Why Do Some Believe and Others Don’t?
Why Do Some Believe and Others Don’t?
A common Calvinist question goes something like this:
“Why do some people believe the gospel while others reject it?”
Calvinism answers: “Because God irresistibly grants saving faith to some and withholds it from others.”
I plan to address this question, but before answering, I want to flip the question back for a moment:
Why does a Calvinist believe in Calvinism while others, like myself, do not? Were you divinely and irresistibly graced with the belief in Calvinism, or did you come to that belief through studying Scripture, evaluating arguments, and reaching your own conclusions?
What Calvinism Implies About Theological Error
If you say you were irresistibly decreed to believe Calvinism, then you must also admit that God decreed for me to reject it. And if we can all acknowledge that none of us holds perfect theology, then under Calvinism, God has decreed that everyone believes some form of falsehood, making Him the determiner of theological error.
So if belief in Calvinism itself requires a genuine human response - faith, reason, humility - why should belief in the gospel be any different?
Faith Does Not Force God’s Hand
Faith doesn’t override God’s sovereignty. God sovereignly chooses to make salvation conditional upon a genuine response of faith (John 20:31; Romans 3:26). The decisive factor is not man’s will overpowering God’s, but God’s sovereign choice to save those who believe.
From my perspective, the difference between one person who believes and one who does not isn’t due to any inherent superiority, but in how each freely responds to God’s gracious initiative.
God’s Gracious Initiative Is for All
Scripture shows that God:
- Enlightens every person (John 1:9)
- Draws all to Himself (John 12:32)
- Desires all to be saved (1 Tim. 2:4)
The ability to believe is itself a gift of grace, but it’s a gift God offers to all, not just a select few.
When someone believes, it’s not because they’re smarter or more worthy. They are simply responding in humility to what God has already provided through the gospel. And when someone rejects, it’s not because God withheld the necessary grace, but because they chose to resist or suppress it, just as Stephen rebuked those who “always resist the Holy Spirit” (Acts 7:51).
This isn’t salvation by works; it’s the reception of a gift.
Scripture’s Testimony About Human Responsibility
Paul taught that “faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ” (Rom. 10:17). People hear the gospel and can either believe or reject it (Rom. 10:16–21).
Jesus held people accountable for refusing Him, saying:
“You are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life” (John 5:39–40).
Such rebukes only make sense if they truly could have responded but chose not to.
From the beginning, God has set life before people and called them to choose it (Deut. 30:19; Josh. 24:15). The apostles likewise preached and persuaded as if people were capable of responding (Acts 17:4; 18:4; 28:24). If belief were only possible through an irresistible act given to the elect, such calls to decision would be meaningless.
Faith Is Receiving, Not Earning
Faith is not a meritorious work or a sign of spiritual superiority. It doesn’t earn anything; it is the right response to grace.
Faith is simply trusting God’s promise, not earning His favor (Rom. 4:4–5). As Ephesians 2:8–9 makes clear, salvation is a gift, not an achievement. And receiving a gift is nothing to boast about.
Trusting the gospel is not a claim to strength, it is often an admission of weakness and need. Do you ever ask for help in a time of need? Why did you do that? When you ask for help, you’re not boasting about your ability; you’re admitting you can’t handle it on your own.
God draws, convicts, enlightens, and works through the gospel to enable people to believe (John 12:32; Acts 17:30; Titus 2:11). God has also not left us to ourselves but graciously provided every person with sufficient light, revelation, and opportunity to come to a saving knowledge of Him.
Scripture paints a consistent picture: God is not far off, hiding truth from the world (Deut. 30:11-14; Rom. 10:6-8), but actively working to be known and believed. He draws near to all and offers genuine opportunity for salvation. Here’s just a few examples of how:
- Conscience – Romans 2:14–15 says God’s law is written on the hearts of all people. Our conscience bears witness to God and His moral standards.
- Creation – Romans 1:19–20 and Psalm 19:1–4 affirm that God’s eternal power and divine nature are clearly perceived through creation. No one has an excuse for not recognizing Him.
- God’s purposeful timing and location – Acts 17 says God orchestrated where and when people live so they would seek Him. Jeremiah 29:13 echoes this: “You will seek me and find me when you search for me with all your heart.”
- God’s drawing of all people – John 12:32 says Jesus will draw all people to Himself when He is lifted up. The same Greek word for “draw” (helkúō) is used in John 6:44, showing that this drawing is universal, even though not all will respond positively.
- The Word and the Gospel – Romans 1:16 calls the gospel “the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes.” Romans 10:17 says faith comes by hearing the Word. John 20:31 affirms the Scriptures were written so we may believe and have life in Christ.
- Witness and Testimony – John 1:7–9 says John the Baptist came to testify about the light so that all might believe. 1 John 5:9 tells us God Himself has given testimony about His Son—an infallible witness to the truth.
- Signs and Miracles – John 2:11 and Acts 9:35 show that people believed when they saw miracles. Romans 15:18–21 says Gentiles were brought to obedience through the power of signs and wonders.
- Prophecy – 1 Corinthians 14:24–25 shows that the gift of prophecy can convict unbelievers, causing them to worship God and confess His presence.
- God’s ambassadors – 2 Corinthians 5:20 says God is making His appeal through us, urging people to be reconciled to Him. This is a real appeal, not a show—it’s meant to lead to salvation.
- Christ gives light to everyone – John 1:9 says the true light, Christ, gives light to everyone coming into the world. That light enables people to believe, though not all will accept it.
When we look at Scripture, we see a consistent pattern: God is not passive toward the lost. He is actively working through creation, conscience, Scripture, the Spirit, and the church to bring light to every heart. While not all will receive it, God’s offer is real and available to all. No one will stand before Him with the excuse that they were never given the opportunity to respond.
Why People Choose Differently
Again, the same question could be asked in other areas: why are some convinced of Calvinism while others, like myself, are not? Why does anyone choose one belief over another?
Why do some choose forgiveness over retaliation, generosity over selfishness, or seeking God over suppressing the truth? These choices are not always about superiority; they often reflect honesty, humility, or desperation.
The Irony in Calvinism
Ironically, the Calvinist position may imply the very kind of spiritual distinction it tries to avoid. If God unconditionally elects certain people and gives them the ability to believe while withholding that grace from others, then those individuals are made spiritually superior by God before they ever respond.
The critique often aimed at non-Calvinist theology applies more directly to Calvinism itself.
The Conclusion
I believe the truth is available to all, but some are convinced by and humbly surrender to it while others harden their hearts in rebellion.
The issue is not that man saves himself, but that God, in His sovereignty, has chosen to make salvation conditional on a genuine response of faith.
We may not know every reason for a person’s acceptance or rejection of truth (or any particular belief for that matter), but God has made His offer real and genuine to all.