You presented the Gospel of John which is Jesus talking to the JEWS so that condition fits the application of your verses. And that condition says it's still in effect TO THIS VERY DAY!!
But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believeIn that case, it wouldn't be a free gift. Anything that someone must do to obtain it, makes it theirs
only by their doing, and therefore, not a free gift. To be truly free, it must be imputed to someone,
placed into their possession in spite of, and apart from, anything they may do, otherwise, it isn't free.
Do you believe receiving is of necessity active, or can it be passive? For example, if I went to your bank and deposited $100.00 in your account, would you have received it? Did you have to do anything to receive it?But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe
on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
John 1:12-13
Misapplication of Scripture. The lost are those who reject the Gospel, not those who are supposedly "elected" to Hell. You have no clue about the Gospel and you persist in your false beliefs. So actually your mind is blinded.[2Co 4:3-4 KJV]
3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
You are pitting what Paul explained is the condition of the Jews that the Prophets prophesied with Paul speaking about the completed Gospel. The verses you used the Gospel was still being played out. You aren't even correct with logistics let alone with Biblical collation.No. It is to all those not His sheep.
[2Co 4:3-4 KJV]
3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
How does it benefit me if I never withdraw it or spend it? Have I received it if it just sits there and does nothing?Do you believe receiving is of necessity active, or can it be passive? For example, if I went to your bank and
deposited $100.00 in your account, would you have received it? Did you have to do anything to receive it?
I'll come back to receiving again. What is the power that is given? What makes someone born of God?How does it benefit me if I never withdraw it or spend it? Have I received it if it just sits there and does nothing?
Maybe it accrues interest. But that is getting away from what Scripture says, which is that those who receive
Jesus Christ are given the power to become sons of God, born of God.
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Ephesians 1:13-14
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Repentance, and belief in the shed righteous blood of Jesus Christ for the remissionI'll come back to receiving again. What is the power that is given? What makes someone born of God?
What is the power?Repentance, and belief in the shed righteous blood of Jesus Christ for the remission
of sins, which reconciles us to God and attains to life ever after. By grace, through faith.
Isn't it the power of God to transform us from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of Light?What is the power?
Right. It's the Holy Spirit. And it is the Spirit that is the power to become a son of God. It is He who is deposited in you. But unlike a deposit in your bank account, He doesn't wait to be accessed. He comes rarin' to go.Isn't it the power of God to transform us from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of Light?
He: has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light. He has rescued
us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of His beloved Son,
in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. Colossians 1:12b-13
What of repentance and belief?Right. It's the Holy Spirit. And it is the Spirit that is the power to become a son of God. It is He who is deposited
in you. But unlike a deposit in your bank account, He doesn't wait to be accessed. He comes rarin' to go.
Interesting thought. Though I honestly don't see it, Ill look into it.It removes what Roger is using from the equation because of this condition God placed upon the Jews in communicating with Jesus. It does not apply to anyone but the Jews.
Nice to meet you as wellThanks, Foghorn - nice to meet you and really appreciate your support.
Roger
No problem. I appreciate you replying.Sure, I might not be explaining it clearly in my wording.
Automatic is a word I am not used to in theological discussions. It does have a ring to it as, since Christ was crucified for your sins, "Bam" you are now automatically saved. I don't in any way agree with that either.While our salvation was freely paid for by Jesus Christ, the effects of salvation are not automatic.
I also believe man is active in salvation. Not in the sense he contributes to his salvation, but as Romans 10 teaches, man must believe in his heart and confess with his mouth.There must be a real world response of faith by the penitent in order for us to be justified.
Well that would depend on whom Christ died for, if he didn't die for the entire world, then not everyone would be saved.If we had to do nothing, then the entire world would go to heaven,
But it's belief/faith that justifies us.because every one would automatically be justified by Christ’s death.
Thankfully.I’m not a universalist,
But where do you get this teaching from scripture?this is why I believe that the merits of Christ’s death are only accounted to us when we repent.
And yes, you are sort of right, repentance and faith are gifts from God,
That's obvious.however the Lord doesn’t grant them to the entire world! Thanks.
I believe @rogerg hit the nail on the head.It removes what Roger is using from the equation because of this condition God placed upon the Jews in communicating with Jesus. It does not apply to anyone but the Jews.
So you can believe in him? Would you explain that? How repentance makes it so we can believe in Jesus.Gotta be careful not to make repentance into a work here..or belief into a work.
Repentance is a change of mind, heart toward Jesus Christ so we can believe in Him.
So you can believe in him? Would you explain that? How repentance makes it so we can believe in Jesus.
Thanks