Why do you have a problem with the very words of Jesus?
Yep, just what I thought. A disciple of John MacArthur, or someone like him.
Aren't you aware of what else Jesus said?
Matt 11:28-30
28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Do you know what repentance is? Please clarify.
It's not what one "says they believe". It's what one BELIEVES. btw, to believe in the saving work of Jesus Christ, one has to "repent" anyway. So don't make repentance a separate step.
Paul didn't do that with the jailer. He didn't say "repent and believe", as it seems you are doing.
Nonsense. Those who have "come to believe in Jesus Christ" ARE saved. Period.
I've just showed you several that are contrary to what you claim.
Do you believe that this verse is a saving verse?
It seems you misunderstand the stony heart/heart of flesh from Isa 36.
And it seems you believe that the new birth leads to saving faith. Do you have a verse that teaches this?
While you are looking for one (there aren't any), consider 2 verses:
Eph 2:5 - made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.
The 2 red phrases are synonymous. iow, regeneration is synonymous with salvation. They go together. Can't have one without the other.
Eph 2:8 - For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—
The red phrase is the exact same as at the end of v.5.
The blue words are the means of salvation: through faith. Not election, not repentance, but faith.
These 2 verses prove that both regeneration and salvation are "through faith".
iow, faith precedes both regeneration and salvation.
Is a calvinist mindset able to wrap their head around all this?
You have argued in endless circles for years. Never really trying to come to the Truth because you think you have already arrived or something. Many of my previous posts, show you have not. Since there is nothing to learn from you... because you know not how to put together a reasonable argument but rather throw single sentences and think you have given answer. This is where the conversation must end. I will respond to this:
You said:
"And it seems you believe that the new birth leads to saving faith. Do you have a verse that teaches this?
While you are looking for one (there aren't any), consider 2 verses:"
You know full well, that the conversation of our Lord with Nicodemus covers this very question. Apart from the "New Birth", one can accomplish nothing that is spiritual. Before the New Birth, we are just "flesh". We have a body of flesh, desires of the flesh and have fleshly thoughts. We are incapable of desires or thoughts that are spiritual and God is Spirit and must be worshiped as such.
John 3:2 The same came unto him by night, and said to him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these signs that thou doest, except God be with him.
John 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee,
Except a man be born anew, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
John 3:4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter a second time into his mother's womb, and be born?
John 3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee,
Except a man be born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
John 3:6
That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
Apart from the New Birth, as our Lord says here, there can be no understanding of God. Flesh cannot apprehend what is Spirit, so flesh must have it's spirit renewed, which was dead in trespasses and sin.
John_4:24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship in Spirit and Truth.
John 3:7 Marvel not that I said unto you,
You must be born anew.
John 3:8 The wind (Spirit) blows where it wishes, and you are hearing the sound thereof, but do not know from where it comes, and where it is going:
so it is with every one that has been born of the Spirit.
We have discussed this before, however I will repeat it for you, one more time. In verse 3:8 - the portion that says: "..has been born...", is a (3rd. Person Singular), Perfect Tense, Passive Voice and a Participial Verb in the Greek. The Greek word is:
γεγεννημενος is from the greek word:
γεννάω which means to "bring forth", "to give birth" or figuratively, "to Regenerate" (According to both Thayer and Strong).
γεγεννημενος is used three times in John 3. Twice in verse 6 and once in verse 8. The perfect tense, should be translated with the English words: "has been" or "having been" proceeding the Verb meaning, in order to represent it's tense correctly. The Perfect Tense means:
Completed action in the past with continued results. It is in the Passive voice in all three usages.
Therefore, verse 6, should be rendered:
That which has been born of the flesh is flesh; and that which has been born of the Spirit is spirit. Since in the "Passive Voice", the verse is understood in this way: You were born flesh and you had nothing to do with you being born (Passive Voice). Your mother and father were responsible for your begetting. In the same way: Those who were born of the Spirit, had nothing to do with that spiritual birth. They were beget or regenerated by God, the Holy Spirit. This is repeated in verse 8.
This understanding, harmonizes with:
John 1:13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
I think you know these things but will not except them because it will tear down your house of cards. So long.
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