A theology that claims that God saves those He CAUSES to believe who also condemns those He PREVENTS from believing is not biblical in the slightest.
There is no grace in such a theology.
There is no grace in such a theology.
Hello again. Had to return for this response, and will tentatively say "bye bye" after this. Never know; I may have to return again. We'll see.
God gifts faith by opening hearts, and God withholds faith by hardening hearts. God is just that powerfully able to do so, and the Bible says as much.
John 6:44
44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.
Ephesians 1:5
5 he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,
Acts 7:51
51 “You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you.
Romans 9:16
16 So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy.
Romans 8:29
29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
Ephesians 1:4
4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love
Romans 10:5-13
5 For Moses writes about the righteousness that is based on the law, that the person who does the commandments shall live by them. 6 But the righteousness based on faith says, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’” (that is, to bring Christ down) 7 “or ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). 8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); 9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. 11 For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. 13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
Romans 9:13-14
13 As it is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”
14 What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God’s part? By no means!
Romans 8:29-30
29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
Deuteronomy 30:11-20
11 “For this commandment that I command you today is not too hard for you, neither is it far off. 12 It is not in heaven, that you should say, ‘Who will ascend to heaven for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’ 13 Neither is it beyond the sea, that you should say, ‘Who will go over the sea for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’ 14 But the word is very near you. It is in your mouth and in your heart, so that you can do it.
15 “See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil. 16 If you obey the commandments of the LORD your God that I command you today, by loving the LORD your God, by walking in his ways, and by keeping his commandments and his statutes and his rules, then you shall live and multiply, and the LORD your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to take possession of it. 17 But if your heart turns away, and you will not hear, but are drawn away to worship other gods and serve them, 18 I declare to you today, that you shall surely perish. You shall not live long in the land that you are going over the Jordan to enter and possess. 19 I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live, 20 loving the LORD your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him, for he is your life and length of days, that you may dwell in the land that the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.”
Ephesians 1:11
11 In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will,
Acts 13:48
48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed.
Ephesians 2:8-10
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Romans 10:17
17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
John 12:32
32 And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.”
John 1:13
13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
2 Peter 3:9
9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
Romans 9:17
17 For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.”
John 3:16
16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
Romans 8:28
28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
Romans 5:8
8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Ephesians 2:1
2:1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins
Romans 6:23
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Matthew 18:3
3 and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
Ephesians 1:13
13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,
Exodus 9:12
12 But the Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh, and he did not listen to them, as the Lord had spoken to Moses.
Exodus 7:3
3 But I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and though I multiply my signs and wonders in the land of Egypt,
Hebrews 4:12
12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
Romans 9:18
18 So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills.
John 12:40
40 “He has blinded their eyes and hardened their heart, lest they see with their eyes, and understand with their heart, and turn, and I would heal them.”
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Man is unable to save himself. Genesis 6:5; Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 3:10-18.
Election and predestination are unconditional; they are not based on man’s response. Romans 8:29-30; Ephesians 1:4-6, 11-12, because man is unable to respond, nor does he want to.
All whom God has elected and for whom Christ died will be saved. Matthew 1:21; John 10:11; 17:9; Acts 20:28; Romans 8:32; Ephesians 5:25.
Those whom God elected He draws to Himself through irresistible grace. God makes man willing to come to Him. When God calls, man responds. John 6:37, 44; 10:16.
None whom God has elected will be lost; they are eternally secure. John 10:27-29; Romans 8:29-30; Ephesians 1:3-14.