Human Will Liberated

I really enjoy the book reviews over at Discerning Reader and I enjoyed their review on Evangelistic Calvinism: Why the Doctrines of Grace Are Good News. I know it's kind of silly to quote from a review of a book without having read the book, but I thought this was a great a explanation of free will, evangelistic Calvinism and the doctrine of irresistible grace:

"....“God’s grace works in such a way as to guarantee the required response to the gospel’s call,” explains Benton. “The purpose of God’s irresistible grace is not to violate the human will but to liberate it from its bondage to sin…Indeed, no violence is done to the will at all. Rather, the moral direction of the sinner’s will is changed as a result of the new birth.” Some of the strongest practical applications of TULIP to evangelism arise from this doctrine, as difficult as that may be to fathom: “To the person who says, ‘I would love to have your faith – but I just can’t believe,’ encourage them to go to God and ask him to help them.” Supply them with the words of Mark 9:24, for a “sincere desire for faith is the beginning of faith.” The initiator of faith is, of course, the Holy Spirit, who provides an object of faith, Jesus Christ, for whom those who hear and respond to the gospel find themselves yearning."

(HT: Discerning Reader: A Review of Evangelistic Calvinism: Why the Doctrines of Grace are Good News)