The offer of Salvation is universal, but the application is only : "by Faith".

[Bluesproverb]

I sense there are a few here that are of the "Reformed" Calvinist persuasion who support that saving faith/belief is a gift.
I think the grammar in Ephesians makes it clear it is not the gift.

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God.”
Faith is feminine and "that" is neuter so it is not referring to the feminine faith.

Anyway I have read a portion of this thread, you are a set in your ways so carry on.

I cannot for one second support that God chooses randomly to bequeath "belief" on some and not others, antithetical to the God of scripture who would have all come to salvation.

It's a matter of composition and context.

The Bible as a whole delivers an infinite encompassing message.

The new testament is where we've arrived when the old testament prophesied it to come. All according to God's plan.

The natural person is unable to understand the things of God, including his words. Jesus telling us why he teaches in parables is one example of this.

When the natural person who is spiritually dead in their worldly consciousness cannot understand the things of God because they are spiritually discerned, it cannot be said that natural person chooses of their own free will to understand that thing of God, the gospel.

That's why Paul told us how it works. How a natural person comes to Christ.

By God's grace gift of faith and redemption from that natural state of our dead in our worldly consciousness and our separation from the word that is God.

In order for your idea to be correct you have to ignore those vital to understanding parts of the bible. As we see.


That's not Bible or the gospel. That's sophistry.

 

[Mem]

Yes and beautiful baby. Babies are such a blessing.

The newest of two granddaughters I'm blessed with, the first arriving 6mos earlier, and preceded 3mos before that by my first grandson. Indeed, they are beautiful blessings, and anyone trying to tell me there is even the slightest possibility that salvation may not be offered to any one of them, through faith by grace, should be ashamed that they regard an unlearned man's opinion of scripture higher than the truth of it.

 

[Bluesproverb]

The "narrow way", is John 14:6.

Its not self effort...... its Christ Himself = who is the ONLY or "narrow" way to God.

It's true. The narrow way is the path of faith God opens to those whom he chooses.

Many are called, are there when the gospel is preached. Few are opened, chosen, by God to hold faith and receive his gift.
As Jesus taught. P.S readers, Jesus was not a Calvinist.☺️

Jesus was asked why he taught the gospel in parables.
“Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.” Matthew 13:11

John 1:5 The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

1 Corinthians 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.

Matthew 22

Romans 10:3
For not knowing about God’s righteousness and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God.

 

[HeIsHere]

When the natural person who is spiritually dead in their worldly consciousness cannot understand the things of God because they are spiritually discerned, it cannot be said that natural person chooses of their own free will to understand that thing of God, the gospel.

Paul does not state this, you have incorrectly understood his analogy which in order to fit the notion that God must bequeath belief before salvation.

I do not see it as biblical nor logical that the Israelite who were healed in the desert by looking at the bronze serpent did so because God gave some the faith to do so.

The comparison here is not natural man with the spiritual man ... the contrast is human wisdom and divine revelation.

This is what Paul is stating....those who rely on human wisdom instead of the spiritual truths brought by the inspired apostles will see the cross as foolish and perish as a result.

“But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” 1 Corinthians 2:14 (KJV)

That's not Bible or the gospel. That's sophistry.

I call it rightly dividing the word of God.

If there is one thing I know someone who has accepted Calvinist's precepts works against the gospel of scripture where salvation is open to all and God requires belief to receive the gift.

I find these Calvinists precepts wholly repugnant so please know I will not be persuaded of these teachings so you can stop wasting your time trying to persuade me.

 

[Bluesproverb]

Paul does not state this, you have incorrectly understood his analogy which in order to fit the notion that God must bequeath belief before salvation.

I do not see it as biblical nor logical that the Israelite who were healed in the desert by looking at the bronze serpent did so because God gave some the faith to do so.

The comparison here is not natural man with the spiritual man ... the contrast is human wisdom and divine revelation.

This is what Paul is stating....those who rely on human wisdom instead of the spiritual truths brought by the inspired apostles will see the cross as foolish and perish as a result.

“But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” 1 Corinthians 2:14 (KJV)





I call it rightly dividing the word of God.

If there is one thing I know someone who has accepted Calvinist's precepts works against the gospel of scripture where salvation is open to all and God requires belief to receive the gift.

I find these Calvinists precepts wholly repugnant so please know I will not be persuaded of these teachings so you can stop wasting your time trying to persuade me.

I'm not a Calvinist. Nor is what I share exclusive to Calvinism. It is scripture as God wills it to be in his word.

As I've stated before.
And you are mistaken in your Exegesis and your presumption of the motive for my responding to your account name here.

It isn't to persuade you of anything related to destroying your false doctrine push.

It is to show others it is false. That should they then decide to seek the truth they shall, by leaving your remarks and seeking out the Bibles truth so to then know you are false.

Regardless of your repeated assertion, faith is not a work.

Now, if you continue to slander me by labeling me a Calvinist after I have told you I am not , you'll prove you also are committed to slander in the face of someone telling you the truth about themselves.

That will say everything about your intention here.

