Gospel Confusion...
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It is quite possible that Cornelius had already heard that Jesus of Nazareth had been crucified and had reportedly risen from the dead. He may also have heard that Jews who believed Jesus had risen were testifying to having been forgiven for all their past sins, but he had not yet heard, nor had he yet believed that Jesus had died for Gentile sins as well.
So, should I understand you to believe that Cornelius had heard the gospel and had already believed that Jesus had risen from the dead, but He did not yet realise he had become regenerated by believing this historical fact.? Or do you believe Cornelius had heard and believed the gospel and already knew he was regenerated, but he had not yet been baptised in the Holy Spirit and Peter and other Jews did not yet realise that God had already saved some Gentiles without the Jewish Christians realising it?
What gospel do you think he had already heard that regenerated him?
So, should I understand you to believe that Cornelius had heard the gospel and had already believed that Jesus had risen from the dead, but He did not yet realise he had become regenerated by believing this historical fact.? Or do you believe Cornelius had heard and believed the gospel and already knew he was regenerated, but he had not yet been baptised in the Holy Spirit and Peter and other Jews did not yet realise that God had already saved some Gentiles without the Jewish Christians realising it?
What gospel do you think he had already heard that regenerated him?
What is you scriptural basis for believing that an unregenerate person is unable to believe - have faith in - anything God reckons to be true.
What is your scriptural basis for believing that God does not consider as good believing something true, if the person believing that truth is an unregenerate person?
What is your scriptural basis for believing that God does not consider as good believing something true, if the person believing that truth is an unregenerate person?
This does not appear to be a true representation of Paul's message. In every letter he wrote, he followed the theological revelation of Christ and His work with descriptions of the high standards to which we should behave in response to the foregoing theological revelation of Christ and His work.
Your claim that Paul "was careful to divorce [salvation through the Gospel of Grace] from anything to do with our "behavior" in the broadest sense of that term." is demonstrably false on its face.
Your claim that Paul "was careful to divorce [salvation through the Gospel of Grace] from anything to do with our "behavior" in the broadest sense of that term." is demonstrably false on its face.
Because I don't agree that the Bible teaches your opinion on depravity, you judge that I just don't understand depravity. 
Maybe it is you who do not understand the biblical view of depravity.
It seems, according to you, that no unregenerate person can do anything good, so therefore any non-Christian who appears to do good has been already regenerated by God without confessing Christ, but they do not realise yet that they are a regenerate. Or they are doing something that looks good, but they must be doing it with evil motives.
Maybe it is you who do not understand the biblical view of depravity.
It seems, according to you, that no unregenerate person can do anything good, so therefore any non-Christian who appears to do good has been already regenerated by God without confessing Christ, but they do not realise yet that they are a regenerate. Or they are doing something that looks good, but they must be doing it with evil motives.
Ok, so let's see what scripture REALLY says, shall we:
Ephesians 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
Notice that this speaks of PAST tense, not future. Paul said that they WERE (past tense) sealed.
That context then goes on to say:
Ephesians 1:14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
The seal is the EARNEST, which IS (see that), not will be, but IS the earnest. There's no mystery in the fact that we are still living in these sinful bodies of flesh, and therefore are not completely redeemed from this body of sin, but our soul is indeed saved with our having become a new creation.
Where do you see that as allegedly being something future? The seal is itself the earnest. We don't possess our rewards here in this life, they are yet to be possessed once we are where they are stored.
Please show where any one verse or context states ant potential for unsealing. I'd really like to see it, because it appears you're eisegetically reading that into the text what seems to not be there at all.
MM
Ephesians 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
Notice that this speaks of PAST tense, not future. Paul said that they WERE (past tense) sealed.
That context then goes on to say:
Ephesians 1:14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
The seal is the EARNEST, which IS (see that), not will be, but IS the earnest. There's no mystery in the fact that we are still living in these sinful bodies of flesh, and therefore are not completely redeemed from this body of sin, but our soul is indeed saved with our having become a new creation.
Where do you see that as allegedly being something future? The seal is itself the earnest. We don't possess our rewards here in this life, they are yet to be possessed once we are where they are stored.
Please show where any one verse or context states ant potential for unsealing. I'd really like to see it, because it appears you're eisegetically reading that into the text what seems to not be there at all.
MM
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I was not talking about standards, I was speaking in terms of reality of what is bestowed upon us, with transformation, that inevitably govern the changes in our behavior by way of sanctification, which is a process rather than an event. Those out there who think they can change their behavior by sheer force of their will, they are fooling only themselves. By becoming a new creation, the changes are solidified into our makeup in ways that far surpass our own strength against the flesh.
Water baptism is a work of will and effort, salvation is not, and therefore not based upon anything we may do by way of effort by stepping down into the water to get dunked and wet. It's fine to go through those motions to show publicly an inner work already done by the Most High within us, but that will never strengthen what is already accomplished within us.
I'm not saying you made issue with water baptism, but some do. I brought that up for their benefit. Behavior, however, through the efforts of our own intent, those are not what reflects Holy Spirit. When it's the Lord living His life through us, THAT is when our conduct and behavior are worthy of anything to be spoken of in this life. Only Christ can bring about Christ-likeness in our behavior through His work within us and through us. Those who think they can do it by the power of their will, they are fooling only themselves.
MM
Water baptism is a work of will and effort, salvation is not, and therefore not based upon anything we may do by way of effort by stepping down into the water to get dunked and wet. It's fine to go through those motions to show publicly an inner work already done by the Most High within us, but that will never strengthen what is already accomplished within us.
