Resistible Grace

That this grace of God is the beginning, continuance, and accomplishment of all good, even to the extent that the regenerate man himself, without prevenient or assisting, awakening, following and cooperative grace, can neither think, will, nor do good, nor withstand any temptations to evil; so that all good deeds or movements that can be conceived must be ascribed to the grace of God in Christ. But with respect to the mode of the operation of this grace, it is not irresistible, since it is written concerning many, that they have resisted the Holy Spirit (Acts 7, and elsewhere in many places).

Yes, no, or maybe so?

To resist means to strive against, to oppose, to withstand.  If it is not offered, there is nothing to oppose.  If I have not offered to give you a million dollars, you cannot oppose my giving it to you.

Resisting grace if it is not offered is not resisting anything.  Resisting grace that is not offered is an oxymoron. 

Well grace is just favor.  So, is it possible to have salvation if God does not show favor?  No, I suppose not.  But the real work is done by us through faith.

 from Ephesians 2:8 and it reads: "By grace are ye saved, through faith and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God."

1 Cor 2:12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God,
  1 Cor 2:13 which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words.
  1 Cor 2:14 But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.

3AM, This sounds dangerously close to Pelagianism or semi-Pelgianism, and contradicts Paul, who wrote to the Galatians:

Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what you heard? (3:2)

And wrote to the Ephesians:

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. (2:8-9)

When Paul uses "law," in that specific instance he meant the Law of Moses, but by extension he also meant ANY attempt to be saved and justified by works of any kind. That's why the translators render it "law" with a lower-case l.

God's grace is not just favor, but unmerited favor. It is not a "tool" whereby we work to save ourselves. It is God's free gift of salvation to all those who call upon  the name of the Lord.

The "Plan of Salvation" is Jesus death, burial and resurrection. The only "effort" required of us is belief in Christ and calling upon his name. (See Romans 10)

Pax.

There are conditions to that.

 The negative is.....

Isaiah  59:2   But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid [his] face from you, that he will not hear. 

Proverbs  28:9   He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer [shall be] abomination. 


So the positive is simply the reverse of those Bible verses, right ?