 

[HeIsHere]

The newest of two granddaughters I'm blessed with, the first arriving 6mos earlier, and preceded 3mos before that by my first grandson. Indeed, they are beautiful blessings, and anyone trying to tell me there is even the slightest possibility that salvation may not be offered to any one of them, through faith by grace, should be ashamed that they regard an unlearned man's opinion of scripture higher than the truth of it.

This bears repeating before I leave this thread.

Thank you this was an encouragement to me.

 

[Dino246]

"It is the work of God that we believe."

Scripture states otherwise.

What say you to John 6:29 "Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent. "

 

[Bluesproverb]

"It is the work of God that we believe."

What say you to John 6:29 "Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent. "

They left the thread but they'll enter a new one with the same arguments.

Isn't there a denomination that teaches we are concomitant with God to save humanity?

It impugns God's sovereignty. Even insists sovereign is not defined as such because God needs us to help him save ourselves. ''Faith is a work.''

John 17, Jesus did not approve dividing his church. Which is what denominationalism does.

 

[Dino246]

They left the thread but they'll enter a new one with the same arguments.

Isn't there a denomination that teaches we are concomitant with God to save humanity?

It impugns God's sovereignty. Even insists sovereign is not defined as such because God needs us to help him save ourselves. ''Faith is a work.''

John 17, Jesus did not approve dividing his church. Which is what denominationalism does.

See my post #49, page 3.

 

[Bluesproverb]

See my post #49, page 3.

I read that. Here it is again to reiterate the scriptural proof faith is not a work.
https://christianchat.com/threads/t...lication-is-only-by-faith.206304/post-4880983

Though that doesn't answer the question in my post you quoted.☺️

 

[Magenta]

I sense there are a few here that are of the "Reformed" Calvinist persuasion who support that saving faith/belief is a gift.
I think the grammar in Ephesians makes it clear it is not the gift.

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God.”
Faith is feminine and "that" is neuter so it is not referring to the feminine faith.

Presented in the neuter because both are included in the "that" meaning, both grace and faith.

 

[oyster67]

God came here 2000 yrs ago, and died as Christ on the Cross for us ALL.
This is a one time and eternal sacrifice for ALL the sin of the world.
That is the OFFER of SALVATiON.....that is universally offered.
However, this sacrifice, this payment for all the sin of the world, is not Applied to anyone unless they BELIEVE.

Amen Brother!

 

[oyster67]

Here it is again to reiterate the scriptural proof faith is not a work.

Amen. Taking that first step of faith is a choice.

 

[Bluesproverb]

Amen. Taking that first step of faith is a choice.

True. God's.

 

[oyster67]

True. God's.

God made the choice a long time ago when He gave His only begotten Son. He made salvation available to whosoever would come and receive it.

 

[Runningman]

The newest of two granddaughters I'm blessed with, the first arriving 6mos earlier, and preceded 3mos before that by my first grandson. Indeed, they are beautiful blessings, and anyone trying to tell me there is even the slightest possibility that salvation may not be offered to any one of them, through faith by grace, should be ashamed that they regard an unlearned man's opinion of scripture higher than the truth of it.

Praying for you and your family.

 

[Bluesproverb]

Matthew 13:14-15 Indeed, in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says: “‘You will indeed hear but never understand, and you will indeed see but never perceive. For this people's heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them.''

No one can come to Jesus unless God draws them. John 6:44

Exodus 33
19. ''I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion”

 

[Bluesproverb]

God made the choice a long time ago when He gave His only begotten Son. He made salvation available to whosoever would come and receive it.

True. On those whom he calls. No one comes to Jesus otherwise. As Jesus tells us.

If God saved everyone at the cross Universalism would be gospel, not heresy.

Yours conflicts with the teachings that natural man cannot 6ndetstand the things of the spirit., God. Because they are spiritually discerned, by God's will.

But you insist natural man can choose to believe.
That's not what God said.

 

[Everlasting-Grace]

I 100% agree with the verse you provided and every verse you provide I 100% agree with. Your commentary I don’t always agree with though sometimes I do. I think this is a matter of having different understandings. I believe this comes down to the fact that not everyone who has the Holy Spirit will listen to the Holy Spirit because they don’t want to or don’t know how.

Maybe we should prayerfully focus on reasons why. I offer these reasons for yours, mine, and everyones illumination.

1. Unbelief
2. Lack of training
3. Poor hermeneutics
4. Ignorance of the word of God
5. Failure to mature
6. Adherence to traditions

We must humbly find a way to come to unity of knowledge and faith. That’s a requirement. Let’s shelf our pride and self motivations. Now I’ve given you something to think about. Peace to you.

or maybe just read it and take what it says

IT is THE WORK OF GOD that YOU BELIEVE

there is ONLY 1 way to interpret that passage.

 

[Runningman]

True. On those whom he calls. No one comes to Jesus otherwise. As Jesus tells us.

If God saved everyone at the cross Universalism would be gospel, not heresy.

Yours conflicts with the teachings that natural man cannot 6ndetstand the things of the spirit., God. Because they are spiritually discerned, by God's will.

But you insist natural man can choose to believe.
That's not what God said.

Ahhhhhhhhhhh i I think I finally understand what’s happening. Are you a Calvinist? No hate or anything just asking.