after those moments, may be, and hath been, resisted: And that, in general, it does not act irresistibly; but we may comply therewith, or may not: And I do not deny, that, in some souls, the grace of God is so far irresistible, that they cannot but believe and be finally saved.” In his Journal in August of 1743 vol 1, page 427

Perhaps it could be argued that Wesley later changed his ideas and rejected any mention of the term ‘irresistible grace’. However, in a sermon that Wesley wrote in 1783, forty years later, he expresses the same usage of the term. “Not that I deny, that there are exempt cases, wherein ‘The’ o’erwhelming power of saving grace’ does, for a time, work as irresistibly as lightning falling from the heaven. But I speak of God’s general manner of working… And with regard even to these exempt cases; although God does work irresistibly for the time, yet I do not believe there is any human soul in which God works irresistibly at all times.” Sermon: The General Spread of the Gospel vol VI 608-609 1783

We can also find other times when he mentions the same conceptual usage of the term ‘irresistible grace’. “I allow, God may possibly, at some times, work irresistibly in some souls. I believe he does. But can you infer from hence, that he always works thus in all that are saved?” (Predestination Calmly Considered vol X 254) “The Arminians hold, that although there may be some moments wherein the grace of God acts irresistibly, yet, in general, any man may resist…” (What is an Arminian? Answered by a Lover of Free Grace, Vol X, 360) “It may be allowed that God acts as Sovereign in convincing some souls of sin; arresting them in their mid career, by his resistless power. It seems also, that, at the moment of our conversion, he acts irresistibly. There may likewise by many irresistible touches during the course of our Christian warfare…” (Thoughts upon God’s Sovereignty, Vol X, 363)