Calvin did not invent the doctrines of grace
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Sorry about all of the questions, but I am trying to see how closely we are in interpreting the scriptures.
Do you believe that the lost sheep of the house of Israel are those who are blinded to a knowledge of the gospel, and are going about to establish their own righteousness by the old law of works?
Do you believe that the two gates in Matt 7, that the wide gate are the lost sheep of the house of Israel, and straight gate are the remnant of the house of Israel, who has been revealed the truths of the gospel, that leads them to a life of peace, and joy, as they live here on earth? and that both groups are the total of the elect?
Do you believe that God instructs the remnant of the house of Israel to teach and preach the knowledge of the gospel to the lost sheep of the house of Israel?
Do you believe that, at times, even the remnant worships things that are idoles?
Do you believe that those of God's blinded elect who are teaching, and preaching the false doctrine of eternal deliverance by their works, are making themselves their idol, as we often do at times?
2 Corinthians 5:
14For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: 15And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. 16Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. 17Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
14For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: 15And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. 16Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. 17Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
No problem.
Yep. But I also think that some of them were of the elect and, at a time of God's choosing, were born again joining spiritual Israel.
Actually, just to make my understanding clear, I think everyone who becomes saved, does so the same way; that is
there is only one way of salvation: Jesus Christ. Either God has elected someone to it, or He hasn't. If so, then they must become saved, if not, then they will never become saved. I do not believe any physical linage, creed, nationality, race, etc, plays a part in it.
We are saved for one reason only - because God had chosen us individually to it - that reason, and that reason alone, is what makes it solely by grace.
I think the wide gate represents a trust in salvation through our works; the strait gate, of salvation through Christ. Of course,
only those born-again fully and who completely trust in Christ as Saviour enter in through the strait gate but are able only because it has been given to them - Christ is that strait gate. Not everyone can enter in that way.
I think all true believers are instructed to share the gospel with anyone not a true believer irrespective of any other factors. I think the significance of the nation of Israel and of physical Jews has long since passed away. All of the elect have become one in Christ Jesus.
[Col 3:10-11 KJV]
10 And have put on the new [man], which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:
11 Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond [nor] free: but Christ [is] all, and in all.
[2Co 2:14-16 KJV]
14 Now thanks [be] unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.
15 For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish:
16 To the one [we are] the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who [is] sufficient for these things?
That depends on how you define idols. As a replacement of Christ? No, not for a true believer - I do not think that possible. Might there be ancillary, incorrect non-foundational, doctrines that some may follow? That could be possible, but for the foundational ones,
no.
[Phl 1:5-6 KJV] 5 For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now;
6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform [it] until the day of Jesus Christ:
[1Pe 1:5 KJV] 5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
No, not for those of God's elect who have become born-again. All of the elect before then, at one time or another, have trusted in their works for deliverance, but afterwards, I don't think that possible. Look at Saul/Paul for example.
Yep. But I also think that some of them were of the elect and, at a time of God's choosing, were born again joining spiritual Israel.
Actually, just to make my understanding clear, I think everyone who becomes saved, does so the same way; that is
there is only one way of salvation: Jesus Christ. Either God has elected someone to it, or He hasn't. If so, then they must become saved, if not, then they will never become saved. I do not believe any physical linage, creed, nationality, race, etc, plays a part in it.
We are saved for one reason only - because God had chosen us individually to it - that reason, and that reason alone, is what makes it solely by grace.
I think the wide gate represents a trust in salvation through our works; the strait gate, of salvation through Christ. Of course,
only those born-again fully and who completely trust in Christ as Saviour enter in through the strait gate but are able only because it has been given to them - Christ is that strait gate. Not everyone can enter in that way.
I think all true believers are instructed to share the gospel with anyone not a true believer irrespective of any other factors. I think the significance of the nation of Israel and of physical Jews has long since passed away. All of the elect have become one in Christ Jesus.
[Col 3:10-11 KJV]
10 And have put on the new [man], which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:
11 Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond [nor] free: but Christ [is] all, and in all.
[2Co 2:14-16 KJV]
14 Now thanks [be] unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.
15 For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish:
16 To the one [we are] the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who [is] sufficient for these things?
That depends on how you define idols. As a replacement of Christ? No, not for a true believer - I do not think that possible. Might there be ancillary, incorrect non-foundational, doctrines that some may follow? That could be possible, but for the foundational ones,
no.
[Phl 1:5-6 KJV] 5 For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now;
6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform [it] until the day of Jesus Christ:
[1Pe 1:5 KJV] 5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
No, not for those of God's elect who have become born-again. All of the elect before then, at one time or another, have trusted in their works for deliverance, but afterwards, I don't think that possible. Look at Saul/Paul for example.
Thats about the chosen, the called. Paul specified that in the 1 st epistle 1 Cor 1:23-30
23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;
24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:
27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:
29 That no flesh should glory in his presence.
30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:
31 That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;
24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:
27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:
29 That no flesh should glory in his presence.
30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:
31 That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
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You said to "rogerg", Everyone is spiritually dead until they are born again. But that does not mean that they cannot respond to the Gospel.
You do understand what you just said? A dead person is responding to the Gospel.
How does one who is dead... spiritually speaking... respond to anything. They cannot see! They cannot hear! They cannot move towards anything - actually, they cannot move at all.
You do understand what you just said? A dead person is responding to the Gospel.
How does one who is dead... spiritually speaking... respond to anything. They cannot see! They cannot hear! They cannot move towards anything - actually, they cannot move at all.
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Yes, your post has described perfectly the state of a fallen, depraved person. They cannot see and cannot hear because they are dead - spiritually speaking. They possess no ability to understand spiritual things. This is what Matthew 13:15 & 16 are referring too. God does not bring this upon the people. It is brought about by the "Fall" and if God does nothing to make them alive, it is then the same as if God did it to them because He chose to leave them in that state.
The type of hearing, you refer to in the last paragraph, of you post, is intellectual hearing. Everyone has this ability but without true spiritual understanding, this intellectual hearing does not effect the heart and soul of a listener. This is why, in the parable of the sower, the seed sprouts and soon withers because it did not fall on the "good ground" or "prepared ground". The "good ground", is the equivalent of one who has experienced the "New Birth" of John 3.
The type of hearing, you refer to in the last paragraph, of you post, is intellectual hearing. Everyone has this ability but without true spiritual understanding, this intellectual hearing does not effect the heart and soul of a listener. This is why, in the parable of the sower, the seed sprouts and soon withers because it did not fall on the "good ground" or "prepared ground". The "good ground", is the equivalent of one who has experienced the "New Birth" of John 3.
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And you do not understand the power of the Gospel and the power of the Holy Spirit in convincing and convicting. Together they can bring saving faith to those who are dead in their trespasses in sins. It is only AFTER sinners believe the Gospel and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ that they receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. So you need to understand the power of the Gospel, and a good place to start is Romans 10. Peter calls the Gospel the incorruptible seed of the New Birth and James concurs.
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The thing that you don't understand, is that the natural man will not, and indeed, cannot, repent and confess of breaking a spiritual law that he does not understand, and thinks them to be foolishness. Only the born again spiritually will repent and confess.
Repenting and confessing will deliver (save) the born again, as they sojourn here in this world, but repenting and confessing is not the cause of his eternal deliverance.
Jesus finished his work on the cross by redeeming all of those that his Father gave him, from their sin. There is no more coming to the cross.
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