I'm not saying you made issue with water baptism, but some do. I brought that up for their benefit. Behavior, however, through the efforts of our own intent, those are not what reflects Holy Spirit. When it's the Lord living His life through us, THAT is when our conduct and behavior are worthy of anything to be spoken of in this life. Only Christ can bring about Christ-likeness in our behavior through His work within us and through us. Those who think they can do it by the power of their will, they are fooling only themselves.
MM
Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words
<1,,728,arrabon>
originally, "earnest-money" deposited by the purchaser and forfeited if the purchase was not completed, was probably a Phoenician word, introduced into Greece. In general usage it came to denote "a pledge" or "earnest" of any sort; in the NT it is used only of that which is assured by God to believers; it is said of the Holy Spirit as the Divine "pledge" of all their future blessedness, 2 Corinthians 1:22; 5:5; in Ephesians 1:14; 4:30 particularly of their eternal inheritance.
What the Bible says about Arrabon
2 Corinthians 1:21 - Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God, 22 who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.
2 Corinthians 5:5 - Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.
Ephesians 1:13 - In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.
Ephesians 4:30 - And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed unto/for the day of redemption.
Praise God!
<1,,728,arrabon>
originally, "earnest-money" deposited by the purchaser and forfeited if the purchase was not completed, was probably a Phoenician word, introduced into Greece. In general usage it came to denote "a pledge" or "earnest" of any sort; in the NT it is used only of that which is assured by God to believers; it is said of the Holy Spirit as the Divine "pledge" of all their future blessedness, 2 Corinthians 1:22; 5:5; in Ephesians 1:14; 4:30 particularly of their eternal inheritance.
What the Bible says about Arrabon
2 Corinthians 1:21 - Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God, 22 who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.
2 Corinthians 5:5 - Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.
Ephesians 1:13 - In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.
Ephesians 4:30 - And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed unto/for the day of redemption.
Praise God!
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Because I don't agree that the Bible teaches your opinion on depravity, you judge that I just don't understand depravity.
Maybe it is you who do not understand the biblical view of depravity.
It seems, according to you, that no unregenerate person can do anything good, so therefore any non-Christian who appears to do good has been already regenerated by God without confessing Christ, but they do not realise yet that they are a regenerate. Or they are doing something that looks good, but they must be doing it with evil motives.
Maybe it is you who do not understand the biblical view of depravity.
It seems, according to you, that no unregenerate person can do anything good, so therefore any non-Christian who appears to do good has been already regenerated by God without confessing Christ, but they do not realise yet that they are a regenerate. Or they are doing something that looks good, but they must be doing it with evil motives.
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2
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Because I don't agree that the Bible teaches your opinion on depravity, you judge that I just don't understand depravity.
Maybe it is you who do not understand the biblical view of depravity.
It seems, according to you, that no unregenerate person can do anything good, so therefore any non-Christian who appears to do good has been already regenerated by God without confessing Christ, but they do not realise yet that they are a regenerate. Or they are doing something that looks good, but they must be doing it with evil motives.
Maybe it is you who do not understand the biblical view of depravity.
It seems, according to you, that no unregenerate person can do anything good, so therefore any non-Christian who appears to do good has been already regenerated by God without confessing Christ, but they do not realise yet that they are a regenerate. Or they are doing something that looks good, but they must be doing it with evil motives.
On top of that, Jesus calls us evil:
11 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!
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That's indeed interesting.
If I may ask, what is your point? The extremes of Calvinism (usually from those who hold to that system of religion) use that as part of their reasoning that doing good means also seeking the Lord for salvation through faith. Frankly, that's bankrupt of any possibility for a defense from scripture. Seeking that which IS good is not in itself a matter of being "good" in the biblical sense. It is seeking "good" from He who alone bestows His Righteousness upon all whom He saves by grace through faith apart from any "good" works. That means that I am the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. All who are saved can lay claim to that righteousness, obtained only through bestowment.
Are we in agreement with that?
MM
If I may ask, what is your point? The extremes of Calvinism (usually from those who hold to that system of religion) use that as part of their reasoning that doing good means also seeking the Lord for salvation through faith. Frankly, that's bankrupt of any possibility for a defense from scripture. Seeking that which IS good is not in itself a matter of being "good" in the biblical sense. It is seeking "good" from He who alone bestows His Righteousness upon all whom He saves by grace through faith apart from any "good" works. That means that I am the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. All who are saved can lay claim to that righteousness, obtained only through bestowment.
Are we in agreement with that?
MM
Paul preached in Acts 17 that ultimately God made man with the ability to seek after God. Romans 1 tells us that God has manifested Himself to everyone. As we continue to read Romans 1 we see after God manifesting Himself that people rejected God and eventually was given over to the state of a reprobate mind.
Now, it doesn't say Everyone In Romans 1 rejects God. It's only talking about the ones that do. So that's leaving some who will possibly research God, go to Church and try to learn about God, and if they do they will HEAR the Gospel preached.
But for those who do choose to seek after God [Acts 17] because God manifested Himself to them [Romans 1] ultimately speaking here they were Created like all of us were created to be able to do this. I believe the Bible proves, especially Paul, that we're not as depraved as some Doctrines attempt to claim.
I believe those who reject [Romans 1] also display another characteristic of responsibility. They are responsible for choosing to go to an Eternal Damnation by rejecting God.
Now, it doesn't say Everyone In Romans 1 rejects God. It's only talking about the ones that do. So that's leaving some who will possibly research God, go to Church and try to learn about God, and if they do they will HEAR the Gospel preached.
But for those who do choose to seek after God [Acts 17] because God manifested Himself to them [Romans 1] ultimately speaking here they were Created like all of us were created to be able to do this. I believe the Bible proves, especially Paul, that we're not as depraved as some Doctrines attempt to claim.
I believe those who reject [Romans 1] also display another characteristic of responsibility. They are responsible for choosing to go to an Eternal Damnation by rejecting God.