According to Calvinism, man cannot resist the Holy Spirit. This false doctrine teaches that God saves the elect by sending the Holy Spirit upon them, causing them to respond to the gospel in faith, thus securing their eternal salvation. Of this calling, the loyal Calvinist insists, "The special inward call of the Spirit never fails to result in the conversion of those to whom it is made... For the grace which the Holy Spirit extends to the elect cannot be thwarted or refused, it never fails to bring them to true faith in Christ!" (The Five Points of Calvinism: Defined, Defended, Documented, pages 48-49).

Contrary to the false claims of Calvinism, the Bible says the Holy Spirit can be resisted. Stephen accused the Jews of always resisting the Holy Spirit. "You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you" (Acts 7:51). He said their fathers had done this by persecuting the prophets (who were speaking by inspiration of the Spirit) and by not keeping the law (which was delivered by the Spirit). Likewise, these Jews were resisting the Holy Spirit by rejecting the preaching of the apostles and other inspired men and by persecuting the church.

The idea of resisting something means more than simply ignoring it. The word "resist" is translated from a Greek word which means to fall against or upon something. In this sense, to resist is to oppose or strive against something. These Jews were not indifferent about the gospel. They were opposing the gospel with all their might.

The same Holy Spirit who inspired the prophets of old also inspired the apostles who wrote the New Testament. Today, one resists the Holy Spirit when he rejects and opposes the message of the New Testament. Are you resisting the Holy Spirit?